SpaceX launched Starship Flight 11 from Pad 1 at Starbase on October 13, at about 2323 UTC, marking the final flight test for the Version 2 iteration of the megarocket system and the last use of the current Pad 1 configuration.

The mission concluded with the Super Heavy booster performing a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico and the Ship 38 upper stage successfully splashing down in the Indian Ocean about one hour and six minutes after liftoff, following a suborbital trajectory that included a payload deployment demonstration, an in-space engine relight test, and a dynamic banking maneuver during reentry.

Flight 11 also marked this Super Heavy(B15)'s second flight, following a successful catch during Flight 8 in March 2025, and it was the third booster caught by the launch tower at Pad A. For this mission, SpaceX reused 24 of its 33 Raptor 2 engines, with the booster performing a landing burn starting with 13 engines and transitioning to five for added redundancy before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.

Following launch, the flight followed a suborbital profile similar to previous tests, with the Super Heavy booster executing a new landing burn engine configuration planned for future Block 3 boosters. The booster performed a boostback burn, followed by a landing burn, and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 6.5 minutes after liftoff.

Accorging to SpaceX, "This was the final flight of the second-generation Starship and first generation Super Heavy booster, as well as the final launch from the current configuration of Pad 1. Every major objective of the flight test was achieved, providing valuable data as we prepare the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy.

"The flight test began with Super Heavy igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf. The successful first-stage ascent was followed by a hot-staging maneuver, with Starship’s upper stage igniting its six Raptor engines to continue its flight to space.

"Following stage separation, the Super Heavy booster completed its boostback burn to put it on a course to a pre-planned splashdown zone off the coast of Texas using 12 of the 13 planned engines. Under the same angle of attack tested on the previous flight, the booster descended until successfully igniting all 13 planned engines (including one that did not relight during the boostback burn) for the high-thrust portion of the landing burn. The booster successfully executed a unique landing burn planned for use on the next generation booster. Super Heavy hovered above the water before shutting down its engines and splashing down."

Ship 38 mission objectives include, deploying eight Starlink satellites simulators (totaling ~16,000 kg) to simulate payload release; in-space Raptor relight for deorbit maneuvers; and heat shield stress tests by intentionally removing tiles without ablative backups to expose bare steel and assess plasma exposure.

The mission deployed eight Starlink mass simulators into a suborbital trajectory, simulating the deployment of next-generation (V3) Starlink satellites. Another key objective was the demonstration of a single Raptor engine relight in space, occurring approximately 38 minutes into the flight, which validates critical capabilities for deep-space missions. Heat shield modifications were tested by removing tiles lacking an ablative backup section in vulnerable areas to stress-test the thermal protection system during reentry.

Ship 38, the final Block 2 Starship vehicle, completed its mission with a controlled reentry into Earth's atmosphere, passing through transonic and subsonic regimes before initiating its landing burn. It executed a dynamic banking maneuver during descent, testing subsonic guidance algorithms needed for future return-to-launch-site landings. The ship successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean northwest of Western Australia at approximately 1:06:25 after liftoff.

According to SpaceX, "After completing a full-duration ascent burn, Starship achieved its planned velocity and trajectory. During flight, Starship successfully deployed eight Starlink simulators and executed the third in-space relight of a Raptor engine, demonstrating a critical capability for future deorbit burns.

"Starship re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and was able to gather extensive data on the performance of its heatshield as it was intentionally stressed to test the limits of the vehicle’s capabilities. In the final minutes of flight, Starship performed a dynamic banking maneuver to mimic the trajectory that future missions returning to Starbase will fly. Starship then guided itself using its four flaps to the pre-planned splashdown zone in the Indian Ocean, successfully executing a landing flip, landing burn, and soft splashdown."

This flight was the eleventh test of the Starship system and the final flight for the Block 2 Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. Booster 15, which previously flew on Flight 8, was reused with 24 flight-proven Raptor engines and was intended to test configurations for the upcoming Block 3 booster.

According to SpaceX, "Focus now turns to the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy, with multiple vehicles currently in active build and preparing for tests. This next iteration will be used for the first Starship orbital flights, operational payload missions, propellant transfer, and more as we iterate to a fully and rapidly reusable vehicle with service to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond"

SpaceX launched 24 Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon in the KF-03 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday, October 14, at 0158 UTC, following several days of delays due to adverse weather conditions. About 55 minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage deployed the satellites at an altitude of 465 kilometers, after which Amazon’s mission operations center in Redmond, Washington, assumed control for initial health checks before raising them to their operational orbit of 630 kilometers.

About 8 minutes after liftoff and following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1091) landed on the “A Shortfall of Gravitas” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, having previously supported the KF-02 mission. This was the third Falcon 9 launch for Amazon’s Project Kuiper and the sixth batch of Kuiper satellites placed into orbit.

The mission was confirmed successful, with the satellites deployed and handed over to Amazon’s operations team for commissioning. This launch brought the total number of Project Kuiper satellites in orbit to 153.

Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite internet constellation, aiming to deploy over 3,200 satellites to provide high-speed internet globally. The initial deployment began in April 2025 with the KA-01 mission, and the program plans to complete more than 80 missions to build the full constellation. Earlier launches were conducted by United Launch Alliance (ULA) using Atlas V rockets.

President Donald Trump delivered a historic address to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, declaring the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages held in Hamas captivity since the October 7, 2023 attack, as the "historic dawn of a new Middle East" and the end of an "age of terror and death."  He then traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he signed a peace agreement with regional leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, marking the formalization of the Gaza ceasefire.

Nearly 2000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners were released in a prisoner swap according to the peace plan. About 28 dead Israeli hostages will also be released to Israel. Hamas militants are reportedly still searching for the bodies displaced due to heavy Israeli bombardment of Gaza.

The speech to the Israeli Knesset, marks the successful conclusion of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Trump addressed the Knesset immediately after the release of the hostages, declaring, "The hostages are back!" and praising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "great leader" and "one of the greatest" wartime leaders, while also urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu.

The U.S. President hailed the moment as the "historic dawn of a new Middle East" and declared the war was over, urging Israel to focus on peace and prosperity. "This is not only the End of a war—it is the END of an age of terror and death, and the BEGINNING of the age of faith, hope, and of God... This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East," he said.

During his Knesset speech, Trump emphasized that Israel had won "all that they can by force of arms" and called for a transition from warfare to peace, stating that the war in Gaza was over and that the region was entering a new era of stability and prosperity.

Israeli leaders responded with overwhelming praise, with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana declaring Trump "the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House" and nominating him for the Israel Prize, Israel's highest civilian honor.

Trump's speech to the Knesset—only the second by a sitting U.S. president after Ronald Reagan in 1982—unfolded in a packed plenum, with Israeli lawmakers, dignitaries, and a notable guests including the U.S. Secretaries of State and War Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth respectively, and Miriam Adelson, the Jewish American billionaire widow of late casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, in the front row.

The address, lasting about 45 minutes, ended with chants of "Trump! Trump!" from the chamber, blending domestic Israeli politics with Trump's foreign policy swagger.

Is American Jewish Billionaire Miriam Adelson More Loyal To Israel Than To The U.S?

During his address, Trump praised Adelson, highlighting her immense financial support for his 2024 campaign and her deep loyalty to Israel, noting she has "$60 billion in the bank" and "loves Israel." He recounted her refusal to answer whether she loved the United States more than Israel, implying her allegiance lay with Israel.

The U.S. President said, "I'm gonna get her in trouble with this, but I actually asked her once, I said, ‘So Miriam, I know you love Israel. What do you love more, the United States or Israel?’ She refused to answer. That means—that might mean Israel, I must say." Trump added, "She loves Israel."

Trump credited Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, with playing a crucial role in shaping U.S. policy toward Israel, including the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the U.S. embassy move in 2017, and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019.

Adelson, an Israeli-born physician and the fifth-richest woman in the world, owns the Dallas Mavericks and has a net worth estimated at $35 billion. She donated $106 million to Preserve America, her pro-Trump super PAC, in 2024.

Trump noted that the Adelsons had more trips to the White House than anyone else and joked that Sheldon Adelson would "come in through the window" to pressure him on Israel policy, underscoring their extraordinary influence.

Miriam, born in Tel Aviv in 1945, is a physician and philanthropist who became a major political donor after marrying Sheldon Adelson in 1991. After Sheldon’s death in 2021, she assumed majority control of Las Vegas Sands, which operates major casinos in Singapore and Macao.

The Adelsons have contributed over $600 million to Republican candidates in the U.S. since 2015, with Miriam being the third-largest donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign 

Adelson has been a vocal advocate for strong U.S.-Israel ties and harsh measures against Palestinians and their supporters, calling foreign supporters of Hamas "our enemies" in a 2023 column for Israel Hayom, a newspaper she owns.

Trump also used the Knesset address to urge President Herzog to pardon Adelson's ally Prime Minister Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges, a move that sparked political debate within Israel. "Give him a break... He's not the easiest guy, but he's done a fantastic job," Trump said.

Video of Trump's remarks about Adelson went viral on social media with many arguing thatAdelson's refusal to answer the question highlights the dangers of citizens with dual loyalties, amassing wealth and politicaal power. Jews have been historically accused of not being patriotic or loyal to their host nations.

Trump, Regional Leaders Sign Gaza Peace Plan In Sharm el-Sheikh

After the Knesset speech, Trump flew to Egypt where he signed the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, alongside Fattah el-Sisi, Erdogan, and Al Thani, though the document's contents were not made public.

Trump hailed the deal as a turning point, describing it as a "new beginning for an entire, beautiful Middle East" and a "once-in-a-lifetime chance" for regional unity and prosperity. He described the ceasefire agreement as a "historic" achievement, calling it the answer to the prayers of millions and a moment when "what everybody said was impossible" had been accomplished.

"With the historic agreement we've just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered... Together, we have achieved what everybody said was impossible. At long last, we have PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.

The U.S. President described the signing as a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history, stating it marked the "end of the age of terror and death" and the beginning of a "golden age" for the region. He praised the roles of Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt in brokering the deal, calling el-Sisi a "fantastic man" and commending the regional cooperation that led to the breakthrough.

Trump also used the occasion to suggest a potential peace deal with Iran, signaling a broader regional vision to expand the Abraham Accords, and called for the reconstruction of Gaza to be linked to its demilitarization to prevent future violence .

The signing ceremony was attended by leaders from over 20 countries including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, with Trump and el-Sisi co-chairing the summit; the document signed was not made public, and there was notable absence of both Israeli and Hamas leaders from the ceremony.

Contrary reports of “the holiday or ultra-Orthodox pressure,” being the reason for his absence, Netanyahu reportedly canceled his trip to the Sharm el-Sheikh due to President Erdogan’s objection. The Turkish President President while mid-flight, warned el-Sisi that his plane “would not land if Netanyahu attended.”

Turkish officials also told the U.S. they were “angry it wasn’t coordinated with them." After consultations with American and Israeli officials, Netanyahu withdrew, and Erdogan’s plane landed.

The summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, was marked by significant pageantry, including a large family photo of world leaders and the presentation of Egypt's highest state honor, the Order of the Nile, to Trump.