SpaceX is preparing for the 10th test of its Starship rocket on Sunday evening, following a string of fiery failures that have raised questions about the program’s future.
A History of Explosive Setbacks
The previous three test flights — and even a static engine test in June — ended in explosions. Flight nine concluded with what the company calls a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” just minutes after liftoff. Earlier missions have also been lost due to engine failures, vibrations, and propellant leaks.
Despite these setbacks, SpaceX continues to push forward with rapid testing. CEO Elon Musk argues the trial-and-error process is essential to building the world’s first fully reusable deep-space rocket.
The Stakes of Flight Ten
Sunday’s launch from Starbase in South Texas is seen as a pivotal moment. The company has never successfully launched and landed the stainless-steel spacecraft, which is designed to carry up to 100 people to destinations like the Moon and Mars.
MIT aerospace expert Olivier de Weck says while the booster stage has shown promise, doubts remain about the Starship upper stage. “I’m starting to have serious doubts about whether they’ll be able to make it work — certainly with the payload they have in mind,” he said.
Musk’s Mars Ambition
Musk maintains his long-term vision is to make humanity multiplanetary. “Rapidly reusable reliable rockets is the key,” he said in a May presentation. He has acknowledged the challenge, calling fully reusable rocketry “an insanely hard problem” but essential for reaching Mars.
Engineering Challenges
Experts point to a recurring issue: every fix seems to create new problems. De Weck described the process as a game of “Whac-A-Mole,” where one solution reveals another flaw. That cycle has plagued the program, but it’s also part of SpaceX’s “agile engineering” philosophy — test fast, fail fast, and fix fast.
Lessons from Past Failures
- Flight 9 (July 2025): Ended in midair explosion after mechanical failures.
- Flight 8 (March 2025): Upper-stage engine failure caused fuel ignition and self-destruction.
- Flight 7 (January 2025): Strong vibrations led to a propellant leak and explosion.
- June 2025 Static Fire: A nitrogen tank failure destroyed the rocket during ground testing.
Each time, SpaceX has made hardware and operational changes aimed at improving reliability.
What to Watch This Time
De Weck says the critical test will come after booster separation. Success would mean clean ignition of the upper-stage Raptor engines, followed by a smooth coasting phase and reentry without explosions.
Even if this flight fails, analysts expect SpaceX to continue testing for at least 20 launches before considering major design changes.
The Bigger Picture
SpaceX has achieved milestones along the way, including catching and reusing its giant booster and reaching suborbital space. Musk envisions a future where multiple Starships launch daily, ferrying people and cargo across the solar system.
“We could be out there among the stars making science fiction no longer fiction,” Musk said.
For more on space news, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.