SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Cleared for Launch: FAA Approves First-Ever Starlink V3 Satellite Deployment

Updated July 24, 2026: SpaceX is targeting Friday for the launch of Starship Flight 13 after an engine problem stopped the first attempt and poor visibility delayed the second. The 90-minute window at Starbase in South Texas opens at 5:45 p.m. Central Time, 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time or 10:45 p.m. UTC.

The suborbital test will use Super Heavy Booster 20 and Starship Ship 40. It will attempt to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, restart a Raptor engine in space and complete controlled water landings in the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean.

Why the first two attempts were stopped

The original July 16 countdown reached the engine-ignition sequence before the flight software triggered an automatic abort. SpaceX’s webcast indicated that four of Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor engines had not reached acceptable starting conditions.

The engines shut down and the rocket remained secured to the launch mount. SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk said two Raptors would be replaced. Teams later separated Ship 40 from the booster, replaced components and conducted additional checks.

A July 23 attempt was postponed because cloud cover would have blocked ground-camera views of Starship’s heat shield. Those images are needed to examine how the thermal-protection system performs during a more demanding ascent profile.

First Starlink V3 deployment test

Flight 13 will carry 20 next-generation Starlink V3 spacecraft. They will test Starship’s payload deployment system, communicate with satellites already in orbit and help photograph Ship 40’s heat shield.

Because the flight will not enter a stable orbit, the satellites are expected to re-enter the atmosphere after the demonstration. Future operational V3 satellites are being designed around Starship’s larger payload bay and lifting capacity, making the rocket important to SpaceX’s satellite internet expansion.

What will happen during Flight 13?

Starship stands approximately 407 feet, or 124 metres, tall. Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor 3 engines can produce up to 18 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

Hot-stage separation is expected about two minutes and 21 seconds after launch. The booster will then perform a boostback manoeuvre and attempt a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning for a tower catch.

Ship 40 is expected to begin deploying the satellites about 16 minutes into the mission. An in-space Raptor relight is planned at approximately 39 minutes, followed by atmospheric re-entry and an Indian Ocean splashdown around 65 minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX will examine propulsion, avionics, guidance and heat-shield performance throughout the flight. Sensor-equipped thermal tiles and external cameras will help identify movement or damage during ascent and re-entry.

FAA clearance and the Flight 12 investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration cleared Flight 13 after accepting SpaceX’s findings and corrective measures from its investigation into Flight 12. No public injuries or public-property damage were reported.

Flight 12 launched on May 22 and completed several objectives, but Super Heavy was lost during its return after problems affected its boostback and landing operations. FAA clearance permits another test but does not guarantee that every mission objective will succeed.

What would count as a successful mission?

The key milestones are liftoff, stage separation, controlled booster descent, satellite deployment, an engine restart in space, survival through re-entry and Ship 40’s final landing manoeuvre.

Completing the payload and relight tests would move Starship closer to practical satellite missions. SpaceX ultimately intends to make both stages reusable, although neither vehicle from Flight 13 is expected to be recovered.

Why the test matters to NASA

NASA selected a lunar version of Starship for its Artemis program. The system must still demonstrate orbital operations, propellant transfer, long-duration performance and uncrewed lunar landings before supporting astronauts.

The project is part of a wider international push toward lunar exploration, which includes Hong Kong’s first astronaut joining China’s space programme.

How to watch the launch

SpaceX plans to stream the attempt through its website and official X account. Weather, range conditions or technical checks could still produce a hold or another postponement.

Live video and schedule updates will be available on the official Flight 13 mission page.