SpaceX Stacks Starship for 13th Test Launch in 90-Minute July 16 Window

3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jul 16

Booster 20 and Ship 40 were stacked at Starbase overnight, putting SpaceX’s Starship on the pad for Flight 13 later Thursday.
A 90-minute launch window opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT, with Flight 13 set to be the 13th Starship test since 2023 and the second mission using the upgraded Version 3 design.
The launch follows recent pad moves and engine testing, including a static fire last week and a full vehicle stack intended to confirm readiness before liftoff.
Flight 13 is a critical test of Starship V3 upgrades and mission profile continuity less than two months after the configuration’s debut.

Sources

Left100%

Space.com3h ago

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Stacked for July 16 Test Launch from Starbase

Tesla Oracle - Elon Musk, Tesla, SpaceX News3h ago

Starship's 13th Flight is still on track for tomorrow, says Musk — launch preps and objectives, Starlink V3 deployment, more - Tesla Oracle

Tech Times1d ago

Starship Flight 13 Fuels Up for Thursday: Raptor Relight Is the Only Test That Matters

8 Sources

With NASA's Artemis mission depending on it, can Starship's critical 13th flight finally overcome its previous test failures?

Beyond today's launch, can SpaceX master the orbital refueling needed to unlock Starship’s path to the Moon and Mars?

As Starship reaches for the stars, could a mounting environmental lawsuit on Earth threaten the future of its Texas launch site?

Starship Flight 13: Critical Heat Shield Evaluation, Starlink V3 Payload, and FAA Investigation Outcomes

Overview

Starship Flight 13, launching on July 16, 2026, uses an upgraded Starship and Super Heavy V3 booster to advance SpaceX’s goals. The mission’s main focus is to test Starship’s heat shield and prepare for future return-to-launch-site operations. To achieve this, six of the 20 Starlink V3 satellites carry special cameras to scan the heat shield during flight, providing valuable data. These efforts help SpaceX gather crucial information, improve vehicle design, and move closer to fully reusable launches, supporting both near-term objectives and the long-term vision for Starship’s role in space exploration.

...