Watch: Elon Musk’s Starship Flight 9 Explodes Over Indian Ocean

On May 27, 2025, SpaceX conducted the ninth test flight of its Starship launch system from the Starbase facility in Texas. The mission aimed to advance the development of the fully reusable spacecraft designed for deep-space missions, including potential crewed journeys to the Moon and Mars. Despite achieving several milestones, the test concluded with the loss of both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage due to technical malfunctions during descent and reentry.

The launch occurred at 6:36 p.m. CDT (23:36 UTC), with all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster igniting successfully. Approximately two and a half minutes into the flight, the booster completed its main engine cutoff and separated from the Starship upper stage, which then ignited its six engines to continue the ascent. The booster attempted a controlled descent into the Gulf of Mexico but disintegrated during the landing burn.

The Starship upper stage, designated Ship 35, reached its planned trajectory and was scheduled to deploy eight Starlink satellite simulators. However, the payload bay door failed to open, preventing the deployment. Subsequently, a fuel leak led to a loss of attitude control, causing the spacecraft to spin uncontrollably. Mission control vented the remaining fuel to minimize the risk of explosion, and contact with the vehicle was lost as it disintegrated over the Indian Ocean during reentry.

This test marked the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster, Booster 14-2, which had previously flown in January. The mission also tested several new objectives, including payload deployment mechanisms and reentry procedures. Despite the setbacks, SpaceX collected valuable data to inform future flights.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk noted improvements over previous tests, highlighting the successful ascent and the minimal loss of heat shield tiles. He attributed the failure to a loss of main tank pressure during the coast and reentry phases due to fuel leaks. Musk announced plans to increase the launch cadence, aiming for a new test flight every three to four weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had approved up to 25 Starship launches per year from Starbase, Texas, following environmental assessments that found no significant safety or environmental impacts. The FAA continues to oversee the safety and regulatory aspects of these test flights.