SpaceX Starship launch live: How to watch flight 13 today
SpaceX plans another Starship flight 13 attempt from South Texas after a scrubbed launch, with streaming set to begin at 5:15 p.m. CT.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
SpaceX Starship launch live coverage is expected to begin Thursday as the company lines up another attempt at the giant rocket’s 13th test flight from South Texas.
The company says it will stream the launch on SpaceX’s website and on X, the social platform owned by Elon Musk. The webcast could start as early as 5:15 p.m. CT, according to SpaceX, which said any schedule changes will be posted on X.
The try comes after a July 16 launch attempt was called off. Musk said in a post on X that some engines did not start, which caused an abort. SpaceX officials say the team is ready to try again, though weather could still interfere.
What time is the SpaceX Starship launch live stream?
SpaceX says the broadcast may begin as early as 5:15 p.m. CT. The launch is planned from the company’s South Texas site, and SpaceX says updates on delays will be shared through X.
Flight 13 is meant to test several pieces of the Starship system that matter for future missions. According to Mashable’s earlier reporting, SpaceX wants to show that the booster can break away from the ship in flight, rotate into the correct position, restart its engines and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.
The ship itself is planned to come down in the Indian Ocean. Mashable reported that SpaceX has changed the engine-lighting process and adjusted the landing sequence after problems on the 12th flight, including a failed flip and several engine restart issues.
What is Starship trying to prove on flight 13?
Starship is SpaceX’s fully reusable rocket system, built to carry heavy cargo to space, survive reentry and support future missions beyond Earth orbit. NASA is counting on Starship for moon landing plans, while Musk has also tied the vehicle to his long-running Mars goals.
If the rocket gets off the pad, SpaceX says Starship will attempt to deploy 20 satellites. The payload includes Starlink V3 internet satellites.
The flight plan also calls for Starship to restart one engine while coasting. SpaceX says that ability is needed for missions that must change course or travel to the moon.
SpaceX has also been promoting a short documentary, “Critical Path,” while viewers wait for launch. The film follows engineers and pad crews during the final days before the previous flight.
Tim Southerton, SpaceX’s director of Starship launch engineering, says in the documentary that rapid testing is part of the company’s approach. “The thing that separates us from a lot of other companies is that we test fast and we test often, and that includes launches,” Southerton said. “We want to make sure the vehicle's all ready to go. We want to make sure the ground's all ready to go, but we also don't want to be caught in analysis paralysis.”
Justin Styer, SpaceX’s senior Starship launch director, says in the same film that he has not felt pressure from Musk to launch regardless of conditions. “I personally have never felt any pressure from Elon of like, 'It doesn't matter, hell or high water, we're flying this rocket.' Like, absolutely not. That's not his style,” Styer said. “And, like I said, the critical path to Mars is not blowing up rockets.”
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.