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Key points
- SpaceX launched Starship Friday from Starbase, Texas, on its 13th test flight and first since the company’s initial public offering last month.
- The Super Heavy booster separated roughly two minutes after liftoff and made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf, SpaceX said.
- Some booster engines relit during the landing burn, producing a harder-than-planned splashdown, according to SpaceX.
- The upper stage reached the Indian Ocean and landed intact, giving SpaceX its first views of an undamaged heatshield, the company said.
- The mission released 20 Starlink V3 satellites about 18 minutes after launch; SpaceX expected them to reenter roughly 20 minutes later.
- The flight was Starship V3’s second mission and followed a weather delay Thursday and a launch stoppage on July 16.
How the story developed
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Latest development
Starship completed its 13th test flight Friday, with the upper stage reaching the Indian Ocean intact after deploying 20 Starlink V3 satellites.
Latest development
SpaceX completed Starship’s 13th test flight, with the upper stage splashing down intact in the Indian Ocean while the booster made a harder Gulf splashdown.
Initial report
SpaceX's Starship splashes down in Indian Ocean after successful test flight.
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