Starship flight test 8
| Mission type | Flight test |
|---|---|
| Operator | SpaceX |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Starship Ship 34 |
| Spacecraft type | Starship (Block 2) |
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | NET February 28, 2025, 5:30 pm CST (23:30 UTC)[1][2] |
| Rocket | Super Heavy (Block 1, B15) |
| Launch site | Starbase, OLP-A |
| End of mission | |
| Landing site |
|
Starship flight test 8 will be the eighth flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. Ship 34 and Booster 15 are expected to fly on this test flight.[3][4] It is expected to be the second flight of a Block 2 ship. SpaceX is expected to perform the flight test no earlier than Friday, February 28, 2025.[5]
Background
[edit]Vehicle testing ahead of launch
[edit]Booster 15 underwent cryogenic testing on December 29, 2024.[6] Ship 34 was moved to Massey's test site on January 15, 2025, just before Flight 7, where it conducted cryogenic tests on January 17 and 18, 2025.[7]
On February 8, 2025, Booster 15 rolled to OLP-A for static fire testing,[8] and the test was conducted the following day.[9] On February 10, SpaceX rolled S34 out to the Massey's test site for static fire testing.[10] It conducted a long duration static fire (60 seconds) on February 11.[11][12] B15 was rolled to OLP-A on February 25.[13]
Impact of flight test 7
[edit]During Starship flight test 7 on Thursday, January 16, 2025, initial data indicated that a fire broke out mid-flight, leading to the destruction of the vehicle.[14] SpaceX suspects the fire was caused by an issue with the propellant system, that has led to excess pressure in the cavity above the engine firewall.[15]
The FAA ordered SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the breakup, grounding Starship until the inquiry was complete.[16] Elon Musk described the event as "barely a bump in the road," indicating that the issues would be resolved quickly. Musk suggested that a subsequent launch could occur the following month, depending on testing progress.[17]
On February 24, 2025, SpaceX announced that they had completed their mishap investigation into Flight 7.[12]
Mission profile
[edit]The mission profile for flight test 8 is similar to the previous launch's plan, targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean and a catch of the booster. The Ship will deploy four intentionally destructible Starlink "simulators" which are also expected to reenter over the Indian Ocean.[1]
Flight timeline
[edit]| Time | Event | February 28, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| −01:15:00 | Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading | Planned |
| −00:45:59 | Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start | Planned |
| −00:42:59 | Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start | Planned |
| −00:41:22 | Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start | Planned |
| −00:35:35 | Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start | Planned |
| −00:19:40 | Super Heavy and Starship engine chill | Planned |
| −00:03:20 | Starship propellant load complete | Planned |
| −00:02:50 | Super Heavy propellant load complete | Planned |
| −00:00:30 | Flight director verifies go for launch | Planned |
| −00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation | Planned |
| −00:00:03 | Super Heavy engine ignition | Planned |
| +00:00:02 | Liftoff | Planned |
| +00:01:02 | Throttle down for max q during ascent (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) | Planned |
| +00:02:32 | Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO) | Planned |
| +00:02:40 | Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) | Planned |
| +00:02:45 | Super Heavy boostback burn start | Planned |
| +00:03:30 | Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown | Planned |
| +00:03:32 | Hot-stage jettison | Planned |
| +00:06:37 | Super Heavy landing burn start | Planned |
| +00:06:57 | Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and catch | Planned |
| +00:08:44 | Starship engine cutoff (SECO) | Planned |
| +00:17:24 | Starlink simulator satellites deploy demo | Planned |
| +00:37:28 | Raptor in-space relight demo | Planned |
| +00:47:22 | Starship atmospheric reentry | Planned |
| +01:03:05 | Starship is transonic | Planned |
| +01:04:20 | Starship is subsonic | Planned |
| +01:06:04 | Starship landing flip | Planned |
| +01:06:06 | Starship landing burn | Planned |
| +01:06:26 | Starship splashdown | Planned |
| Source: SpaceX[1] | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Starship's Eighth Flight Test". SpaceX.com. February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (February 23, 2025). "Starship Flight 8 flies Friday" (Tweet). Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ McCrea, Aaron (November 27, 2024). "Starbase continues its rapid pace of advancement after Starship Flight 6". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ Bergin, Chris (October 9, 2024). "Starship readying for Flight 5 amid future preparations". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Berger, Eric (February 20, 2025). "Starship's eighth test flight may take place next week". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ This Is How It Ends. That's Going To Do It. NASASpaceflight. December 31, 2024. Event occurs at 4:51. Retrieved January 1, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Booster Catch, Ship Failure & The Path to Starship Flight 8. Starbase Update. NASASpaceflight. January 20, 2025. Event occurs at 4:21. Retrieved January 21, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Booster 15 Ready For Testing Ahead of Starship Flight 8. NASASpaceflight. February 8, 2025. Event occurs at 10:39. Retrieved February 9, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ SpaceX Performs Testing with Booster 15 for Starship Flight 8. NASASpaceflight. February 9, 2025. Event occurs at 1:06:01. Retrieved February 9, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Starship Flight 8 Testing Begins With A 33 Engine Static Fire. NASASpaceflight. February 10, 2025. Event occurs at 4:15. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ SpaceX Performs Static Fire with Ship 34 for Starship Flight 8. NASASpaceflight. February 11, 2025. Event occurs at 1:17:10. Retrieved February 12, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "New Year. New Ship. New Lessons". SpaceX.com. February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
- ^ NASASpaceflight (February 24, 2025). SpaceX Rolls Booster 15 Ahead of Flight 8. Retrieved February 25, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (January 17, 2025). "Fire destroys Starship on its seventh test flight, raining debris from space". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ Dunn, Marcia (January 16, 2025). "SpaceX Suspects Fire During Starship Flight 7 Linked to Pressure Issues". Associated Press. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ "General Statements". Federal Aviation Administration. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Jane (January 16, 2025). "SpaceX's Starship blew up. Elon Musk says it's 'barely a bump in the road.'". MarketWatch. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
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