The first Starship flight test of 2025 repeated the success of launching and catching the world’s most powerful rocket while testing a new and improved Starship.

On its seventh flight, Starship took off from Starbase in Texas on January 16. All 33 Raptor engines worked to lift the Super Heavy booster and Starship into the sky. After separating from the booster, the Super Heavy started its return journey. Twelve of the thirteen planned Raptor engines fired up to guide it back. Then, all 13 engines relit for the landing, including the one that didn’t work earlier, helping it slow down and aim for the catch tower.

This was the second time SpaceX successfully caught a Super Heavy booster after the first spectacular booster catch in October.

After separating, the Starship upper stage fired its six Raptor engines and headed to space. However, about eight and a half minutes into the flight, the connection with the vehicle was lost due to a fire in the back part of the ship, causing it to break apart. Starship stayed within its planned flight path, ensuring safety for everyone below.

To Mars!

The test “served as a reminder that development testing by definition is unpredictable,” emphasizes a SpaceX press release.

However, the results of the flight test are valuable for learning and improving Starship. SpaceX is already analyzing the data to find out what went wrong before the next flight. The next Starship and its booster are ready and in prelaunch testing, as SpaceX keeps working on a reusable space transport system to make space travel faster and cheaper.

“Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity,” Elon Musk posted to X. “Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area. Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month.”

Musk also confirmed that the ultimate game plan for SpaceX is colonizing Mars. “What matters is the expected date when Mars becomes a self-sustaining civilization,” he said.

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