SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Deploys Satellites, Achieves First Soft Upper Stage Landing

SpaceX launched its 13th Starship test flight on July 24, 2026, from Starbase, Texas—the first orbital test since the company's June 2026 IPO. The mission deployed 20 operational Starlink V3 satellites and achieved a program first: the upper stage completed a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean without exploding.

V3 Vehicle Validation

Flight 13 used the Version 3 configuration with Ship 40 and Booster 20, the operational design for future missions. Six satellites carried high-resolution cameras to monitor heat shield performance during reentry, providing critical data for vehicle refinement.

The upper stage successfully re-ignited a Raptor engine in space before its controlled descent. Dan Huot of SpaceX called the result a "dream scenario," noting it was the softest splashdown Starship has achieved to date.

Booster Landing Shortfall

The Super Heavy booster descended toward the Gulf of Mexico but experienced partial engine relight failure during the landing burn. Sources reported conflicting numbers on how many of the 13 engines fired—ranging from five to ten—resulting in a hard splashdown rather than the soft landing planned.

Path to Artemis

This mission served as a critical validation step for NASA's Artemis III and IV lunar programs, which depend on Starship as the Human Landing System. Unlike previous tests carrying mass simulators, Flight 13 deployed actual operational payloads.

The successful satellite deployment and upper stage recovery represent significant progress toward full reusability, a cornerstone of SpaceX's architecture for Earth orbit operations and eventual Mars missions. The company has indicated it will pursue a tower catch recovery method for the next flight.