SpaceX is gearing up for Starship's 13th test flight later this week
Summary
SpaceX plans to launch its Starship and Super Heavy booster on their 13th test flight, carrying 20 real Starlink Version 3 satellites. The mission will last about an hour and will test satellite deployment, laser communication links, and heat shield imaging before the spacecraft lands in the ocean.Key Facts
- The launch window opens Thursday at 5:45 pm CDT from Starbase, Texas.
- This will be Starship’s 13th full-scale test flight and second using the newest Starship version.
- Inside Starship’s cargo bay are 20 real Starlink V3 satellites, not yet part of the active network.
- The satellites will deploy one by one using a pulley system on the spacecraft’s side.
- Engineers will test laser communication between the new satellites and older Starlink satellites in orbit.
- The flight will follow a suborbital path over the Indian Ocean, lasting just over one hour.
- Starship will splash down northwest of Australia; the satellites will burn up on reentry.
- Some satellites have cameras to capture images of Starship’s heat shield during flight for analysis.
- Starship can carry up to 60 Starlink V3 satellites in future launches, greatly increasing network capacity.
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