SpaceX Nails 11th Test Flight and Pushes NASA’s Lunar Goals Forward

On October 13, 2025, SpaceX orchestrated another unforgettable moment in its quest to reshape space travel. At 7:23 p.m. Eastern Time, the company’s gigantic Starship rocket lifted off from Starbase in southern Texas and arced into orbit. It was the 11th test flight for the massive stainless steel rocket and, by many accounts, one of the most successful yet.

This flight marked the final test for the current generation of Starship before SpaceX shifts focus to its next model. The booster separated cleanly and performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico just seven minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, the upper stage continued its journey across the globe before making a planned landing in the Indian Ocean. The entire flight lasted about an hour, offering a near textbook performance that SpaceX engineers have spent years trying to achieve.

“Every major objective of the flight test was achieved, providing valuable data as we prepare the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy,” the company said in a post on X following the mission.

Overcoming a Rocky Year

The success was bittersweet given the setbacks SpaceX faced earlier in 2025. Starship endured three consecutive failures before regaining momentum with its 10th flight in August. One test ended in an explosion, while others were plagued by leaks and control issues. For a program under intense public and governmental scrutiny, these failures put enormous pressure on SpaceX to prove that Starship could deliver on its promise.