The Integrated Flight Test 11 (IFT-11) of SpaceX’s Starship program is scheduled for October 13, 2025, marking the last flight of the Version 2 (V2) Starship spacecraft. This test will launch from Pad 1 at Starbase, Texas, which may be decommissioned after the final V2 flight due to incompatible umbilical connection points with the upcoming booster and ship designs. A second launch pad is under construction to support future operations. Below is a detailed breakdown of the mission.
Mission Details
- Launch Date: October 13, 2025
- Launch Window: 75 minutes
- Flight Trajectory: Similar to the last few launches, with the Starship spacecraft targeting a landing in the Indian Ocean (ideally near Australia) and the Super Heavy booster landing in the Gulf of Mexico, close to shore.
- Booster Landing: The booster will not be caught by the launch tower but will perform a landing in the Gulf of Mexico. The test includes a new burn engine configuration
- Payload: 8 Starlink simulators (~16,000 kg), designed to mimic the size and deployment mechanism of next-generation Starlink satellites.
- Test Objectives:
- Evaluate heat shield tiles during reentry, with some tiles intentionally removed for stress testing.
- 24 flight-proven Raptor engines
- New landing burn pattern for Super Heavy. Ignite 13 engines, then transition to 5 engines and then to 3 engines for landing.
- Relight of a 1 vacuum Raptor.
- New landing trajectory for Ship will include a subsonic trajectory manipulations.
Sources:
- SpaceX IFT-11 Mission Overview
Starship Program Timeline
The following table outlines the timeline of Starship’s Integrated Flight Tests, highlighting test dates, intervals, and vehicle versions:
| Test | Date | Days Elapsed | Version Booster | Version Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFT-1 | 20.04.23 | - | V1 – B7 | V1 – S24 |
| IFT-2 | 18.11.23 | 212 | V1 – B9 | V1 – S25 |
| IFT-3 | 14.03.24 | 117 | V1 – B10 | V1 – S28 |
| IFT-4 | 06.06.24 | 84 | V1 – B11 | V1 – S29 |
| IFT-5 | 13.10.24 | 129 | V1 – B12 | V1 – S30 |
| IFT-6 | 19.11.24 | 37 | V1 – B13 | V1 – S31 |
| IFT-7 | 16.01.25 | 58 | V2 – B14(1) | V2 – S33 |
| IFT-8 | 06.03.25 | 49 | V2 – B15(1) | V2 – S34 |
| IFT-9 | 27.03.25 | 82 | V2 – B14(2) | V2 – S35 |
| IFT-10 | 24.08.25 | 150 | V2 – B16 | V2 – S37 |
| IFT-11 | 13.10.205 | 50 | V2 – B15(2) | V2 – S38 |
An interesting observation:
Feel like I should point this out, the previous record for most flights of a SHLV in 365 days was 5 of the Saturn V.
— Luke Leisher (@luke_leisher_) October 9, 2025
Including Apollo 8 (Dec 68), 9 (Mar 69), 10 (May 69), 11 (Jul 69), 12 (Nov 69).
This is going to be starships 7th launch in 365 days.
Insane. https://t.co/w0SFonsL4K
Starship Specifications
The Starship system, comprising the spacecraft and Super Heavy booster, is designed for full reusability and large-scale payload delivery. Key specifications are as follows:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Stack | |
| Height | 123 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
| Payload Capacity (Reusable) | 100–150 t |
| Starship Spacecraft | |
| Height | 52 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
| Super Heavy Booster | |
| Height | 71 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
Source: SpaceX Starship Overview
This mission represents a critical step in validating the V2 Starship design and advancing SpaceX’s goal of reusable, high-capacity spaceflight.
Live streams
- SpaceX Twitter
- Tim Dodd - YouTube
- Ellie in Space and Joe Tegtmeyer - YouTube
- NASASpaceflight - YouTube
- Senkrechtstarter (German) - LIVE: Das Ende von SpaceX Starship V2 Hardware, Raketenstart Super Heavy Booster 15 & S38 | Deutsch
More Information
Why won’t Starship have an abort system? Should it?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6lPMFgZU5Q)
Tim Dodd was lucky enough to get three guided tours around Starbase by Elon Musk:
Tour 2024: + First Look Inside SpaceX's Starfactory w/ Elon Musk + Join Elon Musk on a tour of Starship just before it launches! (w/ post launch interview)
Tour 2022: + 2022 Elon Musk Explains Updates To Starship And Starbase! + Go up SpaceX's Starship-catching robotic launch tower with Elon Musk! + Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Merlin Engine! + Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine!
Tour 2021: + Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 1 // Summer 2021] + Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2 // Summer 2021] + Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3 // Summer 2021]
Tim Dodd: How SpaceX Is Upgrading Raptor To Be The Ultimate Rocket Engine! Elon Musk: The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary
Further information
StarshipGazer.com: Useful Starship links Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia FAA: SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site FAA: Licensed Launches
Starship OFT flight plan
Lex Fridman: Starship: The most powerful rocket ever made | Tim Dodd and Lex Fridman
SpaceX Starship Explosive Potential, and Big Bang Theory
Tim Dodd made a video contrasting Starship V1 and V2: What's new with Flight 7's massively upgraded Starship?!?