SpaceX Starship Completes Suborbital Hop And First Intact Ocean Splashdown
On Thursday, July 23, 2026, SpaceX launched its 13th Starship test from Starbase, Texas, and its upper stage completed the system's first intact powered splashdown in the Indian Ocean.[1]
Liftoff occurred at 4:51 p.m. Central from Starbase, Texas.[1] The Super Heavy booster performed nominal ascent and descent guidance but made a harder-than-planned splashdown in the Gulf after fewer engines restarted than intended.[1] The Starship upper stage deployed 20 third-generation Starlink satellites, restarted a Raptor engine in space, and achieved an intact, powered splashdown in the Indian Ocean roughly one hour and five minutes after liftoff.[1] Footage and social posts highlighted what users called the softest Starship splashdown yet and showed jubilant reactions from some SpaceX staff as the livestream ended.
SpaceX debuted its Version 3 Starship and Super Heavy with Raptor 3 engines on May 22, 2026, flying from a new pad at Starbase, Texas. That twelfth flight carried modified Starlink satellites and ended with the upper stage doing a controlled flip and a two-engine splashdown in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX then readied Flight 13 to carry operational Starlink V3 satellites and to test additional reentry and recovery objectives after an engine abort and a weather delay in mid-July.
As of mid-2025 through 2026, NASA targets the first crewed Artemis lunar landing for early 2028. A SpaceX Starship variant is expected to serve as the Human Landing System on a later Artemis mission after uncrewed and crewed demonstration flights.
The mainstream summary highlights the successful aspects of SpaceX's 13th Starship test but downplays the significance of the precise flip maneuver that contributed to the softest splashdown yet. Users on social media noted the enthusiasm of SpaceX employees, who chanted 'USA! USA! USA!' as the stream concluded, reflecting a sense of national pride and achievement that the summary does not capture. Furthermore, while the summary mentions the successful deployment of Starlink satellites, it omits the detail that this was the first time all 20 satellites were deployed successfully, marking a significant milestone for the Starlink program.
Additionally, the mainstream account does not address the implications of the Super Heavy booster achieving a controlled splashdown after a successful hot-staging separation, a critical advancement that had failed in previous attempts. This progress is indicative of SpaceX's ongoing efforts to refine reusability, which is essential for future missions, including those planned for NASA's Artemis program. The data from NASA indicates that the Starship variant is expected to play a crucial role in upcoming lunar missions, a context that enhances the importance of the recent flight test beyond mere technical success.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
NASA targets the first crewed Artemis lunar landing for early 2028, with a SpaceX Starship variant serving as the Human Landing System for Artemis IV or V after demonstration missions including Artemis III in 2027.
📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, July 23, 2026, SpaceX launched its 13th Super Heavy-Starship flight from Starbase, Texas, at 5:51 p.m. EDT.
- The Super Heavy booster performed nominal ascent and descent guidance but made a harder-than-planned splashdown in the Gulf after fewer engines restarted than intended.
- The Starship upper stage deployed 20 third-generation Starlink satellites, restarted a Raptor engine in space, and made the system’s first intact, powered splashdown in the Indian Ocean roughly one hour and five minutes after liftoff.
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