Starship’s 13th test flight deploys Starlink V3 satellites but remains partial

Starship’s 13th test flight on July 24, 2026, marks a first: the mega-rocket of SpaceX carried and deployed 20 operational Starlink V3 satellites. However, these satellites did not reach orbit, and the flight remains a suborbital test, far from full validation.

20 Starlink V3 satellites on board, but not in orbit

Unlike previous tests, Starship carried real satellites for the first time, rather than mass simulators. The 20 Starlink V3 were deployed, unfolded their solar panels, and tested their thrusters. They also established connections with the rest of the constellation via radio waves and laser links. Clubic notes, however, that these satellites did not reach orbit: they followed Starship’s suborbital trajectory without completing a full orbit of Earth.

Each Starlink V3 promises unprecedented performance: up to 1 Tbps downstream (10 times more than the previous generation) and 160 Gbps upstream (22 times more). These gains rely on antennas capable of handling 2,048 simultaneous beams, compared to 150 to 190 previously, and on 6 high-capacity lasers to connect the satellites to each other. The solar panels, twice as powerful, supply this energy-intensive equipment.

Starship, the only launcher compatible with Starlink V3

Starlink V3 satellites can only be launched by Starship. The Falcon 9, used until now for previous generations, is not suited to their size and mass. SpaceX is banking on these satellites to boost its constellation, as well as to power two other projects: Starlink Mobile Gen 2, a direct mobile service to smartphones, and Starmind, a constellation dedicated to AI.

However, the full-scale deployment of Starlink V3 still depends on approval from the FCC, the US telecommunications authority. Current Starlink terminals will also need to be upgraded to benefit from them. For now, SpaceX is moving forward, but users will have to wait.

A test flight that remains partial

The 13th Starship flight remains a suborbital test, as Clubic points out. The satellites were not placed in orbit, but their deployment allowed validation of their unfolding and initial functionalities. SpaceX has not communicated any potential technical issues during this flight, but the lack of orbit confirms that the system is not yet operational for commercial missions.

What this means for SpaceX

This flight demonstrates that Starship can carry and deploy complex satellites, a key step for its future role. But it also highlights current limitations: the rocket has not yet proven its ability to reliably place payloads in orbit. Starlink V3, with its enhanced performance, could revolutionize satellite internet access, but its mass deployment will depend on Starship’s maturity and regulatory approvals.

The 13th Starship flight is a step forward, but not a revolution. SpaceX is validating promising technologies, but the path to commercial operation remains fraught with technical and administrative challenges.

Falcon 9 SpaceX