SpaceX’s Starship Explodes Again in 9th Test Flight, Musk Cites Fuel Leak and Vows Faster Launches

Elon Musk’s dreams of interplanetary travel hit turbulence once again as SpaceX’s Starship system exploded mid-mission during its ninth test flight. Tuesday’s highly anticipated launch from Starbase, Texas, saw the nearly 400-foot rocket reach orbit—further than any previous attempt—before it succumbed to a catastrophic fuel leak, spiraling out of control and disintegrating during reentry.

The mission marked the third consecutive failure for SpaceX’s next-generation space vehicle, developed to carry humans and cargo around Earth, to the Moon, and eventually to Mars. Both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage were lost in what Musk later described as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”

While Musk acknowledged the setback, he remained optimistic, emphasizing improvements over past flights. “Starship made it to scheduled engine cutoff—a big improvement,” the SpaceX CEO said on X (formerly Twitter). “Also, no significant loss of heat shield tiles during ascent.” However, he confirmed that “leaks caused loss of main tank pressure during the coast and re-entry phase.”

A critical failure in the payload bay also prevented the release of simulated Starlink satellites, and the first-stage booster exploded before splashdown. SpaceX confirmed that the upper stage spun uncontrollably due to the fuel leak before disintegrating during atmospheric re-entry.

Despite the dramatic failure, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported no injuries or damage to public property. The agency stated it is “actively working with SpaceX” to investigate the incident.

Musk has promised to accelerate Starship’s launch schedule, aiming for a new test every three to four weeks. This plan follows a recent FAA approval lifting the previous limit of five annual Starship launches from Texas. “With a test like this, success comes from what we learn,” SpaceX said in a post-launch statement, adding that the lessons from this test will enhance the vehicle’s reliability as it moves toward operational status.

SpaceX, which has received over $19 billion in federal funding since 2008, remains a critical player in the Trump administration’s space and defense strategy. The company is a frontrunner in securing contracts for the “Golden Dome” missile defense shield—a centerpiece of the current administration’s national security plans.

However, the close ties between Musk and the government have sparked criticism, especially as his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) oversees budget cuts to agencies like the FAA and EPA—some of which are tasked with regulating Musk’s ventures.

As SpaceX prepares for its next flight, the ninth failure underscores both the promise and peril of Musk’s vision. The ambition to make humanity multiplanetary remains intact—but for now, Starship’s reliability is still very much under construction.