Are SpaceX Rocket Explosions Just Part of the…

Following another unsuccessful Starship test this week, which ended with the ambitious heavy rocket exploding once again, it’s easy to think that luck has finally abandoned SpaceX.

However, experiencing this level of failure during a development phase is not uncommon, according to Wendy Whitman Cobb, a space policy expert from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. This is particularly true when testing new, complex space technologies like large rockets. Nevertheless, the pace of the Starship tests stands in stark contrast to the more gradual development cycles typically seen in the space industry.

“The reason many view this as unusual is that it deviates from the traditional approach to rocket testing,” says Whitman Cobb.

Traditionally, space agencies like NASA and established aerospace firms such as United Launch Alliance (ULA) have operated at a measured pace, ensuring they are confident in a rocket’s success before testing. This approach remains evident today in significant NASA initiatives such as the development of the Space Launch System (SLS), which has extended over a decade. “They will take as much time as needed to ensure the rocket is viable and that launch will succeed,” Whitman Cobb remarks.

In contrast, SpaceX has adopted a distinct methodology characterized by frequent testing, failures, and rapid iteration. This strategy has been central to their success, exemplified by the swift development of the reusable Falcon 9 rocket. However, this approach invites regular and public failures, resulting in complaints about environmental damage near the launch site and tensions with regulatory agencies. Additionally, there are notable concerns regarding CEO Elon Musk’s political connections to the Trump administration and his significant influence over federal regulation of SpaceX’s operations.

Even by SpaceX’s rapid-fire testing standards, the Starship’s development has seemed disorganized. Unlike the Falcon 9, which faced numerous setbacks yet demonstrated a clearer trajectory of progress, Starship’s record is more erratic.