Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Starship’s Flight 10 has only just wrapped up, yet the spotlight is already turning to what comes next. Attention now centers on Flight 11, the closing mission of the Starship V2 program, a flight that is expected to push the system even further. After the success of the last launch, the industry is watching closely to see how soon the next rocket will fly and what new hurdles it will take on. SpaceX’s work is progressing at a rapid pace, but the exact date for liftoff will depend on hardware readiness, pad refurbishment, and final testing still underway.
Elon Musk recently shared on X that SpaceX is aiming to maintain a launch pace of roughly one mission every two months. If this schedule is followed, Flight 11 could lift off in the second half of October, which would then set up Flight 12, the first of the V3 series, for a December launch. Yet, the current progress suggests the rocket could be ready even sooner. Both the booster intended for Flight 11, Booster 17, and the spacecraft Ship 38 have successfully completed cryogenic testing, a major milestone that demonstrates their readiness to withstand the extreme cold of propellant loading. Some observers speculate that Booster 15, an earlier flight vehicle, might be used instead, depending on final assessments. Regardless of which booster is selected, the hardware is well along in the preparation process, with only static fire testing remaining before moving on to the next stage of prelaunch work.
Booster 15 still has all its engines in place, though a few may need to be replaced to ensure optimal performance. Booster 7, on the other hand, has already had its full set of engines installed during recent updates, meaning it could be ready for integration quickly. On the Starship side, engines have been transported to Mega Bay 2 to be installed on Ship 38. As of August 27, Ship 38 had received its second aft flap, a critical component for flight control during ascent, orbit, and re-entry. This addition marks another key milestone in the preparation process, signaling that the spacecraft is moving steadily toward flight readiness and bringing Flight 11 closer to its anticipated launch window.
Starship’s Flight 10 has only just wrapped up, yet the spotlight is already turning to what comes next. Attention now centers on Flight 11, the closing mission of the Starship V2 program, a flight that is expected to push the system even further. After the success of the last launch, the industry is watching closely to see how soon the next rocket will fly and what new hurdles it will take on. SpaceX’s work is progressing at a rapid pace, but the exact date for liftoff will depend on hardware readiness, pad refurbishment, and final testing still underway.
Elon Musk recently shared on X that SpaceX is aiming to maintain a launch pace of roughly one mission every two months. If this schedule is followed, Flight 11 could lift off in the second half of October, which would then set up Flight 12, the first of the V3 series, for a December launch. Yet, the current progress suggests the rocket could be ready even sooner. Both the booster intended for Flight 11, Booster 17, and the spacecraft Ship 38 have successfully completed cryogenic testing, a major milestone that demonstrates their readiness to withstand the extreme cold of propellant loading. Some observers speculate that Booster 15, an earlier flight vehicle, might be used instead, depending on final assessments. Regardless of which booster is selected, the hardware is well along in the preparation process, with only static fire testing remaining before moving on to the next stage of prelaunch work.
Booster 15 still has all its engines in place, though a few may need to be replaced to ensure optimal performance. Booster 7, on the other hand, has already had its full set of engines installed during recent updates, meaning it could be ready for integration quickly. On the Starship side, engines have been transported to Mega Bay 2 to be installed on Ship 38. As of August 27, Ship 38 had received its second aft flap, a critical component for flight control during ascent, orbit, and re-entry. This addition marks another key milestone in the preparation process, signaling that the spacecraft is moving steadily toward flight readiness and bringing Flight 11 closer to its anticipated launch window.
