SpaceX Aims for 2026 Orbital Test of Starship

SpaceX has set its sights on 2026 for the first orbital test flight of its next-generation Starship rocket, a milestone that could reshape space travel and open doors for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The plan follows the 10th test flight on August 26, when Starship launched from Texas and splashed down in the Indian Ocean with mixed results. While the vehicle landed near its target, engineers noted damage and discoloration on its heat shield.

Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s Vice President for build and flight reliability, explained that the test involved both ceramic and metallic heat shield tiles. The metallic tiles oxidized heavily, proving less effective than ceramic ones. To solve this, SpaceX is testing a new sealing method called “crunch wrap,” designed to prevent heat leakage between tiles during reentry.

Starship Flight 11, expected later this year, will refine these upgrades before the company moves toward orbital flights in 2026. Orbital missions are critical because they will allow large-scale propellant transfer in space, a requirement for missions beyond Earth orbit. Elon Musk has called the reusable heat shield the program’s toughest challenge, but success could enable rapid reuse and deployment of next-gen Starlink satellites.