Flight report · August 26, 2025
Flight 10: Payload deploy, relight, and a clean V2 scorecard
August 26, 2025 finally closed the loop, eight Starlink simulators deployed, a second in-space Raptor relight, stressed reentry data, and soft splashdowns on both ends of the stack.
Starship V2 · Orbital Launch Pad 1 · Flight 10 of 13
Outcome
Major V2 objectives met
- Ship
- Ship 37Success
- Expended · Expended after flight
- Booster
- Booster 16Success
- Expended · Expended after flight
Key figures
- Liftoff
- 6:30 p.m. CT · Aug 26
- Pad
- Orbital Launch Pad 1
- Payload
- 8 Starlink simulators
- Result
- Objectives met
The flight
What happened
Flight 10 lifted off at 6:30 p.m. CT on August 26, 2025 and met every major objective SpaceX had put on the card for the V2 generation.
Hot-staging, booster return to a splashdown zone with a intentional engine-out landing-burn demo, ship ascent, payload deploy, relight, and Indian Ocean splashdown all closed.
First payload deploy
During coast, Starship opened the payload path and deployed eight Starlink simulators, the first successful payload demonstration from Starship.
A Raptor in-space relight followed, repeating a capability first shown on Flight 6 and needed for future deorbit burns.
Stressed reentry
Entry intentionally pushed heat-shield and structural limits before a landing flip and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
The flight became the reference V2 integrated success heading into the Pad 1 closeout flight.