SpaceX successfully launched and deployed its first third-generation (V3) Starlink satellites on Friday during the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket.
The mission marked another important step for the company’s next-generation launch system, although it also ended with another setback when the Super Heavy booster failed during its planned simulated landing in the Gulf of Mexico.
The booster completed more of its flight than it did during the first Starship V3 test in May. However, it was unable to restart all of the engines needed for the landing burn. As a result, it struck the water at a higher speed than expected and exploded after impact.
This is the second failure involving the Super Heavy booster on the upgraded Starship V3 design. During the first V3 test in May, the booster experienced problems shortly after separating from the upper stage. Despite the latest booster failure, the upper stage performed much better this time.
The launch took place just over a week after SpaceX had to cancel its previous Starship test moments after engine ignition because several rocket engines failed. To prevent another repeat, the company replaced six engines before Friday’s mission.
The Starship upper stage completed its planned flight without major issues. Unlike the previous V3 test, it did not lose a rocket engine during ascent and successfully deployed the new V3 Starlink satellites. The vehicle then survived atmospheric reentry and carried out a simulated landing in the Indian Ocean about one hour after liftoff.
One unexpected success came after splashdown. Instead of breaking apart as it had on previous missions, the upper stage remained floating on the water. This allowed SpaceX to send a drone to inspect the heat shield tiles, providing engineers with valuable data for future flights.
Although the new Starlink satellites were successfully deployed, they reentered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up roughly 20 minutes later because Starship is not yet capable of reaching orbit. SpaceX confirmed it maintained communication with all of the satellites before they reentered, making the mission an important milestone for the Starlink program.
The upgraded V3 Starlink satellites are designed to significantly improve the performance of SpaceX’s satellite internet network. According to the company, a single Starship could eventually launch 60 of these satellites, delivering up to twenty times more downlink capacity than a Falcon 9 mission carrying current-generation satellites.
However, the repeated loss of the Super Heavy booster raises questions about how quickly SpaceX can achieve fully reusable Starship operations. In regulatory filings, the company has acknowledged that without a reusable Starship system, Starlink’s expansion will continue at a slower pace and at a higher cost.
The mission was also closely watched by investors because it was SpaceX’s first Starship launch since the company’s historic public offering in June. Following last week’s aborted launch attempt, the company’s stock fell as investors reacted to the delays. Shares have dropped from a post-IPO high of more than $200 to close at $115 on Friday, and they briefly declined again in after-hours trading following the booster failure before recovering some of those losses.
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SpaceX Deploys First V3 Starlink Satellites as Starship Test Ends with Booster Failure
