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Starbase, Texas — SpaceX successfully performed a static fire test of its Super Heavy Booster 20 (B20) on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Pad 2 in Starbase, South Texas. The test ignited all 33 Raptor 3 engines for a record duration of approximately 20–25 seconds, marking one of the longest Super Heavy booster static fires in the Starship program to date.

The test simulated launch conditions for the booster, a Block 3 (Version 3) prototype equipped with upgraded Raptor 3 engines. It comes shortly after the vehicle rolled out from Mega Bay 1 and was transported to the pad. SpaceX community observers, including NASASpaceflight, shared a video of the testing operation (linked below), with the engines performing cleanly during the extended firing.

Starship Flight 13: WOW! Heck of a long Static Fire for Booster 20!https://t.co/Hs3zIE8QpH pic.twitter.com/sUCwS40ILB

— NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) July 10, 2026

This milestone advances preparations for Starship Flight 13, which will pair Booster 20 with Ship 40. Recent related testing has included a 60-second static fire of Ship 40.

FAA notices indicate a potential launch window as early as mid-July (around July 15), focusing on objectives such as boostback burns, reentry, and improved landing precision, with splashdown areas over the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean. However, SpaceX has not officially announced a liftoff date so all dates are subject to change.

Booster 20 represents ongoing iterations in SpaceX’s Starship development, building on previous Version 3 tests (such as those with Booster 19 earlier in 2026). The program aims to achieve rapid reusability for both the booster and upper stage, a key step toward operational Starship missions for cargo, crew, and eventual deep-space applications.

No anomalies were immediately reported from the test, and the booster is expected to undergo post-fire inspections before potential rollback or further stacking. SpaceX has not yet issued an official statement on the exact duration or detailed results, but live coverage and eyewitness accounts confirmed a powerful, sustained ignition with significant flame output from the pad’s flame trench.

This test underscores SpaceX’s accelerated cadence in Starship ground testing as the company pushes toward more ambitious flight profiles in 2026.

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