SpaceX concluded the use of Block 2 and Pad 1 with a highly successful mission, Flight 11. Booster 15-2 and Ship 38 achieved all their objectives, helping to overcome earlier disappointments experienced with Block 2 earlier this year.
Booster 15-2 and Ship 38 lifted off from Pad 1 at Starbase, Texas, at 6:23:45. As with nearly every flight except Flights 1 and 4, all 33 engines were running at liftoff. Unlike Flight 10, no engines shut down during ascent. For the final time with this ship and booster configuration, the hotstaging process was completed flawlessly. This hotstaging system was introduced during the downtime between Flight 1 and Flight 2 and has not caused any issues for either the ship or booster since then.
After stage separation, the boost-back burn began. The only problem encountered by the booster was a single Raptor engine failing to relight for the boost-back burn. This issue has occurred a few times before, but the other 12 engines can compensate. Except for Booster 7, which never reached staging, and Booster 9, which exploded during the boost-back burn, all boosters since Flight 3 have successfully passed this phase without problems.
Once the boost-back burn was complete, Booster 15-2 separated its hotstage ring for the last time, allowing it to fall into the Gulf of Mexico. Moving forward with Block 3, the hot stage will be integrated with the forward section of the booster. The booster then began gliding back toward its landing area in the Gulf. When the 13-engine landing burn ignited, all engines, including the one that had failed to relight earlier, successfully ignited.
This phenomenon, where an engine that failed during one part of the flight can come back online, has happened several times with Blocks 1 and 2 boosters. The flight computer determines if the engine is healthy enough to attempt a relight. Booster 15-2 then reduced its engine count from 13 to five, and finally to three engines for the Block 3 landing burn. This landing burn profile provides more redundancy during the final adjustment phase and allows the booster to have greater control over its trajectory.
With three engines, the booster hovered above the Gulf before shutting down all engines, dropping into the water, and exploding. Booster 15-2’s very successful flight leaves behind a legacy of Super Heavy Booster Blocks 1 and 2 vehicles, which, except for the very first flight, have always successfully reached staging. This has been one of the more reliable parts of the program as teams continue to address issues with Starship.
Ship 38 also contributed to a proper sendoff for Pad 1. It completed its ascent burn and remained stable and controlled during the coast phase. This makes Ship 38 the second Block 2 ship to achieve this milestone, improving the legacy of Block 2 alongside Ship 37.
During the coast phase, Ship 38 completed both primary test objectives: deploying the Starlink simulator and performing an in-space burn. The Starlink simulator deployment went more smoothly than with Ship 37. Teams likely adjusted the tension on the chain that ejects the satellites from the payload bay. This time, none of the simulators struck the door on their way out, and the entire operation appeared much smoother.
For the third time in the program, SpaceX completed an in-space burn using a center Raptor engine. This test is critical to ensure that when a ship reaches orbit, it can be deorbited in a controlled manner.
After completing these objectives, Ship 38 entered reentry interface. Unlike Ship 37, there were no explosions related to engine chill lines. SpaceX explained on the livestream that previous issues were caused by ice blockage, which ignited due to static discharge.
During reentry, Ship 38 passed through peak heating without any visible burn-through or damage to its flaps. The ship performed pitching maneuvers and what appeared to be S-turns, similar to those used by the Space Shuttle. These maneuvers help reduce speed and maintain stability during flight.
At around 52 kilometers altitude, while still traveling at 15,000 kilometers per hour, Ship 38 began a new maneuver called the dynamic banking maneuver. This banking turn directed the ship southward to align it as if it were going to be caught on Pad 2(B)’s tower. This maneuver resembles an airplane banking to line up with a runway, but at much higher speeds.
After completing this maneuver, Ship 38 transitioned into a full belly flop before performing the flip and burn maneuver and landing on target in the Indian Ocean. The day after launch, SpaceX released drone footage showing the belly flop and landing. The footage revealed outgassing from the main propellant tanks and the nose cone. This outgassing could only come from the heat shield side if there were holes in the main tanks caused by reentry heating.
These holes were only present where tiles had been removed before flight. This demonstrates the ship’s resilience, showing that with a full heat shield, these vehicles can return intact. Even with holes in the main propellant tank, the ship remained strong enough to land accurately on target.
Flight 11 was a perfect conclusion for Blocks 1 and 2 and for Pad 1, marking a high note as SpaceX ends flight tests this year.
Looking ahead, Flight 12 will feature Block 3, Raptor 3 engines, and Pad 2(B) with Booster 18 and Ship 39. Booster 18 currently has a fully stacked Liquid Oxygen tank, and the Liquid Methane tank stacking has just begun. Once fully stacked, it will be interesting to see how long it takes SpaceX to prepare Booster 18 for cryogenic proof testing.
Ship 39’s nose cone and payload bay recently moved to Mega Bay 2, where its pez dispenser has been installed. It is unclear when these vehicles will be ready for single-vehicle testing and eventually full-stack testing. On the ground equipment side, Masseys is not yet fully completed to support ship static fires after Ship 36 exploded, and Pad 2(B) is still under construction.
Overall, some downtime is expected before Flight 12 occurs. However, Pad 2(B), Block 3, and Raptor 3 represent the future of the Starship program. Flight 11’s success provides a strong foundation as SpaceX moves forward with these next steps.