Starship 13th Flight Test Set for Launch Next Week; 90-Minute Window Opens at 5:45 p.m. CT

Starship’s 13th flight test is now targeting a new launch window next week. SpaceX aborted Thursday’s attempt at the last second on July 16, 2026. Four engines on Super Heavy Booster 20 failed to ignite as planned. Elon Musk confirmed Friday that two Raptor engines will be removed and replaced. He said the “most probable launch timing is early next week” for Starship.

 The mission will again open a 90-minute window at 5:45 p.m. CT. Starship will carry 20 Starlink V3 satellites on this suborbital test flight. SpaceX stock fell more than 3% in after-hours trading following the abort.

Starship’s Aborted Launch Attempt Explained

Starship’s countdown reached ignition before SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) halted the launch Thursday evening. Telemetry showed four engines on Super Heavy Booster 20 failed to fire. The abort occurred right at 6:45 p.m. EDT, the window’s opening moment. SpaceX’s Dan Huot said engineers would investigate before scheduling another attempt.

What happened during Thursday’s Starship launch attempt:

• The abort came during Super Heavy’s 33-engine ignition sequence at liftoff.
• Four Raptor 3 engines reportedly failed to ignite as commanded.
• SpaceX confirmed no damage occurred to the vehicle or launch pad.
• Teams began troubleshooting the engine issue immediately after the scrub.

Musk Confirms the Fix and New Timeline

Elon Musk addressed the setback directly on social media Friday morning. He said two Raptor engines will be removed and replaced entirely. Musk added that “most probable launch timing is early next week” for Starship. That timeline suggests a relatively quick turnaround compared to past delays.

NEWS: SpaceX launches Starship today with real satellites on board for the first time

The launch window opens at 6:45 PM EDT (2245 GMT) from Starbase, Texas, and runs 90 minutes. Backup days run through July 21.

This is the big change from past flights. Starship will drop 20… https://t.co/ezGZDbEGPt pic.twitter.com/6IrCRVnmlA

— Muskonomy (@muskonomy) July 16, 2026

Starship’s Mission Objectives for Flight 13

Starship Flight 13 aims to repeat and improve upon Flight 12’s mostly successful outcome. The mission will deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, the first of their kind. Six of those satellites carry cameras to inspect Starship’s heat shield performance. All satellites will burn up in the atmosphere given the suborbital trajectory.

Key technical details behind Starship Flight 13’s design:

• Super Heavy Booster 20 carries 33 Raptor 3 engines total.
• The booster generates up to 18 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
• Starship can hold over 5,000 metric tons of propellant combined.
• The booster will attempt a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Why Flight 12 Fell Short of Full Success

Flight 12 launched May 22, 2026, using the first Starship V3 vehicle. That mission suffered an ascent engine-out and failed boostback burn. The FAA closed its Flight 12 mishap investigation on July 13, 2026. Investigators cited heat damage to propulsion components and faulty alarm settings.

Regulatory Clearance Paved the Way for Flight 13

SpaceX identified four corrective actions following the FAA’s Flight 12 investigation findings. Those fixes included both vehicle hardware and software configuration updates. The FAA’s clearance allowed SpaceX to proceed toward Thursday’s launch attempt. That approval, however, offered no guarantee against Thursday’s separate engine ignition issue.

Starship’s broader test flight history and design goals:

• Starship stands more than 400 feet, or 121 meters, tall overall.
• Thursday’s attempt marked the vehicle’s 13th test flight since 2023.
• SpaceX designs Starship for full reusability across booster and upper stage.
• The company aims to eventually fly Starship to the Moon and Mars.

Why Starlink V3 Matters Beyond This Flight

Starlink V3 satellites represent a major capacity upgrade over earlier generations. These satellites will extend solar arrays and antennas once fully operational in orbit. SpaceX has already launched over 12,500 Starlink satellites since the program began. Flight 13 would mark the V3 generation’s first appearance aboard Starship itself.

SpaceX Stock Reacted Sharply to the Abort

Thursday’s launch attempt was the first since SpaceX’s Nasdaq debut in June. SpaceX shares fell more than 3% in after-hours trading following the scrub. That decline came after shares had already dropped below their $135 IPO price. Investors are now watching Starship’s launch cadence as a direct stock catalyst.

Final Thoughts

Starship’s aborted countdown shows the challenges of flying an experimental megarocket regularly. Musk’s swift response, replacing two engines, signals confidence in a fast turnaround. Next week’s launch window will again test Starship’s V3 booster and Starlink deployment systems. SpaceX’s public stock listing now adds fresh scrutiny to every launch attempt. A successful Flight 13 would mark real progress toward Starship’s long-term reusability goals.

Disclaimer:

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