Next Starship flight test to put first 'V3' Starlink satellites into orbit

In July, SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight successfully deployed 20 "V3" Starlink satellites into sub-orbital trajectories for a series of speed tests before they "demised" some 20 minutes later to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. The company's 14th Starship test flight, set to launch as soon as September 28 (pending regulatory review), intends to put 26 V3 satellites into orbit to join the Starlink constellation. In the July test, the V3s were deployed from SpaceX's heavy-duty rocket Starship like candies from a Pez dispenser. Tests of the extension of the satellites' solar arrays and antennas and their communication with ground systems followed. If the planned deployment is successful, it will be the first time the new, high-capacity V3 will get into orbit and enter service.