SpaceX Launches Starship Flight 13 Following FAA Clearance

Following the closure of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation into Flight 12 mishaps, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. scheduled the 13th test flight of its Starship system for July 16, 2026. The FAA attributed a previous Super Heavy booster explosion in the Gulf of Mexico to "erroneous engine alarm system settings," prompting SpaceX to implement hardware updates and a modified startup sequence to improve engine relight reliability and orientation during hot-staging.

Flight 13 utilizes the redesigned Version 3 (V3) vehicle, consisting of Booster 20 and Ship 40. The suborbital mission aims to deploy 20 functional Starlink V3 satellites to test solar array extension and laser connectivity before they burn up upon reentry. Primary objectives include an in-space Raptor engine relight and controlled splashdowns for the booster in the Gulf of Mexico and the upper stage in the Indian Ocean.

This marks the first Starship launch since the company's June initial public offering, which raised $86 billion, though shares recently dropped below the $135 IPO price. Beyond this test, Elon Musk announced the Starmind project to build orbital AI data centers by 2027. NASA continues to monitor the program, as Starship is central to the Artemis 3 mission to return humans to the moon. Separately, SpaceX also launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base on July 16 to deploy military satellites for the Space Development Agency.