SpaceX launches another Starship mega rocket in latest demo after back-to-back explosions
Associated PressMAY 15
SpaceX Starship Completes 11th Test Flight Successfully
Above: SpaceX's Starship rocket 38 launches during the 11th test flight on Oct.13, 2025. Image copyright: Gabriel V. Cardenas/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This successful launch proves that SpaceX's revolutionary rocket system is hitting its stride after overcoming earlier setbacks. The flawless test demonstrates Starship's game-changing potential to carry massive payloads with unprecedented frequency and full reusability. This success validates SpaceX's ambitious timeline for lunar missions and Mars colonization.
Narrative B
Despite recent successes, Starship remains far from operational readiness with massive technical hurdles still unresolved. The rocket's troubled 2025 campaign included three explosive failures and a ground explosion, raising serious doubts about NASA's risky bet on this unproven system. Critical fuel transfer capabilities remain untested.
Metaculus Prediction
Editor's Note
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