South Texas Starship test reaches intact ocean splashdown
PUBLISHED Jul 27, 2026, 12:08 AM ET
Read, Watch or Listen
SpaceX’s Starship completed its 13th full-scale test flight from South Texas, flying for about an hour and crossing roughly half the globe before executing a precise splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The vehicle remained structurally intact, slowly tipping over and floating off Australia’s coast, allowing drone inspections that showed more than 18,000 ceramic heat tiles withstood temperatures near 1,430 degrees Celsius. The Super Heavy booster failed to achieve a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after some Raptor engines did not restart, though it completed a full 33-engine return burn. Elon Musk indicated the next flight may attempt a launch-tower catch of Starship itself, a key step for NASA’s Artemis-related plans.
By Shahbaz A. | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Earlier this year SpaceX upgrades Starship configuration
- This week Starship launches from South Texas
- This week Vehicle crosses half the globe
- This week Starship splashes down Indian Ocean
- This week Drones inspect intact Starship heatshield
- This week Super Heavy impacts Gulf of Mexico
- This week Starlink V3 satellites deployed from Starship
- After flight Musk targets tower Starship catch
News Intelligence
- SpaceX's Starship test is a leap forward in space travel. It's not just about astronauts. This could mean faster global travel for everyone. Imagine flying from Texas to Australia in an hour. Keep an eye on SpaceX's progress.
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