SpaceX conducted the 13th test flight of its Super Heavy-Starship launch system from Starbase near Boca Chica, Texas, lifting off at 5:51 p.m. EDT. The 397-foot rocket, powered by 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines, followed an earlier July 16 attempt that was aborted when four engines failed to start and a subsequent weather-related delay tied to Tropical Storm Bertha. In Friday’s flight, the Super Heavy booster separated as planned but experienced a high-velocity hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after fewer than the intended engines restarted. The Starship upper stage reached a sub-orbital trajectory, deployed 20 third-generation Starlink satellites, and successfully demonstrated an in-space engine reignition.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.