Just weeks after an explosion rocked its Boca Chica launch pad, SpaceX’s Starship is on track for a milestone tenth test flight in mid-August. Elon Musk has also promised to share new details about the spacecraft’s next evolution in the days ahead.
For the past several days, the upper stage—damaged in the June 19 blast—has undergone successful static fires, including a long-duration run on August 2. While the mishap caused notable delays, SpaceX says it’s confident the world’s most ambitious launch system will soon be back in the air.
Mid-August mission goals
The tenth test flight will focus on objectives carried over from previous attempts: recovering the Super Heavy booster, deploying mock Starlink satellites, and testing the upper stage’s thermal protection system.
Perhaps the biggest challenge will be executing a fully controlled atmospheric reentry of the upper stage from start to finish—something SpaceX has yet to achieve, with the last three tries ending in vehicle loss.
Full-duration static fire for the Starship preparing for our tenth flight test pic.twitter.com/sWcKPDb2lJ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 2, 2025
Musk’s upcoming update
On July 25, Musk announced he would deliver a live technical update before the launch, covering progress so far and future plans for engineering, production, and flight.
Planned upgrades
The Starship will grow slightly taller and see its engine count jump from 39 to 42 Raptor V3 engines. The Super Heavy currently flies with 33 engines for liftoff, while the upper stage carries six. The extra three engines will increase thrust and improve performance in orbit.
Design tweaks
The next version will also lose one of its four stabilizing fins, a change aimed at improving aerodynamics and maneuverability. If flight 10 goes well, these upgrades could debut on flight 11 later this year.
Even with these enhancements, Starship still faces steep engineering hurdles—making each launch not just a test, but a step toward transforming how we reach space.
Rémy Decourt
Journalist
Born shortly after Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon in 1969, my journey into space exploration has been entirely self-taught. A military stay in Mururoa sparked my formal education in space sciences, and early sky-watching experiences in an astronomy club ignited my passion. I founded flashespace.com, transitioning from sky observation to a deep interest in space missions, satellites, and human and robotic exploration. Since 2010, I’ve been part of Futura’s editorial team, covering space news and working as a freelance writer with extensive international field experience in space-related sites.
