Starship IFT-13 Stacked and Set for Launch Tonight — First V3 Starlink Satellites Aboard

SpaceX completed overnight stacking of Starship's 13th integrated flight test at Starbase's Orbital Launch Pad 2, with liftoff targeted for 6:45 p.m. EDT / 22:45 UTC on July 16, 2026 within a 90-minute window. IFT-13 pairs Super Heavy Booster 20 with Ship 40, both in the redesigned V3 configuration, and follows the FAA clearance granted July 13 after the May 22 IFT-12 booster-failure investigation. For the first time, the mission will attempt to deploy 20 operational V3 Starlink satellites, designed to extend solar arrays and antennas in flight and establish laser links with the broader constellation and South African ground stations. Booster 20 will attempt a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico rather than a tower catch, while Ship 40 will attempt a Raptor relight and controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. As of this update, the launch window has not yet opened; the outcome will be confirmed in a subsequent tracker update.