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SpaceX conducted its eleventh Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, on October 13, 2025, achieving a complete mission success. The massive rocket, made up of the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage spacecraft known as Ship 38, lifted off at 7:23 p.m. Eastern time. The test marked a milestone in SpaceX’s effort to develop a fully reusable launch system for missions to the Moon and Mars.
“Another major step toward landing Americans on the Moon’s south pole. The progress SpaceX demonstrated with today’s Starship test is critical for our Artemis missions. While we prepare for Artemis II, every flight strengthens our progress on Artemis III, and beating China back to the Moon!” shared NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, on X.
This follows NASA’s recent decision to bar Chinese nationals holding U.S. visas from working on its projects, as the space race between China and the United States continues to intensify.
The launch drew hundreds of spectators along the Gulf Coast, watching as 33 Raptor engines ignited beneath the stainless-steel rocket. For the first time, every planned phase of the flight, from liftoff to splashdown, proceeded without issue, according to SpaceX engineers. It was a quiet but important achievement for a program that has seen its share of fiery failures and rapid learning.
Starship Flight 11 successfully tested a new banking maneuver during reentry, tilting 20 to 30 degrees to control its path through the atmosphere. The technique helped guide the ship precisely toward its splashdown target while keeping vibrations and heat shield wear low. Engineers say the data will support future tower catches and improve navigation for lunar and Martian missions.
SpaceX released a video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing the newly tested banking maneuver.
Starship is executing a banking maneuver that mimics the final approach it would take while returning to Starbase for a catch on a future mission pic.twitter.com/t4Al1xg7Xe
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 14, 2025
Standing 121 meters tall, Starship is the largest rocket ever built. It burns a mix of liquid methane and oxygen, designed to produce cleaner and more efficient combustion than older rocket fuels. The methane choice is also practical for future Mars missions, where it could be produced using local resources.
The system is built to carry up to 150 tons of cargo or 100 passengers into orbit. Flight 11 tested several updates to the vehicle’s engines and heat shield, moving closer to the company’s goal of rapid reusability.
After reaching about 70 kilometers in altitude, the Super Heavy booster separated from the upper stage and began its return to Earth. It flipped and reignited three engines to guide itself toward a controlled descent into the Gulf of Mexico. Instead of attempting a tower catch, engineers opted for a splashdown to collect data on heat and aerodynamic stress.
Footage from the descent showed the booster entering the atmosphere at intense speeds before slowing for a smooth upright landing on the water. The booster endured reentry temperatures above 1,600 degrees Celsius, proof that its reinforced structure can withstand multiple flights.
The upper stage, Ship 38, continued into orbit after separation, crossing the Kármán line 100 kilometers above Earth. It deployed dummy payloads to simulate satellite release, a crucial step for upcoming Starlink and cargo missions. A Raptor engine relit in space to test deorbit capabilities.
Reentry was one of the most demanding phases. Traveling at nearly 25 times the speed of sound, the spacecraft faced extreme heat and plasma around its hull. Its ceramic heat tiles remained intact, and the ship survived the descent, splashing down in the Indian Ocean. Recovery teams confirmed it landed in stable condition.
SpaceX engineers reported that vibration levels during ascent were lower than in previous flights. The ship’s body flaps also performed better than expected, successfully controlling orientation without engine adjustments. These small technical wins could make Starship more reliable and cheaper to operate.
The flight’s data will inform future iterations, including attempts to catch the booster using the launch tower, an essential step toward quick turnaround reuse. SpaceX says the test produced several terabytes of data from thousands of onboard sensors monitoring engines, tanks, and flight dynamics.
Further ahead, SpaceX aims to send Starship to Mars, using orbital refueling to make the six-month journey. The rocket’s capacity could support habitats, scientific instruments, and telescopes in deep space. Flight 11’s success moves that goal a step closer, demonstrating that the rocket can launch, reenter, and survive intact.
For SpaceX, this mission marked more than just another test. It proved the steady progress of the company, and it defines the road to reusability and perhaps to Mars.
