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SpaceX readies Starship Flight 13 after July 16 last-second abort; Falcon 9 and Starlink launches plus Northrop mission on deck

SpaceX is targeting another attempt for Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, Texas, after four Raptor engines failed to ignite at T-0 on July 16. The company is also planning multiple launches around Starlink from California and a rare expendable Falcon 9 from Florida, alongside other missions this period.

Discovered 2026-07-20T09:22:15.943442-07:00 | 2026-07-20T09:22:15.943442-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Starship Flight 13 is a time-sensitive test milestone after a documented pad abort caused by four Raptor ignition failures, with new target windows (July 20–23) affecting near-term cadence and program schedule risk.
The same launch window bundles defense-relevant activity (SpaceX launching 21 SDA missile-tracking satellites) plus other space systems operations, underscoring how launch reliability directly impacts military space ISR timelines.
The cluster also ties into broader government and commercial throughput signals: Soyuz MS-29 delivering a new crew to the ISS, Northrop Grumman’s robotic satellite servicer mission, and reported Europe space spending growth (12%).

Reported By

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