SpaceX is gearing up for Starship's 13th test flight later this week

SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight, set for Thursday, will for the first time carry 20 functioning Starlink V3 satellites in its cargo bay, testing deployment systems and laser links between the new satellites and existing spacecraft. The mission will also attempt a Raptor engine restart in space and continue heat shield inspections—objectives left incomplete on the previous May flight.