Starship Flight 8 Launch Thread (Take two!)
Starship Flight 8 Launch Thread (Take two!)
Well folks, it's time for the second launch of Starship version 2, as well as another booster RTLS and chopsticks catch attempt! Let's hope the ship fares better this time!
This follows a launch attempt earlier this week which was scrubbed due after a prolonged hold in the countdown while the teams worked multiple issues on the booster, ship, and GSE.
| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-03-06 23:30 |
|---|---|
| Scheduled for (local) | 2025-03-03 17:30 (CDT) |
| Launch Window (UTC) | 2025-03-03 23:30 to 2025-03-04 00:30 (60 minutes) |
| Launch site | Pad A, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA. |
| Booster | B15 |
| Ship | S34 |
| Booster landing | Chopsticks catch at Pad A or soft water landing in Gulf of Mexico |
| Ship landing | Indian Ocean |
Webcasts
| Stream | Link |
|---|---|
| Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQG053ogu20 |
| Everyday Astronaut | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUNsegCqQs |
| Spaceflight Now | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUnbnm7OKCw |
| NASASpaceflight | Stakeout stream, Launch stream |
| LabPadre | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yng6SV8yO0Y |
| The Launch Pad | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rY9T2iLtfY |
| VideoFromSpace | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Z1ZUxxObs |
| SpaceX | https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1897438948458189156 |
| The Space Devs |
Stats
Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:
☑️ 2nd launch of Starship version 2
☑️ 2nd Starship Full Stack launch this year, 8th overall
☑️ 2nd launch from Pad A this year, 8th overall
☑️ 49 days, 0:53:00 turnaround for this pad
☑️ 28th SpaceX launch this year, 478th overall
Mission Details 🚀
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SpaceX website (current). Highlights:
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"flight will fly the same suborbital trajectory as previous missions and will target objectives not reached on the previous test"
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"Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites"
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Another in-space raptor relight is planned
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"A significant number of tiles have been removed from Starship to stress-test vulnerable areas across the vehicle."
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"Multiple metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will test alternative materials for protecting Starship during reentry."
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"non-structural versions of Starship’s catch fittings are installed to test the fittings’ thermal performance"
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"flight also includes the launch, return, and catch of the Super Heavy booster"
Link to Starship Dev thread
Disappointing results to say the least. From an external point of view, it looks like SpaceX hasn't learned the lessons from the previous flight (even though we can't be sure it's the same kind of issue). Something seems really wrong with Starship V2.
Now, I'm thinking there is a decent chance they will keep that bad trajectory (pun intended) and try to launch the next starship soonish instead of doing a very careful review.
I would be really sad a few year ago, but given the nazi CEO, my excitement has plummeted. But I already ranted about that on r/spacex (even though my message got removed by the moderators).
Loss of signal from ship.
I'm struggling to think of a reason that Starship shouldn't be grounded for 6-12 months after this (I know they won't be, but I'll be mad about it). This is a consecutive uncontrolled failure during the "easy" part of the flight over a highly populated region. It seems like pure luck that the RUD didn't happen early enough to impact land. They're still doing a great job, but today was rough.
Maybe it's time to rethink the Texas plans?
Edit: Upon reflection I'm less pessimistic now, as long as the FTS behaved reasonably. But I'll still be mad if they're flying again in a month.
Any particular reason coming to mind that the FAA won't ground it?
Elon is able to tell the FAA what to do now?
Elon bullied the head of the faa to the point that he quit and has since been let by trump and Republican traitors do whatever to take control
Ship is spinning out of control. Only 2/6 engines firing, both R-vacs, which can't gimbal.
NSF are live with pre-launch coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kzdUmBIUus
Tank farm is starting to spool up in preparation for propellant loading.
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1897775360223146433
The Starship team is go for prop load. The launch webcast will go live ~30 minutes before liftoff
Successful booster catch!
Booster landing burn.
Boostback burn shutdown.
MECO and stage separation. Ship engines look good (6/6), 11/13 boostback engines firing, two out on the outer ring.
Countdown is holding at T-40 seconds.
Edit: Countdown hold released!
Looks like we have 33 good engines so far.
Liftoff!