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Starship in space! See highlights of SpaceX megarocket's epic Flight 13 test launch
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- DeepHorus
SpaceX's Starship megarocket achieved a major milestone during its 13th test flight on Friday, July 24, showcasing key advancements toward operational reusability. The 408-foot-tall (124 meters) Starship Version 3 (V3) vehicle lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in South Texas, delivering stunning visuals and significant technical successes. While the Super Heavy booster experienced engine issues during its return, the Ship upper stage performed flawlessly, marking a critical step forward for the program.
Flight 13 was the second launch of the V3 Starship, designed to be fully reusable. SpaceX aims to eventually land both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage back at the launch site using the tower's 'chopstick' arms. This test flight focused on validating in-space capabilities and controlled reentry, building on lessons from previous flights that ended in explosions.
During the mission, Ship deployed 20 next-generation Starlink satellites, re-ignited one of its six Raptor engines in space as planned, and executed a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. For the first time, the vehicle did not explode upon hitting the water, a testament to improved reentry and landing control. The Super Heavy booster, despite engine anomalies, provided valuable data for future recovery attempts.
SpaceX shared real-time updates via its launch webcast and later released dramatic footage on its X account. One video showed Ship separating from Super Heavy against the backdrop of Earth, while another captured the descent and splashdown from onboard and drone cameras. The clips revealed a sizeable fire around Ship's nose cone, yet the vehicle survived the impactâa promising sign for eventual orbital operations.
Industry observers see Flight 13 as a pivotal step toward Starship's full reusability. The successful deployment of Starlink satellites demonstrates Starship's potential as a heavy-lift payload carrier, while the in-space engine restart proves its orbital maneuvering capability. According to SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, the data from this flight will inform plans for Flight 14, which aims to catch Ship with the launch tower for the first time.
Looking ahead, Starship is slated to support NASA's Artemis III mission, currently planned for next summer, which will send astronauts to Earth orbit. The vehicle will also land astronauts near the moon's south pole on Artemis IV in late 2028. With each test flight, SpaceX inches closer to making Starship a fully operational workhorse for humanity's exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
