An update on a post from May 17, 2025
The ninth launch of SpaceX’s Starship ended with two explosions, or, in Musk’s lingo, “rapid unscheduled disassemblies.” Not only did the booster explode after sending the second stage into low Earth orbit, but the second stage also disassembled over the Indian Ocean after going into an out-of-control tumble.
SpaceX and its defenders always put a positive spin on every rapid unscheduled disassembly. They claim to have collected valuable data that can be used to make future improvements. This is undoubtedly true.
This ninth launch was intended to include the deployment of a set of mock Starlink satellites; however, the test was unable to proceed because the doors could not be opened.
In summary, Elon Musk has been promising the success of his Starship for a long time. Years ago, he claimed that his big, beautiful spaceship would make a cargo flight to Mars by 2022. This is similar to his promise of self-driving cars by 2019.
Ambitious goals are great. However, how long will his funding last if these rapid unscheduled disassemblies continue? How long will Tesla and SpaceX be able to attract top talent if these disasters and embarrassments continue?