SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket on its 13th test flight from Texas on Friday, deploying 20 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites into suborbital space. The roughly 400-foot-tall rocket lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility around 6:50 p.m. ET, marking a key milestone in the company's efforts to expand its satellite internet service and achieve routine spaceflight.
The mission featured the first deployment of Starlink V3 satellites, which are more powerful and capable than previous versions. These satellites briefly connected with SpaceX's existing network of over 10,000 orbiting satellites before burning up as planned during reentry. The flight also tested Starship's reusability, with the rocket's heat shield showing minimal damage upon reentry—a significant improvement over prior tests.
The Super Heavy booster, which detached from the Starship upper stage about two minutes into the flight, made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. While the booster's landing was described as "hard" due to fewer engines restarting than planned, it represented progress from earlier test flights. The Starship upper stage completed a suborbital hop and splashed down in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX engineers celebrated the mission's milestones during a livestream, highlighting the company's goals to expand Starlink, land humans on the moon for NASA by 2028, and eventually deploy AI-processing satellites in orbit. The test flight was the second for the third-generation Starship, building on lessons from previous attempts.
The mission also showcased SpaceX's advancements in rocket reusability, a critical step toward CEO Elon Musk's vision of routine spaceflight. The company is preparing for a major NASA test flight next year, further solidifying Starship's role in future space exploration.