Watch Live: SpaceX Starship Flight 11 — Heatshield Stress Test, Starlink Demos & Super Heavy Plans

Watch SpaceX Starship Flight 11 live: heatshield stress tests, Super Heavy engine transitions, and orbital demos deploying Starlink simulators. Launch updates.

Watch Live: SpaceX Starship Flight 11 prepares for a one-hour test flight with a launch window opening at 7:15 p.m. ET. Building on the momentum from the August mission, this 11th test flight focuses on data collection, heatshield stress testing, and orbital demonstrations including deployment of eight Starlink simulators.

Mission goals for Starship Flight 11 center on validating next-generation Super Heavy booster behavior and exposing the Starship upper stage to rigorous reentry conditions. The flight will collect critical data on heatshield performance after engineers intentionally removed tiles to stress-test unprotected areas—an important step toward ensuring durability for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Super Heavy booster flying today is a reused stage from Flight 8, fitted with 24 Raptor engines. SpaceX will exercise a new landing-burn profile: igniting 13 engines initially, transitioning to five engines during a divert phase, and finishing with three center engines to hover before splashdown. Rather than return to Starbase, the booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico so teams can gather real-world data on engine transitions and splashdown dynamics.

Starship’s upper stage will handle in-space objectives, including deploying eight Starlink simulators—satellite mockups the same size as next-gen Starlink hardware—and performing an in-space Raptor relight test. The vehicle will also execute a dynamic banking maneuver and subsonic guidance check before a planned controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. These orbital demos are designed to validate deployment procedures and refine guidance for future operational missions.

Flight safety remains a priority. SpaceX is coordinating with the FAA and international air traffic authorities to minimize disruption; during Flight 10 affected airspace reopened within seven to nine minutes. Today’s live coverage typically begins about 30 minutes before launch, offering real-time telemetry and commentary for enthusiasts following heatshield stress test results and Super Heavy performance.

Prediction markets and enthusiasts are already watching: cryptocurrency-based Polymarket and other platforms have activity tied to launch outcomes and splashdown success. Whether you’re tracking Raptor engine transitions, Starlink simulator deployment, or the evolving heatshield strategy, Starship Flight 11 is a pivotal step in SpaceX’s effort to accelerate the development of a fully reusable megarocket capable of carrying cargo and people to deep space.

Watch the live stream and follow updates as SpaceX advances toward routine, reusable launches that will shape lunar and Martian exploration.

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