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 by the FAA for its 10th test flight, aiming to return to action after multiple prior test failures and a recent explosion on the test stand.
Investigations identified root causes for past anomalies, including a damaged fuel tank pressurization system diffuser on Flight 9 and a faulty pressure vessel on Ship 36, which SpaceX claims to have addressed through design changes and stricter testing.
Flight 10 will focus on expanding the operational envelope, testing engine performance with disabled engines, and evaluating new heat shield materials and catch fittings to gather critical data for future recovery.
These test flights are crucial for SpaceX's ambitious plans, including its role in NASA's Artemis III lunar mission in 2027 and eventual uncrewed/crewed missions to Mars.

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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.