After performing a static fire test on Flight 11 Booster 15-2 earlier this month, SpaceX conducted another static fire test on the upper stage Starship 38 prototype on Monday (22nd September 2025).
Elon Musk’s astronautics and commercial spaceflight company SpaceX performed these tests in preparation for a suborbital launch of Starship for the 11th time (Starship Flight 11 / IFT-11).
Starship 38 (Ship 38) and Booster 15 rocket booster are the vehicle prototypes SpaceX is preparing for the 11th Starship launch and landing test.
This upcoming Starship test is going to be performed at Starbase, Texas. No specific date is announced for this test, as more ground testing and a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are still pending.
Full Duration 6-Engine Static Fire Test
SpaceX performed a full-duration, six-engine static fire test on the Flight 11 Starship upper stage, aka Ship 38. Orbital launch mount (OLM) Pad A at the Starbase launch site was used for this static fire test. This is the same launch pad used for live flight tests from Starbase.
This was the first static fire test of Ship 38 that’s going to be used in the Flight 11 launch. Before this static fire, SpaceX had performed two cryogenic pressure-proof tests on this Starship prototype in July.
Most probably, another static fire test of Ship 38 will not be required before the final day of the launch. Booster 15 is also almost ready for Flight 11.
The following footage and aerial images of the Ship 38 static fire test were shared by SpaceX on Elon Musk’s social media platform X.
Last Block 2 Starship Test
Starship Flight 11 will be the last test of a 2nd-generation Starship prototype. This puts an end to the production and further testing of the Starship V2 or Block 2 Starship.
Starship 38 and Booster 15 form the last fully integrated Starship Block 2 prototype. Although SpaceX has made Super Heavy Booster 17, the space launch company does not intend to use it in any flight. Booster 17 will be archived in the Rocket Garden at Starbase as a Block 2 Starship lower stage memorial.
Booster 16 was destroyed after making a successful soft splashdown water landing during the Flight 10 Starship launch test last month.
SpaceX has already made progress on Starship V3 or Block 3 Starship prototypes, which are being developed at the City of Starbase, Texas.
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