SpaceX Starship Flight 9 Suffers Setback During Ambitious Test Launch

SpaceX’s ninth test flight of its Starship megarocket ended in disappointment on May 27, 2025, after a series of technical failures caused both the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster to break apart before completing their objectives. The uncrewed launch, which lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 7:37 p.m. EDT, was closely watched as a milestone in the company’s push toward fully reusable space vehicles for future Moon and Mars missions.

Mission Goals and Upgrades

Flight 9 was notable for several reasons:

• It marked the first attempt to reuse a Super Heavy booster, a key step toward rapid, cost-effective spaceflight.
• The Starship upper stage was set to test its ability to deploy mock Starlink satellites, simulating future operational missions.
• SpaceX had implemented significant hardware and software upgrades following two previous test failures earlier in 2025, aiming to address issues such as propellant leaks and engine malfunctions.

Sequence of Events

• The launch proceeded smoothly initially, with all six Starship engines performing as expected and the Super Heavy booster executing a successful flip maneuver after separation.
• About 18 minutes into the flight, Starship was scheduled to open its payload bay and deploy eight dummy satellites. However, the payload door became stuck, preventing deployment.
• Soon after, the spacecraft suffered a propellant leak, which led to a loss of attitude control. The vehicle began spinning uncontrollably, and SpaceX opted to vent remaining propellant, resulting in an uncontrolled reentry.
• Starship broke apart and burned up over the Indian Ocean, with debris falling into a designated exclusion zone to ensure public safety.

Super Heavy Booster Performance

• The Super Heavy booster, reused for the first time, was put through a series of landing experiments, including a landing burn with only 13 of its engines and a simulated engine-out scenario.
• The booster broke apart about 6 minutes and 20 seconds after launch, just after initiating its landing burn over the Gulf of Mexico, confirming SpaceX’s expectation of a “forceful landing” rather than a controlled recovery.

Regulatory Oversight and Safety

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had cleared the launch, expanding debris hazard zones in light of prior mishaps. Airspace and ocean areas were closed off to protect public safety during potential uncontrolled reentries.

Ongoing Investigation and Next Steps

SpaceX representatives confirmed the loss of both vehicles and said investigations are underway to determine the root causes of the payload door malfunction and propellant leak. Despite the setback, the company emphasized that each test provides valuable data, moving SpaceX closer to its goal of reliable, reusable rockets capable of supporting future lunar and interplanetary missions.

“We recognize that there are always inherent risks associated with these flight tests and the equipment, but we do not tolerate any compromises when it comes to safeguarding individuals,” said SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot.

With lessons learned from Flight 9, SpaceX is expected to implement further design changes and continue its rapid test cadence as it works to make Starship a cornerstone of human space exploration.