SpaceX's Starship rocket achieved a good performance during its tenth integrated flight test, encouraging optimism in the race to return humans to the Moon and beyond. The flight test was live streamed via X.
I didn't watch the live stream because it was night time for me, but I watched the recording first thing in the morning. My first reaction: This test flight encourages optimism in the future of spaceflight. In the near term, the "West" could continue to lead the race to the Moon and the planets; in the long term, we could become a multi-planetary species.
After a series of setbacks in previous tests, this mission from Starbase in South Texas demonstrated key advancements in reusable rocket technology, bringing Elon Musk's vision of interplanetary travel one step closer to reality.
The test flight, dubbed IFT-10, involved the massive Starship system comprising the Super Heavy booster (Booster 16) and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft (Ship 37). Liftoff was successful, with all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy igniting successfully to propel the 400-foot-tall vehicle skyward over the Gulf of Mexico. This marked a clean ascent, avoiding the engine failures and explosions that plagued earlier flights. The booster separated cleanly from the spacecraft shortly after launch, executing a boost-back burn to simulate a return to the launch site before splashing down in the Gulf as planned.
The Starship upper stage continued its trajectory, reaching suborbital altitudes and conducting several in-flight experiments. These included tests on the vehicle's heat shield tiles, which are crucial for withstanding the extreme temperatures of atmospheric reentry, and maneuvers to evaluate its stability during descent. A highlight was the spacecraft's flip maneuver, transitioning to a vertical orientation for a simulated landing burn. The spacecraft performed a controlled "belly flop" into the Indian Ocean.
The mission achieved all major objectives, including data collection on reentry dynamics and payload-related experiments. SpaceX reported that the flight provided insights for iterating on the next generation of Starship vehicles, emphasizing the system's potential for full reusability.
This success comes after multiple delays, with the launch scrubbed twice in the preceding days due to weather and technical issues. Despite some onboard challenges - such as visible damage to the engine bay and heat shield deterioration during reentry - the overall outcome was hailed as a breakthrough. Videos from the event captured the dramatic plumes of exhaust and the vehicle's graceful arcs against the evening sky, underscoring the engineering prowess involved.
Mainstream media applauds Starship's comeback
High-profile media outlets overwhelmingly praised the test flight, focusing on its implications for future space missions and SpaceX's resilience.
The New York Times (unpaywalled copy) called it a "nearly flawless test flight" and noting that it was "a likely relief to both SpaceX and NASA," which is counting on Starship as the lander to put its astronauts on the moon in the coming years. CNN provided live updates and highlighted the vehicle's successful separation and splashdown phases. ABC News noted that Starship "completes successful mission during 10th test flight," emphasizing the liftoff from the Starbase tower and its controlled descent.
BBC News praised the "stunning comeback" of SpaceX, concluding that "Starship returned to Earth battered and bruised on Tuesday but it was a big step forward for the company that needs to prove it can safely and reliably take humans to the Moon."
While the press and media coverage was predominantly positive, some critics emerged, particularly on social media and in niche discussions. These voices represent a minority, often from enthusiasts scrutinizing technical details, but they underscore ongoing challenges in perfecting reentry technology. Mainstream press, however, largely overlooked these nitpicks in favor of the broader achievements.
The race against China
In the broader context of lunar ambitions, this test flight gains added significance against warnings from space journalist Eric Berger. In his recent article titled "After recent tests, China appears likely to beat the United States back to the Moon," published in Ars Technica, Berger argued that China's steady approach, marked by successful steps, position China to return humans to the lunar surface before NASA's Artemis program. Berger noted that this could have "enormous" geopolitical impacts, eroding U.S. prestige in space.
Berger's piece, informed by experts like Dean Cheng, warned that such a victory for China would symbolize a shift in global power, especially as NASA grapples with delays in the Space Launch System and Orion capsule.
Yet, Starship's IFT-10 success offers a counterpoint. By demonstrating reliable engine performance, stage separation, and reentry data collection, SpaceX is accelerating the development timeline for Artemis III, which relies on a Starship variant as the lunar lander. This test breaks a cycle marked by explosions and rapid unscheduled disassemblies (RUDs) that dominated headlines. With reusable hardware now proving viable, the U.S. could ramp up flight cadence, potentially overtaking China's methodical but slower pace.
Critics of Berger's view might argue that Starship's iterative approach - failing fast and fixing - embodies American innovation, outpacing state-directed programs. If SpaceX maintains this momentum, with IFT-11 possibly aiming for full orbital insertion, the U.S. might not only return to the Moon but establish a sustainable presence before rivals. This flight could prompt a reassessment of Berger's lunar race predictions. In fact, Berger has praised this flight: "It's been nine very difficult months for the Starship program, but today's test flight was a huge step forward," he posted.
What next?
So what next? Despite this successful achievement, it seems to me that Starship has still a long way to go to achieve full operational testing and be a viable lunar lander. So, I'm afraid Berger's prediction that China will win the race to the Moon is highly probable. But I hope SpaceX will put up a good fight and keep the "West" in the game.
My first reaction to Berger's article was: "Please forgive this non-American for asking: SO WHAT? When I see people walking on the Moon again, I won't look at the flag."
When I look at the stars, I think of myself as a member of the human crew of Spaceship Earth (which will likely include artificially intelligent crew members as well). Then if China has to take leadership, so be it. But I'd still like the Western culture that I feel closer to me to play an important role. See my book "Futurist spaceflight meditations" (2021) for a much longer outline of my position.
Ultimately, IFT-10 is a morale boost for the U.S. space sector. As global competition intensifies, successes like this remind us that the path to the stars is paved with persistence. With Mars in sight, Starship's journey continues, promising to redefine humanity's reach into the cosmos.