SpaceX launched Starship Flight 13 on July 24, deploying 20 next-generation V3 Starlink satellites and achieving an intact ocean landing in the Indian Ocean. The test occurred just after 6:50 p.m. Eastern from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, and marked the first Starship flight since SpaceX completed its June initial public offering. Despite meeting all major test objectives, SPCX stocks remained near $115, trading approximately 15% below the company's $135 IPO price, reflecting continued investor caution about the cash-intensive Starship program and its execution risk as a newly public company.
SpaceX Flight 13 Deploys 20 V3 Starlink Satellites
SpaceX launched Starship atop its Super Heavy V3 booster from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, just after 6:50 p.m. Eastern on July 24 after several technical glitches and delays. The rocket's upper stage deployed its full payload of 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, some fitted with cameras to monitor the heat shield during reentry. The satellites were expected to burn up roughly 20 minutes after deployment, as planned for this test configuration.
The upper stage achieved a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, its smoothest ocean landing to date, giving engineers their first clear view of an intact heat shield after reentry. SpaceX called the flight a success overall, saying all major test objectives were met.
The V3 Starlink satellites carried on this flight represent a significant upgrade over the constellation's current generation. SpaceX says the new satellites can support up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps) of downlink capacity, roughly 10 times the throughput of V2 satellites, and 160 gigabits per second (Gbps) of uplink, a 22-fold increase. This was the first Starship flight to carry the V3 design into orbit-bound deployment.
SPCX Stocks Trade Near $115 After Successful Test
Shares of SpaceX slid into the test with clear investor caution, with SPCX falling 2.7% on the trading day before launch, marking a new closing low of $115.07 and a 7.2% decline for the week. Pre-market trading on July 24 saw shares dip a further 1.15% to $113 ahead of the launch window.
Following the test, SpaceX stocks barely moved, even though the flight met its major objectives. Shares were trading around $115, about 1.2% above the stock's all-time low of $110.85 and roughly 15% below the $135 price investors paid at SpaceX's June initial public offering.
SpaceX Conducts First Starship Test as Public Company
Friday's flight carried extra weight as the first Starship test to fly since SpaceX completed its June IPO, giving public shareholders a live, real-time look at the program's execution risk for the first time. Starship has long been central to SpaceX's long-term ambitions, from Starlink's global broadband buildout to NASA's Artemis lunar lander program.
The Super Heavy booster experienced a landing burn failure during the test. SpaceX has not announced a date for Starship's next test flight and engineers will likely focus on diagnosing the Super Heavy booster's landing burn failure before attempting another Gulf of Mexico recovery.
FAQ
What did SpaceX accomplish on Flight 13?
SpaceX launched Starship Flight 13 on July 24, deploying 20 V3 Starlink satellites and achieving an intact splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The upper stage achieved its smoothest ocean landing to date, and SpaceX stated all major test objectives were met.
How did SPCX stocks react to the successful test?
SPCX stocks barely moved following the successful test, trading near $115. Shares remained approximately 15% below the $135 price investors paid at SpaceX's June IPO and about 1.2% above the stock's all-time low of $110.85.
What are V3 Starlink satellites?
V3 Starlink satellites can support up to 1 terabit per second of downlink capacity, roughly 10 times the throughput of V2 satellites, and 160 gigabits per second of uplink, a 22-fold increase. Flight 13 was the first Starship flight to carry the V3 design into orbit-bound deployment.
