SpaceX has launched its Starship Super Heavy rocket on the eagerly awaited 11th test flight as it develops fully reusable space vehicles capable of powering future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

The launch took place from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, heralding both the final flight of the current “Version 2” Starship and the close of a significant chapter in the Starship test campaign.

This test flight introduced several significant upgrades and experimental changes. Engineers at SpaceX intentionally removed select heat shield tiles from Starship’s hull to stress-test its most vulnerable areas during the fiery reentry process.

The aim was to gather critical data that would help improve the vehicle’s resilience and reusability on future missions.

Both stages of the rocket featured engines that had previously flown, demonstrating the rapid refurbishment techniques that underpin SpaceX’s vision of reusability.

The mission also included a challenging dynamic banking manoeuvre designed to test guidance algorithms for future targeted Starship returns to the launch pad.

Where Did Starship Land?

After stage separation, the Super Heavy booster successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, further validating SpaceX’s efforts to control booster descent and recovery.

The Starship upper stage continued on an eastward trajectory,

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