SpaceX’s ninth uncrewed test flight of its powerful launch system, Starship, ended in a loss of contact over the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft likely broke apart upon reentry to Earth. Despite losing control, the company successfully reused one of its Super Heavy rocket boosters for the first time during the test.
The recent test saw the spacecraft travel farther into its flight path than previous tests this year, but it failed to deploy test satellites and reignite engines upon reentry. This marks the second consecutive test mission where the upper Starship spacecraft failed minutes into flight. The company has long touted Starship as crucial for NASA’s goal of returning astronauts to the moon by the end of the decade.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk previously emphasized the vehicle’s importance in carrying humans to Mars for the first time, highlighting its significance in space exploration efforts.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/science/live-news/spacex-starship-flight-9-launch-05-27-25