SpaceX completed a 60-second static fire test of all six Raptor engines on Ship 40 on July 2, 2026, marking a major step toward the Starship Flight 13 launch targeted for later in July. The full-duration engine test was conducted at the Massey test site at Starbase in Texas, with all engines firing at full thrust for the entire duration.
The successful test clears a critical pre-launch milestone for the upper-stage spacecraft. Static fire tests validate engine performance, fuel flow, and pressure systems while the vehicle remains locked down on the ground—essential verification before any crewed or orbital mission attempt.
Flight 13 comes after Flight 12, which launched on May 22, 2026, and encountered a significant anomaly. During that test, the Super Heavy booster failed to reignite its engines during a partial boostback burn, resulting in what SpaceX termed a “hard splashdown” in the Gulf of Mexico. The FAA determined the event constituted a mishap and required SpaceX to conduct a formal investigation before resuming Starship launches, according to Spaceflight Now.
Ship 40 is the Block 3 variant of Starship, the upper-stage spacecraft designed to carry payloads and crew. It will pair with Booster 20 for Flight 13, both new-generation vehicles. The static fire test demonstrated that the six Raptor engines—the most advanced engines SpaceX has built—can operate together at full thrust for the full 60-second duration needed during ascent.
SpaceX has conducted static fire testing as a standard pre-launch procedure across multiple Starship flights. When Flight 12 launched on May 22, Ship 39 had completed a similar full-duration six-engine static fire test beforehand, according to archived reports. The tests help identify any hardware issues or performance anomalies before flight.
The July 2 engine test was completed just days after SpaceX moved Ship 40 back from the Massey test facility to Mega Bay 2 at Starbase, the assembly and storage building, according to social media posts from NASASpaceflight. This rapid turnaround supports the July launch window for Flight 13, which would mark the second test flight of the Starship Block 3 configuration and the first to use Booster 20.
Sources
- Space.com — Reported the 60-second static fire test of all six engines on July 2, 2026, ahead of Flight 13.
- Yahoo News — Confirmed SpaceX posted the engine test video to X on July 2, showing the ignition sequence and all six engines firing.
- The Space Road (Instagram) — Documented the July 2, 2026 full-duration 60-second static fire test of all six Raptor engines on Ship 40 at Massey.
- BASENOR — Confirmed July 2, 2026 as the date of the full 60-second duration test, clearing Ship 40 as a pre-launch milestone.
- Spaceflight Now — Reported the FAA requirement for SpaceX-led mishap investigation before resumption of Starship launches following Flight 12.
- USA Today — Detailed the Flight 12 mishap, including the booster’s failure to reignite engines during the partial boostback burn and the resulting hard splashdown.
- Reuters — Confirmed the FAA determination that Flight 12 on May 22, 2026 resulted in a mishap involving the Super Heavy booster.
