space
Live coverage: SpaceX to deploy first Starlink V3 satellites on suborbital Starship-Super Heavy flight
By Will Robinson-Smith at Spaceflight Now
· July 16, 2026
· 5 min read
Ship 40 rolls to the launch pad Wednesday evening, ahead of the 13th test flight of the integrated Starship vehicle, currently scheduled for July 16, 2026. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now.
SpaceX will debut its long-promised Starlink Version 3 satellites as part of a suborbital test flight ...
Key takeaway SpaceX will debut its long-promised Starlink Version 3 satellites as part of a suborbital test flight of its Starship rocket on Thursday evening.
Why this matters in The Brownsville
The upcoming Starship Flight 13 mission from SpaceX's Starbase facilities in southern Texas marks a significant milestone for the company, as it debuts its Starlink Version 3 satellites. For Brownsville , this launch is a testament to the city's growing importance in the space industry, with SpaceX's presence at the Port of Brownsville continuing to drive economic growth and development. The fact that SpaceX is using this mission to test the deployment of 20 production Starlink V3 satellites, albeit on a suborbital trajectory, suggests that the company is making progress towards its goal of establishing a robust satellite constellation. As the city looks to the future, it will be crucial to balance the benefits of SpaceX's presence with the potential environmental and social impacts of increased launch activity, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, where the booster is expected to land.
About this story
Original reporting by Spaceflight Now . The Brownsville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Spaceflight Now . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: space ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: Spaceflight Now ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Ship 40 rolls to the launch pad Wednesday evening, ahead of the 13th test flight of the integrated Starship vehicle, currently scheduled for July 16, 2026. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now.
SpaceX will debut its long-promised Starlink Version 3 satellites as part of a suborbital test flight ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by Spaceflight Now and curated for The Brownsville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Will Robinson-Smith at Spaceflight Now. To learn more about how The Brownsville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more space coverage from The Brownsville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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