Starship, the massive rocket designed by SpaceX to carry humans to the Moon and Mars, is once again at the center of attention. Less than three months after its last failed flight, the spacecraft is preparing for a new decisive test. This mega-rocket, made up of two parts, is vital for the ambitious United States space program.
Preparations for a new launch in Boca Chica
Starship's ninth launch is expected for the afternoon of Tuesday, May 27, Texas local time. This is equivalent to the early morning of Wednesday in Spain. The event will take place in Boca Chica, a town that Elon Musk has turned into the base of his space operations.
For the first time, SpaceX will try to reuse the Super Heavy stage, which already flew in a previous test: in past launches, this part was always discarded after landing. To ensure safety, the air and maritime exclusion zone has been expanded. The mission is estimated to last just over one hour, following a trajectory similar to the previous test, which ended in an explosion.
During the flight, a simulation will be carried out to deploy Starlink satellites and, in addition, one of the Raptor engines will be reactivated while the spacecraft is in full flight. Unlike previous attempts, this time Super Heavy won't be caught by the “Mechazilla” base. Instead, it will make a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico and will then be discarded.
Lessons learned and improvements applied
Tests seven and eight ended in explosions visible from places like Florida and the Bahamas. In the seventh flight, a leak caused a fire in the upper stage, which led to the loss of the rocket. In the eighth, a central Raptor engine failed, which caused the spacecraft to lose control and self-destruct.
The Super Heavy stage has also faced problems: during landings, some engines failed or shut down. SpaceX explains that this was due to overheating. For this reason, they added extra thermal insulation in the affected areas to protect the engines.
SpaceX has carried out more than 100 tests of the Raptor engine at its base in McGregor, Texas. The company works together with the FAA, NASA, and the United States Space Force. The FAA has given the green light for Starship to fly again.
On the way to lunar and Martian missions
Starship is the tallest rocket ever built, at 400 ft. (122 m), and has twice the power of NASA's Space Launch System, which currently holds the record. SpaceX plans to further increase its size in the future. This rocket will be key in the Artemis 3 mission, which aims to take United States astronauts to the Moon.
This launch has been delayed until September 2026, partly because the rocket still needs adjustments. In addition, Elon Musk wants to use Starship for private flights: he plans to take space tourists to orbit the Moon. In the long term, the idea is to transport the first crew to set foot on Mars.
SpaceX trusts that the tests will help make the system increasingly reliable. Their ultimate goal is the rapid and complete reuse of the rocket. "The lessons from this and future tests will make Starship more reliable," the company states.