SpaceX loses control of Starship after propellant leak during reentry

SpaceX loses control of Starship after propellant leak during reentry

SpaceX’s ninth test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, launched smoothly from Starbase, Texas. But hours later, during reentry, the upper-stage vehicle lost control and disintegrated over the Indian Ocean. A leak in the propellant system led to a spin, causing it to break apart under extreme heat, the New York Times reported.

Reentry tests fail to collect key data
Founder Elon Musk had said the most important part of the mission was testing the spacecraft’s heat protection system. Variations in the heat shield tiles were supposed to help engineers learn what materials would hold up best on future missions. But because the ship lost attitude control and began spinning, none of the heat shield tests could be completed.

Setbacks continue for upper-stage design
This was the third Starship test flight in 2025. While it did better than January and March attempts that exploded mid-flight, the upper stage once again failed to survive atmospheric reentry. That highlights ongoing problems with the design—especially for a spacecraft meant to be reused frequently for deep-space missions.

Super Heavy booster also lost
The booster used for this flight had flown once before in January. While it performed well during ascent, it broke up during a simulated landing over the Gulf of Mexico when three engines reignited. SpaceX said this was part of a series of stress tests and not necessarily a failure.

Payload test also unsuccessful
The flight was supposed to test deployment of simulated next-gen Starlink satellites, but the payload door never opened before the spacecraft began spinning. The simulators remained inside the vehicle when it broke apart.

Starship’s record remains mixed
The previous two Starship flights exploded during ascent, scattering debris over the Atlantic Ocean and disrupting air traffic. In contrast, earlier tests—flights four through six—made it into space and survived reentry. Engineers say each failure offers new data, but none of the nine flights has achieved full mission success.

Next tests coming soon, says Musk
Despite delays and setbacks, Musk said SpaceX would speed up the pace of launches, aiming for another Starship flight every three to four weeks. However, he did not speak publicly after the most recent test, cancelling a scheduled talk titled “The Road to Making Life Interplanetary.”

NASA deadlines still loom
SpaceX has a multi-billion-dollar contract to supply a lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis III mission. But with the spacecraft still struggling through basic test flights, questions remain about whether it will be ready in time.