SpaceX Starship Gears Up After 2025 Setbacks
SpaceX Starship Gears Up after two months of silence following explosive failures in both 2025 test flights. With plans to carry humans to the moon and Mars, these back-to-back setbacks raise serious concerns for Elon Musk and the future of Starship’s development.
Déjà Vu in the Skies: March 6 Launch Ends in Disaster
On March 6, viewers tuning into the live broadcast of Starship’s latest flight witnessed a tragic repeat of history. Within minutes of launch, the rocket’s upper stage — the section designed to carry humans and cargo — lost power and broke apart. Fiery debris lit up the sky, reminiscent of previous failed attempts.
Despite modifications made after the prior launch, the explosion occurred less than ten minutes into the mission. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) promptly initiated a mishap investigation, while SpaceX confirmed that lessons learned from Flight 7 had not prevented this latest setback.
The First Explosion of 2025: January’s Failed Suborbital Flight
The year began with another failed attempt. On January 16, SpaceX lost contact with Starship 8.5 minutes after takeoff. The vehicle disintegrated midair during its suborbital journey, resulting in what the company diplomatically called a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
Later reports confirmed that a series of propellant leaks and fires in the aft section caused nearly all of Starship’s engines to shut down. The spacecraft triggered its self-destruction mechanism, creating another spectacular fireball visible from miles away.
Starship’s Future Hinges on Ninth Flight Test
Now, SpaceX is gearing up for Starship’s ninth-ever flight test. Elon Musk hinted on May 13 that the next launch could happen “next week.” While the FAA has yet to issue an official launch license, maritime warnings issued for the Gulf of Mexico — now renamed by the U.S. government as the Gulf of America — suggest that the launch may occur on Wednesday, May 21.
SpaceX will launch this mission from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, near Brownsville, Texas. Given the recent failures, expectations and pressure are mounting. This flight is crucial if SpaceX hopes to restore confidence in the program and maintain momentum in NASA partnerships.
Starship: SpaceX’s Most Ambitious Project Yet
Starship is the most powerful rocket ever constructed. The system is more than 400 feet tall and consists of the Super Heavy booster (232 feet) and the Starship upper stage (171 feet). Together, they are powered by 39 Raptor engines—33 on the booster and six on the upper stage.
What sets Starship apart is its goal of full reusability. SpaceX envisions the rocket launching, returning to Earth, and flying again with minimal downtime. The Super Heavy booster has returned to the launch pad twice in a row, thanks to a daring maneuver using mechanical “chopstick” arms that catch the booster midair.
NASA, the Moon, and the Red Planet: What’s at Stake?
Starship plays a vital role in NASA’s Artemis missions. Under current plans, Artemis III astronauts aboard an Orion capsule would dock with Starship in space and ride it to the moon’s surface. However, continued failures raise doubts about meeting this timeline.
Musk, meanwhile, remains focused on Mars. He claims that Starship could reach the Red Planet by the end of 2026, with human missions following shortly thereafter. But to achieve this vision, SpaceX must first prove that Starship can safely reach orbit — something it has yet to do.
A Mixed Track Record Since Inception
Some 2024 tests showed promise, but Starship has yet to achieve a stable orbital flight.
The pressure is on. With key federal approvals secured, SpaceX’s ninth launch may shape the future scope and speed of the Starship program.
Final Thoughts: Can SpaceX Turn It Around?
Despite two high-profile failures in 2025, SpaceX remains undeterred. Musk and his team continue to iterate, learn, and rebuild. With every mishap comes new data—and new hope. As the world watches the skies above South Texas, the question remains: Will the ninth time be the charm for Starship?