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Starship flight test 9

Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:52:44 PM Wikipedia source

Starship flight test 9 was the ninth flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. Ship 35 and Booster 14-2 flew on this test flight. This flight launched on May 27, 2025, at 23:36 UTC (6:36 pm CDT, local time at the launch site). The Ship attempted to achieve the objectives originally planned for Flights 7 and 8, which both failed. This mission's booster, the first Super Heavy to re-fly, underwent experiments in-flight to have its capabilities assessed under off-nominal flight conditions, and was expected to splash down instead of being caught. Ship 35 reached its planned velocity, the first V2 ship to do so. However, it experienced several failures, including a propellant system leak and loss of attitude control preventing the Ship from achieving most of its in-space objectives, leading SpaceX to terminate the flight by passivating the vehicle. The booster disintegrated over the designated splashdown area in the Gulf of Mexico just after landing burn ignition, however, the booster completed its objective of flying under a more aggressive angle of attack than usual and enabling SpaceX to gather data related to aerodynamic control of the vehicle during descent.

Infobox

Mission type
Flight test
Operator
SpaceX
Spacecraft
Starship Ship 35
Spacecraft type
Starship (Block 2)
Manufacturer
SpaceX
Payload mass
16,000 kg (35,000 lb)
Launch date
May 27, 2025, 23:36:28 UTC (6:36 pm CDT)
Rocket
Super Heavy (Block 2, B14-2)
Launch site
Starbase, OLP-1
Destroyed
Ship May 28, 2025, 00:23:16 UTC (7:23:16 CST) Booster May 27, 2025, 23:42:44 UTC (6:42:44 CST)
Landing site
mw- Super Heavy: Gulf of Mexico (Destroyed during landing burn)Ship: Indian Ocean (Destroyed during reentry)
Mass
16,000 kg (35,000 lb)

Tables

· Mission profile › Flight timeline
−01:15:00
−01:15:00
Time
−01:15:00
Event
Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading
May 27, 2025
Go for propellant loading
−00:51:37
−00:51:37
Time
−00:51:37
Event
Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:45:20
−00:45:20
Time
−00:45:20
Event
Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:41:37
−00:41:37
Time
−00:41:37
Event
Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:35:52
−00:35:52
Time
−00:35:52
Event
Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:19:40
−00:19:40
Time
−00:19:40
Event
Super Heavy and Starship engine chill
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:03:20
−00:03:20
Time
−00:03:20
Event
Starship propellant load complete
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:02:50
−00:02:50
Time
−00:02:50
Event
Super Heavy propellant load complete
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:00:30
−00:00:30
Time
−00:00:30
Event
Flight director verifies go for launch
May 27, 2025
Go for launch
−00:00:10
−00:00:10
Time
−00:00:10
Event
Flame deflector activation
May 27, 2025
Success
−00:00:03
−00:00:03
Time
−00:00:03
Event
Super Heavy engine ignition
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:00:02
+00:00:02
Time
+00:00:02
Event
Liftoff
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:01:02
+00:01:02
Time
+00:01:02
Event
Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:02:35
+00:02:35
Time
+00:02:35
Event
Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO)
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:02:37
+00:02:37
Time
+00:02:37
Event
Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging)
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:02:47
+00:02:47
Time
+00:02:47
Event
Super Heavy boostback burn start
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:03:27
+00:03:27
Time
+00:03:27
Event
Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:03:29
+00:03:29
Time
+00:03:29
Event
Hot-stage jettison
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:06:14
+00:06:14
Time
+00:06:14
Event
Super Heavy landing burn start
May 27, 2025
Partial failure 12 out of 13 engines ignited
+00:06:40
+00:06:40
Time
+00:06:40
Event
Super Heavy landing burn shutdown
May 27, 2025
Failure Booster exploded at T+00:06:16
+00:09:00
+00:09:00
Time
+00:09:00
Event
Starship engine cutoff (SECO)
May 27, 2025
Success
+00:18:26
+00:18:26
Time
+00:18:26
Event
Starlink simulator satellites deploy demo
May 27, 2025
Failure Skipped by Starship flight computers due to attitude errors
+00:37:49
+00:37:49
Time
+00:37:49
Event
Raptor in-space relight demo
May 27, 2025
—Skipped due to loss of attitude control
+00:47:50
+00:47:50
Time
+00:47:50
Event
Starship atmospheric reentry
May 27, 2025
Failure Ship passivated due to loss of attitude control. Telemetry lost at T+00:46:48
+01:03:11
+01:03:11
Time
+01:03:11
Event
Starship is transonic
May 27, 2025
—
+01:04:26
+01:04:26
Time
+01:04:26
Event
Starship is subsonic
May 27, 2025
—
+01:06:11
+01:06:11
Time
+01:06:11
Event
Starship landing flip
May 27, 2025
—
+01:06:16
+01:06:16
Time
+01:06:16
Event
Starship landing burn
May 27, 2025
—
+01:06:38
+01:06:38
Time
+01:06:38
Event
Starship splashdown
May 27, 2025
—
Source: SpaceX
Source: SpaceX
Time
Source: SpaceX
Time
Event
May 27, 2025
−01:15:00
Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading
Go for propellant loading
−00:51:37
Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start
Success
−00:45:20
Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start
Success
−00:41:37
Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start
Success
−00:35:52
Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start
Success
−00:19:40
Super Heavy and Starship engine chill
Success
−00:03:20
Starship propellant load complete
Success
−00:02:50
Super Heavy propellant load complete
Success
−00:00:30
Flight director verifies go for launch
Go for launch
−00:00:10
Flame deflector activation
Success
−00:00:03
Super Heavy engine ignition
Success
+00:00:02
Liftoff
Success
+00:01:02
Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
Success
+00:02:35
Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO)
Success
+00:02:37
Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging)
Success
+00:02:47
Super Heavy boostback burn start
Success
+00:03:27
Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown
Success
+00:03:29
Hot-stage jettison
Success
+00:06:14
Super Heavy landing burn start
Partial failure 12 out of 13 engines ignited
+00:06:40
Super Heavy landing burn shutdown
Failure Booster exploded at T+00:06:16
+00:09:00
Starship engine cutoff (SECO)
Success
+00:18:26
Starlink simulator satellites deploy demo
Failure Skipped by Starship flight computers due to attitude errors
+00:37:49
Raptor in-space relight demo
—Skipped due to loss of attitude control
+00:47:50
Starship atmospheric reentry
Failure Ship passivated due to loss of attitude control. Telemetry lost at T+00:46:48
+01:03:11
Starship is transonic
—
+01:04:26
Starship is subsonic
—
+01:06:11
Starship landing flip
—
+01:06:16
Starship landing burn
—
+01:06:38
Starship splashdown
—
Source: SpaceX

References

  1. nextspaceflight.com
    https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7818
  2. SpaceX
    https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-9
  3. No Catch on Starship Flight 9? – The Flame Trench
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EkSYwA1dEc
  4. Twitter
    https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1923436880709759463
  5. X
    https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1925929228232474849
  6. Pad B's Major Milestones: Chopsticks, Tank Farm, and Flame Trench Developments
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5vt3ejB7eo
  7. Primed To Fire and Rolled Back
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIo0TsN-Wts
  8. Twitter
    https://x.com/enneps/status/1900280278234665034
  9. "Starship 35 has rolled out overnight to Massey's test site for upcoming long duration static fire testing ahead of Starship test flight 9"
    https://x.com/StarshipGazer/status/1917123587019887048?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet%7Ctwtr%5Etrue
  10. SCRUB: SpaceX Performs Static Fire of Ship 35 in Preparation for Starship Flight 9
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsyRB3n08Sw
  11. SpaceX is Testing Ship 35 in Preparation for Starship Flight 9
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02oWKnc7Hqs
  12. Twitter
    https://x.com/spacex/status/1918036064196772269
  13. DOUBLE HEADER: Ship 35 Static Fire and Falcon 9 Launches Starlink 6-75
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZTSgzbej9w
  14. Ship 35 Under Inspection After Anomaly; Pad B Launch Mount Nearly Ready
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7FgNaPGES4
  15. X (tweeter)
    https://x.com/ENNEPS/status/1921315774829834745
  16. SpaceX Reattempts the Static Fire of Ship 35
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXIXgi7a4s8
  17. DOUBLE HEADER: Flight 9 Ship Tested as Pad B Launch Mount Lifted
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLTf4kyh9iE
  18. Following its 3 day trip to Masseys for a successful static fire test, Starship S35 rolled back to the Production Site, & into MB2 for final pre flight...
    https://www.facebook.com/NASASpaceflight/videos/following-its-3-day-trip-to-masseys-for-a-successful-static-fire-test-starship-s/3058845064274225/
  19. Starship 35 Rolls to Masseys for Testing
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4frvuPgi5Vw&ab_channel=NASASpaceflight
  20. SCRUB: SpaceX Performs Engine Testing of Ship 35
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwQLw-5bdtU&t=5s&ab_channel=NASASpaceflight
  21. SpaceX Performs Engine Testing of Ship 35
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRr-c5ukom4&ab_channel=NASASpaceflight
  22. And Ship 35 is back at Mega Bay 2 for Starlink Sims install
    https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1925918201310802110
  23. Starship Flight 9: The Starlink Sims have been installed into Ship 35
    https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1926471394616827946
  24. Booster is Back, Ship Remains to be Stacked – Countdown to Launch
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_YO1ct1DZc
  25. Ship 35 Rolls to the Launch Site for Starship Flight 9
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDwiUJ0WT7c&t=1s&ab_channel=NASASpaceflight
  26. The Starbase That Never Sleeps
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXkJ_1wYsEA
  27. SpaceX Launches Starship Flight 7 and Attempts Another Booster Catch
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nM3vGdanpw
  28. SpaceX Performs Static Fire of Flight-Proven Super Heavy Booster
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at4-EkTVm20
  29. Twitter
    https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1907876664274473132
  30. Post Static Fire, Booster 14 Rolls Back for More Preps
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFgMH52gmdY&t=641s
  31. "They're Moving Pretty Quickly There"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUwgG4c-AaE
  32. Booster 14-2 Rolls to Launch Pad & Falcon 9 Launches Starlink 6-83 Mission
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziurxgZRdo0
  33. "What in the heck are they up to now?"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps9_4gDRXow
  34. SpaceX Rolls Out Booster 14-2 Ahead of Starship Flight 9
    https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVnlqXZHxwk
  35. B14 is being lifted onto the Pad 1 OLM following its arrival overnight
    https://x.com/ENNEPS/status/1926565365561123131
  36. "Successful ocean landing of Starship! We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower"
    https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1859036912348262787
  37. Ars Technica
    https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/01/fire-destroys-starship-on-its-seventh-test-flight-raining-debris-from-space/
  38. Starship's Most Daring Flight Yet!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asaCSdbErEg&t=380s
  39. NASASpaceFlight.com
    https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/02/starbase-progress-second-launch-pad/
  40. "Super Heavy booster issue causes scrub of SpaceX's Starship Flight 8 – Spaceflight Now"
    https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/03/03/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-starship-flight-8-suborbital-test-mission-from-starbase/
  41. SpaceX Starship Flight 8 – Second Attempt
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kzdUmBIUus
  42. Twitter
    https://x.com/bccarcounters/status/1925571474066157674
  43. SpaceX
    https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-8-report
  44. FAA
    https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements
  45. FAA
    https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements
  46. FAA
    https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements
  47. "Flight 9 and Ship 36 report"
    https://www.spacex.com/updates#flight-9-report
  48. X
    https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1927531406017601915
  49. FAA
    https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements
  50. FAA
    https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements
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