FAA Clears SpaceX Starship to Resume Flights, Paving Way for July 16 Launch

3 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 13

SpaceX can fly Starship again after the FAA accepted corrective actions tied to the May Super Heavy booster failure, clearing the way for a launch as soon as July 16.
The investigation traced the most likely causes to heat effects on propulsion components and faulty engine alarm settings; SpaceX also said startup differences caused the booster to flip 90 degrees the wrong way during separation.
SpaceX said it changed the engine startup sequence, improved relight reliability, and modified alarm and abort systems after the booster failed to reignite and splashed into the Gulf on the May 22 V3 test.
The next flight would be the second V3 Starship launch and the first to carry 20 third-generation Starlink satellites, including six with cameras, after earlier tests flew only dummy versions.
Those V3 Starship and Starlink systems are central to SpaceX's post-IPO growth plan, with Starlink its only profitable business before the company's record $86 billion Nasdaq listing in June.

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12 Sources

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Starship Flight 13: Pioneering Reusable Spaceflight and Starlink V3 Deployment in 2026

Overview

Starship Flight 13, scheduled for July 16, 2026, is a major test for SpaceX’s fully integrated Starship system. This mission will not only test the reliability of the rocket but also launch next-generation Starlink V3 satellites for the first time. The flight aims to advance the development of a fully reusable space transport system by executing a complete flight profile for the Super Heavy booster and deploying advanced satellites. By combining vehicle and satellite testing in one mission, SpaceX is taking a significant step toward rapid, reusable spaceflight and expanding global internet coverage.

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