# Starship

Type: Product

Source: Space & Defense Intelligence Brief — https://getspacebrief.com/entity/starship
Canonical HTML page: https://getspacebrief.com/entity/starship

## Timeline

- **2026-07-24**: 13th Starship test flight — Successful launch from Boca Chica, Texas, carrying 20 advanced Starlinks. Booster ditched in Gulf of Mexico; Starship upper stage targeted Indian Ocean.
- **2026-07-24**: Liftoff of Starship Flight 13 — Starship and Super Heavy V3 lifted off from Starbase, Texas, at approximately 6:45 p.m. CDT on a suborbital trajectory.
- **2026-07-24**: Booster Splashdown in Gulf of Mexico — After separation, the Super Heavy V3 booster performed a controlled descent and soft splashdown; no tower catch was attempted.
- **2026-07-24**: First Starlink V3 Satellite Deployment — Starship released 20 next‑generation Starlink V3 satellites from its payload bay; the satellites burned up during reentry about 20 minutes later as planned.
- **2026-07-24**: Starship Splashdown in Indian Ocean — The upper stage survived reentry, restarted a Raptor engine in space, and made a soft, upright splashdown while continuing to transmit telemetry and video.
- **2026-07-24**: Starship Flight 13 launch — Liftoff at 5:52 p.m. CT from Starbase. Booster splashdown, satellite deployment, in-space engine relight, and upper-stage splashdown achieved.
- **2026-07-24**: Starship Completes Critical Test Flight — SpaceX launches Starship from Starbase, Texas, achieving upper-stage reentry survival and in-orbit engine relight for the first time, clearing major technical and regulatory hurdles for orbital missions.
- **2026-07-23**: Launch Window Opens at 6:45 PM ET — 13th Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, aiming to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites and achieve full mission objectives including controlled booster landing and upper stage splashdown.
- **2026-07-23**: Launch Scrubbed Due to Weather — SpaceX postponed the 13th flight test by one day because cloud cover and visibility would have prevented clear heat shield imagery during ascent.
- **2026-07-21**: New Launch Date Announced — SpaceX reschedules the launch to July 23 and confirms replacement of two Raptor engines along with additional modifications.
- **2026-07-16T17:45:00-05:00**: V3 Starship 13th flight test launch window opens — SpaceX targets liftoff from Starbase, Texas, carrying 20 upgraded Starlink satellites for a suborbital deployment and destructive reentry test.
- **2026-07-16**: Starship test launch — SpaceX conducts its first Starship test flight since the IPO, a key event for investor confidence.
- **2026-07-16**: 13th Starship Test Flight Scheduled — SpaceX's next Starship test mission is set to take place, a potential catalyst for the stock and the space industry.
- **2026-07-16**: Sharp Descent and Starship Delay — Stock closes at $131.11, down over 3%, and tumbles to $124 in after-hours trading after the company postpones the first post-IPO Starship launch.
- **2026-07-16**: Flight 13 scrubbed at T-0 — Starship’s 13th test flight is aborted automatically when some Raptor engines fail to light on Super Heavy. Propellants are offloaded, and Musk says 2 engines will be replaced.

## Recent coverage (20 stories)

### Starship Survives Reentry, Relights Engine in Orbit: 3-Pad KSC Expansion Underway
2026-07-26 03:51:51 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX's latest Starship test flight achieved the first upper-stage reentry survival and in-orbit engine relight, overcoming key technical hurdles. The success boosts regulatory confidence and accelerates infrastructure expansion at Kennedy Space Center with three planned launch pads, setting the stage for orbital flights.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-reentry-relight-3-pads-ksc

### Starship Flight 13 Deploys 20 Starlink V3 Satellites, Nails In-Space Engine Relight
2026-07-25 22:30:14 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX’s Starship completed its 13th test flight, successfully deploying 20 operational Starlink V3 satellites and reigniting a Raptor engine in space for the first time. The milestones accelerate the Starlink mega-constellation expansion and validate key technologies for orbital refueling and deep-space missions.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-flight-13-starlink-engine-relight

### Starship Flight 13 Deploys 20 Starlink V3s, Nails Splashdown
2026-07-25 03:04:59 · Sentiment: Very Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX’s 13th Starship test flight on July 24, 2026, marked the first deployment of 20 next‑gen Starlink V3 satellites and a controlled Indian Ocean splashdown. The mission validated critical systems—Raptor restart, heat shield upgrades, and payload bay operations—that pave the way for lunar landings and large‑scale constellation build‑out.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-flight-13-20-starlink-v3-deployed-splashdown

### Starship 13th Test Flies 20 Starlinks, Advancing NASA Lunar Race
2026-07-25 00:22:50 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX's V3 Starship completed its 13th flight on July 24, deploying 20 advanced Starlinks with laser links while conducting critical heat shield experiments. The mission marks a faster-than-ever turnaround after an engine abort and directly supports NASA’s Artemis lunar lander timeline.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-13th-test-20-starlinks-nasa-lunar

### SpaceX Starship Flight 13: 20 Starlink V3 Satellites Deploy July 23
2026-07-21 13:48:52 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 3

SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight on July 23 is poised to deliver the first 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites to orbit, testing full mission reuse and critical technologies for Artemis lunar landings.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/starship-flight-13-starlink-v3-launch

### Starship T-0 Abort: 2 of 33 Raptors Failed, SpaceX Swaps Engines for Next Week
2026-07-20 03:28:32 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 7

SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight was automatically aborted at ignition after multiple Raptor engines failed to light. CEO Elon Musk says two engines will be replaced, targeting a retry early next week. The scrub, days after FAA clearance from a prior mishap, highlights persistent engine-start reliability challenges as SpaceX races toward operational missions.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/starship-t0-abort-two-raptor-engine-swap-next-week

### SpaceX Stock Dips Below $135 IPO After Starship Delay, Wiping $1.2T in Value
2026-07-19 19:48:24 · Sentiment: Bearish · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 6

SpaceX shares fell below $135 for the first time since its June IPO, with a Starship launch delay accelerating the decline. For the space and defense sector, the sell-off threatens the capital-intensive vision behind Starlink, lunar contracts, and Pentagon launch reliance.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-stock-below-ipo-starship-delay-space-impact

### Starship Aborts 13th Flight at T-3: 4 Engines Fail, 2 Replaced
2026-07-19 17:13:50 · Sentiment: Bearish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 13

SpaceX's Starship aborted its 13th test flight at T-3 seconds on July 16, 2026, after 4 of 33 Raptor engines failed to ignite. The automatic shutdown validated critical safety systems, a milestone for NASA's Artemis human landing plans and an engineering stress test for the world's largest rocket.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-first-last-second-abort-engine-failure

### Starship Test Looms as SpaceX Market Cap Slips 34% to $1.75T
2026-07-16 22:22:52 · Sentiment: Bearish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2

As SpaceX's stock falls below its $135 IPO price for the first time, market cap drops 34% to $1.75 trillion, casting a shadow over the upcoming 13th Starship test flight. The volatility highlights the tension between ambitious deep-space engineering and public market expectations.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-test-market-cap-slips-1-75t

### SpaceX's 13th Starship test flies 20 satellites in first post-$86B IPO mission
2026-07-16 11:07:25 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2

The first Starship launch since SpaceX's historic $86 billion IPO aims to demonstrate V3 vehicle reliability with a payload of 20 upgraded Starlink satellites. A flawless mission is critical for investor confidence, NASA's Artemis timeline, and heavy-lift defense applications, while a failure could rattle public markets.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-13th-flight-post-ipo-starlink

### SpaceX Stock Slips to $135 Before Starship Launch: Can Rocket Recovery Lift It?
2026-07-15 21:30:15 · Sentiment: Bearish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2

Ahead of its first Starship test since going public, SpaceX's share price has fallen to its $135 IPO level, raising stakes for the July 16 launch. The space sector watches closely: a successful flight could restore confidence in Elon Musk's vision, while a failure may deepen doubts about the company's $86 billion valuation.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-stock-135-starship-launch

### SpaceX 47th 2026 Florida Launch, Starship Booster Failure Root Causes Found
2026-07-15 12:37:06 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX's Falcon 9 launched its 47th mission from Florida's Space Coast this year with 29 Starlink satellites, while the FAA cleared the way for Starship's next test flight. The agency accepted SpaceX's mishap investigation citing propulsion heat effects and faulty engine alarms for the Super Heavy booster loss in May. The contrasting operations showcase SpaceX's dominance in routine launch and iterative heavy-lift development.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-47th-florida-launch-starship-faa-review

### SpaceX Analyst Targets Range $225–$800 as Stock Stays at $150
2026-07-10 00:18:47 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 31

Wall Street banks see SpaceX shares surging to $225–$800, but the stock trades flat at $150 a month after its IPO. Underpinning the bullish forecasts are commanding launch metrics and Starlink cash flow, yet investors weigh the risks of Starship execution and valuation.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-stock-150-analyst-targets-225-800

### SpaceX's 30% Post-IPO Plunge Hinges on Starship's $25B Bet
2026-06-26 04:06:43 · Sentiment: Bearish · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 3

SpaceX's stock has nosedived 30% from its IPO high as the company announces a staggering $25 billion bond offering for Starship development. For the space industry, the move reveals both the immense capital needed for next-gen heavy-lift rockets and the risky pivot of its AI division, xAI, into orbital compute sales.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-30-percent-drop-starship-funding

### SpaceX bond debut comes after $1.8T IPO as Starship development costs soar
2026-06-24 10:41:42 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 3

SpaceX issued its first-ever bonds days after a record IPO, aiming to fund Starship and AI infrastructure without diluting Musk's voting control. The move signals a capital-intensive era for the space giant, which posted a net loss despite 33% revenue growth, as it expands both rocket and AI capabilities.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-bond-market-starship-ai-funding

### SpaceX’s 82% Launch Share Powers $2.6T Valuation After Historic IPO
2026-06-22 00:29:11 · Sentiment: Bullish · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX’s IPO underscored its utter dominance of the space economy. With 82% of U.S. commercial launches and 170 missions in 2025, it now boasts a $2.6 trillion market cap, fueling ambitions from Starship to satellite-to-mobile networks.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-82-percent-launch-share-2-6-trillion-valuation-ipo

### $401 SpaceX Target Depends Entirely on an Unflown Rocket
2026-06-21 00:18:43 · Sentiment: Very Bullish · Impact: 7/10 · Sources: 3

Arete Research’s $401 price target for SpaceX isn’t just a financial call—it’s a wager on Starship achieving commercial viability. Without that heavy-lift rocket, the Starlink V3 satellites that form the analyst’s thesis remain grounded, leaving the stock’s upside highly uncertain.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-stock-target-hinges-on-starship

### Starship, Starlink, and $2.1T: Shotwell Maps SpaceX’s Post-IPO Path for Investors
2026-06-15 00:18:14 · Sentiment: Very Bullish · Impact: 9/10 · Sources: 3

With SpaceX valued above $2.1 trillion after its record IPO, President Gwynne Shotwell points investors to three aerospace and AI engines that will define the company’s trajectory.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-starship-starlink-ai-post-ipo-metrics

### SpaceX's $2.1T IPO Unleashes Enormous Capital for Mars and Orbital AI Megaprojects
2026-06-13 00:45:15 · Sentiment: Very Bullish · Impact: 9/10 · Sources: 54

SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO at a market cap of $2.1 trillion delivers an unprecedented funding surge for Starship, Starlink, and space-based AI data centers. Elon Musk becomes the first trillionaire as investors bet billions on his vision for human settlement on Mars and a reimagined orbital economy.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-2-trillion-ipo-mars-colony-funding

### SpaceX roadshow lifts off with 22,000‑strong crew and Mars no longer an IPO gate
2026-06-12 11:25:43 · Sentiment: Very Bullish · Impact: 8/10 · Sources: 2

SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell reveals that the investor roadshow has started and that the company no longer requires regular Mars missions before going public. The decision reflects the maturity of SpaceX’s launch and Starlink businesses, but the organization’s 22,000 employees and Starship factory remain focused on the ‘very futuristic’ goal of multiplanetary life.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-ipo-roadshow-shotwell-22k-employees-mars-precondition-lifted

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