SpaceX's Starship, during its ninth integrated flight test on May 27, 2025, experienced an uncontrolled re-entry and subsequent disintegration over the Indian Ocean. The mission, which launched from Starbase, Texas, aimed to achieve several objectives, including payload deployment and multiple re-entry experiments.

According to SpaceX, the initial phase of the launch proceeded as expected, with the Super Heavy booster successfully lifting the Starship upper stage. The intention was for Starship to follow a suborbital trajectory, targeting objectives that had not been met in the previous two flight tests. These included the first payload deployment from Starship and various re-entry experiments designed to facilitate the vehicle's eventual return to the launch site for a controlled landing. The Starship upper stage was carrying eight Starlink simulator satellites, intended to be deployed in orbit as part of SpaceX's ongoing efforts to validate the vehicle for future satellite launches and deep space missions. However, the mission encountered trouble when, instead of deploying the satellites, Starship began spinning uncontrollably.

Approximately 40 minutes after launch, however, the mission encountered significant difficulties. SpaceX lost attitude control of Starship, causing it to begin an uncontrolled spin. This loss of control occurred as the vehicle was heading towards its atmospheric re-entry phase.

The uncontrolled re-entry led to the disintegration of the spacecraft over the Indian Ocean. SpaceX confirmed the loss of contact with Starship, marking an end to the ninth flight test. During a live feed, SpaceX's Dan Huot stated, "Just to confirm, we did lose contact with the ship officially a couple of minutes ago. So that brings an end to the ninth flight test."

This latest test flight follows two earlier Starship tests in 2025 that also ended in failure. The seventh flight test concluded with an explosion, and the eighth flight test also ended prematurely due to a rocket explosion shortly after liftoff in Texas. These previous incidents, involving engine failures and onboard fires, resulted in explosions over the Caribbean and the Atlantic. In response, SpaceX implemented a series of hardware upgrades and procedural changes in preparation for the ninth flight.

Despite the unsuccessful outcome, SpaceX emphasized the value of the data collected during the test. In a statement on X, the company noted, "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today's test will help us improve Starship's reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary." This iterative approach to rocket development means that each test, regardless of its outcome, provides crucial information for future improvements.

The incident has drawn attention from various stakeholders, including NASA, as Starship is slated to play a crucial role in the Artemis program's lunar landings. SpaceX remains committed to refining Starship's design with the ultimate goal of achieving full reusability for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.