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Starship deploys working satellites on Flight 13
SpaceX launched Flight 13 from Starbase at 6:51 p.m. Eastern after a one-day weather delay. The upper stage finished its suborbital run and demonstrated spacecraft deployment, while several engines needed for the booster’s landing burn failed to start.
The story so far
- July 22: This became the lead update after today's public launch records changed.
- July 22: The unresolved abort now has a result: liftoff on the following day with the planned mission cargo aboard.
- July 25: Flight 13 supplied the result the program had been waiting for: a completed flight with functioning satellites released, alongside a clear shortfall during Super Heavy’s return.
Interpretation
Why this matters
mission cargo release has moved from a planned Starship objective to a demonstrated flight result. The booster landing sequence still needs work.
Known facts
- SpaceX launched its 13th Super Heavy-Starship test flight. The booster made an on-target but hard splashdown off the Texas Gulf Coast, while the upper stage completed a suborbital flight to the Indian Ocean.
- SpaceX launched Starship on its 13th suborbital test flight July 24, correcting some issues seen on the previous flight and deploying functioning satellites for the first time. Not all engines required for the booster landing burn started.
- SpaceX launched Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, on a critical 13th test flight on July 24, a stunning test flight that notched big success and ended with a huge surprise.
Unknowns
- Whether the target, status, webcast, or mission outcome changes again after the next public update.
Source status
What the sources actually say
Each claim is kept next to its source so the story never overstates what official evidence can actually prove.
Spaceflight Now
SpaceX launched its 13th Super Heavy-Starship test flight. The booster made an on-target but hard splashdown off the Texas Gulf Coast, while the upper stage completed a suborbital flight to the Indian Ocean.
SpaceNews
SpaceX launched Starship on its 13th suborbital test flight July 24, correcting some issues seen on the previous flight and deploying functioning satellites for the first time. Not all engines required for the booster landing burn started.
Space.com
SpaceX launched Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, on a critical 13th test flight on July 24, a stunning test flight that notched big success and ended with a huge surprise.
Spaceflight Now
SpaceX launched its 13th Super Heavy-Starship test flight. The booster made an on-target but hard splashdown off the Texas Gulf Coast, while the upper stage completed a suborbital flight to the Indian Ocean.
Open sourceSpaceNews
SpaceX launched Starship on its 13th suborbital test flight July 24, correcting some issues seen on the previous flight and deploying functioning satellites for the first time. Not all engines required for the booster landing burn started.
Open sourceSpace.com
SpaceX launched Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, on a critical 13th test flight on July 24, a stunning test flight that notched big success and ended with a huge surprise.
Open sourceTimeline
How the story has developed
A running record of what changed, when, and why. Editorial review Jul 25, 2026.
- July 22: This became the lead update after today's public launch records changed.
- July 22: The unresolved abort now has a result: liftoff on the following day with the planned mission cargo aboard.
- July 25: Flight 13 supplied the result the program had been waiting for: a completed flight with functioning satellites released, alongside a clear shortfall during Super Heavy’s return.
Corrections
- No corrections recorded.
No separate Starman's Note is needed yet.