— Max Evans (@_mgde_) May 29, 2025 In the aftermath of Flight 9, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also provided an update on the upcoming next steps for the Starship program and the long-range timeline for the company’s Mars program. This included the eventual catch of a ship at Starbase’s second pad, the launch of the upgraded Block 3 version of Starship from that same pad, and the demonstration of in-orbit refuelling from one ship to another. During the first half of June, SpaceX quickly geared up for a quick turnaround for Flight 10, testing Booster 16 at the launch site about ten days after Flight 9. Ship 36 quickly followed, completing a single static fire test at Massey’s outpost on June 16th. However, the ship suffered a major anomaly and explosion on the evening of June 18th while undergoing propellant loading for a six-engine static fire test at Massey’s. SpaceX quickly pointed out an issue with a nitrogen composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) inside the ship’s nosecone failing under its proof pressure. In the aftermath of the explosion, teams quickly moved to an alternate plan for vehicle testing. That alternative plan appears to involve the use of a modified ship transport stand as an adapter, which will allow a ship to be static fired from the active orbital launch mount at Starbase. This alternative solution would allow SpaceX to test the next ship in line, Ship 37, while clean-up and repair work continues at Massey’s. It would also allow SpaceX to quickly resume pre-launch campaign operations. Under this assumption, a launch of Starship during this summer could be possible if all goes according to plan. Outside of Starship flights and testing, SpaceX kickstarted major production of the first Block 3 boosters and ships. The company has begun the stacking of Booster 18, the first Block 3 booster, inside Mega Bay 1. As of writing, the vehicle’s liquid oxygen tank is nearly complete and has had its landing tank installed in recent days. NSF photographers at Starbase have also spotted several nosecones for upcoming ships in various steps of production, ranging from Ship 39 all the way to Ship 44. In the first half of 2025, SpaceX also began several infrastructure projects, including the construction of two new Giga Bays — one at Starbase and another at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). While the Giga Bay being built in Florida is a few months ahead of the one at Starbase, work at both sites has only just begun, with foundation work expected to continue for several more months into the year. SpaceX is also continuing work at various Starship launch sites, including at Starbase and in Florida. Starbase’s second launch pad received its launch mount in May, and teams have quickly worked on connecting all necessary lines and connections between the deluge and propellant tank farms to the new launch mount. That work is still ongoing as of publication, and it’s expected to continue throughout the remainder of the summer. Pad B Mount lift and Ship 35 long duration static fire, all before 11am central! Just another day in Starbase. @NASASpaceflight