After SpaceX’s ninth flight test for Starship on Tuesday, numerous reports emphasized failure: The company’s gigantic rocket and uncrewed spacecraft detonated — once more.

Nonetheless, each test has distinct goals, and while Starship did not fulfill all of them this occasion, one represented a major advancement towards achieving reusability of the rocket and ship. This is a vital objective for SpaceX, which intends to utilize the ship for transporting humans to the moon and Mars in a cost-effective manner.

The launch, which departed from SpaceX’s private spaceport in south Texas on May 27, showcased the initial re-flown booster. The test was live-streamed on SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s social platform, X. During the broadcast, cheers erupted at Starbase when the spacecraft’s engines fired, and the Super Heavy booster — also employed in a January test — detached from it and plummeted back to Earth.

“Six healthy Raptors powering Ship, on its way to space,” a commentator exclaimed enthusiastically, referencing its robust engines. “Check out that engine view.”

This pivotal moment can be viewed in a video clip shown later in this article.

The excitement of the accomplishment was short-lived, perhaps eclipsed by yet another setback. The booster separated from Starship using a technique known as hot-staging, where the upper section of the rocket ignites its engines while still attached to the booster.

This was a part of the strategy — designed for a smoother transition — as was the booster rotating itself after the separation. However, as the booster approached its landing location, something went awry. It disintegrated mid-air over the Gulf of Mexico, confirming it will not be reused.

Starship stands as a 400-foot-tall giant. The test flight marked the rocket system’s third attempt this year. The earlier two also concluded with explosions, though Tuesday’s flight endured far longer, operating for 46 minutes before flight controllers lost communication with it. The ship’s debris fell over the Indian Ocean.

In a post-test statement, SpaceX indicated it could not deploy mock satellites in space as anticipated because the door for their release on Starship jammed. The ship also had difficulties maintaining its position in orbit, which hindered its ability to restart an engine or prepare for atmospheric reentry.

The above X post includes a video of the significant instance when a reused Starship booster successfully executes its separation and flip during the ninth flight test.

SpaceX has faced scrutiny for its earlier failures in Starship testing. Company executives maintain that rapid development, the destruction of costly hardware, and swift learning from errors are all integral to the corporation’s approach — sharply contrasting with NASA’s more gradual method.

NASA will rely on the rocket company to transport astronauts to the lunar surface on a modified Starship for the Artemis III and IV moon missions under a $4.2 billion contract. To achieve this, SpaceX first needs to excel at refueling its ship in space. For Musk, Starship also represents a passionate endeavor to ultimately send individuals to establish a settlement on Mars.

The company states it plans to implement further enhancements to the prototype prior to the next flight test.

“Developmental testing by its nature is unpredictable,” SpaceX stated in a release, “but each lesson learned signifies progress toward Starship’s aim of making life multiplanetary.”