SpaceX successfully recovered its Super Heavy booster at the launch pad for the second time on January 17, 2025. The test, dubbed Integrated Flight Test-7 (IFT-7), began at 4:37 p.m. Central Time (5:37 p.m. Eastern) from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. Initially, the mission appeared to be proceeding flawlessly. The Super Heavy booster separated from the Starship second stage as planned and executed a historic return to the launch tower, where it was caught by the mechanical arms of "Mechazilla." This marked only the second successful recovery of a Super Heavy booster, following its first in October 2024 during IFT-5.
Credit: SpaceX
Upgrades Solve Previous Issues
This achievement came after a failed recovery attempt in November 2024 when launch tower sensors were damaged during liftoff. SpaceX addressed this issue by enhancing sensor protection, ensuring the booster’s safe return for IFT-7.
Starship’s Failure: A Closer Look
While the booster’s recovery was a triumph, the Starship second stage encountered a critical failure. Telemetry showed all six methane-liquid oxygen (methalox) Raptor engines operating as expected immediately after separation. However, as the vehicle ascended, the engines began shutting down one by one. Eventually, telemetry froze with only one engine still burning.
“We had an anomaly with that upper stage,” Dan Huot, one of the hosts of the SpaceX webcast of the launch, said minutes later. “At this point, we are assuming that the ship has been lost.” SpaceX confirmed minutes later that the vehicle had been lost. Video soon appeared on social media showing what may be debris from the vehicle burning up and falling over the Turks and Caicos.
Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell tracked the vehicle's remnants reentering near the Turks and Caicos Islands, confirming the second stage’s destruction. SpaceX later attributed the failure to a fire in the aft section of Starship caused by an oxygen and fuel leak in the engine cavity. The fire built up pressure beyond the venting system’s capacity, leading to what the company describes as a "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly" (RUD).
Debris Recovery and FAA Involvement
SpaceX assured the public that the debris fell within predefined hazard areas in the Caribbean, urging anyone who encounters fragments not to touch them and to notify local authorities or SpaceX. The FAA, which oversees commercial space launches, is investigating the incident and stated that it temporarily diverted aircraft around the reentry zone. While the FAA’s preliminary report indicates the debris may have strayed beyond the designated hazard area, the agency emphasized that its findings are subject to further review.
Starship Enhancements and Future Plans
IFT-7 featured several upgrades to the Starship system, including redesigned avionics, improved propulsion systems, enhanced heat shield tiles, and increased propellant capacity. The vehicle was also lengthened by two meters, bringing its total height to 123 meters (403.5 feet), further cementing its status as the tallest rocket ever built.
SpaceX had planned to perform a Raptor engine relight of Starship while in space and also deploy 10 mass simulators of “V3” versions of Starlink satellites optimized for Starship.
“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 on X. He further added “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.”
Starship is central to SpaceX’s long-term goals, including Elon Musk’s vision of establishing a human presence on Mars. NASA has also contracted SpaceX to use Starship as a Human Landing System for the Artemis program, with its first lunar mission now scheduled for September 2027.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also expressed support, congratulating SpaceX and highlighting the importance of each test in advancing humanity’s return to the Moon and eventual journey to Mars.
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