SpaceX’s Starship Reaches Space, Completes Soft Ocean Splashdown on Flight 13
· Texas Border Business
On July 24, 2026, at 5:51 p.m. CT, SpaceX's Starship successfully launched from Starbase, Texas, marking its thirteenth test flight. This mission was notable for deploying the new Starlink V3 satellites. The flight involved a robust ascent with all 33 Raptor 3 engines, followed by a hot-staging maneuver. After stage separation, the Super Heavy booster performed a flip maneuver but experienced a hard splashdown in the Gulf. Starship completed its ascent, deployed 20 satellites, and gathered critical data during reentry. It executed a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, showcasing its heatshield performance for the first time.
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