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Starship Flight 11: A Perfect Flight to Close the Starship V2 Era

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SpaceX Starship Flight 11 at sunrise on the launch pad at Starbase, Texas, ready for liftoff.
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Starship Flight 11: A Perfect Flight to Close the Starship V2 Era

All Objectives Achieved for SpaceX

On October 13, 2025, at 6:23 p.m. CT (01:23 a.m. Paris time), SpaceX successfully launched the eleventh integrated flight test of Starship from its Starbase facility in Texas. This mission, designated Integrated Flight Test 11 (IFT-11), marks the end of a major chapter: it was the final flight of the Starship version 2.0 and the first-generation Super Heavy booster, as well as the last launch from the current Pad 1 configuration. SpaceX confirmed that every major objective of the mission was achieved, paving the way for the next generation of the rocket.

A Nominal Liftoff and Ascent

Super Heavy booster B15 ignited all 33 Raptor engines simultaneously, propelling the massive vehicle skyward over the Gulf of Mexico.

The ascent proceeded nominally before stage separation through the now-familiar hot-staging maneuver, in which the upper-stage engines ignite while the first-stage engines gradually shut down. This technique, implemented since Flight 9, allows continuous thrust during stage transition.

Starship’s Raptor engines ignite during hot-staging separation. Super Heavy is boosting back towards its splashdown site and preparing for its landing burn experiment pic.twitter.com/oCy90IFitO

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2025

Successful Booster Recovery

After separation, booster B15 performed a boostback burn toward its pre-planned splashdown zone off the Texas coast. Twelve of the thirteen engines reignited during the maneuver, with the thirteenth—initially unlit—reigniting successfully for the final braking phase.

The booster executed a new multi-phase descent sequence, tested for the first time:

  • Ignition of 13 engines for main thrust,

  • Transition to 5 engines during the divert phase,

  • Final braking on 3 central engines, stabilizing in hover just above the water,

  • Engine cutoff and controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

This experimental profile will be reused on Super Heavy V3, featuring enhanced engine redundancy.

Deployment and In-Space Engine Relight

Meanwhile, Ship 38 continued on its suborbital trajectory, reaching nominal speed and altitude. During this phase, the spacecraft deployed eight Starlink simulator satellites, identical in size to the upcoming operational generation.

The vehicle also achieved a third in-space relight of a Raptor engine, demonstrating a critical capability for future orbital missions and deep-space trajectory adjustments.

A Textbook Atmospheric Reentry

The reentry sequence, always the most challenging phase, provided valuable data on heat shield performance. Certain hull areas had been deliberately left exposed (tiles removed) to test the structure’s resilience under extreme conditions.

Starship then performed a banking maneuver designed to simulate the return profile of future catch landings at Starbase.

Using its four control flaps, Starship guided itself precisely to its designated splashdown area in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Australia. The spacecraft completed its mission with a final flip, a landing burn, and a smooth controlled splashdown.

End of an Era, Dawn of a New One

With this flight, SpaceX officially closes the Starship V2 era and now shifts focus to version 3.0 — larger, more powerful, and featuring a fully recoverable system. Several next-generation prototypes are already in assembly and testing at Starbase.

These vehicles will serve for full orbital missions operational payload deployments, in-orbit propellant transfers, and preparations for the Artemis lunar Starship. SpaceX reiterated its unchanged goal: achieving a fully and rapidly reusable spacecraft capable of serving Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Starship Flight 11 stands as a complete success. Every key stage—from initial ascent to controlled splashdown—validated the final technologies of the Starship V2 and first-generation Super Heavy. This flight marks a historic transition toward Starship V3, which will begin the first orbital and lunar missions in the coming months.

Source:

Official statement by SpaceX

Article published on October 13, 2025

Starship Flight 11: A New Ambitious Test for SpaceX

The 11th test flight of SpaceX’s Starship, the company’s giant rocket, is set to lift off from Starbase, Texas, on Monday, October 13, with the launch window opening at 6:15 p.m. local time. As with previous tests, the schedule remains subject to change based on weather and technical factors. The flight will be broadcast live on SpaceX’s official website and on our dedicated page, approximately 30 minutes before launch.

Flight Objectives: Testing the Next Generation of Starship

This new test is expected to be one of the most ambitious yet. SpaceX aims to build on the successes of Flight 10 while preparing for the upcoming Super Heavy V3 version of the rocket. The company led by Elon Musk plans to collect valuable data on engine dynamics, thermal resistance, and landing precision.

The main goals of Flight 11 are:

  • Test a new engine braking configuration on the booster to improve descent stability.

  • Expose the heat shield to extreme conditions, with several tiles intentionally removed.

  • Deploy eight Starlink simulators, the same size as next-generation satellites.

  • Restart a Raptor engine in flight, a crucial step toward future orbital missions.

  • Execute a dynamic return maneuver, simulating a Starbase landing approach.

The Super Heavy Booster: A New Engine Choreography

The Super Heavy booster (B15) used for this flight has previously flown during Flight 8. This mission also marks the final test of the Starship V2 configuration before transitioning to V3, which will feature internal structural upgrades, improved engines, and enhanced recovery systems.

Equipped with 24 of 33 flight-proven Raptor engines, B15 will test a multi-phase braking sequence for the first time — a maneuver intended to become standard for future Super Heavy versions.

Close-up of SpaceX’s Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster, showcasing the power behind Starship Flight 11.
Close-up view of the 33 Raptor engines powering SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster. These advanced methane-fueled engines form the heart of the Starship launch system, providing over 7,500 tons of thrust during liftoff. Credit: SpaceX

Descent sequence:

  • Ignition of 13 engines to begin primary braking.

  • Transition to 5 engines for the “divert” phase, adjusting the booster’s trajectory.

  • Switch to 3 central engines for the final meters, hovering briefly above the Gulf before cutoff.

This configuration will test engine redundancy and provide data on aerodynamic effects from sequential shutdowns. The booster will end its flight with a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, without recovery by the Mechazilla tower.

SpaceX Super Heavy Booster B15 rolls out at Starbase, Texas, ahead of integration for Starship Flight 11.
SpaceX’s Super Heavy Booster B15 is transported across the Starbase site in Boca Chica, Texas, ahead of integration with the Starship Ship 38 for Flight 11. This massive stage, standing over 70 meters tall, reflects SpaceX’s commitment to rapid iteration and full reusability. Credit: SpaceX

The Starship Vehicle: Heat Shield Stress Test and Return Maneuver

The Ship 38 upper stage will perform several key demonstrations:

  • Deployment of eight Starlink dummy payloads to validate orbital deployment systems.

  • Restart of a Raptor engine in space to demonstrate trajectory correction capability.

  • Stress-testing the heat shield, with some tiles deliberately removed to study structural endurance at extreme temperatures.

  • A dynamic re-entry and return sequence, simulating the flight profile of a future return-to-launch-site mission.

Starship will perform a controlled roll maneuver, testing new subsonic guidance algorithms, before splashing down in the Indian Ocean. This final phase will analyze the vehicle’s behavior at low altitude, a critical step toward full recovery in later missions.

SpaceX Starship Flight 11 stacked on Super Heavy booster at Starbase launch tower, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
A stunning aerial view of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 11 fully stacked on the Super Heavy booster at Starbase, Texas, beside the Gulf of Mexico. The massive launch vehicle stands attached to the Mechazilla tower, which will support future capture and recovery operations. Credit: SpaceX

Flight Timeline (Approx. Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes)

SpaceX Starship Flight 11 mission profile showing launch, stage separation, booster descent, and Starship re-entry trajectory.
SpaceX’s official Starship Flight 11 mission profile illustrates the full trajectory from launch at Starbase to splashdowns in the Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean. The diagram details each major phase of the flight, including ascent, stage separation via hot-staging, engine tests, and controlled re-entries for both stages. Credit: SpaceX
Time (T+) Event
00:00 Liftoff
01:02 Max Q (maximum dynamic pressure)
02:37 Booster engine cutoff (MECO)
02:39 Stage separation and hot-staging
06:20 Booster entry burn
06:36 Booster splashdown in Gulf of Mexico
18:28 Start of Starlink dummy payload deployment
37:49 Raptor in-flight engine restart
47:43 Starship atmospheric re-entry
01:06:25 Starship splashdown in the Indian Ocean

Toward Full Reusability

Starship Flight 11 marks a new milestone in SpaceX’s pursuit of total launch system reusability. This technically demanding and strategically crucial mission will refine Super Heavy design, improve heat shield reliability, and pave the way for future versions capable of returning directly to their launch pad.

This flight will be the final mission of the Starship V2. Beginning with Flight 12, SpaceX will debut the V3 model — taller, more powerful, and equipped with an upgraded heat shield.

Source:

Follow the official mission page on SpaceX.com and watch the launch live here.

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