SpaceX launched its Starship heavy-lift rocket from its Starbase facility in Texas, successfully completing the 13th integrated flight test of the program.

This test marked a significant first by successfully placing 20 next-generation Starlink V3 operational satellites into their intended orbit. It also achieved the most controlled splashdown of the Starship spacecraft to date in the Indian Ocean.

This test marks a shift for Starship from previous missions that used mass simulators to one that actually performed a payload deployment mission. The rocket successfully released 20 Starlink V3 satellites during the suborbital flight phase, effectively validating the reliability of the payload deployment system in a real flight environment.

According to the company, the 20 satellites established brief communication with the existing Starlink network before being deliberately de-orbited and burning up in the atmosphere as planned. During the flight, the spacecraft also successfully conducted a second in-space ignition test of its Raptor engine.

After completing the payload deployment, the Starship spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere and executed a controlled splashdown in the designated area of the Indian Ocean. Test data indicates that the improved thermal protection system performed well, with the spacecraft maintaining a high degree of structural integrity before touching the water. This provided critical engineering data regarding thermal protection, flight control, and structural performance.

Meanwhile, the first-stage Super Heavy booster failed to achieve a controlled soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The booster was lost because some of its engines failed to ignite during the return maneuver.

SpaceX stated that this test further validates the overall performance of the Starship system, accumulating crucial experience for achieving complete reusability of the launch system. Under the company's roadmap, Starship is not only intended to be the primary launch vehicle for the next generation of Starlink satellites but will also be responsible for crewed and cargo missions for NASA's Artemis lunar program and future Mars exploration.