SpaceX plans to conduct the 13th integrated flight test of its Starship system as early as Thursday, July 16. The 90-minute launch window opens at 5:45 p.m. CT from Starbase in South Texas. The mission will use the latest V3 vehicles equipped with Raptor 3 engines.
The company announced the target date on July 11. Booster 20 will attempt a controlled boostback burn and splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Ship 40 will follow a suborbital path.
Key objectives include reliable stage separation, engine performance testing, and controlled reentry. The flight marks the first deployment of 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, which feature advanced laser links and onboard cameras.
Several experiments on Ship 40 will test upgraded heat shield tiles and load-sensing components. The upper stage will attempt a single Raptor engine relight in space before splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
The short interval after Flight 12 on May 22 reflects SpaceX’s rapid development pace. Hardware and software changes aim to address issues seen in the prior test.
