SpaceX has taken another step toward operational Starship flights with a static-fire test of Super Heavy Booster 15 (B15) on 7 September. All 33 Raptor engines fired for around 10 seconds at Starbase, Texas, marking the booster’s first qualification run ahead of Flight Test 11.
SpaceX released two short clips of the test on X, showing Booster 15’s engines firing and confirming readiness for stacking with Ship 38 in the coming weeks.
What Just Happened
The B15 static fire was the final major systems check before pairing with Ship 38. Once stacked, the full vehicle will undergo cryogenic proofing and final pre-launch tests. Flight 11 will likely repeat the profile of Flight 10, which launched successfully, achieved hot-stage separation, placed Starship into orbit, and saw both stages attempt splashdowns. For the first time, Starship survived atmospheric re-entry and made a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, Super Heavy executed a water landing manoeuvre in the Gulf of Mexico.
What Flight 11 Will Test
No major changes to the mission profile are expected, but incremental refinements will be attempted. These include more precise targeting of booster and ship return zones and adjustments to engine chill and separation timing. If Flight 11 repeats or extends Flight 10’s successes, SpaceX will edge closer to demonstrating the reliability needed for routine launches.
When to Expect Launch
SpaceX has not set an official launch date. Based on past test sequences, industry analysts point to a late September or October window. That timeline remains provisional: the vehicle must be stacked and cleared through a Federal Aviation Administration launch licence, which has been a pacing item in earlier campaigns.
Why It Matters
Starship is central to SpaceX’s ambitions beyond Earth orbit. The vehicle is contracted as NASA’s Human Landing System for Artemis III, but it is also expected to launch Starlink’s next-generation satellites and support future interplanetary missions. Each test flight builds confidence that the fully reusable system can scale to commercial and government requirements.
Flight Test 11 is not intended to be a breakthrough event, but as another milestone in a programme progressing steadily. With regulatory approval still pending, the next few weeks will decide whether SpaceX can maintain its current cadence and keep Artemis timelines within reach.
Published by Ben Ward
Ben Ward studied English Literature and Language at the University of Bristol. With a background in analytical news writing and an interest in space exploration, his work focuses on the connection between science, history, and language. He has a measured approach to space journalism, always prioritising accuracy. He is interested in how the decisions of private industry, government agencies, and scientific institutions shape the future of space exploration. When not writing, He closely follows updates in Geopolitics, Aerospace and Planetary science, considering how humanity’s presence on earth has an influence far beyond it.