SpaceX Fires 33 Raptor 3 Engines on Booster 20, Clearing Path for Starship Flight 13
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jul 10
SpaceX Fires 33 Raptor 3 Engines on Booster 20, Clearing Path for Starship Flight 13
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jul 10
Summary
A 25-second static fire at Starbase successfully ignited all 33 upgraded Raptor 3 engines on Super Heavy Booster 20, the launcher assigned to Starship’s 13th test flight.
Booster 20 is the second Version 3 Super Heavy to reach the pad, and the test is the key prelaunch check before Flight 13, which an FAA notice indicates could lift off as early as July 15.
Flight 13 is set to repeat the basic profile of May’s Flight 12 after that mission achieved a soft Indian Ocean splashdown for the Ship upper stage but saw the booster miss its own controlled splashdown and an engine issue cancel an in-space relight.
The V3 vehicle carries upgrades including lighter avionics, a taller fuel tank and propellant-transfer hardware—capabilities SpaceX needs before moving to orbital insertion, on-pad recovery of both stages and NASA-linked lunar mission work.
Will Starship's first satellite deployment on Flight 13 finally prove its readiness for commercial operations?
Europe just revealed a rival super rocket. Can Starship master its landing before a new space race ignites?
Starship is NASA's key to the Moon. With past failures, is the entire Artemis mission timeline now in jeopardy?
Starship Flight 13: Rapid Turnaround, V3 Hardware Debut, and Starlink V3 Deployment Mark New Era for SpaceX Reusability
Overview
Starship Flight 13 is set for launch after Super Heavy Booster 20 and Ship 40 completed successful static fire tests in early July 2026, confirming the readiness of SpaceX’s latest generation hardware. The booster was transported to the Starbase pad on July 9, hoisted onto its stand by the Mechazilla arms, and prepared with essential pre-test activities like beach closure and fuel transfer. These steps cleared the way for Flight 13, marking a major milestone as SpaceX moves from building infrastructure to rapidly preparing and launching advanced Starship vehicles for ambitious missions.