SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 is set to launch from Starbase, Texas, on July 16, 2026, at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT). This suborbital test flight will be the second for SpaceX's new V3 Starship, following the May 22 launch of Starship Flight 12. The mission will last just over 1 hour and 5 minutes, with a focus on controlled descent and water landings for both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage.
The Super Heavy booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Ship will follow a suborbital trajectory for a target splashdown in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia. During the flight, the Ship will attempt to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, which will follow Starship's suborbital trajectory back down to Earth and burn up in the atmosphere.
If the launch is delayed, SpaceX has at least one backup day available, with the possibility of additional backup days beyond July 17. The company will provide a livestream of the launch via its X account and the official Flight 13 mission page, as well as a prelaunch show by NASASpaceflight. In-person viewing options are available near the Cameron County Amphitheater at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and along Highway 48 between Brownsville and Port Isabel.
This launch is a significant step for SpaceX's Starship program, with the company aiming to carry astronauts to the moon and Mars in the future. The mission will be covered by Space.com, with updates on the launch day.
