SpaceX Targets Starship Return to Form on Flight 13

Company completed an FAA-required mishap investigation and made several changes to the rocket after an anomaly in May.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

SpaceX is gearing up for the 13th test flight of Starship and its second in the rocket’s Version 3 (V3) configuration. [Credit: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 is set for launch, incorporating hardware and software modifications to address the Super Heavy booster's failed landing and a Starship engine loss experienced during Flight 12.
Flight 13 aims to achieve a successful booster landing, relight a Raptor engine in space, test new heat shield configurations for future catch hardware, and deploy real Starlink satellites equipped with cameras to monitor the heat shield.
The mission's success and establishing a regular flight cadence are critical for Starship V3's ambitious goals, including commercial orbital deployments, full reusability, in-orbit refueling, and its role as a potential NASA lunar lander for Artemis missions by 2028.

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SpaceX announced it made several hardware and software modifications to its massive Starship rocket as it prepares for what could be the vehicle’s most critical test flight yet.

The launch provider said over the weekend it is targeting a 90-minute launch window that opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT on Thursday for Starship Flight 13, which is a precursor to more ambitious missions the company has planned for 2026. SpaceX said the mission will have “similar objectives” to Flight 12 in May, which was the first test of Starship’s larger, more powerful Version 3 (V3) configuration.