SpaceX launches 13th Starship test flight, deploys 20 next-generation Starlink satellites
SpaceX successfully launched its 13th Starship test flight, which included the deployment of 20 next-generation Starlink satellites. The mission tested heat shield durability and re-entry procedures as part of the company's broader goals for lunar and Mars missions.
Why it matters
Advancements in reusable heavy-lift launch vehicles are essential for reducing the cost of space access and supporting long-term lunar exploration.
SpaceX on Friday launched its Starship rocket on its 13th test flight, sending the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle into space carrying 20 next-generation Starlink satellites as the company advanced its plans for future Moon and Mars missions.The 407-foot (124-metre) rocket lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in southern Texas after an earlier launch attempt was aborted last week when six engines on the first-stage booster failed to ignite. The company replaced the engines before Friday's successful liftoff.The hour-long mission marked the second flight this year of the upgraded Starship V3.
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