SpaceX Pushes Starship Flight 13 to July 24 Because of Weather
Key Takeaways
- •Weather conditions in South Texas forced SpaceX to delay Starship's 13th flight test to Friday, July 24, with liftoff set for 5:45 p.m. CT.
- •Flight 13 was previously scrubbed on July 16 after several Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster misfired at ignition, prompting hardware replacements.
- •Six of the 20 Starlink V3 satellites aboard carry cameras designed to photograph heat shield tile performance during reentry, with some tiles painted white to simulate missing coverage.
- •SPCX shares fell 1.73% in after-hours trading following the delay and have declined 27% since SpaceX's June IPO.
- •SpaceX is scheduled to release its first quarterly results as a public company on August 4, with investors focused on how Starship development costs affect the balance sheet.
SpaceX has delayed the 13th flight test of its Starship rocket to Friday, July 24, with liftoff now scheduled for 5:45 p.m. CT at Starbase, Texas.
The company said weather conditions in South Texas prevented ground-based tracking of Starship’s heat shield during ascent. Clear imagery of the heat shield at higher dynamic pressure is a key objective for the reusable rocket program, and Thursday’s forecast made that data collection impossible. Visibility is expected to improve for the rescheduled launch window. The heat shield data is central to evaluating how Starship’s thermal protection system performs under flight conditions that place greater aerodynamic stress on the vehicle.
Second Scrub Follows Engine Issue
Flight 13 had already been scrubbed once. SpaceX engineers called off a July 16 launch attempt after several Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster misfired at ignition.
Crews subsequently replaced hardware and stood down for several days before weather forced another delay on Thursday. SPCX shares have remained under pressure since economist Peter Schiff issued a stock crash warning this week. Google’s SpaceX stake, which stems from a 2015 investment, also underscores the scale of institutional capital tied to the company’s performance.
Now targeting Friday, July 24 for Starship’s thirteenth flight test, due to weather. A key objective for the flight test is to get clear imagery from the ground of Starship’s heatshield as it flies at a higher dynamic pressure during ascent, which won't be possible with today's… pic.twitter.com/O4qyJaXjVs — SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 23, 2026
Now targeting Friday, July 24 for Starship’s thirteenth flight test, due to weather. A key objective for the flight test is to get clear imagery from the ground of Starship’s heatshield as it flies at a higher dynamic pressure during ascent, which won't be possible with today's… pic.twitter.com/O4qyJaXjVs
SPCX Declines in After-Hours Trading
SPCX fell 1.73% in after-hours trading after SpaceX confirmed the latest delay, reversing an approximately 3% gain from the regular session. The stock has declined 27% since the company’s June initial public offering (IPO).
Cathie Wood had named SpaceX her favorite stock and shared her boldest prediction yet two days earlier. The timing highlights the divided views surrounding the company.
Elon Musk has also said that SpaceX engineering data will help train the next model of Grok, linking the rocket company’s data operations with Musk’s broader business empire.
Flight Objectives Remain Unchanged
In addition to obtaining heat shield imagery, Starship still needs to complete stage separation and a boostback burn during Friday’s planned test. The Super Heavy booster is then expected to attempt a landing burn over open water.
The upper stage is also intended to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites. Those satellites are designed to extend solar arrays and connect with the broader Starlink network.
Six of the satellites carry cameras intended to photograph heat shield tile performance during reentry. SpaceX painted some tiles white to simulate missing coverage and provide clearer imaging targets for the cameras. New load-sensing tiles will measure stress on the airframe as Starship flies at a higher dynamic pressure than in previous flights.
Engineers also changed the booster’s engine relight sequence after five of its 33 engines misfired during Flight 12’s boostback burn. Together, the engine sequence changes, tile instrumentation, and satellite camera payload make Flight 13 another data-gathering test rather than a purely operational launch.
Investors Await SpaceX Results
Investors are also monitoring Tesla’s second-quarter earnings, which have already contributed to swings in Musk-linked stocks this week.
SpaceX is scheduled to post its first quarterly results as a public company on August 4. The report is expected to show how Starship development costs are affecting the company’s balance sheet.
Friday’s 90-minute launch window opens at 5:45 p.m. CT. SpaceX is expected to begin its livestream roughly 30 minutes before liftoff.
