SpaceX’s Starship lifted off from Starbase on July 24, 2026, deploying its first generation Starlink V3 satellites and completing a successful test flight.

SpaceX’s Starship lifted off from Starbase on July 24, 2026, deploying its first‑generation Starlink V3 satellites and completing a successful test flight.

Mission Overview

The thirteenth flight test marked the first operational deployment of the new Starlink V3 constellation, featuring higher‑throughput payloads and enhanced orbital coverage.

Starship launched on a fully reusable trajectory, reaching an altitude of approximately 200 km before beginning its planned descent and landing sequence at the designated pad.

Launch Profile and Performance

The vehicle’s Super Heavy booster ignited for a 2‑minute burn, delivering 7.5 million pounds of thrust. After stage separation, the Starship second stage performed a precise orbital insertion burn, placing the payloads into a near‑circular orbit at 540 km altitude.

Telemetry indicated nominal engine performance throughout the ascent, with thrust vector control maintaining the vehicle within 0.2° of its intended flight path.

Satellite Deployment

A total of 60 Starlink V3 satellites were released in a single deployment sequence, each equipped with phased‑array antennas and electric propulsion for on‑orbit maneuvering.

The satellites will begin a 30‑day commissioning phase, after which they will join the existing network to boost global broadband capacity.

  • 60 Starlink V3 satellites deployed
  • First operational use of upgraded V3 payloads
  • Successful reuse of both booster and spacecraft

Landing and Reusability

Starship executed a controlled re‑entry, deploying its aerodynamic flaps to manage heat and deceleration. The vehicle touched down on the Starbase landing pad with a soft vertical landing, ready for refurbishment.

The successful recovery underscores SpaceX’s ongoing strategy to lower launch costs through rapid turnaround of fully reusable launch systems.

“Another milestone for Starship and the Starlink program,” said SpaceX’s launch director, highlighting the mission’s significance for global connectivity.

SpaceX coverage of Starship flight 13