Tag: Starship
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Ten flights in, the Starship Program has had successes and failures
SpaceX has had a long journey through 10 flight tests of Starship. Teams have endured explosions and failures, but also achieved triumphs through amazing reentries, catches of Boosters, and even the reuse of a Booster. After 10 flights of Starship, the Program stands on the doorstep of a new generation of vehicles and possible ship…
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East Coast steps up a gear for Starship’s arrival
As SpaceX continues to ramp up its Starship program, recent developments at Florida’s spaceports highlight the company’s push to expand operations beyond its Starbase facility in Texas. Although Starship’s pad at 39A is well-known, SpaceX is now starting to spotlight Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37), including the release of an animation depicting dual launch towers…
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SpaceX McGregor looks to the future, from Raptor 3 to potential HLS testing
SpaceX’s engine development and testing site in McGregor—the world’s most active rocket engine test facility—continues to be a hive of activity. Recent updates reveal intensified Raptor engine trials and the construction of a large-scale rig, the latter having ignited speculation about its potential ties to Starship’s Human Landing System (HLS) for NASA’s Artemis program. Since…
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Starship’s heat shield appears to have performed quite well in test
One of the more curious aspects of the 10th flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket on Tuesday was the striking orange discoloration of the second stage. This could be observed on video taken from a buoy near the landing site as the vehicle made a soft landing in the Indian Ocean. This color—so different from the…
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The Starship Program rises from the ashes of Block 2 with Ship 37
Going into Flight 10, SpaceX was having a down year with the Starship program. Following the successes of Block 1, the hope was to have immediate success with Block 2 and possibly catch a Starship in 2025. However, with four straight ship failures, including one during ground testing, SpaceX needed a win. Flight 10 gave…
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SpaceX successfully launches Super Heavy-Starship on critical test flight
A SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy rocket thunders away from Starbase, Texas to begin the Starhip Flight 10 mission on Aug. 26, 2025. Image: SpaceX Running two days late, SpaceX launched its huge Super Heavy-Starship rocket Tuesday, chalking up what appeared to be a remarkably successful test flight in the wake of three back-to-back failures earlier this…
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Ship 37 Completes the Redemption Arc and Lands in the Indian Ocean
SpaceX had not experienced much success with the Block 2 version of Starship since its introduction earlier this year. What was intended to usher in a new era for the program, including a possible ship catch in 2025, has instead devolved into SpaceX repeatedly attempting to achieve the same objectives that were targeted across several…
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Launch preview: SpaceX tries for third time to launch Starship Flight 10 from Starbase, Texas
SpaceX’s Starship rocket is pictured at sunset at Starbase, Texas, following a mission scrub for Flight 10 on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. Image: SpaceX SpaceX is hoping that with two successive days of scrubs behind it, it will be able to launch its massive Starship rocket on its third launch attempt on Tuesday evening. It’s…
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Poor weather delays Starship Flight 10 to Tuesday
Several people wander the dunes surrounding Launch Pad A at Starbase, Texas, to marvel at the fully integrated Starship rocket designed to launch Starship Flight 10. Image: Stephen Clark / Ars Technica Update Aug. 25, 8:22 p.m. EDT: An anvil cloud forced a mission scrub. The launch is now scheduled for no earlier than Tuesday…
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Starbase Pad 2: Design Advancements from Pad 1
SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, continues to evolve as the company pushes the boundaries of rocket development with its Starship program. Following the operational experience gained from Pad 1, significant design advancements have been implemented for Pad 2, aiming to enhance efficiency, reliability, and safety for future Starship launches. This includes key modifications…