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SpaceX is targeting Thursday as the primary launch date for Starship Flight 13, with the launch window opening at 5:45 p.m. and closing at 7:56 p.m., according to the company, which advised the date could change.
SpaceX said it would begin “clearing the range” (a cone of general trajectory extending from Boca Chica westward into the Gulf of Mexico) of vessels 12 hours before launch, with the goal of clearing the Brownsville Ship Channel of traffic by T-3, or three hours before launch.
In addition to the primary launch date of July, SpaceX announced alternate dates for Flight 13 of Friday and July 22, also with a 5:45-7:56 p.m. launch window.
SpaceX rolled out Super Heavy B20 last Thursday and hoisted it atop the launch mount at Boca Chica’s Orbital Launch Pad B. A brief static-fire test of all 33 of the booster’s engines performed was conducted on the launch pad on Friday. SpaceX performed a static-fire test of Starship S40’s six engines on July 1.
The upcoming launch will mark the second test flight of Starship/Super Heavy’s redesigned third version (V3). The first V3 test flight took place on May 22. While Starship achieved most of its mission goals, ending with a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean near Australia.
However, Super Heavy B19’s loss of engines and uncontrolled plummet into the Gulf — rather than the hoped-for soft landing — during that flight prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to call for a mishap investigation to be led by SpaceX and overseen by the FAA to determine the cause. As of press time that investigation was ongoing.
Flight 13 is likely to mirror Flight 12, though with the addition of an in-flight relight of one of Starship’s engines, a test SpaceX was forced to forego due to engine issues on May 22. Flight 13 also will, presumably, feature another try at a controlled landing of Super Heavy in the Gulf following stage separation from Starship.
If Flight 13 launches this week, it will be the shortest time between consecutive launches SpaceX has managed so far at Boca Chica — less than two months.
In May 2025, the FAA granted SpaceX permission to increase its annual launch cadence at Boca Chica, issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in allowing it.
The decision green-lights up to 25 launches per year, and landings up to 50 per year — 25 each of Starship and the Super Heavy booster — and allows “vehicle and operational upgrades.”
Up to three of the total 25 launches would take place during nighttime hours, while landings at Boca Chica would be conducted only during daytime hours, the FAA determined at the time.
“Daytime landings of either vehicle may also take place offshore as well,” the agency said. “Up to three landings of Starship and three landings of Super Heavy may occur at night, only offshore. SpaceX would also conduct up to 90 seconds of licensed daytime Starship static fire (engine) tests and 70 seconds of licensed daytime Super Heavy static fire tests a year. The federal action also includes the FAA’s issuance of temporary airspace closures.”