SpaceX Successfully Conducts Static Fire Test for Starship’s Ninth Flight, Advancing Reusability Goals

BOCA CHICA, Texas — May 2, 2025 — SpaceX has take another step toward its ambitious Starship program with a successful single-engine static fire test of Ship 35, the spacecraft designated for the ninth flight test. The test, conducted at the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas, marks a key milestone in preparing for the upcoming mission, which will feature the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster.

The static fire test, which lasted approximately six seconds, involved igniting one of Starship’s Raptor engines to simulate an in-space burn, a critical maneuver for orbital missions. SpaceX announced the test’s completion on X, stating, “The Starship preparing for our ninth flight test completed a single engine static fire demonstrating an in-space burn.” Video footage shared by the company and observers showed a brief but intense burst of flame, with the spacecraft anchored to the test stand at the Masseys test site.

This test follows a static fire of the Super Heavy Booster 14 on April 3, 2025, which ignited 29 of its 33 flight-proven Raptor engines. That booster, previously flown and recovered during Starship’s seventh test flight in January, is poised to make history as the first Super Heavy to be reused in a test flight. The April test was a significant achievement, as it was the first time SpaceX test-fired a “flight-proven” booster, advancing the company’s goal of developing a fully reusable rocket system.

The ninth flight test, expected in the coming weeks, will build on SpaceX’s iterative approach to Starship development. The mission aims to further validate the reusability of the Super Heavy booster and test upgrades to the Starship spacecraft, including improvements to its propulsion system and heat shield. These enhancements are critical for future missions, such as deploying large Starlink satellites, conducting in-orbit propellant transfer, and supporting NASA’s Artemis program for lunar landings.

However, recent posts on X have raised questions about the single-engine test, with some observers noting what appeared to be an Rvac (Raptor vacuum engine) destabilizing before other engines shut down. SpaceX has not commented on these observations, but the company typically conducts multiple static fire tests to ensure all systems perform as expected. A full six-engine static fire may follow if additional data is needed.

SpaceX’s Starship program has faced challenges in 2025, with the seventh and eighth test flights ending in upper-stage explosions due to propulsion system issues. The January flight saw vibrations cause a fire near the liquid oxygen tank, while the March flight experienced similar issues, leading to debris falling over the Bahamas and Florida. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX has made progress, successfully catching the Super Heavy booster with the launch tower’s “chopsticks” in multiple tests, including the eighth flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been closely monitoring SpaceX’s test campaign, approving launch licenses while investigating prior mishaps. The agency’s oversight ensures safety as SpaceX pushes the boundaries of rocket technology.

Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, has emphasized the importance of Starship for humanity’s multiplanetary future, with plans to use the rocket for Mars missions and lunar landings as early as 2027. The successful static fire test brings SpaceX closer to these goals, demonstrating the company’s commitment to rapid iteration and innovation.

As preparations for the ninth flight continue, the space community is watching closely. “Flight 9 could be just a few weeks away,” posted X user

@OOpFuture

, reflecting the excitement surrounding the upcoming launch. With each test, SpaceX refines the Starship system, paving the way for a new era of space exploration.

For more information on SpaceX’s Starship program, visit SpaceX’s official website.