Starship Launch 10 is back on the board after a late scrub. SpaceX stood down from Sunday night’s attempt at Starbase, Texas, citing a ground systems issue roughly half an hour before liftoff. The company is now targeting the next available window, with local officials posting backup closure dates to support another try.
The goal remains the same: a clean ascent, a controlled Gulf splash for Super Heavy, a high-energy reentry over the Indian Ocean for Ship, and a test deployment of mock Starlink hardware from the payload bay.
Latest status at a glance
- Scrub: Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (~T-30 minutes) due to a ground systems issue.
- Next target: As early as Monday, Aug. 25, per reporting; county notices show backup opportunities through Aug. 26.
- Window: The published plan opens a 60-minute window at 6:30 p.m. CT (23:30 UTC) when attempts proceed.
- Weather: The latest pre-scrub update had odds at roughly 45% favorable—expect that to fluctuate in daily forecasts.
How (and where) to watch live
SpaceX’s official webcast is the canonical feed and typically begins ~30 minutes before the opening of the window. Use this page to catch the countdown and stream: SpaceX — Starship Flight 10.
Road and beach closures for in-person viewers
Cameron County’s public notices list a primary closure on Aug. 24 and possible alternative days on Aug. 25 and 26 from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. local. If you plan to watch from Isla Blanca Park/South Padre, build in time for checkpoints and long exits after a recycle or scrub. Check the county page shortly before you depart; status can flip to “active” with little notice.
Why Flight 10 matters
Even scrubs tell you where a program stands. Flight 10 is designed to push reusability fundamentals closer to routine: a guided booster splash, tougher reentry conditions for Ship, and clean payload bay operations. That data cuts directly into two strategic threads—Starlink launch economics and NASA’s Artemis schedule (with the Starship lunar lander targeted for no earlier than 2027). Reuters frames this test as a milestone toward dependable cadence, not just spectacle.
The flight plan in plain English
Here’s the nominal profile SpaceX outlined ahead of the scrub and that coverage outlets repeated for the next attempt:
- Ascent & staging: Super Heavy lifts the stack, hands off to Ship at stage separation, and begins its return sequence.
- Super Heavy splashdown: A controlled descent to a soft splash target in the Gulf of Mexico—no catch attempt planned this time.
- Ship operations on orbit: Coast, in-space maneuvers, and bay operations including deployment of mock Starlink units (simulators) via the “Pez-style” dispenser.
- High-stress reentry: Ship aims for a demanding thermal and control-surface test before an Indian Ocean splashdown. Tile robustness and flap authority are key watch-items.
What changed after the scrub?
SpaceX cited ground systems—not the rocket itself—as the reason to stand down on Sunday. While unofficial commentary mentioned an oxygen line leak on the ground side, the confirmed line from the company and major outlets is simply “ground systems issue.” Expect teams to re-configure, re-test the ground segment, and walk the countdown back into the next window.
The hardware: Block 2 updates in focus
Public previews emphasize incremental robustness rather than flashy changes: improved heat-shield protection, sturdier flaps, and performance tweaks that support repeatability. For Super Heavy, the prize is a repeatable return sequence that nails engine relights and terminal guidance; for Ship, it’s turning reentry into a tested, predictable procedure the team can iterate on. Think “airline-like habits” for the world’s largest rocket.
Starlink economics & payload ops
Even with mock hardware on F10, the message is clear: Starship’s cavernous bay plus a working dispenser is the path to denser manifesting and lower per-satellite costs. Add booster reusability to that stack and you start bending the curve versus Falcon 9 on both throughput and price—even before full two-stage reuse arrives. Reuters’ preview notes the payload-bay objective as a top success metric for this flight.
Artemis context
NASA’s first lunar landing in the Artemis program is officially “no earlier than 2027.” To contribute the Human Landing System on time, Starship must string together clean reentries, reliable orbital operations, and eventually demonstrate in-space propellant transfer. Flight 10’s reentry and bay ops feed into that roadmap; each successful splash and tile test reduces program risk.
When exactly is the next attempt?
SpaceX and county notices together form the practical picture. Reuters reported the company is aiming “as early as Monday, Aug. 25” after the scrub; Cameron County has alternative closures posted through Aug. 26 (11 a.m.–10 p.m.). Watch for same-day updates on the SpaceX launch page and Cameron County road/beach status before you drive.
How to tell if you’re “go” for a launch day stream
SpaceX usually flips its header image and adds a “go live” banner on the launch page; third-party trackers mirror with “active” closure flags. If the webcast shifts or cuts abruptly, don’t assume the worst—Starship tests use the full window, and ground teams often hold for data rationales invisible to viewers. Space.com’s day-of coverage is useful to confirm a scrub if the official stream ends early.
Visitor checklist (South Padre / Isla Blanca Park)
- Parking & exits: Expect long egress after late-window scrubs. Bring water, ear protection, and patience.
- Photography: Heat shimmer and humidity are real—use higher shutter speeds and manual focus on ignition.
- Safety: Respect park boundaries, security guidance, and roadblocks. Scrub nights can get chaotic on the causeway.
What “success” looks like on Flight 10
SpaceX doesn’t grade on a single headline. The team counts test points: Did the booster hit the planned splash footprint? Were engine relights and guidance crisp? Did Ship complete bay ops, maintain stability through the hottest part of reentry, and survive long enough to yield good post-flight analysis? A night with all three boxes checked is a massive win; two out of three is still valuable, provided crews capture why one fell short.
Common questions
Why keep splashing instead of catching? Data first. Controlled water landings validate guidance, engine relights, and structures under load—while minimizing ground risk. Catching is the endgame, but it’s not step one.
Why the frequent scrubs? Integrated tests hinge on both vehicle and ground systems. A perfectly healthy rocket can’t launch if something in the fluids, power, or control chain on the ground isn’t right. The quickest way to lose schedule is to rush past a noisy sensor.
Will there be real Starlinks on Flight 10? The plan discussed publicly is mock (simulated) Starlink units to exercise the dispenser and bay. That keeps the test focused on mechanisms, not revenue hardware.
If you’re just here for the show
- Sound delay: At distant viewing sites, the light outruns the sound by many seconds—don’t panic if you see ignition before you hear it.
- Plume & staging: Staging will look like a delicate “ballet” of dimming and reignition points; watch for the booster’s flip and the ship’s steady glow into ascent.
- Reentry glow: If cameras catch Ship’s plasma, it’ll be brief but dramatic. Don’t expect long, steady shots; comms are prioritized for telemetry.
Bottom line
After Sunday’s scrub, Starship Launch 10 rolls to the next window. The plan hasn’t changed: prove reusability steps that make Starship less of a stunt and more of a system—booster splash on target, tougher-than-before reentry for Ship, and orderly payload-bay ops.
Whether the attempt goes Monday or slips to Tuesday, the important thing is the process getting sharper. If SpaceX threads those needles this week, it brings Artemis closer and sets up the first real cadence for Starship’s giant leaps.
