Boca Chica, Texas – May 22, 2025 – SpaceX has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its ninth Starship test flight, marking a significant step forward for the company’s ambitious reusable rocket program. The FAA announced late Thursday that it had greenlit license modifications for the Starship Flight 9 mission, though the launch remains contingent on the closure of the ongoing investigation into the Flight 8 mishap or a return-to-flight determination.
The approval comes after a series of regulatory hurdles and environmental assessments, with the FAA expanding the aircraft and maritime hazard areas for the mission due to SpaceX’s plan to reuse a previously launched Super Heavy booster for the first time. The Flight 9 mission, set to launch from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas, could take place as early as May 22, according to posts on X citing U.S. Coast Guard hazard notices.
“We’re thrilled to move forward with Flight 9 preparations,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on X, noting that a livestreamed update on the Starship program’s Mars exploration goals will precede the launch. “This test is a critical step toward making humanity multiplanetary.”
The Starship program, designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars, has faced scrutiny following two consecutive test flight failures. Flight 8, launched on March 6, 2025, saw the Super Heavy booster successfully caught by Starbase’s “chopstick” arms, but the upper stage exploded over the Atlantic Ocean due to a propellant leak. A similar issue caused the loss of the upper stage during Flight 7 in January. The FAA is currently reviewing SpaceX’s mishap report submitted on May 14 to ensure corrective actions address these failures.
The FAA’s approval also incorporates an environmental assessment allowing SpaceX to increase its annual Starship launches from five to 25, a decision finalized earlier this month. This expansion has sparked concerns among environmental groups and Caribbean officials, particularly after debris from Flight 8 rained over the Turks and Caicos Islands, prompting calls for trajectory changes. The expanded hazard area for Flight 9 now includes the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, potentially affecting 175 flights.
SpaceX conducted a successful six-engine static fire test of the Starship upper stage on May 12, signaling readiness for the upcoming launch. The company’s reuse of the Super Heavy booster from Flight 7, with only four of its 33 Raptor engines replaced, underscores its push toward rapid reusability—a cornerstone of Musk’s vision for cost-effective space exploration.
The Flight 9 mission will see Starship’s trajectory extend 1,600 nautical miles eastward from Texas through the Straits of Florida, with airspace closures up to 6,000 feet in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. The FAA estimates minimal disruption by scheduling the launch outside peak transit periods, with a tentative liftoff at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
As SpaceX prepares for this critical test, the company continues to navigate tensions with the FAA, with Musk previously criticizing the agency for regulatory delays. Despite these challenges, the approval signals progress for Starship, which remains central to SpaceX’s goal of sending humans to Mars by the end of the decade.
For live updates on the launch, SpaceX will stream the event on X, with Musk’s company talk providing further insight into the Starship program’s future. The space community and enthusiasts alike await what could be a pivotal moment in SpaceX’s quest to revolutionize space travel.
Disclaimer: Launch dates are subject to change pending final FAA approval and SpaceX’s readiness.
