The world’s most powerful rocket Starship’s 10th test was postponed for the second time today on August 26 due to bad weather. The rocket was to be launched from Boca Chica, Texas at 5:30 AM. A day earlier, this test could not be conducted due to a malfunction in the ground system. This rocket has been built by SpaceX, owned by the world’s richest businessman Elon Musk. The Starship spacecraft (upper part) and Super Heavy booster (lower part) are collectively called ‘Starship’. This vehicle is 403 feet tall. It is completely reusable.
The test, first set for June 29, ended in disaster when Starship exploded during a ground static fire, where engines are ignited for checks. A blast in the rocket’s upper section quickly turned it into a fireball. Mission objective: Collecting data through essential experiments
Ninth Test: Booster landed, but ship lost control In the 9th test on May 28, 2025, Starship lost control about 30 minutes after launch, causing it to be destroyed upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. This was the third consecutive time that Starship was destroyed in the sky. However, the booster made a hard landing in the Gulf of America. Eighth Test: Booster landed, but ship exploded Starship’s eighth test took place on March 7th according to Indian time. Seven minutes after launch, the booster (lower part) separated and returned to the launch pad. However, after 8 minutes, 4 out of six engines of the ship (upper part) stopped working causing the ship to lose control. After this, the automated abort system blasted the ship. Due to falling debris, flights at Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale airports were affected. Seventh Test: Booster returned; but spacecraft exploded in the sky On January 17, 2025, Starship’s seventh test was also not completely successful. After 8 minutes of launching, the booster (lower part) separated and returned to the launch pad, but the ship (upper part) exploded due to an oxygen leak. Sixth Test: When difficulty appeared in landing on launchpad, water landing was executed, Trump was also present Starship’s sixth test took place on November 20, 2024, with US President Donald Trump present. The booster, planned to be caught on the launchpad, was instead landed in water due to non-optimal conditions. In space, Starship’s engine was restarted before it landed in the Indian Ocean. Fifth Test: First time the booster was caught on the launch pad
Starship’s fifth test on October 13, 2024 saw the Super Heavy booster reach 96 km before being caught by Mechazilla’s chopstick-like arms. Starship reentered at 26,000 km/h, facing temperatures up to 1,430°C, and made a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean. Fourth Test: Starship was taken to space, then landed in water Starship’s fourth test on June 6, 2024 lasted 1.05 hours, launching from Boca Chica at 6:20 PM. The mission tested Starship’s ability to survive reentry, ending with a soft ocean landing. Elon Musk said it succeeded despite losing tiles and a damaged flap. Third Test: Contact with Starship lost after reentry This test took place on March 14, 2024. SpaceX reported that Starship did not survive during reentry, but it achieved several important milestones during the flight. Meanwhile, Elon Musk said that he hopes half a dozen Starship flights will take place this year. Second Test: Malfunction occurred after stage separation Starship’s second test on November 18, 2023 used hot staging for the first time, with all 33 Raptor engines firing successfully until separation at 2.4 minutes. The booster exploded at 90 km after 3.2 minutes, while Starship continued to 148 km before a malfunction led to its destruction by the flight termination system. First Test: Exploded 4 minutes after launch Starship’s first orbital test on April 20, 2023 launched Booster 7 and Ship 24 but exploded 4 minutes later at 30 km near the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the failure, Elon Musk and his team celebrated, calling liftoff itself a success. Musk had said earlier: Success may or may not come, but excitement is guaranteed. SpaceX had said – A part of it suddenly separated before the separation stage, although this was not planned. With such a test, what we learn leads to success. Today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability. Teams will continue to review the data and work towards the next flight test. Starship system What can Starship do Starship will take humans to Mars This launch is important because this spaceship will make humans interplanetary. Meaning with its help, for the first time a human will step on another planet besides Earth. Musk wants to reach humans to Mars by 2029 and establish a colony there. Why is there a need to establish a colony on Mars Elon Musk says a Mars colony could ensure humanity’s survival if a life-ending event strikes Earth, like the one that wiped out dinosaurs. Similarly, in 2017, Stephen Hawking warned humans must expand into space within 100 years to survive. Starship spacecraft is part of the Artemis program
This mission is key as Starship is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which will return humans to the Moon after 50 years. Starship will handle the final phase—carrying astronauts to lunar orbit and landing on the Moon.
