SpaceX Starship Completes 13th Test Flight With Splashdowns

SpaceX Starship Completes 13th Test Flight With Ocean Splashdowns

The launch took place at 6:51 p.m. Eastern, according to spacenews.com. About two minutes into the flight, the Super Heavy booster detached from the Starship spacecraft and made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, as reported by CNBC. While SpaceX did not attempt to return the booster to the launchpad, spokesperson Dan Huot explained on the launch webcast that not all Raptor engines needed for the landing burn started up, causing the booster to hit the water at a higher speed than planned, according to spacenews.com.

Deployment of Next-Generation Starlink V3 Satellites

Once in space, the Starship upper stage deployed 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites into a suborbital trajectory, marking the first time the company carried functioning operational satellites of this version rather than mass simulators. The satellites underwent about 20 minutes of testing before reentry, including the deployment of solar arrays and antennas, along with communications tests.

We've successfully communicated with all sats using RF [radio-frequency] and laser links and been able to download key telemetry, SpaceX executive Michael Nicolls stated on social media, as noted by spacenews.com. Built in Redmond, Washington, the new V3 satellites are larger, more powerful, and equipped with solar arrays that generate twice as much power as prior generations.

Upper Stage Reentry and Heat Shield Data Collection

Following satellite deployment, the Starship upper stage performed a relight of a Raptor engine lasting about 14 seconds. The spacecraft then executed a reentry and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean approximately 65.5 minutes after liftoff, off the coast of Western Australia.

Although the ship toppled over into the water, it did not immediately explode and continued to transmit imagery. This is the first time we've put an intact Starship in the water, SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said on the launch webcast, describing it as a dream scenario for the team that's trying to get this heat shield data, according to spacenews.com.

Preflight Investigation Into Engine Aborts

The successful flight followed extensive troubleshooting after the initial launch attempt on July 16 was aborted at the last second. On-screen telemetry data and subsequent investigations revealed that four out of 33 engines in the booster failed to ignite properly due to problems with their liquid oxygen turbopumps.

SpaceX found that moisture accumulated in the turbopumps and froze upon contact with cryogenic propellant, creating an off-nominal spin response that slowed or stopped the pumps in six engines. SpaceX replaced the engines and tested them on the pad on July 22 before clearing the vehicle for flight.