SpaceX is preparing its most powerful rocket, Starship, for another major mission this month. The next flight, Starship Flight 11, is scheduled for October 13 from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas. The launch window will open at 7:15 p.m. EDT (2315 GMT), with a live webcast starting 30 minutes earlier. This mission is significant because it will be the final flight of Starship’s Version 2 design, before the company transitions to the larger Version 3 rocket.
Starship Flight 11 Lift-Off Plans
Flight 11 is expected to follow a flight path similar to the successful Flight 10 in August. During that mission, the Super Heavy booster landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico, while the upper stage, known as Ship, splashed down in the Indian Ocean after deploying eight mock Starlink satellites. For Flight 11, Ship will once again carry dummy payloads, allowing engineers to monitor the rocket’s performance during orbital deployment.
To stress-test the spacecraft, engineers will remove certain heat-shield tiles before launch. This deliberate action will help test the rocket’s ability to withstand the extreme heat and pressure experienced during re-entry. These tests are a key part of improving Starship’s overall durability and ensuring safe operations for future flights.
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Enhancements to Super Heavy and Starship Design
Flight 11 will test several upgrades to the rocket’s design, aimed at improving future missions. One of the major changes involves the Super Heavy booster’s landing sequence. Previously, the booster used three Raptor engines to slow its descent. For this mission, SpaceX plans to fire five engines out of the booster’s 33 to manage the landing. This new technique adds a safety margin, allowing the rocket to remain stable even if an engine fails. The five-engine landing will later become the standard procedure for Version 3 boosters.
Another highlight of Flight 11 is the reuse of the same Super Heavy booster from a previous mission. This booster initially flew during Flight 8 in March, demonstrating SpaceX’s commitment to reusable rocket technology. Out of the 33 engines on the booster, 24 have already been used in prior flights, showing that the company continues to push the limits of durability and cost-effective space operations.
SpaceX also focuses on recovering both stages of Starship after each mission. The Super Heavy booster is designed to return to Starbase, where massive robotic “chopstick” arms can capture it on the launch tower. Meanwhile, the Ship upper stage performs a controlled ocean landing, demonstrating that both components can safely return for reuse. These recovery techniques are crucial to lowering launch costs and improving operational efficiency.
Program Milestones
Starship is designed to be the most powerful rocket ever built, standing nearly 400 feet tall in Version 2. It is capable of carrying heavy payloads and is intended to support long-term space missions, including potential travel to other planets. Flight 11 marks the final step for Version 2, as SpaceX prepares for Version 3, which will rise to 408 feet. A future Version 4, expected by 2027, will grow even taller, reaching approximately 466 feet.
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Each flight adds critical data to the development of Starship. By testing reusable engines, improved landing techniques, and heat-shield performance, SpaceX continuously refines the rocket’s systems. Flight 11 will again deploy dummy satellites, validate design upgrades, and test advanced landing sequences, further demonstrating the spacecraft’s reliability.
Starship’s combination of size, power, and reusability sets it apart from other rockets and makes it a leading platform for ambitious space missions. With Flight 11, SpaceX will close the chapter on Version 2 and gather valuable data to support its evolving rocket program.
