On October 13, 2025, at 6:23 PM Central Time, SpaceX's cutting - edge, new - generation heavy - lift launch vehicle, the Starship, took off from Texas on its 11th test flight. This particular test flight is set to experimentally validate a series of crucial technologies. These include the brand - new landing burn strategy for the booster, the return trajectory of the spacecraft, and the robustness of the spacecraft's thermal protection system. In line with the pre - arranged plan, the rocket booster will make a landing in the sea area close to the Gulf of Mexico. However, it won't be recovered. Meanwhile, the spacecraft is expected to make a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
