SpaceX's Starship Flies Farther In The Ninth Test, But Fails To Complete Controlled Descent And Payload Release

SpaceX on Tuesday (28 May) launched the ninth uncrewed test flight of its Starship rocket, which is central to Elon Musk’s vision for interplanetary travel, from Texas.

However, the the ninth Starship mission fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart

Lifting off at 7.36 pm EDT from SpaceX’s Starbase in Brownsville, Texas, the two-stage vehicle—Starship atop the Super Heavy booster—initiated its test flight from the company's launch site on the Gulf Coast.

For the first time, SpaceX flew Starship with a reused Super Heavy booster—an important step toward reusability. The 232-foot first-stage separated mid-flight and began its descent shortly afterward.

However, SpaceX lost signal with the Super Heavy booster during reentry, and it likely crashed into the sea rather than achieving the intended controlled splashdown.

Meanwhile, the Starship upper stage successfully reached its suborbital path roughly nine minutes post-launch, continuing its ascent into space.

Elon Musk-led SpaceX had hoped to release a series of mock satellites aboard the second stage Starship, but that mission was abandoned as door failed to open due to a malfunction mid-flight.

The mission aimed for a sub-90-minute flight ending with a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean—a plan that ultimately fell short.

Roughly 30 minutes into flight, SpaceX reported a loss of attitude control over Starship, causing the spacecraft to spin as it approached atmospheric re-entry.

"We will not be aligned as we wanted it to be aligned for re-entry," a SpaceX commentator said during the livestream.

"Our chances of making it all the way down are pretty slim," the commentator added.

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