SpaceX successfully launched the first batch of its third-generation Starlink satellites on July 24, 2026, using an upgraded Starship prototype during its 13th test flight. Despite deploying these advanced satellites, the mission experienced a setback when the Super Heavy booster suffered another failure during a planned simulated landing in the Gulf of Mexico. This marks the second significant booster issue on the V3 Starship, following a similar failure during the inaugural V3 flight in May.

The upper stage of the Starship performed notably better, completing the satellite deployment and surviving atmospheric reentry. Unlike previous missions where the upper stage exploded upon water landing, this time it floated, enabling SpaceX to inspect the heat shield tiles using a drone. Although the new V3 Starlink satellites only stayed in orbit briefly, as Starship is not yet capable of reaching Earth orbit, the company could communicate with all the deployed units, representing progress for its Starlink program.

This launch took place shortly after SpaceX's record-breaking IPO in June, which was the largest in history. However, the recent rocket incidents have impacted investor confidence, contributing to a decline in SpaceX’s stock price from over $200 per share to $115, with additional drops following the booster failure. Despite these challenges, the company’s “fly, fail, fix” development approach to Starship persists as it moves toward operational reusability.

SpaceX aims for the V3 Starship to significantly boost Starlink’s downlink capacity by launching up to 60 new satellites per flight—potentially increasing capacity twenty-fold compared to Falcon 9 launches. Yet, the economic benefits hinge on recovering and reusing the Super Heavy booster, which has yet to be achieved in these test flights. SpaceX has highlighted that without a fully reusable Starship system, the expansion of Starlink would face higher costs and slower progress.