SpaceX Plans Tower Catch Attempt After Starship Flight 13's Intact Splashdown

SpaceX moved closer to full Starship reusability after Flight 13 achieved an intact splashdown in the Indian Ocean on July 24, 2026, enabling unprecedented post-flight inspection of the vehicle's heat shield.

Following the mission, Elon Musk announced on X that SpaceX will likely attempt to catch the Starship upper stage with the launch tower's mechanical arms on the next flight, pending review of mission data.

Historic Soft Splashdown

The July 24 launch from Starbase, Texas was the second test of the Starship Version 3 configuration. The upper stage completed its flight profile and executed a controlled descent, floating intact in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX deployed drones to inspect the heat shield, gathering critical data on the thermal protection system's performance during reentry.

The mission also successfully deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites, which are larger and heavier than previous versions, demonstrating the vehicle's operational payload capacity.

In-Space Engine Relight Demonstrated

Starship proved a key capability for future orbital missions by successfully restarting one of its Raptor engines in space for approximately 14 seconds. Engine relight is essential for orbital maneuvers, deorbit burns, and the orbital refueling demonstrations required for NASA's Artemis lunar missions.

The Super Heavy booster experienced a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Space.com, only 5 of 13 planned engines ignited for the landing burn, preventing a controlled return to the launch site. The booster catch system has already successfully recovered boosters in previous flights beginning in October 2024.

Tower Catch Next?

The potential tower catch of the Starship upper stage would represent a pivotal milestone. While boosters have been caught by the launch tower's mechanical arms, the upper stage has previously only performed splashdowns. Catching both stages would enable rapid reusability, a core requirement for Starship's economic viability.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on the flight, stating that Starship's capabilities will be game-changing for returning to the Moon. The vehicle is central to NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained lunar presence.

What Comes Next

SpaceX must now analyze data from Flight 13 before proceeding with a tower catch attempt. Any issues discovered during the review could delay the recovery attempt. The company continues iterative development of Starship, with each flight test designed to validate systems for operational missions including Starlink deployments and lunar landing missions under NASA contract.

The transition to Version 3 hardware aims to improve performance and reliability for both commercial payloads and crewed missions. A successful upper stage catch would bring SpaceX closer to the fully reusable transportation system envisioned for Mars missions and beyond.