SpaceX has delayed Starship Flight 8 by a few days. Previously, the highly anticipated launch date was set for Friday, 28 February.
SpaceX has now set Monday, 3rd March as the new date for the 8th Starship launch and landing test. The FAA has also issued a license to SpaceX to conduct the 8the spaceflight test of a Starship prototype.
The delay in the Flight 8 Starship launch is apparently due to weather conditions as SpaceX shared images of Starbase from yesterday showing dense clouds and mist surrounding the Boca Chica, Texas beach.
As much as it looks like a weather-related delay, SpaceX never mounted Ship 34 upper stage on the Booster 15 lower stage rocket. SpaceX only mounted Booster 15 on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) and shared pics and the following short video of this setup on X (Twitter).
In the meantime, Ship 34 stayed inside Mega Bay 2. Technical reasons or upgrades most probably hindered the mounting of the upper stage Starship on the Super Heavy booster. So, the IFT-8 launch delay might be due to these reasons as well.
After completing the investigation into the loss of Starship early on its seventh flight test, several hardware and operational changes have been made to increase reliability of the upper stage. You can read the full summary of the mishap investigation here.
The majestic Starship Flight 8 Super Heavy Booster 15 getting mounted on the Starbase launch site OLM. pic.twitter.com/nQ8IPSQAQd
— Tesla Oracle (@TeslaOracle_com) February 28, 2025
We reported in our previous Starship update that the Flight 8 test (IFT-8) has backup flight windows until 6th March. For weather-related and technical reasons, SpaceX can use this f
New Flight 8 Schedule & FAA License
SpaceX announced the new date and time on its official website as follows:
The eighth flight test of Starship is preparing to launch as soon as Monday, March 3.
A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 40 minutes before liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app. The launch window will open at 5:30 p.m. CT. As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to check in here and stay tuned to our X account for updates.
SpaceX will attempt the 8th Starship launch and landing test on Monday, 3rd March 2025. The launch window will open at 5:30 PM Central Time (6:30 PM Eastern Time).
SpaceX has been GRANTED their Starship flight 8 FAA Launch License.
— Felix Space Time (@Space_Time3) February 27, 2025
Launch is currently NET March 3rd. pic.twitter.com/bJvhXtTeqi
Latest from the SpaceX Starbase launch site
Although the hot-staging ring (heat adapter between the upper and lower stage of the Starship) was installed, the footage and views shared by SpaceX are without the adapter. These pictures were taken before the installation of the hot-staging ring.
SpaceX later on removed the hot-staging adapter. But in the latest videos of Starbase by NasaSpaceFlight.com, the hot-staging ring has been re-installed on Flight 8 Booster 15.
Hours after it was removed, the Hot Stage Ring has been lifted and reinstalled atop Booster 15, as preparations for flight 8 continue.@NASASpaceflight https://t.co/1bbXAEnpYO pic.twitter.com/kE0YnPV2Ur
— Elisar Priel (@ENNEPS) February 28, 2025
SpaceX has also brought a huge new water tank to the Strabase launch site. This is to perhaps add more water and fire mitigation capability to the OLM water deluge system (see towards the end of the following video at 11:38).
Stay tuned as we bring you further updates on Starship’s Flight 8 launch and landing test.
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