Super Heavy B3 • IFT-13 Starship B3

Super Heavy B3 • IFT-13 Starship B3

A SpaceX Super Heavy rocket will launch a Starship prototype on its 13th test flight, designated IFT-13 (Integrated Flight Test). Starship will be a stretched version equipped with Raptor 3 engines and perform a payload deployment test with 20 Starlink v3 satellites and a relight of a single Raptor engine while in space. The Starlinks will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with ground stations in South Africa and the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers. The Starlink satellites will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship. Six of the satellites have been modified with a suite of cameras to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to continue testing methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for RTLS on future missions. Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test. Super Heavy will also use Raptor 3 engines and perform an ocean landing in the Gulf of Mexico. It will have an integrated vented interstage/forward dome, three grid fins instead of the prior four, as well as the use of the grid fins as catch points. The booster/ship combination is designated as B20/S40, both of the Block 3 variant. Webcast: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-13

📍 SpaceX Starship Orbital Launch Pad, Boca Chica Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78521, Vereinigte Staaten

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