Boca Chica, Texas – SpaceX is set to launch its ninth Starship integrated flight test (IFT-9) no earlier than May 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. CT from the Starbase facility in South Texas. This mission, featuring the Block 2 Starship (Ship 35) and a reused Super Heavy Booster (Booster 14-2), aims to address issues from the explosive failures of Flights 7 and 8 while testing new objectives for the reusable launch vehicle. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved license modifications for the flight on May 15, 2025, though the Flight 8 mishap investigation remains ongoing.
Objectives and Expectations for IFT-9
IFT-9 will attempt to achieve objectives originally planned for Flights 7 and 8, both of which ended in the disintegration of their respective Block 2 upper stages, Ships 33 and 34. The mission profile includes a suborbital trajectory with a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean, approximately one hour after liftoff. Ship 35 is tasked with deploying eight Starlink simulator satellites, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites, to test payload deployment capabilities. The flight will also stress the ship’s flaps through a trajectory designed to test their limits, incorporate fewer heat shield tiles, and trial experimental active-cooled tiles and ablative heat shield materials.
Booster 14-2, marking the first reuse of a Super Heavy Booster after its successful catch during Flight 7, will carry out in-flight experiments to assess its performance under off-nominal conditions. Unlike previous flights, the booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico rather than attempt a catch, allowing SpaceX to gather data on its reusability without risking the launch tower. SpaceX stated on its website that “lessons learned from the first booster refurbishment and subsequent performance in flight will enable faster turnarounds of future reflights.”
Addressing Failures of Flights 7 and 8
Flights 7 and 8, launched on January 16 and March 6, 2025, respectively, saw their Block 2 upper stages explode over the Caribbean due to propulsion system failures. Flight 7’s Ship 33 suffered cascading engine shutdowns starting at T+7:39, with telemetry lost at T+8:26. SpaceX identified the root cause as “stronger than anticipated vibrations during flight” causing stress on propulsion hardware, leading to propellant leaks and fires in the ship’s aft “attic” section. The company implemented 11 corrective actions, including additional vents and a nitrogen purge system to mitigate flammability risks.
Flight 8’s Ship 34 experienced a different issue, with four of its six Raptor engines shutting down prematurely starting at T+8:04, leading to a loss of attitude control and a rapid unscheduled disassembly. SpaceX attributed this to a hardware failure in a sea-level Raptor engine, causing propellant mixing and ignition. To address this, SpaceX introduced “additional preload on key joints, a new nitrogen purge system, and improvements to the propellant drain system” for Ship 35’s engines, as detailed in a May 22, 2025, SpaceX statement. The company also noted that future Raptor 3 engines will incorporate further reliability improvements.
The FAA expanded the Aircraft Hazard Area for IFT-9 to 1,600 nautical miles, covering the Gulf of Mexico to the Turks and Caicos Islands, due to debris from Flights 7 and 8 falling outside designated zones. This adjustment, prompted by concerns from the United Kingdom and regional partners, aims to minimize risks to air traffic and local populations.
Felix Schlang, host of the YouTube channel and website What About It, has closely followed SpaceX’s Starship program, offering detailed analyses of its test flights. In a video titled “Starship Flight 8 FAILURE: What Happened?” uploaded on March 7, 2025, Schlang discussed the Flight 8 explosion, stating, “The failure seems to stem from a sea-level Raptor engine issue, likely a part failure that caused a cascade of problems. It’s not the same as Flight 7, but it’s still a propulsion-related headache for SpaceX.” He emphasized the complexity of the Block 2 design, noting, “Block 2 is pushing boundaries with new systems, but these repeated failures show how tricky it is to get everything right under real flight conditions.”
Regarding IFT-9, Schlang expressed cautious optimism in a May 20, 2025, video titled “Starship Flight 9: What to Expect.” He said, “SpaceX has made significant changes to Ship 35’s propulsion system, but the static fire anomaly in early May is a red flag. If they’ve nailed the fixes, we could see a successful flight, but I wouldn’t be shocked if we see another issue pop up.” Schlang also highlighted the booster reuse milestone, commenting, “Re-flying Booster 14-2 is a huge step. If it performs well, it’s a game-changer for SpaceX’s cost-saving goals.”
Challenges and Broader Context
IFT-9 faced delays due to an anomaly during Ship 35’s static fire test on May 1, 2025, which resulted in an abnormal shutdown at T+36 seconds. SpaceX conducted further testing, culminating in a successful 64-second, six-engine static fire on May 12, the longest to date. The extended gap between Flights 8 and 9—82 days compared to 49 days between Flights 7 and 8—reflects the additional scrutiny and modifications required.
The flight comes amid international concerns following debris from Flights 7 and 8 impacting the Turks and Caicos Islands, prompting calls from British officials to adjust launch trajectories or timing. SpaceX’s rapid iterative approach has drawn criticism from some locals worried about safety, though the company maintains that no hazardous materials were present in the debris.
IFT-9 is a critical test for SpaceX’s Block 2 Starship, which incorporates upgrades in structure and avionics over the retired Block 1. With NASA’s Artemis III lunar landing mission in 2027 relying on a Starship-derived Human Landing System, and Elon Musk’s vision of Mars colonization driving the program, the stakes are high.
As SpaceX prepares for IFT-9, the focus remains on validating the Block 2 design and ensuring the propulsion system can withstand the stresses of flight. The outcome will shape the timeline for future tests and the program’s ambitious goals.
