SpaceX Prepares Starship for 13th Test Flight with First Real Starlink V3 Deployment

SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight could launch as soon as Thursday, carrying 20 functioning Starlink V3 satellites and attempting laser crosslink demonstrations.

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SpaceX is targeting Thursday, July 16, 2026, for the 13th full-scale test flight of its Starship vehicle, according to the company. The launch window opens at 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC), and the mission is expected to last approximately one hour.

This flight marks the second time SpaceX will use the newest version of Starship. The cargo bay will carry 20 real, functioning Starlink V3 satellites, the company says. While previous tests have used simulators to validate the payload deployment mechanism, this flight will be the first to deploy actual satellites. The deployer uses pulleys and cables to eject satellites one at a time through a side opening.

Despite carrying operational satellites, SpaceX states that these 20 Starlink V3 units will not become part of the active internet constellation. Instead, engineers plan to attempt establishing laser communication links between these satellites and other spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. Successful laser links would validate that Starlink V3 can interoperate with the previous generation of Starlink satellites.

The test represents a significant step toward operational satellite deployment from Starship, though the company has not announced when the vehicle might begin regular commercial launches.