SpaceX advances Starship Flight 10

SpaceX moves toward Starship Flight 10 after FAA clearance, with final checks and testing completed.

SpaceX clarifies Starship failures ahead of new launch

SpaceX won FAA clearance to proceed with Starship Flight 10. A spin prime test was completed on the ground at the launch site in South Texas. Engineers then moved the rocket to a hangar for engine checks and heat shield touchups ahead of liftoff. The company targets no earlier than August 24 at 6:30 pm local time for liftoff from Starbase, Texas.

Past Starship tests have not gone smoothly. Four flights in early 2025 ended in failures, and a June ground-test explosion raised questions. This mission aims to demonstrate a complete suborbital run and push toward future goals like in-orbit refueling and upper-stage recovery, tasks this vehicle would be the first to attempt.

SpaceX faces high expectations. The Starship program blends ambition with technical risk, and investors watch every test closely. A stumble now could slow important partnerships and future missions.

If Flight 10 succeeds, it could renew momentum for a system that promises cheap access to space while raising questions about safety, cost, and schedule in the long run.

Highlights

The countdown continues, and the lesson will be in the details of execution.