this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2026
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SpaceX

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| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2026-07-24 22:45:00 | |


|


| | Scheduled for (local) | 2026-07-24 17:45 (CDT) | | Launch Window (UTC) | 2026-07-24 22:45 to 2026-07-25 00:15 (1 hour 30 minutes) | | Launch site | Pad 2, Starbase, Texas, USA. | | Booster | B20 | | Ship | S40 | | Booster landing | Gulf of Mexico | | Ship landing | Indian Ocean |

Webcasts

| Stream | Link | |


|


| | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EnOQCjgq4E | | Everyday Astronaut | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pR0eOj9hK0 | | Spaceflight Now | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew0Xu1RT8oc | | NASASpaceflight | Stakeout Stream, Stakeout Stream (scrub), Launch Stream | | Avid Space | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIISBLdIxE | | The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvbdTQNJsHA | | VideoFromSpace | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjAvEuIZDrA | | International Rocket Launches | https://www.youtube.com/@IntRocketLaunch/streams (scrub) | | SpaceX | | | The Space Devs | https://www.youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos |

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:

☑️ 2nd launch of Starship version 3

☑️ 2nd launch from Pad 2

☑️ 63 days, 00:14:36 turnaround for this pad

☑️ 2nd Starship Full Stack launch this year, 13th overall

☑️ 89th SpaceX launch this year, 699th overall (excluding Starship hops)

☑️ 89th SpaceX launch this year, 708th overall (including Starship hops)

Mission Details

Thirteenth flight of Starship and Super Heavy. The booster’s primary test objective will be executing a successful launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and landing burn at an offshore landing point in the Gulf. There have been several modifications to hardware and software to address issues seen on the previous flight.

The Starship upper stage’s primary objectives include the deployment of 20 Starlink V3 satellites, a relight of a single Raptor engine while in space, and another controlled entry, descent, and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. There have also been several modifications to Starship’s propulsion system to address the engine out issue experienced on the previous flight.

Timeline

| Time | Event | |


|


| | 00:50:00 | SpaceX Flight Director conducts poll and verifies GO for propellant load | | 00:37:30 | Ship LOX (liquid oxygen) load underway | | 00:37:00 | Booster LOX load underway | | 00:35:25 | Booster fuel (liquid methane) load underway | | 00:34:48 | Ship fuel load underway | | 00:21:30 | Raptor begins engine chill on booster and ship | | 00:02:50 | Booster propellant load complete | | 00:02:10 | Ship propellant load complete | | 00:00:30 | SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launch | | 00:00:17 | Flame diverter activation | | 00:00:03 | Booster engine startup command | | 00:00:00 | Excitement guaranteed | | 00:00:00 | Liftoff | | 00:00:58 | Max Q (moment of peak aerodynamic stress on the rocket) | | 00:02:18 | Super Heavy MECO (most engines cut off) | | 00:02:21 | Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation) | | 00:02:25 | Super Heavy boostback burn start | | 00:03:03 | Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown | | 00:06:27 | Super Heavy landing burn start | | 00:06:53 | Super Heavy landing burn shutdown | | 00:08:05 | Starship engine cutoff | | 00:16:40 | Payload deploy demo start | | 00:27:39 | Payload deploy demo complete | | 00:38:58 | Raptor in-space relight demo | | 00:47:30 | Starship entry | | 01:02:23 | Starship is transonic | | 01:03:01 | Starship is subsonic | | 01:05:01 | Landing burn start | | 01:05:03 | Landing flip | | 01:05:12 | Landing burn 3 to 2 engines | | 01:05:19 | Landing burn 2 to 1 engine | | 01:05:21 | An exciting landing! |

Link to Starship Dev thread

top 17 comments
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[–] shadowtofu@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Engine relight over South Africa, viewed from the ground

[–] burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago

That's an insane shot! Imagine all the people who had no idea what they were seeing.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Ship has splashed down intact!

[–] burble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago

I couldn't believe it live. The drone shots were incredible. I wonder how soon they'll go for a ship catch.

Peak heating passed.

Reentry is underway.

Ship engines shutdown, nominal orbit insertion.

Looks like not all engines lit on booster landing burn startup.

All ship engines looking good.

Boostback burn shutdown.

MECO, stage separation, and good booster flip this time.

Go for prop load.

NSF stakeout stream is live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAxlKeEUSIw

Road is closed, tank farm is spooling up.

Official announcement of scrub: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2080384481043656948

Now targeting Friday, July 24 for Starship’s thirteenth flight test, due to weather.

A key objective for the flight test is to get clear imagery from the ground of Starship’s heatshield as it flies at a higher dynamic pressure during ascent, which won't be possible with today's weather conditions. Visibility is forecast to be ideal for a Friday attempt.

Beach closure has been cancelled, likely indicating a scrub for the day.

NASASpaceflight stakeout stream is live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbbODMNFH7w

Tank farm is spooling up