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SpaceX Starship Flight 13 deploys 20 Starlink V3 satellites post-IPO, stock down 43% from peak

SpaceX conducted the 13th test flight of its Starship megarocket on July 24, following a last-second abort on July 16 when four Raptor engines failed to ignite. The flight was the second for Starship V3 and deployed 20 production Starlink V3 satellites to space for the first time. The Super Heavy booster achieved controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, and the upper Starship spacecraft made a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after completing key mission objectives.

The V3 Starlink satellites are built to be larger and more powerful than earlier generations, equipped with solar arrays generating twice as much power as prior models. Six of the satellites carried camera suites to scan Starship's heat shield during flight, providing imagery to operators for future heat shield analysis and return-to-launch-site readiness. SpaceX confirmed contact with all 20 deployed satellites; they burned up in the atmosphere approximately 20 minutes after deployment as designed for this test flight.

The mission comes as SpaceX stock has slumped 43% from its June 16 IPO peak close, dropping in four of the past five weeks. The test flight demonstrated progress on engine reliability and booster recovery after modifications made following the July 16 abort, though analysts note Starship remains far from achieving full rapid reusability of the entire vehicle.

For architects: Starship's infrastructure roadmap now depends on rapid iteration from test flight telemetry. The Starlink V3 deployment rate, combined with NASA's planned lunar test (targeting 2028), sets near-term execution bar. Heat shield validation through imaging, not just telemetry, is the inflection point for landing-site economics.

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