The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given Elon Musk’s SpaceX permission to proceed with the launch of Flight 9. In a statement published on May 22, the regulator said that SpaceX “implemented all corrective actions” in response to the mishap seen during Flight 8 in March.
“With the Starship vehicle return to flight determination, Starship Flight 9 is authorized for launch,” the FAA said in a statement. “The FAA finds SpaceX meets all of the rigorous safety, environmental and other licensing requirements.”
The FAA also added that when making such determinations, they consider several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the mishap, the performance of vehicles safety-critical systems, and the generation of unplanned debris.
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On March 6, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8 suffered a catastrophic failure over the Atlantic Ocean shortly after launch from Starbase, Texas. The mission aimed to deploy mock Starlink satellites and test reentry capabilities. About eight minutes into the flight, a malfunction in one of the Raptor engines caused an unplanned fuel ignition, leading to loss of control. SpaceX’s autonomous safety system triggered the rocket’s destruction to avoid debris hazards. This was the second consecutive Starship failure after a similar incident in January 2025. The FAA has since approved SpaceX’s next test flight, Flight 9, following safety reviews and corrective actions.
When considering how Starship could resume launches, SpaceX could have either waited until the mishap investigation from Flight 8 was completed and signed off by the FAA, or requested a public safety determination. As was the case for the Flight 7 and Flight 8 missions, SpaceX opted for the latter.
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“Prior to making a return to flight determination, the FAA must find that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety or any other aspect of the operator’s license,” the FAA said.
This approval allows SpaceX to continue testing and refining its Starship rocket, vital for future missions including Mars exploration. For Musk, it demonstrates resilience and commitment to pushing space technology boundaries despite setbacks. Successfully completing Flight 9 will strengthen SpaceX’s reputation in the aerospace industry, attract potential investors, and maintain momentum toward ambitious goals like commercial space travel and interplanetary missions, reinforcing its leadership in the growing space sector.