Big Plot Twist! SpaceX Engineer revealed Starship Flight 9's ''REGAIN CONTROL'' before RUD

In a stunning turn of events, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 9 delivered more than just drama—it handed the aerospace world a technical mystery and an unexpected success. While all eyes were on Ship 35 (S35) to dominate headlines, it was a quiet message from within SpaceX that has become the story’s biggest plot twist: the upper stage regained control just before its Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly (RUD).

SpaceX Flight 9 – Triumphs, Anomalies, and a Glimmer of Control

The Mission Expectations

From the beginning, Flight 9 carried immense expectations. Ship 35 was set to reach orbit, deploy a payload, perform an in-space reignition, survive re-entry, and splash down. These were not minor asks. With each flight iteration, SpaceX is pushing closer to full two-stage reusability.

But not all went as planned.

S35 failed to open its payload bay and entered an uncontrolled tumble. At T+46 minutes and 40 seconds, cameras caught its aft flap burning, and the live feed cut out—leaving viewers assuming the worst.

Yet, behind the scenes, SpaceX engineers weren’t done.

Regain Control Before Impact – Why It Matters

The Technical Significance

Why does regaining control matter?

By the time telemetry was partially restored, S35 had endured severe structural and thermal abuse. Its guidance systems, avionics, and critical components were likely compromised. Still, regaining control—even marginally—was enough to steer S35 back into the safe splashdown zone southeast of Madagascar.

This shows the resilience of Starship’s guidance and control systems and that SpaceX can ensure safe debris containment, even in mission failure.

FAA and Safety Regulation Implications

The FAA later confirmed that no injuries or property damage occurred during Flight 9. This, combined with SpaceX’s proactive safety measures (clearing Gulf Coast zones pre-launch), means the regulatory aftermath will likely be minimal—just routine debris analysis and environmental assessments.

That is a huge win for SpaceX, which depends on rapid re-licensing to maintain its aggressive testing schedule.

What Went Right – Flight 9’s Milestones

While the regain control moment stole the spotlight, Flight 9 still marked a number of important technical wins:

Super Heavy’s boost-back burn was flawless.
Hot-staging separation worked exactly as intended.
Ship 35’s heat shield handled peak re-entry stress.
Engine-out tolerance during ascent was demonstrated.

Elon Musk Responds

Even Elon Musk weighed in on social media, calling Flight 9:

“A great achievement by the SpaceX team.”

These wins prove that SpaceX’s incremental upgrades since Flight 7 are working. But they also underscore the challenges ahead.

The Road to Flight 10 – Can SpaceX Keep Pace?

With Musk’s target of one Starship launch every 3–4 weeks, the pressure is on. Flight 10 is expected as early as mid-June 2025, and hardware is nearly ready. Booster 16 (B16) and Ship 36 (S36) have passed several cryogenic tests and are poised for static fire trials.

But there’s a catch: rushing could risk another anomaly.

Lessons for Super Heavy

Avoiding landing burn failures is essential.
SpaceX must choose between:
- Restoring the Mechazilla catch method, or
- Perfecting steep-angle ocean landings with structural reinforcements.
Igniter systems need better insulation and possibly redundant designs.
Tank pressure validation and vibration dampening are top priorities.

Challenges for Ship 36

Leak fixes in propellant tanks.
Aft flap redesign—potentially with metallic heat sinks and better hinges.
Payload bay door mechanisms need full cryogenic vacuum testing.
In-space engine relays and adaptive software upgrades are essential.

These fixes aren’t optional—they’re crucial for proving reusability.

Why Flight 10 Could Be Historic

If Flight 10 happens in June, it will break records:

First time since 2023 that two Starship flights occurred in consecutive months.
Could beat the 37-day turnaround record set between Flight 5 and Flight 6.

More importantly, it brings SpaceX closer to two major goals:

A Super Heavy booster caught by Mechazilla.
A Starship upper stage that lands intact for reuse.

Achieving either would mark a new era in spaceflight, where full reusability becomes more than theory—it becomes reality.

Beyond SpaceX – Blue Origin and Japan Enter the Stage

While SpaceX dominates headlines, other players are making waves too.

Blue Origin’s NS-32 – Suborbital Tourism Continues

On May 27, the same day as Flight 9, Blue Origin confirmed its next New Shepard crewed flight—NS-32—would lift off on May 31 from West Texas.

NS-32 is:

The 32nd New Shepard flight.
The 12th time carrying people.
A 10–12 minute hop across the Kármán line and back under parachutes.

While exciting for passengers, the broader space industry is focused on Blue Origin’s orbital rocket—New Glenn.

Where is New Glenn?

After a successful maiden flight in January, little has been shared about New Glenn’s next mission. If delays persist, Blue Origin risks falling behind the launch cadence of SpaceX and other competitors.

Investors and observers are watching closely. Orbital capability—not suborbital joyrides—determines long-term relevance.

Japan’s MMX Mission – Aiming for Mars’ Moons

On the other side of the world, Japan is preparing one of its most ambitious interplanetary missions to date: the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission.

What is MMX?

Led by JAXA, MMX aims to:

Launch in 2026 on an H3 rocket.
Arrive at Mars in 2027.
Land on Phobos (Mars’ moon) in 2029.
Collect up to 10g of surface material.
Return the sample to Earth by 2031.

Key Technologies and Partnerships

MMX just passed thermal vacuum testing, a critical milestone.
Includes a 25 kg rover, co-developed by CNES (France) and DLR (Germany).
The return module was highlighted in recent images as the centerpiece.

MMX aims to unlock the origins of Phobos and Deimos, shedding light on Mars’ history and the early solar system.

The Bigger Picture – A New Era of Spaceflight

From SpaceX’s gritty test flights to Japan’s interplanetary science, the global space race is shifting from ambition to execution.

SpaceX’s Iterative Power

Every Starship flight—even with setbacks—adds vital knowledge to a growing body of work. The long-term goal remains clear:

Routine two-way reuse
Deep space capability
Human settlement on other worlds

Flight 9 taught us that success isn’t always about perfection. Sometimes, a moment of regained control is the biggest win of all.

FAQs

1. What happened during SpaceX’s Starship Flight 9?

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 9 experienced a partial failure when Ship 35 began tumbling in orbit and could not open its payload bay. However, SpaceX engineers managed to regain some control moments before the upper stage’s disassembly, guiding it into a safe splashdown zone.

2. Why is the “regain control” moment significant?

Regaining control showed that even under extreme damage and thermal stress, Starship’s guidance systems remained functional. This demonstrates SpaceX’s growing ability to contain failures and protect people, property, and regulators’ confidence.

3. Did Flight 9 meet its objectives?

Partially. While it failed to complete the full mission profile, Flight 9 achieved key milestones such as a flawless boost-back burn, successful hot-staging, and heat shield performance. The partial regain of control was a bonus win.

4. Was anyone hurt during the Starship Flight 9 test?

No. The FAA confirmed there were no injuries or property damage, and all safety zones were properly cleared ahead of launch.

5. When is SpaceX Flight 10 expected to launch?

Flight 10 is anticipated to launch as early as mid-June 2025, depending on successful hardware tests and regulatory approval.

6. What upgrades are expected for Ship 36 and Booster 16?

Ship 36 will feature leak-proof propellant tanks, an improved payload bay door, flap redesigns, and more robust guidance systems. Booster 16 improvements include better igniter insulation, tank pressure control, and possibly a return to Mechazilla tower catches.

7. What does RUD mean in spaceflight?

RUD stands for Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly, a humorous aerospace term for an explosion or vehicle breakup during or after flight.

8. What is Mechazilla?

Mechazilla is SpaceX’s robotic tower system designed to catch Super Heavy boosters during landing, enabling rapid reusability without ocean landings.

9. What is Blue Origin’s NS-32 mission?

NS-32 is the 32nd flight of New Shepard and its 12th human mission, scheduled for May 31, 2025. It will take six passengers on a short suborbital journey crossing the Kármán line.

10. What’s happening with Blue Origin’s New Glenn?

Despite a successful maiden launch in January, New Glenn has not yet flown again. Many are watching to see when Blue Origin resumes its orbital launch program, which is critical for long-term growth.

11. What is Japan’s MMX mission?

The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, led by JAXA, aims to collect samples from Phobos (Mars’ moon) and return them to Earth. The mission launches in 2026 and returns samples by 2031.

12. How is MMX testing going?

As of May 2025, MMX successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, verifying that its systems can operate in the harsh space environment.

13. Why are Starship’s frequent test flights important?

Each flight helps iterate and improve Starship’s hardware. The program aims to achieve full two-stage reusability, essential for deep space travel and human settlement on other planets.

14. How can I stay updated on SpaceX launches?

You can follow SpaceX’s official channels, turn on notifications on YouTube, or subscribe to space news platforms like Great SpaceX to get real-time updates and expert analysis.

Big Plot Twist! SpaceX Engineer revealed Starship Flight 9’s ”REGAIN CONTROL” before RUD