Major Milestone for NASA’s Moon Mission: Successful SpaceX Starship Flight 11
On October 13, 2025, SpaceX marked a significant achievement in its Starship program with the successful completion of Flight 11. The 403-foot mega rocket, hailed as the biggest and most powerful ever built, completed its final Version 2 test flight from Starbase, Texas. This event signifies the end of an era as SpaceX prepares to transition to Version 3 of the Starship.
The mission successfully showcased critical capabilities, such as satellite deployment simulation and in-space engine relighting. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy lauded the progress, stating, “The progress demonstrated with today’s Starship test is critical for our Artemis missions.”
SpaceX has ambitious plans to use Starship for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, aiming to land astronauts on the moon in 2027. However, the timeline remains ambitious given the complexity of required in-orbit refueling operations.
As SpaceX gears up to unveil Version 3 of Starship, the successful test of Flight 11 comes at a crucial time. The new version will stand 5 feet taller and will feature upgraded Raptor 3 engines, specifically designed for longer-duration missions and orbital operations.
Source: CNN