Overview
- SpaceX launched its 13th integrated Starship test flight from Starbase on Friday, deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites into orbit, and confirmed the upper-stage made a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
- The Super Heavy booster ignited at liftoff but did not restart enough Raptor engines for a controlled landing and suffered a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The upper-stage demonstrated an in-space Raptor relight and returned with what SpaceX called its best reentry and heat-shield data to date, including imagery and sensor readings from experimental tiles.
- Investors reacted with caution after the flight, leaving SPCX trading below its IPO price, and federal regulators and independent analysts are reviewing telemetry and hardware from the mission.
- Reliable booster engine restarts and recoveries remain the program’s critical hurdles because full reusability is needed for large Starlink launches and for meeting NASA’s Artemis schedule, so SpaceX’s next steps will shape near-term launch plans and safety approvals.