SpaceX sent its Starship V3 vehicle on another major test flight Friday, adding a satellite deployment to the mission before bringing the rocket through what was described as its best re-entry so far. The flight was the 13th overall for Starship and the second this year for the updated V3 version.
During the mission, the massive rocket released 20 of the company’s most advanced Starlink satellites. That made the test more than a simple launch-and-return exercise, as SpaceX used the flight to demonstrate both payload delivery and improvements in how the vehicle performs on its way back.
Starship, which stands about 407 feet tall, is widely regarded as the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. The latest flight stretched roughly halfway around the world, continuing the company’s pattern of using long-distance test profiles to gather data on launch, in-space operations, and atmospheric return.
The result points to steady progress for SpaceX as it refines Starship for future missions. While the program remains in the test phase, a successful satellite deployment paired with a stronger re-entry marks an important step for the heavy-lift rocket and for the expansion of the Starlink network.
