SpaceX Schedules Starship Flight 11 for October 13 as Final Version Test
SpaceX targets Oct. 13 for Starship Flight 11, final Version 2 test reusing a Super Heavy booster and stressing heat-shield tiles.
SpaceX is gearing up for another significant milestone in its Starship spacecraft program, with the launch of Starship Flight 11 set for October 13. The mission, which will lift off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in South Texas, will be the final test of the current "Version 2" Starship design. Following this flight, the company plans to roll out an upgraded iteration known as "Version 3."
Final Test for Current Design
The upcoming mission will showcase key improvements and test features that aim to refine SpaceX's flagship vehicle. According to SpaceX, the launch window for Flight 11 will open at 7:15 p.m. EDT (2315 GMT), and the event is scheduled to be streamed live. This test follows a successful demonstration conducted in August, where the booster and upper stage proved their performance as an ideal system.
Standing nearly 400 feet tall, Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. The next version, Version 3, is expected to be slightly taller, with further modifications planned for future iterations.
Testing Landing Systems and Heat Shield Tiles
Flight 11 will closely resemble the objectives of its predecessor, Flight 10, with both stages targeting splashdowns after launch. The Super Heavy booster will aim for a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship upper stage is expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean. Both components will be subject to stress testing, particularly the heat-shield tiles, which are critical for protecting the spacecraft during reentry.
One of the highlights of the flight will be the use of a new five-engine landing burn configuration on the booster. Engineers have noted this setup adds redundancy, marking a step forward in SpaceX's pursuit of enhanced reliability for future designs.
Reusing the Super Heavy Booster
In addition to testing new systems, SpaceX is pushing its commitment to reusability with this mission. The Super Heavy booster selected for Flight 11 previously flew in March, and 24 of its 33 Raptor engines have already demonstrated their capabilities in earlier flights. This represents only the second time SpaceX has reused a booster of this scale, a move that underscores the company's emphasis on rapidly reusable hardware.
Preparing for the Future
The test will also include the deployment of eight dummy Starlink satellites, further showcasing Starship's versatility as a launch vehicle. Experts have highlighted the importance of these upgrades as SpaceX continues to position Starship as a key component in its long-term vision, including potential missions to Mars.
With this launch, SpaceX is not only concluding the testing phase of its current Starship variant but also paving the way for the future rollout of Version 3 and beyond. As the spaceflight community counts down to October 13, all eyes will be on the skies to witness this pivotal moment in SpaceX's journey.
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