Science TechnologySaturday, 25 July 2026·The Hindu - Science
SpaceX Starship’s 13th test flight: 407-foot rocket, V3 version and Starlink deployment
SpaceX launched Starship on its 13th flight, testing 6 camera-equipped Starlinks and heat-shield sensors for future lunar missions.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, SpaceX launched its 407-foot (124-metre) Starship on the 13th flight of the rocket, with NASA monitoring the test as part of preparations for future lunar missions.
Key specifics
- The flight used the new V3 version of Starship and was the second V3 test this year.
- SpaceX replaced 6 of the 33 first-stage booster engines after a launch abort on July 16, 2026.
- The rocket carried 6 newly launched Starlinks with cameras to photograph Starship’s heat shield.
- SpaceX said more than 10,000 Starlinks are currently providing internet service.
- The report says the flight lasted about an hour, with the booster headed to the Gulf of Mexico and the spacecraft to the Indian Ocean.
Exam lens
Question type: Science and technology, space launch systems, satellite internet. TNPSC one-liner: Starship’s July 2026 test involved a 407-foot rocket, 33 booster engines, 6 camera-equipped Starlinks, and NASA oversight for lunar-lander development.