SpaceX sends up new Starship rocket after consecutive failures, but it spirals out of control
Following two explosive setbacks, SpaceX launched its colossal Starship rocket once again on Tuesday evening. Despite a strong liftoff, the mission failed to reach its primary goals when the spacecraft lost stability and disintegrated mid-flight.
The towering 403-foot (123-meter) vehicle embarked on its ninth test mission from SpaceX’s Starbase facility, located at the southernmost tip of Texas. Earlier this month, locals voted to establish their community as an official municipality.
Although the launch marked another attempt after consecutive failures, Starship failed to meet its objectives when it spiraled out of control and ultimately broke apart during reentry.
SpaceX, led by CEO Elon Musk, had intended to deploy a group of dummy satellites during the test flight. However, that plan was canceled because the payload bay door didn’t fully open. Soon after, the spacecraft began rotating as it approached space, veering off its intended path and plummeting toward the Indian Ocean.
Later, SpaceX announced that the vehicle experienced what they described as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” — effectively, it exploded. In an online update, the company said, “Our teams are analyzing the data and preparing for the next test launch.”
Spectators observed as the Starship rocket lifted off from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Spectators observed as the Starship rocket lifted off from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Musk took to X to express some optimism, calling the flight a “major improvement” over the previous two tests, which ended with the rocket disintegrating over the Atlantic Ocean. Looking ahead, he committed to increasing the frequency of test flights, aiming for one Starship mission every three to four weeks for the next several launches.
This particular flight marked a milestone as it was the first time a Starship prototype flew using a reused booster. The company wasn’t attempting to retrieve the booster using its launch tower arms, instead pushing the system to its limits. Eventually, contact with the booster was lost, and it fragmented into the Gulf of Mexico while Starship continued its course toward the Indian Ocean.
Shortly afterward, the spacecraft began to lose control, likely triggered by fuel leaks.
“Things aren’t looking good for achieving many of today’s orbital targets,” said SpaceX commentator Dan Huot during the live coverage. The mission had hoped to evaluate the spacecraft's heat-resistant shield during atmospheric reentry.
Starship roars into the sky on a test flight from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Starship roars into the sky on a test flight from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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As the spacecraft descended, communications were lost, prompting SpaceX to conclude its webcast soon after.
Previous test flights this year didn’t make it past the Caribbean, ending in destruction just moments after launch. Though no injuries or major damage occurred, airline routes were affected. The Federal Aviation Administration gave the go-ahead for this flight last week, enlarging the safety buffer zone and adjusting launch timing to avoid peak flight hours.
In addition to hardware upgrades, SpaceX altered this Starship’s heat tiles and included new catching mechanisms designed for eventual recovery efforts. While this prototype was intended to fall into the Indian Ocean, engineers hoped to evaluate these new features in preparation for future retrievals much like current booster landings.
Starship makes another powerful ascent from Starbase, Texas, on May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Starship makes another powerful ascent from Starbase, Texas, on May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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NASA is relying on SpaceX to make significant progress with Starship — the most powerful rocket ever constructed — as it prepares to return astronauts to the moon. A crewed flyby around the moon is on schedule for next year, but no landing is expected until 2027 at the earliest. That mission will require Starship to safely ferry two astronauts from lunar orbit down to the surface and back again.
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