SpaceX Awaits FAA Approval for Starship Flight 9

SpaceX is preparing for the ninth test flight of its Starship rocket, targeting a launch as early as May 21, pending final FAA approval after investigations into previous flight failures. This mission will be the first to reuse a Super Heavy booster, a crucial step for achieving full and rapid reusability for future Mars and lunar missions. Recent static fire tests for both the upper-stage Starship and Super Heavy booster at the Starbase facility in Texas were successfully completed. The last two flights in 2025 ended with upper stage explosions caused by propellant leaks and fires, prompting SpaceX to implement several design changes. Elon Musk has announced he will reveal more details about SpaceX's Mars plans in a live-streamed talk before the launch. The outcome of Flight 9 is considered critical for both NASA's Artemis program and Musk's broader interplanetary ambitions.