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On October 13, 2025, SpaceX launched its 11th full-scale Starship test flight from Texas, marking the final flight of the second-generation rocket. The Super Heavy booster executed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Starship upper stage deployed eight mock Starlink satellites and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. This flight tested new heat shield configurations and dynamic maneuvers, advancing NASA’s Artemis lunar goals and SpaceX’s Mars ambitions.
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On November 14, 2025, Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie safely returned to Earth after a nine-day delay caused by space debris damage to their original Shenzhou-20 return capsule. They landed in the Gobi Desert aboard the newer Shenzhou-21 spacecraft. The incident highlights growing risks from orbital debris amid China's expanding space ambitions.
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In late 2025, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket carrying NASA's twin Mars orbiters, marking a milestone in reusable rocket technology. Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome suffered significant launchpad damage during a Soyuz crewed mission, threatening future launches. SpaceX's Starship V3 booster experienced a critical failure during ground testing, delaying its development. Russia removed veteran cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev from a SpaceX mission amid espionage allegations. Russia and India continue talks on rocket engine cooperation.