SpaceX Dissects Starship Issues Ahead of Flight 10

Company shares findings from investigations into anomalies both in flight and on test stand.

Jack Daleo

Monday, August 18, 2025 at 03:37 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

SpaceX’s Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster could lift off on their tenth test flight as soon as this week. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX’s Starship is cleared for its 10th test flight following FAA closure of the Flight 9 investigation, despite previous test failures, including an orbital flight that missed objectives and an engine test stand explosion.
Investigations traced Flight 9 anomalies to a damaged fuel tank pressurization diffuser and a Super Heavy booster structural failure due to excessive loads, while a recent test stand explosion was linked to an undetectable pressure vessel defect.
SpaceX has implemented design changes, rigorous testing protocols, and modified flight profiles to address these issues, aiming to expand the operating envelope, test engine performance, and gather heat shield data on Flight 10 for future reusability.
These critical test flights are vital for SpaceX's long-term goals, including fulfilling NASA's Artemis III lunar mission contract and potential uncrewed Mars missions, with an upgraded Block 3 Starship iteration expected to debut soon.

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SpaceX’s powerful Starship rocket is nearing a return to action following an explosion on the company’s test stand in Texas and anomalies during three consecutive test flights.

The FAA on Friday closed its mishap investigation into Starship Flight 9, during which the rocket reached orbit for the first time in 2025 but failed to hit its test objectives. That opens the door for another launch, which SpaceX is targeting for no earlier than 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.