infrastructure
Starship Carries Its First Test Satellites
The thirteenth test flight deployed a group of demonstration Starlink satellites before the upper stage continued through its planned suborbital sequence.
Summary
The thirteenth test flight deployed a group of demonstration Starlink satellites before the upper stage continued through its planned suborbital sequence.
SpaceX launched Starship from Texas on July 24 for its thirteenth integrated test flight and, for the first time on the program, released a set of demonstration Starlink satellites on a suborbital trajectory. The upper stage completed its principal sequence, while the Super Heavy booster hit the Gulf of Mexico harder than planned during its splashdown attempt. The flight is a new mission event, distinct from the FAA clearance reported earlier this month, and it does not establish routine orbital service.
Why it matters
The thirteenth test flight deployed a group of demonstration Starlink satellites before the upper stage continued through its planned suborbital sequence.
Limits and context
- The flight is a new mission event, distinct from the FAA clearance reported earlier this month, and it does not establish routine orbital service.
Key claims
The thirteenth test flight deployed a group of demonstration Starlink satellites before the upper stage continued through its planned suborbital sequence.
Qualification: The flight is a new mission event, distinct from the FAA clearance reported earlier this month, and it does not establish routine orbital service.
Evidence: source-2026-07-26-004
Sources
- Reuters: SpaceX Starship thirteenth test flightReuters · wire report
Corrections
No corrections have been recorded for this story.