SpaceX to Launch Ninth Starship Test Flight, Aiming To Reuse Booster And Launch Dummy Payload

This mission marks a historic milestone for SpaceX: the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster. Booster 14, which previously flew on Flight 7 and was successfully caught by the launch tower’s robotic “chopsticks,” has been refurbished and will now fly again beneath Ship 35. The flight represents another step toward SpaceX’s central goal—building a fully reusable launch system capable of carrying humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Flight 9 comes after two consecutive upper stage failures during Flights 7 and 8. Both missions ended prematurely just before second stage engine cutoff (SECO), with debris scattering across the Caribbean. Flight 7’s Ship suffered catastrophic damage from harmonic resonance during ascent, which ignited fires in the “attic” above the engine bay, leading to loss of control and disintegration over the Turks and Caicos Islands. Flight 8 saw a sea-level Raptor engine on Ship 34 fail mid-flight, triggering another fire and breakup. Although SpaceX identified the cause of both failures, a separate anomaly involving the Raptor Vacuum engine during Flight 8 remains unaddressed publicly.

In contrast, the Super Heavy boosters on both flights—Booster 14 and Booster 15—performed flawlessly and were successfully recovered at the launch site using the chopstick arms. With Booster 14 making its return on Flight 9, this will be the first real-world test of SpaceX’s plans for booster reusability.

Flight 9 Mission Profile: Aimed at Progress and Data

The overarching goal of Flight 9 is to validate a suite of new technologies, collect critical flight data, and overcome past flight limitations. The mission is designed to push Ship 35 past SECO, enabling the first complete upper-stage flight of a Block 2 Starship.

The upper stage is expected to follow an easterly trajectory before performing a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. During its flight, it will attempt to:

• Deploy eight non-functional Starlink satellite simulators to test payload release mechanisms.
• Relight a Raptor engine mid-flight.
• Test a series of experimental heat shield configurations, including metallic tiles, an actively cooled tile, missing tiles, and redesigned tiles near the flaps.

Ship 35 incorporates several internal and external design improvements. These include upgraded Raptor engine mounts, a redesigned nitrogen purge system for the attic space, and structural catch pins integrated into the vehicle’s frame. The ship underwent at least four engine test campaigns, including two Raptor Vacuum engine swaps, suggesting SpaceX’s cautious approach following previous mishaps.

Booster 14’s Second Flight: A Different Return Strategy

While Booster 14 will power the launch, SpaceX will not attempt a tower catch this time. Instead, the booster will execute an experimental reentry and splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico to trial several new return strategies.

Key changes include:

• Controlled Flip Maneuver: For the first time, the booster will flip in a predetermined direction using a modified section of its hotstage ring, reducing the fuel required for orientation after separation.
• High Drag Reentry: The booster will enter the atmosphere at a higher angle of attack, increasing drag and reducing the fuel needed for its landing burn.
• Engine-Out Landing Test: During the final landing phase, one of the central Raptor engines will be disabled intentionally to simulate a failure. A backup engine from the center ring will be engaged, demonstrating the booster’s ability to land even with engine loss.

These improvements, if successful, will reduce fuel reserves needed for return operations, freeing up capacity for larger payloads or higher orbits in future missions.

Enhanced Ground Systems and Launch Logistics

For Flight 9, propellant loading procedures have been slightly adjusted. Ship 35 will begin loading liquid oxygen and methane several minutes earlier than in Flight 8, although the rationale behind this shift has not been made public. Super Heavy’s fueling timeline remains largely unchanged.

Launch windows have been approved through June 4, but current road closures only cover May 27–29. SpaceX has upgraded its tank farm to store more propellant and efficiently recapture unused fuel during detanking operations—an improvement that increases the odds of quick turnaround in case of a last-minute scrub.

Should today’s attempt be aborted late in the countdown, SpaceX is expected to be able to retry as early as the next day, provided no significant technical issues arise.

This launch holds importance far beyond today's mission. Elon Musk’s long-term vision for Starship as the vehicle that will transport humans to Mars remains central to SpaceX’s strategy. According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, the company is reallocating personnel and resources to accelerate development, aiming to have Starship Mars-ready as early as next year.

NASA is also closely watching these flights. A human-rated variant of Starship is set to serve as the lunar lander for Artemis III—the first crewed Moon landing in over 50 years. Any progress or failure in the Starship program directly impacts the timeline and confidence in that milestone.

Looking Ahead: Flight 10 and Beyond

Pending the outcome of Flight 9, Ship 36 and Booster 16 are expected to fly next on Flight 10. Ship 36 is already undergoing engine installation and could be ready for static fire tests shortly after today’s launch. Booster 16 awaits testing but will need to wait for pad refurbishment. If Booster 15 is selected instead, prep time may extend due to additional modifications.

If Flight 9 proceeds without major issues, the next launch in the program could occur within a month, continuing SpaceX’s aggressive pace toward full reusability and orbital reliability.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently expanded Starbase's annual launch limit from five to 25, a significant regulatory endorsement of SpaceX’s operations. The FAA also doubled the airspace closure zone to 1,600 nautical miles to enhance safety and is coordinating internationally with the UK, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, and Cuba.

This expansion comes despite opposition from conservation groups citing risks to coastal wildlife. Nonetheless, the FAA determined that increased launch activity would not have a significant environmental impact.

By Azhar