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SpaceX Starship Flight Test 13 splashes down in Indian Ocean
SpaceX launched the thirteenth test flight of its Starship V3 on 24 July 2026 from Starbase, Texas. The launch used the Super Heavy booster with 33 Raptor engines and the Starship upper stage with six Raptor engines, following two previous delays – an engine‑ignition failure on 16 July and adverse weather.
The flight deployed twenty next‑generation Starlink V3 satellites and then re‑entered Earth’s atmosphere. Starship performed a controlled soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, remaining largely intact and floating for several days while recovery crews gathered imagery. SpaceX posted photographs and video of the splashdown on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
NASA is closely monitoring the test because the vehicle is intended for future crewed Artemis lunar missions. Independent experts, however, noted cracks and tile loss on the thermal protection system, describing the current heat‑shield design as a potential obstacle to rapid reusability.
Entities
Dan Rasky · Elon Musk · NASA · SpaceX · Starlink · Starlink V3 satellites · Starship · Starship (SpaceX vehicle) · Super Heavy · Super Heavy booster
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The launch used 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster and six Raptor engines on the Starship upper stage. www.friendsofnasa.org · www.20minutos.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The mission deployed twenty next‑generation Starlink V3 satellites. www.20minutos.es · www.lavozdegalicia.es · www.friendsofnasa.org
- [● 4 SOURCES] After re‑entry Starship performed a controlled soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean and remained largely intact while floating for several days. www.cnnbrasil.com.br · olhardigital.com.br · www.space.com · www.20minutos.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] NASA is monitoring the test because it plans to use Starship for crewed Artemis lunar missions. www.20minutos.es · www.elespectador.com · deultimominuto.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] The flight was the second Starship V3 test of 2026, following a May test and after two launch delays (engine‑ignition failure on July 16 and adverse weather). www.20minutos.es · www.friendsofnasa.org · www.cnnbrasil.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] SpaceX released photographs and video of the splashdown on its X (formerly Twitter) account. www.20minutos.es · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · laconexionusa.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Experts observed cracks and tile loss on the thermal protection system, calling the current heat‑shield design a potential obstacle to rapid reusability. olhardigital.com.br · gizmodo.com · www.jalopnik.com · www.donanimhaber.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] SpaceX launched the thirteenth Starship test flight on July 24, 2026 from Starbase, Texas. www.friendsofnasa.org · www.20minutos.es · www.space.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] SpaceX launched the thirteenth test flight of Starship V3 on 24 July 2026 from Starbase, Texas. www.20minutos.es · www.friendsofnasa.org