🚀 Starship | 🛰 Starship Flight 9 Test Flight
Launch date: May 27, 2025 23:36 UTC
Payload: Starship Flight 9 Test Flight
Location: Orbital Launch Pad A (OLP-A), Starbase, Texas
Vehicle: Starship
On May 27, 2025, SpaceX launched Starship Flight 9 from Starbase, Texas, marking the world’s first reflight of a Super Heavy booster (Booster 14-2) with Block 2 Starship (Ship 35). This mission, flying from OLP-A, included major Block 2 upgrades and eight Version 3 Starlink satellite simulators inside the new ‘PEZ dispenser’ bay. Although the simulators could not be deployed due to a payload door malfunction after Ship 35 lost attitude control, the Super Heavy booster performed nominal ascent and boostback before breaking apart during its Gulf of Mexico landing attempt. Ship 35 reached space, passed SECO, but then tumbled and was lost over the Indian Ocean after 46 minutes due to a fuel leak and RCS issues. The FAA opened a mishap investigation, and backup launch dates were set for May 28 and 29. Despite loss of both stages, the nearly hour-long flight returned crucial heat shield, relight, reentry, and Block 2 data for SpaceX’s Starship program ahead of Flight 10.
Videos
Orbital Launch Pad A (OLP-A), Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas, USA
Orbital Launch Pad A (OLP-A), located at SpaceX’s Starbase complex near Boca Chica, Texas, is dedicated to orbital-class launches of the Starship vehicle. Constructed specifically for the development and deployment of SpaceX’s next-generation fully reusable spacecraft, OLP-A features a robust launch mount, extensive ground support infrastructure, and has been central to Starship’s integrated flight tests beginning in 2023.
The site is part of SpaceX’s ambition to drastically lower the cost of access to space and enable missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. OLP-A has witnessed major milestones, including the maiden integrated orbital test flights of Starship and Super Heavy. The pad continues to be a focal point for technological innovation, rapid iteration, and high-frequency launch operations in pursuit of interplanetary transportation.