SpaceX flew its Starship rocket for the 13th time on July 24, this time carrying 20 next-generation Starlink satellites to orbit. The test ended with what the company called its smoothest ocean splashdown yet, though one element of the flight was flagged as a failure.
Splashdown success, one glitch
The flight marked another step in Starship's development. The vehicle's upper stage performed a controlled descent and hit the water in the Pacific Ocean with what SpaceX described as the most precise landing so far. But the company also noted the mission was 'mostly clean,' meaning at least one objective didn't go as planned. SpaceX hasn't released details on what went wrong.
Stock shrugs at progress
Despite the milestone, SpaceX's stock — which trades on private markets — barely budged. Shares were at $115 after the flight, roughly 15% below the price set during the company's June initial public offering. Investors may be waiting for more concrete revenue from Starship, which still hasn't flown paying customers or completed a full orbital mission.
The 20 Starlink satellites deployed during this test are part of SpaceX's plan to expand its broadband constellation. The company has launched thousands of Starlink satellites to date, but Starship's larger payload capacity could eventually let it put many more in orbit per trip.
SpaceX hasn't announced a date for the next Starship flight. The company typically needs a few weeks to review data and get regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration before launching again.
