By 
August 28th, 2025
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
SpaceX has posted the following account of the Starship’s tenth flight test, highlighting milestones achieved (slightly abridged):
The flight test began on August 26, 2025 at 6:40 p.m. Central Time from Starbase, Texas.
Super Heavy lifted off by igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf of America.
Hot-staging maneuver
Ascent was followed by a hot-staging maneuver, with Starship’s upper stage igniting its six Raptor engines to separate from Super Heavy and continue the flight to space.
Following stage separation, the Super Heavy booster completed its boostback burn to put it on a course to a pre-planned splashdown zone.
Eight Starlink simulators deployed in the first successful payload demonstration from Starship. Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The booster descended and initiated its landing burn, intentionally disabling one of its three center engines during the final phases of the burn and using a backup engine from the middle ring.
Super Heavy entered into a final hover above the water before shutting down its engines and splashing down into the water.
In-space objectives
Starship completed a full-duration ascent burn and achieved its planned velocity, putting it on a suborbital trajectory.
The first in-space objective was then completed, with eight Starlink simulators deployed in the first successful payload demonstration from Starship.
Starship then completed the second ever in-space relight of a Raptor engine, demonstrating a key capability for future deorbit burns.
Pre-explosion image. Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Post-explosion debris caught in this image.
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Pushing the envelope
Moving into the critical reentry phase, Starship was able to gather data on the performance of its heatshield and structure as it was intentionally stressed to push the envelope on vehicle capabilities.
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Using its four flaps for control, the spacecraft arrived at its splashdown point in the Indian Ocean, executed a landing flip, and completed the flight test with a landing burn and soft splashdown.
“Over the course of a flight test campaign, success will continue to be measured by what we are able to learn, and Starship’s tenth flight test provided valuable data by stressing the limits of vehicle capabilities and providing maximum excitement along the way,” the SpaceX posting concludes.
Editor’s note: For an independent review of the flight, go to this video by Scott Manley at:
Posted in Space News
