Full Breakdown
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13: Launch, Hard Splashdown, and Path to Lunar Missions
7/27/2026, 8:42:24 PM
Flight 13 Launch and Flight Profile
On July 24 2026, SpaceX lifted off its Starship V3 from the Starbase facility near the U.S.–Mexico border at 6:51 p.m. ET. The 236-foot Super Heavy first-stage booster ignited all 33 third-generation Raptor engines, propelling the 407-foot stacked vehicle over the Gulf of Mexico (referred to in U.S. government communications as the Gulf of America). After the initial thrust phase, Super Heavy separated and attempted a controlled descent to the Gulf.
Delays and Weather Challenges
The mission was originally slated for July 16 2026, but a week-long engine-start issue forced a first postponement. A second scrub occurred on July 23 2026 when Tropical Storm Bertha brought adverse weather to Texas, prompting a final launch on July 24.
Booster Landing and Hard Splashdown
During the descent, five of Super Heavy’s engines failed to relight for the landing burn, causing the booster to travel faster than planned. SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot described the outcome as a “hard splashdown,” noting that the booster nonetheless achieved a controlled water landing. Reuters, citing a livestream graphic, confirmed the engine-relight failure as the cause of the accelerated splashdown.
Implications for NASA Artemis and Mars Plans
SpaceX is developing Starship as a fully reusable transport system under a NASA contract to provide a Human Landing System for the Artemis program. Successful orbital flight, in-flight refueling, and a recoverable upper stage are identified as critical milestones before the vehicle can support lunar missions and eventual crewed trips to Mars. While the hard splashdown highlights remaining technical hurdles, the flight demonstrates progress toward the three capabilities SpaceX must validate: orbital flight, mid-flight refueling, and return of the upper stage to the launch site.
Official Statements & Responses
SpaceX’s website emphasized that the launch marked the 13th integrated test of Starship and the first time the Super Heavy booster executed a water landing. The company continues to target lunar lander development for Artemis while planning future missions that could eventually support a crewed Mars orbit expedition.
