Starship Flight 13 Soars: SpaceX’s Megarocket Delivers 20 Satellites in Spectacular Test

Starship Flight 13 delivers a landmark performance

The Starship Flight 13 launch on July 24 lifted the 408‑foot‑tall (124‑meter) Starship V3 from Texas, propelling ↑ 20 next‑gen Starlink satellites toward orbit. SpaceX streamed the event live, showcasing Super Heavy’s six Raptor engines humming against a blue Earth backdrop. After stage separation, the upper Ship ignited a second Raptor in space, then guided a controlled descent over the Indian Ocean, culminating in a soft splashdown off Western Australia where the vehicle survived without exploding—a first for the program.

“A major step toward full reusability,” Elon Musk said in the post‑flight briefing.

Despite minor engine hiccups on the booster’s return, the mission met all objectives, including successful deployment and safe recovery. The company posted vivid footage on X, including a ship‑eye view of the re‑entry and drone‑captured splash. Reuters noted the significance for upcoming NASA Artemis missions, with Starship slated for Artemis III orbit flights next summer and a lunar landing on Artemis IV by late 2028. The test also coincides with broader industry trends, as the sector rebounds from the pandemic-induced slowdown. SpaceX aims to capture Super Heavy on its landing platform for refurbishment, mirroring the rapid‑turnaround model pioneered by Falcon rockets. Future flights, beginning with Flight 14, will attempt the first full‑stage recovery of the Starship itself, pending data review.