SpaceX plans to conduct its final Starship V2 launch on October 13, 2025. This launch will mark the end of the Starship V2 era, marking the beginning of SpaceX’s ambitious Starship V3 project. This flight could be a landmark moment for SpaceX, as it will pave the way for the next version.
Flight 11: A Pivotal Test
SpaceX’s Flight 11 mission is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (Eastern Time) from Starbase in South Texas. The mission will last 75 minutes and will primarily test Starship V2’s re-entry dynamics, landing burn configuration, and heat-shield upgrades. During this flight, engineers intentionally removed heat-shield tiles in certain sensitive areas to understand how the vehicle handles atmospheric re-entry under pressure.
Elon Musk’s Statement: A Step Towards V3
SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that Starship V3 is already in production and its construction and testing could be completed by the end of 2025. According to Musk, Starship V3 will feature major improvements over V2 and could be capable of reaching Mars. However, V4 is more likely to be used for a full-scale mission to Mars
Starship V3: The Next Big Step
Following Starship’s successful Flight 10 mission in August 2025, Musk stated, “There’s only one more V2 launch left,” and added, “Starship V3 will be a major upgrade from the current V2, and testing and production should be completed by the end of the year. Flight activities could accelerate further next year.”
What will be special about Starship V3?
The arrival of Starship V3 will mark a new turning point in SpaceX’s future of space travel. Musk has stated that this new version could be ready to send missions to Mars, and this version is expected to feature major performance and scale improvements. If all goes well, the V3 flight could make a trip to Mars possible.
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