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 mishap investigation, despite a history of recent anomalies including a test stand explosion and flight failures.
SpaceX identified specific technical failures for previous mishaps, such as a damaged pressurization system diffuser on Flight 9 and a faulty fuel transfer tube on the Super Heavy booster, implementing design changes and more rigorous testing to prevent future incidents.
Flight 10 aims to expand Starship's operating envelope by testing engine configurations, attempting payload deployment, and gathering critical data on heat shield performance and structural limits essential for eventual catch-and-return capabilities.

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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.