SpaceX launches first flight-proven Super Heavy booster, loses control of Starship mid-flight – Spaceflight Now
SpaceX’s Starship upper stage, tail number S35, is shown in an uncontrolled reentry during the Starship Flight 9 mission on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Image: SpaceX via livestream
SpaceX hit another roadblock on its quest to “make life multiplanetary.” During the ninth flight of its integrated Starship-Super Heavy rocket on Tuesday, the vehicle once again failed to complete a full flight as intended, losing its ability to control its orientation a little more than 20 minutes into the flight.
SpaceX pulled away from showing live imagery from the upper stage for about 10 minutes. When camera views resumed about 30 minutes into the flight, Starship could be seen beginning to spin.
“Starship made it to the scheduled ship engine cutoff, so big improvement over last flight! Also, no significant loss...