Getting Ready for the 11th Test Flight of the Gigantic Starship Rocket
The upcoming 11th test flight of the well-known mega rocket, Starship, is all set to take off. All eyes are on the South Texas site where the action will take place.
The launch is expected to happen in a 75-minute window that commences at 7:15 p.m., and you can catch the event live. Keep checking this page for the most recent updates about the test flight.
The 2025 Journey of Starship
This will be the fifth Starship launch this year. The team is eager to replicate the success of the tenth launch, which managed to fulfill all its key objectives. Unlike the seventh, eighth, and ninth flights that faced some issues, the tenth flight was a smooth sail.
The ultimate goal is to use Starship for settling Mars and as the first crewed lander for moon exploration programs. However, the 400-foot-tall rocket is still in the testing phase. The hope is that this test flight will bring it one step closer to the end goal.
When is the Launch Expected?
The 11th test flight of Starship is planned for 7:15 p.m., during a 75-minute launch window. However, the rocket can take off anytime between 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
If the rocket is unable to launch, there are backup dates scheduled. Local road closure alerts suggest that the backup dates for the launch are the following two days.
Can I Watch the Launch?
You can watch the Starship test launch in several ways. The takeoff will be streamed live, and coverage will begin about half an hour before the launch.
If you prefer a longer livestream, there are options available that start around 4:15 p.m. These streams also provide live commentary during "go for launch" polling and other key preflight activities.
If you are in the area, you can watch the launch in person. Though there is no official launch-viewing site for the public, you can find a spot yourself. Some places offer clear views of the orbital launch mount. However, remember that traffic tends to get heavy before a launch, so plan to get to your viewing site early.
What is the Expected Duration of the Flight?
If everything goes as planned, the flight will last just over an hour. The flight plan is broadly similar to the tenth flight, with ocean landings planned for both stages of the Starship.
The goal for this flight is to gather data for the next-generation booster, stress-test the heat shield, and demonstrate maneuvers that will mimic the upper stage's final approach for a future return to the launch site.
The focus for this flight is also to test a new landing-burn strategy for the next-generation Starship. This vehicle is expected to debut early next year. The booster will ignite 13 engines at the start of the landing burn and then transition to a new configuration with five engines running for the divert phase.
The upper stage will deploy eight payloads into suborbital space, scheduled to occur over a seven-minute stretch, 18.5 minutes after liftoff. It will also briefly reignite one of its six engines in space, demonstrating a key capability for a vehicle designed to travel to the moon and Mars.
Additionally, this flight will test the heat shield and other reentry systems, gathering data to pave the way for future catches of the upper stage. The ship is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere just under 48 minutes after launch and hit the water off the coast of Western Australia about 18 minutes later.
What if the Launch Can't Happen?
If the launch doesn't happen as scheduled, there are two backup days already planned. The backup dates are the next two days after the scheduled launch. The launch windows for these days will likely be the same, though we'll have to wait for confirmation.