SpaceX Cleared to Launch Starship Test Flight After Two Explosive Failures
- The FAA approved license modifications on May 15 allowing SpaceX to conduct the ninth Starship test flight from its Starbase facility in South Texas.
- This approval followed investigations into two earlier 2025 mishaps, which involved explosive failures caused by propellant leaks and upper stage breakup during flights in January and March.
- In response, the FAA expanded hazard zones from 885 to 1,600 nautical miles eastward from Texas, including Caribbean areas, affecting about 175 flights to increase safety during the next launch.
- SpaceX can now conduct up to 25 Starship launches annually, up from five, and aims to reuse a Super Heavy booster on Flight 9, marking a key step toward a fully reusable system.
- This clearance advances SpaceX’s Starship development for Mars missions and NASA lunar plans, but actual launch awaits the FAA’s final return to flight decision upon closing the investigation.
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42 Articles
After two setbacks, SpaceX could try to launch massive Starship next week
SpaceX said Friday it will make another launch attempt next week of the massive Starship rocket—key to CEO Elon Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars—after two consecutive in-flight explosions earlier this year.
FAA clears SpaceX to launch its 9th Starship super heavy rocket, while Flight 8 mishap investigation continues – Spaceflight Now
SpaceX conducted a long-duration, six-engine static fire test on the Starship upper stage, tail number S35, that will be used on the Starship Flight 9 mission. Image: SpaceX A return to flight for SpaceX’s Starship program could be a just a holiday weekend away, after the Federal Aviation Administration gave the company the go ahead. In a statement published on Thursday, May 22, the regulator said that SpaceX “implemented all corrective actions”…
After two attempts resulted in explosions, the U.S. air dispatcher allowed the resumption of test flights of Elon Musk's mega-fusée on Thursday.
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