All rocket programs

Starship

SpaceX's fully reusable super-heavy launch system is back in countdown mode for Flight 13 after Flight 12 successfully opened the Starship V3 and Pad 2 era.

Vehicle

V3 stack

Starship / Super Heavy

Launch site

Orbital Launch Pad 2

Starbase, Texas

Window

07:00 PM CDT

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 · 12:00 AM UTC

Starship on the launch pad

Next mission

Flight 13

TBD

Countdown

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HRS
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Campaign readiness

25%

25%Ready

Checklist

1/12

8% of public signals confirmed

Flight 12 success

Starship V3 has flown. Flight 13 is next.

Flight 12 lifted off from Starbase Pad 2 on May 22, 2026, moving the first V3 stack out of watch mode and into the post-flight record. The page now uses that flight as the baseline for the next countdown.

Watch replayRead recap

Result

Launched

Date

May 22, 2026

Next up

Flight 13

Flight 13 Countdown Path

The page is back in watch mode for Flight 13; these are the public signals to watch next.

01Now

Vehicle hardware

Finish Ship 40 checkout and Booster 20 buildout before the next stack can move into flight processing.

02Now

Single-vehicle tests

Complete Ship 40 cryoproof and static-fire work, then close Booster 20 cryo, spin-prime, and static-fire testing.

03Next

Stack and wet dress

Roll Ship 40 and Booster 20 to Pad 2, fully stack them, and run a full propellant-loading countdown rehearsal.

04Watch

Range and approvals

Close FAA approval, notices, downrange coordination, weather, and the official launch window before Flight 13.

Flight 13 Mission Objectives

Expected flight-test goals once the next V3 stack leaves Pad 2.

Primary

Booster objectives

Booster 20 needs to turn Flight 12's booster lessons into a clean return profile, with boost-back relight as the major correction item.

  • Successful ascent and stage separation
  • Clean multi-engine boost-back burn after Booster 19's relight failure
  • Return-to-launch-site profile toward Pad 2
  • Possible chopstick catch attempt if confidence supports it
Primary

Ship objectives

Ship 40 is expected to push Starship toward true orbital operations: orbit, deorbit capability, repeatable reentry, and a cleaner landing profile.

  • Reach orbit and complete at least one revolution around Earth
  • Demonstrate in-space Raptor relight for a controlled deorbit burn
  • Survive reentry with the V3 heat shield
  • Execute banking and flip maneuvers that simulate a Starbase return
  • Perform a clean three-engine landing burn
  • Possible first Ship catch attempt at Starbase if assigned
Secondary

Payload objectives

Flight 13 may move Starship from simulator deployment toward operational Starlink V3 delivery.

  • Potential deployment of operational Starlink V3 satellites
  • Follow Flight 12's 22 Starlink simulator pathfinder test
  • Prove the payload-bay sequence with revenue hardware if assigned
  • Gather data for future high-volume Starlink deployment
Program

Program-level objectives

Flight 13 is the gateway test for faster Pad 2 reuse, orbital Starship operations, and the V3 architecture needed for refueling and Artemis work.

  • Validate Pad 2 reuse and faster turnaround after its Flight 12 debut
  • Gather data toward orbital propellant-transfer capability
  • Stress-test Raptor 3, the taller booster, heat shield, and pad systems
  • Continue experimental V3 maneuvers such as flap stress or tile-removal tests

Recent Flight Log

Flights 9-13, newest first.

F13

Flight 13

TBD

13th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Second flight of Starship V3

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 · 12:00 AM UTCStarship V3Orbital Launch Pad 2
F12

Flight 12

Success

Opened the V3 and Pad 2 era with Starship's twelfth integrated flight, moving the program into post-flight data review and Flight 13 preparation.

Friday, May 22, 2026 · 10:30 PM UTCStarship V3Orbital Launch Pad 2
F11

Flight 11

Success

Closed out the V2 era with a successful flight before the program moved to Starship V3 and Pad 2.

Monday, October 13, 2025 · 11:23 PM UTCStarship V2Orbital Launch Pad 1
F10

Flight 10

Success

Returned Starship to a successful integrated flight profile and closed key V2 ascent and reentry objectives.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 · 11:30 PM UTCStarship V2Orbital Launch Pad 1
F9

Flight 9

Failure

Continued the V2 campaign with another full-stack test, but did not complete the planned flight profile.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 · 11:36 PM UTCStarship V2Orbital Launch Pad 1