---
title: 'Wow! SpaceX President Revealed Starship Flight 13 Launch Date & Beyond in Historical IPO Days…'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=5O7luiW9H0U'
video_id: '5O7luiW9H0U'
date: 2026-06-13
duration_sec: 730
---

# Wow! SpaceX President Revealed Starship Flight 13 Launch Date & Beyond in Historical IPO Days…

> Source: [Wow! SpaceX President Revealed Starship Flight 13 Launch Date & Beyond in Historical IPO Days…](https://youtube.com/watch?v=5O7luiW9H0U)

## Summary

SpaceX is entering a pivotal period with Starship Flight 13 expected in July, followed by ambitious monthly launches. The company also launched a historic IPO, achieving a $2 trillion market cap, while the ISS deals with a Canadarm2 issue and Japan's H3 rocket returns to flight.

### Key Points

- **SpaceX's Pivotal Period** [0:07] — SpaceX is entering a pivotal period with Starship development and a historic IPO.
- **Flight 13 Launch Date Hint** [0:57] — SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell indicated Flight 13 is about a month away, pointing to a July launch.
- **Monthly Launch Cadence Goal** [1:44] — After Flight 13, SpaceX aims for monthly Starship launches to accelerate development.
- **Flight 13 Suborbital, Flight 14 Orbital** [2:42] — Flight 13 will be suborbital to validate V3 design; Flight 14 may attempt orbital insertion.
- **Flight 15 from Florida** [4:23] — Shotwell hinted Flight 15 could launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- **SpaceX IPO Launches** [4:36] — SpaceX launched its IPO on NASDAQ, with shares initially at $135, rising to ~$155-161.
- **Market Cap Exceeds $2 Trillion** [5:51] — SpaceX reached a market capitalization exceeding $2 trillion, making Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire.
- **ISS Canadarm2 Issue** [8:08] — Canadarm2 experienced a wrist joint anomaly; a spacewalk is planned for repair.
- **Japan's H3 Rocket Returns to Flight** [10:32] — JAXA's H3 rocket successfully launched after a previous failure, delivering all six payloads.

### Conclusion

SpaceX is poised for rapid Starship progress with monthly launches, while its IPO marks a financial milestone. Meanwhile, ISS maintenance and Japan's H3 success highlight ongoing space activities.

## Transcript

SpaceX is entering a pivotal period.
Adding to the excitement, recent
comments from SpaceX President Gwyn
Shotwell may have provided the clearest
indication yet of when Flight 13 could
launch. Today on Great SpaceX, we'll
break down the latest flight 13 updates,
look ahead to flights 14 and 15, examine
an unexpected issue aboard the ISS, and
cover the successful return to flight of
Japan's H3 rocket. Well, let's get
started. For months, one question has
dominated discussions throughout the
Starship community. When is flight 13?
Ever since flight 12 exceeded
expectations, speculation has been
everywhere. Some predicted June, others
predicted July. A few particularly
optimistic fans probably predicted next
Tuesday. Now we finally have a direct
answer from someone who would know.
During a recent CNBC interview, SpaceX
President Gwen Shotwell offered the
clearest indication yet regarding
Starship's next launch timeline.
>> I think we're so what is it? Beginning
of June, maybe a monthish away from
flight 13.
>> Okay. And then we should fly every
month. Most importantly, that statement
points strongly toward a July launch.
And honestly, that makes perfect sense.
S40 and B20 are still progressing
through testing with static fires,
inspections, engine evaluations, and wet
dress rehearsals remaining on the
schedule before launch. A June launch
always seemed unlikely. July has long
been the more realistic target, but the
bigger story may not be Flight 13
itself. It's what comes afterward. A
July launch could restore a roughly
twomonth flight cadence while
potentially opening the door to
something much more ambitious, which is
monthly Starship launches. That pace
would dramatically accelerate
development by generating new data,
testing new systems, and moving SpaceX
closer to the capabilities required for
Aremis and Mars. And the schedule ahead
is demanding. Starship still needs to
achieve orbital flight, payload
deployment, full reusability, orbital
refueling, and eventually lunar
operations. Monthly launches would help
SpaceX work through that checklist far
more quickly. Of course, none of this
will be easy, as everything depends on
successful flights, reliable hardware,
and maintaining a steady production
pipeline. Rocket development has a
remarkable ability to humble ambitious
schedules. Still, if any company has
demonstrated an ability to iterate
quickly, it's SpaceX. So, what exactly
will Flight 13 attempt to accomplish?
Many fans are hoping it will become
Starship's first true orbital mission.
But Shotwell suggested a more cautious
approach. We have done an inspace um
Raptor lighting so we feel pretty
comfortable but we want another
suborbital shot on the next flight and
then I hope we at least attempt an
orbital uh injection on flight 14.
>> That statement reveals quite a bit.
Flight 13 will likely remain a
suborbital mission. Rather than rushing
directly toward orbit, SpaceX appears
focused on further validating the V3
design, and that's probably the right
decision. Flight 12 was successful, but
it wasn't flawless. Several Raptor
vacuum engines experienced issues, and
engine reliability remains one of the
program's highest priorities. As a
result, Fly 13 will likely serve as
another major validation mission focused
on engine performance, thermal
protection evaluations, and broader
system analysis. If the mission performs
well, Flight 14 could become Starship's
first serious attempt at orbital
insertion, potentially later this
summer. And once Starship reaches orbit,
everything changes. Payload deployment,
extended orbital operations, advanced
re-entry testing, and eventually orbital
refueling all become possible. Every one
of those milestones is essential to
future missions to the moon and Mars.
That's why SpaceX appears willing to
move carefully now so it can move faster
later. The strategy is straightforward.
Build confidence, validate systems,
reduce risk, and then push forward
aggressively. And Shotwell wasn't
finished. After discussing flights 13
and 14, she dropped another intriguing
hint.
>> And then maybe flight 15 actually flies
from the cave.
>> That single sentence could have enormous
implications because if it happens,
Starship will officially begin launching
from Florida, and that changes
everything. Beyond Starship itself, June
12th also marked another major moment
for SpaceX. After years of speculation,
rumors, and enough online debates to
power a small city, SpaceX officially
launched its long awaited IPO. That's
right. The company that began in a
modest warehouse in California has now
taken one of the biggest financial steps
in its history. And if the reports are
accurate, it did not simply make a
splash. It created a title wave. The IPO
began trading on the NASDAQ exchange,
arriving more than a year after SpaceX
submitted its paperwork to the US
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investor demand was immediate and
intense. SpaceX initially offered $555.6
million shares at $135 each, targeting
roughly $75 billion in proceeds.
However, demand quickly pushed the price
higher. Shares reportedly climbed to
between $155 and $161 during early
trading, representing an increase of
roughly 20%. Apparently, investors saw
rockets and collectively decided gravity
was optional. The result was a massive
jump in valuation and one of the most
significant IPO events ever recorded.
SpaceX ultimately reached a market
capitalization exceeding$2 trillion US
dollars according to the figures
released during the announcement period.
That achievement also created another
headline. Elon Musk reportedly became
the world's first trillionaire within
minutes of trading activity. Whether you
love him, hate him, or simply enjoy
watching the internet argue about him,
that's a number large enough to make
everyone's calculator nervous. During
the NASDAQ opening ceremony, Musk
reflected on the company's journey,
saying,
>> "Yeah, it it is certainly uh hard to
believe that
a little company that started in a
warehouse in Elsagundo um is now
uh
is now is now going public for the
was the largest IPO that uh ever." I
gave SpaceX less than a 10% chance uh of
succeeding at all. To be clear,
>> looking back, that statement is
remarkable. The company that once
struggled to survive its early launches,
now operates the world's largest
satellite constellation, carries
astronauts to orbit, develops Starship,
and pursues missions to the moon and
Mars. Not bad for a company that once
believed it had less than a 10% chance
of surviving. The financial impact of an
IPO could be enormous. Additional
capital would give SpaceX greater
flexibility to expand manufacturing,
accelerate Starship development, grow
launch infrastructure, and support
long-term projects. Projects ranging
from lunar missions and Mars exploration
to Starlink expansion and advanced
communications systems. More broadly,
such a move could influence the entire
aerospace industry. Other private space
companies may see it as proof that
strong public market demand exists for
space focused businesses, potentially
attracting new investment and
accelerating innovation across the
sector. Of course, raising capital is
one thing. Meeting investor expectations
is another. Public markets tend to
reward results, not promises. Even so,
it would represent a major milestone,
one that highlights just how far SpaceX
has come since its uncertain beginnings.
Now, let's shift from billion-dollar
stock offerings to a very different
challenge taking place roughly 400 km
above Earth. The International Space
Station is dealing with another
maintenance issue, and this time it
involves one of the most important
robotic systems. Most space enthusiasts
are familiar with Canadarm 2, but for
those who aren't, it's essentially the
ISS's giant robotic multi-tool.
Recently, Canadarm 2 experienced an
unexpected problem. NASA reported that
during routine operations on May 27th,
one of the robotic arms wrist joints
demonstrated unusual behavior.
Specifically, elevated motor currents
were detected and the arm failed to move
as expected. In simpler terms, one of
the station's robotic joints decided it
no longer felt like cooperating.
Fortunately, the arm is currently in a
stable position. Unfortunately, repairs
will require a spacew walk. NASA plans
to address the issue during an EVA
scheduled for the 30th of this month.
According to NASA officials, the system
demonstrated an elevated motor current
in a wrist joint and arm motion did not
occur as expected. After reviewing the
issue alongside the Canadian Space
Agency and MDA Space Engineers
determined that replacing the affected
joint is the best solution. Thankfully,
the ISS already has a spare component on
board. This is one of those moments
where careful planning pays off. The CSA
explained, "Canadarm 2 was designed with
these kinds of potential issues in mind.
It is made up of several segments that
can be pulled out and replaced in space.
Restoring Canadarm 2 is important
because it plays a vital role in ISS
operations, capturing cargo spacecraft
that deliver supplies, experiments, and
equipment. Most recently, it was used in
April to capture a Northrup Grumman
Signis cargo vehicle. What's especially
impressive is that Canada Arm 2 arrived
in 2001, long before routine commercial
resupply missions existed. Despite
operating roughly a decade beyond its
original design life, it completed its
50th spacecraft capture in 2024. As the
ISS continues dealing with aging
hardware, leaks, and increasing
maintenance demands, keeping critical
systems like Canada Arm 2 operational
remains essential as the station enters
the final phase of its service life.
Now, before we wrap up today's episode,
let's head across the Pacific to Japan
because JAXA has something to celebrate.
After suffering a setback during a
previous mission, Japan's H3 rocket has
successfully returned to flight. Liftoff
occurred on June 11th from Tanagashima
Space Center. The mission marked the
eighth launch of the H3 program and
introduced a configuration featuring
three LE engines on the first stage.
that made this flight particularly
important and fortunately for for JAXA
it was a success. All six payloads were
successfully delivered to their intended
orbits. That's exactly the outcome
engineers wanted to see after the
disappointment of the previous mission.
The last H3 flight ended unsuccessfully
when the Mitubiki 5 satellite was lost.
Investigators later determined that a
damaged payload adapter contributed to
the failure. The resulting damage
affected the second stage and created
engine ignition problems. After months
of analysis and corrective work, JAXA
returned to the launchpad, determined to
prove the rocket's reliability. This
mission did exactly that. According to
JAXA, the rocket flew as planned,
successfully placing the second stage
into its designated orbit and separating
petrol and Stars X approximately 16
minutes and 4 seconds after launch. For
Japan, this launch represents more than
just another mission. It demonstrates
persistence. Every space program faces
setbacks. The key is learning from them
and moving forward. JAXA has done that.
That brings us to the end of today's
episode. As always, thank you for
watching and supporting the channel.
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Otherwise, folks, this has been Kevin
from Great SpaceX. And until next time,
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