SpaceX Conducts Key Static Fire Test for Upcoming Starship Flight 10

The aerospace company ignited a single Raptor engine on the upper stage of its Starship rocket during a brief "static fire" test at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, South Texas. The test, which simulated an in-space burn, marks a key milestone in preparations for the highly anticipated Flight 10 of the massive, next-generation launch system.

“Starship single-engine static fire demonstrating an in-space burn complete on Pad 1 at Starbase,” SpaceX confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by images and a video clip showing flames erupting from the engine as it roared to life.

The 171-foot-tall (52-meter) upper stage, commonly referred to as Ship, is one half of the two-part Starship system. The complete vehicle also includes Super Heavy, a massive first-stage booster powered by 33 Raptor engines. Both stages are constructed from gleaming stainless steel and designed to be fully reusable, a key component of SpaceX’s broader mission to make space travel routine and, eventually, to enable human settlement on Mars.

A Second Chance for Ship

The Ship used in Thursday’s test is actually the second unit SpaceX has assigned to Flight 10. The original was destroyed in a fiery explosion on June 18 during a pre-test procedure on the launch pad. That incident underscored the challenges SpaceX continues to face as it pushes the limits of aerospace engineering and rapid development.

Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster designated for Flight 10 has already completed its own static fire test, successfully firing all 33 of its engines on June 6 without incident. With both components now tested individually, the next major step will likely be stacking the vehicle for full system integration.

Although SpaceX has yet to announce a firm launch date for Flight 10, CEO Elon Musk recently hinted that the mission could take place as early as August. If it proceeds on schedule, the flight would mark the fourth Starship launch this year and the fifth overall since the vehicle’s debut in April 2023.

Starship’s ambitious design represents a fundamental shift in how rockets are built and flown. Unlike traditional launch systems, which are discarded after use, both stages of Starship are intended to return to Earth and fly again. Achieving this level of reusability could dramatically reduce the cost of access to space, enabling a new era of exploration and commercial activity in orbit and beyond.

However, the journey to that goal has not been without setbacks. All three Starship test flights in 2024 — in January, March, and May — ended with the upper stage failing to complete its planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Each mission has nonetheless offered valuable data, helping SpaceX refine its designs and procedures with each iteration.

Flight 10 will likely follow a similar profile, aiming to launch the fully stacked Starship to space before attempting controlled descent maneuvers and an eventual ocean landing. Whether it reaches that goal or not, the mission will serve as another critical step in developing the world’s most powerful rocket.

As SpaceX continues testing and refining the system, all eyes are on Starbase. The sprawling complex has become the heartbeat of Starship’s development, with nearly constant activity — including engine testing, vehicle assembly, and infrastructure expansion.

With the pace of progress accelerating, SpaceX’s long-term vision of reaching the Moon, Mars, and beyond may be closer than ever — if Flight 10 lives up to expectations.

By Azhar