SpaceX’s Starship spins out of control after flying past points of previous failures

SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched from Texas on Tuesday but encountered problems mid-flight, failing to meet key testing objectives and presenting challenges for CEO Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions. The 400-foot Starship, vital for Musk’s goal of human Mars exploration, lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase, surpassing earlier explosive test attempts.

This ninth full test mission saw the upper-stage perform well, lifted by a reusable booster, but contact was lost with the booster during descent, which ended in an uncontrolled plunge into the sea. Starship began spinning uncontrollably 30 minutes into the mission after failing to deploy mock Starlink satellites. Musk noted a fuel leak caused the loss of control and expressed optimism about future flight schedules and continued improvements.

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft was launched for its ninth test atop the Super Heavy booster on May 27, 2025, in Texas. Despite its innovative engineering culture encouraging risk, recent setbacks illustrate challenges in Starship’s multibillion-dollar development. The mission aimed for a near-full Earth orbit and controlled Indian Ocean splashdown to test new heat shield designs, but the vehicle disintegrated, resembling a fireball over southern Africa.

This setback delays Elon Musk’s ambitions for a rocket central to the U.S. space program and NASA’s 2027 lunar landing plans. Prior flights faced mishaps, resulting in debris hazards and investigations. Musk, aiming for success, envisions Starship as a replacement for Falcon 9, enhancing SpaceX’s commercial endeavors while shifting focus from politics.