Key facts
- SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean.
- The intact splashdown provides crucial data on the performance of Starship's heat shield.
- SpaceX founder Elon Musk stated the company will attempt to catch Starship with its launch tower on the next flight, provided no issues are found.
- The Super Heavy booster experienced a hard splashdown due to issues with its landing burn engines.
- Starship deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites during its hour-long flight.
SpaceX successfully completed its 13th full-scale Starship test flight, achieving an intact splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This marks a significant milestone for the program, particularly for gathering data on the performance and durability of Starship's heat shield, which endured temperatures up to 2,600°F (1,430°C).
Encouraged by the flight's success, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk indicated that the company plans to attempt a more ambitious maneuver on the next launch: catching the Starship vehicle with its launch tower as it returns from a longer-range trajectory, potentially into low-Earth orbit. This would involve mechanical arms on the tower attempting to capture the ship during a hover, a feat SpaceX has already accomplished with its larger Super Heavy booster, albeit at a lower speed.
"Unless we discover problems after mission data review, SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower on next flight," Musk stated on X. The intact splashdown is considered a "dream scenario" for engineers seeking data on the heat shield's resilience, which is critical for SpaceX's goal of rapid reusability and multiple flights per day. The vehicle's design allows for reuse, but not after exposure to saltwater, opening the possibility for towing the rocket back to shore for detailed inspection.
During the hour-long flight, Starship also deployed 20 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites, the first of their kind designed for SpaceX's larger rocket. These satellites, larger and heavier than previous versions, are intended for higher throughput and power. They were designed to burn up upon atmospheric reentry, but SpaceX was able to establish contact and download telemetry before their demise.
The Super Heavy booster, which separated from Starship after launch, experienced issues during its landing burn. While it successfully completed the high-thrust portion of its boostback burn, some engines failed to restart for the landing burn, resulting in a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. This contrasts with previous successful booster recoveries and re-flights using the Starship Version 2 design.