Key facts
- SpaceX successfully completed its 13th test flight of the Starship megarocket.
- The Starship V3 version completed its second test flight.
- The Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft both performed controlled splashdowns.
- Starship deployed 20 Starlink test satellites during the flight.
- This was SpaceX's first test flight as a publicly traded company.
SpaceX successfully completed its 13th test flight of the Starship megarocket, culminating in a controlled splashdown of the spacecraft in the Indian Ocean approximately one hour after launch. This marks a significant achievement following an aborted launch attempt last week due to engine failures.
The test flight, designated Flight 13, saw the Super Heavy booster fire all 33 of its engines at liftoff and successfully relight 13 engines for its return to the Gulf of Mexico, where it made a controlled splashdown. The Starship spacecraft also performed as intended, completing its engine burn and reigniting one engine mid-flight. It achieved what SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot described as its "softest splashdown" to date in the Indian Ocean.
During the flight, Starship deployed 20 Starlink test satellites, with SpaceX confirming successful contact with each. This mission was the second test for the V3 version of Starship, which had experienced engine issues during its inaugural flight in May. The successful test comes as SpaceX faces pressure to prepare Starship for a critical NASA test flight next year, which could support the next moon landing.
This flight also holds significance as it is the first for SpaceX since becoming a publicly traded company. A previous aborted launch attempt last week had impacted its stock price, which is still trading below its IPO price.