SpaceX Starship Launch Today Smashes Records—Watch the Historic Flight Live

SpaceX is primed to ignite the evening sky over South Texas as Starship Flight 9 targets liftoff from Starbase on Tuesday, 27 May, at 6:30 p.m. CDT (23:30 UTC). The two-stage stack—Super Heavy Booster 14 and Ship 35—will attempt to push the world’s most powerful rocket deeper into its test program while debuting several first-time maneuvers designed to accelerate SpaceX’s roadmap to rapid reusability and eventual Mars transport. Why Flight 9 matters • First reuse of a Super Heavy: Booster 14 successfully flew and was “caught” by the launch tower during Flight 7; re-flying it is a milestone for lowering launch costs. • Closing in on orbit: SpaceX aims to carry Ship 35 past second-stage engine cutoff, then splash it down in the Indian Ocean after deploying eight Starlink simulators and performing an in-flight Raptor relight. • Expanded heat-shield tests: Metallic tiles, intentionally missing tiles, and an actively cooled section will gather data crucial for future crewed and cargo missions. New tricks for the booster Instead of another dramatic tower catch, Booster 14 will flip in a controlled direction using a blocked portion of its hot-stage ring, expend more propellant on ascent, then perform a high-drag re-entry and Gulf of Mexico splashdown. During landing burn, SpaceX will deliberately shut down one core engine to validate an “engine-out” recovery scenario—critical for safety on future human flights. What’s different on Ship 35 • Reinforced Raptor mounts and upgraded nitrogen purge lines address fire and harmonic-resonance issues that doomed Flights 7 and 8. • Integrated structural catch pins preview how Starships will eventually hook onto the launch tower for rapid turnaround. • Multiple vacuum-engine swaps and four static-fire campaigns mark the most extensive ground testing of any Starship to date. Launch window & how to watch The primary window extends 90 minutes; backup opportunities run through 29 May. SpaceX will stream live coverage on X (formerly Twitter) and its website. Third-party feeds from Spaceflight Now, NASAspaceflight, and local outlets typically begin hours before tanking operations for viewers who want full “T-time” commentary. Road closures & viewing tips Cameron County has issued roadblocks from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. CDT on launch days. The best public vantage points remain South Padre Island’s Isla Blanca Park and the Port Isabel Lighthouse; pack eye and ear protection—the 33-engine booster produces up to 16 million pounds of thrust. Next up: Flight 10 If Flight 9 meets its objectives, Ship 36 and Booster 16 could roll to the pad within a month, keeping Elon Musk’s goal of “monthly Starship launches by year-end” on track. SpaceX ultimately envisions 25 Starship flights in 2025, feeding a surge in Starlink satellite deployment and paving the way for NASA’s Artemis III lunar lander variant. SEO takeaways Search interest around “SpaceX Starship live stream,” “Starship Flight 9 date and time,” and “Booster 14 reuse” is spiking. Bookmark this page for real-time updates, embed the official webcast, and follow @SpaceX for last-minute schedule changes. Whether Flight 9 soars or stumbles, the data gathered will push the boundary of fully reusable, super-heavy spaceflight—bringing humanity one step closer to Mars.