SpaceX Reschedules Starship Flight 13 for July 23 Launch

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is rescheduling the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket for Thursday, July 23, 2026, with a launch window opening at 6:45 p.m. Eastern. The mission follows a July 16 abort during the ignition of the 33 first-stage Raptor engines, an event that resulted in a $100 billion loss in company market value. While the company initially targeted Thursday, CEO Elon Musk indicated on X that the launch would occur on Friday.

To prepare for the flight, SpaceX replaced two Raptor engines and implemented hardware and software modifications to the propulsion system. The mission utilizes Starship Version 3, a variant designed for NASA's Artemis moon missions and future Mars flights. The flight plan includes a controlled splashdown of the Super Heavy first stage in the Gulf of Mexico and a splashdown of the upper stage, with targets cited as either the Indian Ocean or the coast of Western Australia.

This suborbital mission aims to deploy 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites to demonstrate the vehicle's dispensing system and laser communication links with ground stations in South Africa. These satellites are expected to burn up in the atmosphere approximately 20 minutes after deployment. SpaceX intends to begin routine Starlink orbital launches using Starship by the end of the year.