SpaceX launches 13th Starship test, first since IPO, booster falters
SpaceX conducted the 13th flight test of its Starship rocket, its first launch since the company's IPO last month, carrying 20 next-generation V3 Starlink satellites as payload. TechCrunch reported the vehicle ticked off milestones on the second Starship V3 flight but appeared to suffer another issue while relighting the booster's rocket engines.
Why it matters
Continued booster problems complicate SpaceX's push to make Starship operational, even as it begins deploying the larger V3 Starlink satellites that anchor its business.
Sources
finite. summarises the reporting above and links to each original. We do not reproduce full articles. Read the sources for complete coverage.
Part of the July 25, 2026 brief.