SpaceX Schedules Starship Flight 11 Test Launch
SpaceX confirms Starship Flight 11 launch date and provides Starbase preparations and test updates.
SpaceX has officially announced that the 11th test launch of its Starship spacecraft, designated as Flight 11 (IFT-11), is scheduled for October 13, 2025. This remains a preliminary launch date, as potential weather or technical delays could push the event to subsequent backup windows.
The test launch will be live-streamed via SpaceX’s platform on X, with additional coverage available on other platforms such as YouTube. This upcoming test represents a significant milestone as it will involve the final Block 2 prototypes of the spacecraft.
The Final Flight for Block 2 Starships
The vehicles slated for Flight 11 are Ship 38 and Booster 15. Notably, these are the last Block 2 (or Version 2) Starship prototypes to be used in a live test. Following this flight, SpaceX will transition to Block 3 Starship models for future launches.
Booster 15 is unique in being the first Super Heavy rocket slated for reuse, following its successful catch during the Flight 8 test earlier this year. October 13 also marks the first anniversary of Booster 12's historic catch by SpaceX’s launch tower "Chopsticks."
Preparations Underway at Starbase
Extensive preparations for Flight 11 have been ongoing at SpaceX's Starbase in Texas. Elon Musk recently shared an image of Ship 38 being moved back to Megabay 2 for final readiness checks following a successful static fire test. This activity underscores a faster turnaround time compared to previous flights, made possible by infrastructure upgrades at the launch site.
Structural modifications to the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) were necessary after damage sustained during earlier tests. These updates allowed for both the static fire test of Booster 15 and a full-duration static fire test of Ship 38 to be conducted effectively.
SpaceX engineers have also focused on ensuring the spacecraft's heat shield is flight-ready. According to SpaceX's Vice President of Flight Reliability, Bill Gerstenmaier, the company is conducting fewer heat shield tests on Flight 11 than in previous missions due to substantial data already collected, particularly from Flight 10. "Things went extremely well", Gerstenmaier noted in an interview with Ars Technica last month.
Looking Ahead
If Flight 11 proceeds as planned on October 13, it will mark one of the fastest turnaround times between Starship launches. With Block 3 Starship models on the horizon, SpaceX is poised to advance its mission of creating a fully reusable spacecraft capable of interplanetary travel.
Stay tuned as SpaceX approaches this crucial milestone in the development of its Starship program, which continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and engineering innovation.
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