SpaceX Starship V3 completes milestone test flight, first since IPO
The 124-meter rocket lifted off from Texas on Friday, performing a soft Indian Ocean splashdown. It was the 13th test for the mega-rocket and the second of its upgraded V3 version, marking the first flight since SpaceX's record public debut in June.
Launch profile
SpaceX's Starship rocket lifted off from its Texas launch site on Friday, 24 July 2026, at just before 6 p.m. local time (23:00 GMT). The 124-metre vehicle, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever developed, completed its 13th test flight and the second of the upgraded V3 version. The previous V3 test had also been successful, but this mission was the first since SpaceX's record stock market debut in mid-June, making it a milestone watched closely by investors and engineers alike. After a clean liftoff, the two stages separated as planned. The Super Heavy booster descended toward the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship upper stage continued on its arc toward the Indian Ocean.
Splashdown and reactions
The booster hit the water somewhat harder than expected, but the upper stage executed its most controlled landing so far. It settled gently on the surface of the Indian Ocean, drawing chants of "USA, USA" from SpaceX engineers in the control room. Dan Huot, a SpaceX official hosting the live broadcast, called the outcome a dream scenario and the softest splashdown the company had ever performed.
The softest splashdown we've ever done. A dream scenario.
The company had previously demonstrated the ability to catch the returning Super Heavy booster with the launch tower's mechanical arms, but for this flight it deliberately shut down several engines mid-ascent to probe the vehicle's performance limits, prioritizing data collection over a recovery attempt.
Earlier abort and rapid iteration
The successful flight came one week after an attempt was scrubbed at the last second. Several engines failed to ignite as the countdown reached zero, causing an automatic abort. Elon Musk later confirmed on X that the engines did not light as expected, triggering an automatic launch abort.
Several engines did not light as expected, triggering an automatic launch abort.
The setback had briefly renewed questions about the program's pace, but Friday's clean performance appeared to restore confidence. Under the V3 iteration, SpaceX has incorporated upgrades to engine reliability, thermal protection, and staging, building on the lessons of 13 test flights.
IPO backdrop and Moon-Mars plans
Friday's flight was the first since SpaceX's high-profile IPO in mid-June, which turned the private venture into a publicly traded giant. The capital raised is set to accelerate Starship development for a range of missions, including rapid Earth-to-Earth travel, crewed lunar landings as part of NASA's Artemis program, and, eventually, the colonization of Mars. NASA has already contracted Starship as the human landing system for Artemis, meaning the vehicle's progress is closely monitored by investors and international space agencies.
