SpaceX moves V3 Starlink satellites to production flights after booster fix

The FAA cleared SpaceX to resume Starship flights on July 13 after a seven-week investigation into the May 22 booster failure. The next launch, targeted for July 16, will carry 20 third-generation Starlink satellites—the first operational payload—rather than test simulators. SpaceX modified engine startup sequences and alarm systems to address the booster separation anomaly. This escalation from test articles to revenue-generating satellites signals confidence that the fixes address the root cause rather than merely the symptoms.