-
00
HOURS
:
00
MINUTES
:
00
SECONDS
13th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Second flight of Starship V3. For the first time, Starship will carry 20 V3 Starlink satellites to space, which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with ground stations in South Africa and the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers. 6 of the satellites have been modified with a suite of cameras to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to continue testing methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for return to launch site on future missions. Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test.
Second Block 3 Super Heavy booster to fly with various enhancements including Raptor 3 engines, integrated interstage and 3 grid fins instead of 4 used. Used on the 13th Starship flight test. It was lost at splashdown, having completed a nominal boostback burn, but performed its landing burn with fewer engines than planned.
Second V3 Starship, used on the 13th Starship test flight.
Launch heading 100° · E from Starship Flight 13.
Pre-launch TLEs from Dillon's Space Page. Estimated before flight — the real orbit is confirmed post-launch.
Limiting rule: No flight through cumulus cloud with top at or above the freezing level.
max cloud-top 5269 m above freezing 4972 m (61% cover in 10 nmi) · no GLM flashes within 25 nmi / 30 min, likely cirrus / stratiform ice rather than cumulus · max-top 5269 m, mean 3719 m, 61% cover, freezing 4972 m