SpaceX will launch its Starship Flight 13 test flight on Friday, July 24, following a weather delay at the South Texas site.
SpaceX will launch its Starship megarocket for Flight 13 on Friday, July 24, at 6:45 p.m. EDT. The launch from the South Texas Starbase site was delayed from July 23 due to unfavorable weather conditions. This mission marks the second test flight of 2026 for the world's largest and most powerful rocket. The vehicle consists of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage, both designed for rapid reusability. During this flight, the Super Heavy booster aims for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of America, while the Starship vehicle targets a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. A key objective of Flight 13 is the deployment of 20 next-generation V3 Starlink satellites. These satellites will feature high-capacity lasers and extended arrays to increase network capacity. Additionally, SpaceX will use the flight to gather data on the vehicle's heat-shield tiles to prepare for future "chopstick" catches on the launch pad.