Overview

• The FAA has grounded the Starship program following the May 27 test flight that ended in a rapid unscheduled disassembly caused by a propellant leak and loss of control.
• Elon Musk has vowed to accelerate testing to a three-to-four-week launch cadence after reviewing data from the ninth flight.
• SpaceX persists with an ambitious goal to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars by the end of 2026, assigning Tesla-built Optimus robots to simulate the first crew.
• Key challenges include sealing propellant leaks, demonstrating in-orbit refueling and upgrading the Raptor engine for greater reliability.
• NASA’s planned use of Starship for its 2027 Artemis lunar mission raises the stakes for meeting critical development milestones.