Saturday, July 18, 2026

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 launch updates: New launch date under review — Saturday, July 18, 2026

Starship Flight 13 retry timeline under review after July 16 abort; Serbia signs Artemis Accords as 69th nation; Rocket Lab completes full-duration Archimedes engine test for Neutron. SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13 was aborted seconds before liftoff due to engine ignition issues, with a new attempt now targeted for early next week; meanwhile, regulators have approved a private satellite that can reflect sunlight to Earth, drawing criticism from astronomers.

Biggest developments

SpaceX Starship Flight 13 launch updates: New launch date under review

Rocket Lab performs full-duration static fire test with Archimedes engine for Neutron

Rocket Lab recently performed a full-duration static fire test with the engine that will power the second stage of its powerful new Neutron launch vehicle.

United States Welcomes Serbia's Signing of the Artemis Accords

Serbia is the 69th country to sign the Accords to date, pledging its commitment to peaceful exploration and use of space. Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić signed the Accords on behalf of the Republic of Serbia on July 16, 2026.

Bullish takes

Starship Flight 13 remains on track for a new attempt in the coming days, indicating continued progress in SpaceX’s heavy‑lift and Mars‑oriented architecture.
Regulatory approval for Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil‑1 test satellite suggests growing openness to novel space‑based solar‑power augmentation technologies.

Critical takes

The last‑second abort of Starship Flight 13 due to multiple engine failures highlights persistent reliability and integration challenges with the Super Heavy booster.
Sharp decline in SpaceX’s share price—down over 45% from its peak—reflects investor concern about execution risk and valuation after its recent public debut.

Why this matters

Fresh progress on Starship iteration, international Artemis expansion, and medium-lift vehicle development.