SpaceX Starship Flight 13 hits key test goals

Stainless-steel rocket on launch pad after successful test flight, highlighting investor focus on space launch sector

Key Points

01Starship Flight 13 launched July 24 from Starbase, Texas
02Both Super Heavy and Starship achieved controlled ocean splashdowns
03Mission deployed 20 suborbital Starlink V3 test satellites
04SpaceX (SPCX) stock closed at $115.07 amid close investor focus

Starship Flight 13 launches from Texas

On July 24, 2026, SpaceX (SPCX) launched Starship Flight 13, the 13th integrated Starship and Super Heavy test, from its Starbase site in Texas. The vehicle, described as the largest rocket ever built and flown, is designed to be fully reusable, making the performance of both stages a central focus of the mission.

About two minutes into flight, the Super Heavy booster detached from the Starship upper stage as planned. The booster then executed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf, while the upper stage continued its ascent to conduct additional tests and payload deployment.

In‑flight objectives and engine relight

Flight 13 was structured around several technical objectives, including detailed observation of the heat shield during ascent and reentry, an in‑space engine relight and the deployment of test Starlink hardware. SpaceX (SPCX) delayed takeoff to ensure clear imagery of the heat shield, underscoring the priority placed on thermal protection data.

During the mission, SpaceX successfully relit at least one Raptor vacuum engine in space. The upper stage then carried out the characteristic belly‑flop reentry maneuver before transitioning to a final landing burn, culminating in a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean described internally as a "soft splashdown."

Starlink V3 test satellites on suborbital path

The flight carried 20 Starlink V3 test satellites that were deployed during the mission. SpaceX confirmed contact with all 20 satellites, indicating they were functional following deployment.

The spacecraft released the satellites on a suborbital trajectory, and they were expected to burn up roughly 20 minutes after deployment. This configuration allowed SpaceX to test the new Starlink V3 hardware without leaving long‑lived spacecraft in orbit.

"Lucky Number 13" and first intact Starship splashdown

SpaceX employees referred to the mission as "Lucky Number 13," highlighting the significance of the test within the company. SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot described the touchdown of the upper stage as a "dream scenario."

Huot said it was the first time the company had put an intact Starship in the water, marking a milestone for the program’s reusability ambitions. Visuals from the descent included plasma effects during reentry as the vehicle completed its belly‑flop and landing burn sequence.

Market reaction to the test flight

The Starship test took place in a period of heightened investor focus on the company. On July 24, 2026, SpaceX shares, trading under the ticker SPCX, closed at $115.07.

Market coverage characterized this closing level as a notable weekly decline for the stock. Traders and analysts were described as closely watching the flight as an operational milestone for the Starship system following the company’s public listing.

Key Takeaways

01Flight 13 advanced Starship’s reusability goals by achieving controlled splashdowns for both stages and securing the first intact Starship recovery in water.
02Successful in‑space engine relight and heat‑shield observation demonstrate incremental progress on key technologies needed for future Starship operations.
03The deployment and rapid planned reentry of 20 Starlink V3 test satellites allowed hardware validation without adding long‑term orbital assets.
04Investor attention to the test was high, with SpaceX’s share price showing a notable weekly decline even as the mission met core technical objectives.

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