SpaceX Preps Starship for Crucial Test Flight on Oct. 13

On October 13, 2025, SpaceX is preparing to launch Starship Flight 11 from its Starbase facility in South Texas. This will be the fifth Starship mission of the year, building on the successful demonstrations from the previous Flight 10 launch on August 26.

The upcoming test flight is set to last just over an hour and will focus on gathering data for the next-generation Super Heavy booster, stress-testing Starship's heat shield, and demonstrating new maneuvers that will mimic the upper stage's final approach for a future return to the launch site. SpaceX plans to use a fresh landing-burn method, with the Super Heavy booster igniting 13 engines at the start of the landing burn before transitioning to a configuration with five engines for the divert phase.

Starship, the 400-foot-tall rocket system, is a crucial component of SpaceX's plans to support Mars colonization and NASA's Artemis Moon exploration initiative. The company has selected Starship as the initial crewed lander for the Artemis program. While still in the testing stage, the successful completion of Flight 11 will bring the vehicle closer to operational readiness.

For those unable to witness the launch in person, SpaceX will provide a live stream on its various platforms, including the Starship Flight 11 mission page and the X TV app. Space.com and NASASpaceflight will also simulcast the launch, with the latter providing a longer webcast with live commentary.