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SpaceX Plans July 16 Launch of Starship Flight 13 from South Texas
SpaceX will attempt its 13th Starship test flight on July 16, 2026, carrying 20 larger Starlink satellites for the first time. The V3 prototype will launch from Starbase near Boca Chica Beach with a 90-minute window starting at 6:45 p.m. ET.
Jul 15, 9:02 AM·1m read2 sources
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SpaceX plans to launch Starship Flight 13 on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from its Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. Usa Today reported that the launch window opens at 6:45 p.m. ET and closes at 8:15 p.m.
ET. The flight marks the second test of the V3 prototype and the 13th overall Starship mission since April 2023. The V3 Starship stands 407 feet tall when stacked, with a 236-foot Super Heavy booster and 171-foot upper stage.
Usa Today reported that the vehicle will carry 20 larger Starlink satellites for the first time. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas, attempt to link with the Starlink constellation, and burn up in the atmosphere after roughly 20 minutes. The Super Heavy booster will attempt a water landing in the Gulf of America.
The upper stage will target a landing in the Indian Ocean. Usa Today reported that these objectives mirror those of the prior flight on May 22, 2025, when the booster landed in the Gulf of America and the upper stage landed and exploded in the Indian Ocean after deploying 20 mock satellites. Starbase gained official town status from Cameron County, Texas voters in May 2025.
Usa Today reported that SpaceX holds a NASA contract to develop a lunar lander version of Starship for the Artemis III mission scheduled for 2027. The company webcast begins at 6:15 p.m. ET on July 16, with a backup launch day set for July 17 at the same time.
A NASASpaceflight preflight show starts at 3 p.m. ET on July 15.
