FLIGHT ARCHIVE / MISSION REPORT
A step closer.
The second V3 flight demonstrated payload deployment and a controlled ship return. Booster recovery remained unfinished business.
LAUNCH / SEATTLE TIME24 JUL 202615:51 PDT
MISSION HIGHLIGHT20V3 satellites · suborbital release
HARDWARES40 / B20Ship / Super Heavy
Intent meets reality.
| OBJECTIVE | PLAN | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| Separation | Hot-stage separation | Completed |
| Payload | Deploy 20 satellites | All deployed; contact established |
| Ship return | Reentry and landing sequence | Soft Indian Ocean splashdown |
| Booster return | Controlled Gulf splashdown | Hard splashdown |
What worked
Full ship ascent, an in-space Raptor relight, and an intact ship splashdown.
Lessons & anomalies
The boostback burn ended early. Only a subset of engines ignited for landing, resulting in a hard booster splashdown.