Starship Flight Test 8

Starship Flight Test 8
Launch
Type	Integrated Orbital Flight Test
Location	Starbase, TX
Status	Launched. B15 caught, S34 destroyed
Flight info
Launch dates	Thursday March 6 2025, 17:30:33 CT, 23:30:33 UTC
Duration	0:09:33
Outcome	Partial failure (B15 performed a successful catch, which demonstrated booster reliability, however S34 experienced a similar RUD before SECO like the last flight, although due to a different reason).
Starship development
Next	Starship Flight Test 9
Previous	Starship Flight Test 7
See also	S34, B15, Starship 15/34

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Starship Flight Test 8 was the second flight test involving a Block 2 Ship upper stage prototype, and used Booster 15 (B15) and Ship 34 (S34). It flew a suborbital trajectory as specified in the official Flight 8 page.

SpaceX confirmed the use of S34 in the post regarding the long duration static fire test which was completed on 12 February 2025. B15 has also completed a static fire test a few days prior, on 9 February. SpaceX targeted Monday, March 03rd 2025 for a launch from Pad A at their Starbase launch site in Texas, US. The launch window opened at 17:30 CT (23:30 UTC). Several holds were triggered during the count, which made SpaceX hold at the T-40 seconds mark for several minutes. Shortly after the count resumed, another automated hold was triggered. The launch was scrubbed for the day due to lower than acceptable pressures on the ground spin start system for two of the outer engines on the booster. Furthermore, as teams started to work through it, they triggered a hold on booster LOX levels. The issue on the ground spin start system was traced down to a misconfiguration on ground hardware that was easily fixed. After destacking, some repairs on the ship and additional checkouts were conducted ahead of the second launch attempt.

With this eighth Flight Test, SpaceX targeted to complete the objectives that have not been reached on the previous test (Flight Test 7). This included the first payload deployment and multiple reentry experiments geared towards returning the upper stage to the launch site for catch. The flight also includes the launch, return, and catch of the Super Heavy booster.

The rocket left the ground nominally, completing stage separation successfully. Then the Booster did its boostback burn, with 2 of the 13 engines failing to relight. However, it achieved its planned trajectory, and reignited 12 of its 13 engines for the landing burn, doing what seemed to be an unusually hard catch, which nevertheless was successful, and the catch was more vertical than normal, reducing the flame's contact with the launchpad. The Ship continued on its trajectory, until a leak appeared and a fire in the engine bay could be observed, and an "energetic event", likely triggered by a Raptor Vacuum engine, led to the loss of several engines before the end of the ascent burn. With only 2 of its 6 engines remaining, both at the same side, and neither able to gimbal. the Ship lost attitude control. Shortly thereafter, the remaining engines failed and communications were lost approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff. The Ship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD, explosion) — the use of this term indicating that this was not caused by the triggering of the flight termination system. The Ship parts reentered earth's atmosphere, causing the FAA to issue debris response areas.

The FAA required SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation following the loss of the Ship.

Post launch updates

12 June 2025 - FAA closed Mishap Investigation

On June 12 2025, the FAA has closed the Mishap Investigation on Flight Test 8.

" FAA Statement (June 12, 2025)

-

The FAA-required investigation of the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 mishap is closed. There are no reports of public injury or damage to public property.

The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the SpaceX-led investigation. The final mishap report cites the probable root cause for the loss of the Starship vehicle as a hardware failure in one of the raptor engines that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition. SpaceX identified eight corrective actions to prevent a reoccurrence of the event.

The FAA verified that SpaceX implemented corrective actions prior to the Starship Flight 9 mission. "

06 March 2025 - SpaceX web summary

"Starship’s eighth flight test lifted off from Starbase in Texas at 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 6. The Super Heavy booster successfully lit its 33 Raptor engines and propelled Starship through a nominal first-stage ascent.

Approximately two and a half minutes into flight, the Super Heavy booster shutdown all but three of its Raptor engines as planned for hot-staging separation. Starship then successfully lit its six Raptor engines and separated from the Super Heavy booster to continue its ascent to space.

The Super Heavy booster then relit 11 of 13 planned Raptor engines and performed a boostback burn to return itself to the launch site. As Super Heavy approached the launch site, it relit 12 of the planned 13 engines at the start of its landing burn to successfully slow the booster down. The three center engines continued running to maneuver the booster to the launch and catch tower arms, resulting in the third successful catch of a Super Heavy booster.

Starship continued its ascent to its planned trajectory. Before the end of the ascent burn, an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship resulted in the loss of several Raptor engines. This in turn led to a loss of attitude control and ultimately a loss of communications with Starship. Final contact with Starship came approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.

Starship flew within a designated launch corridor to safeguard the public both on the ground, on water, and in the air. Following the anomaly, SpaceX teams immediately began coordination with the FAA, ATO (air traffic control) and other safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses.

Any surviving debris would have fallen within the pre-planned Debris Response Area. There are no toxic materials present in the debris and no significant impacts expected to occur to marine species or water quality. If you believe you have identified a piece of debris, please contact your local authorities or the SpaceX Debris Hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or at recovery@spacex.com.

With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability. We will conduct a thorough investigation, in coordination with the FAA, and implement corrective actions to make improvements on future Starship flight tests."

06 March 2025 - SpaceX and FAA statements

"During Starship's ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost. Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses.

We will review the data from today's flight test to better understand root cause. As always, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship's reliability. " by SpaceX

SpaceX has also confirmed they opened a mishap investigation in coordination with the FAA: "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability. We will conduct a thorough investigation, in coordination with the FAA, and implement corrective actions to make improvements on future Starship flight tests."

FAA statement:" The FAA is requiring SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle during launch operations on March 6.

During the event, the FAA activated a Debris Response Area and briefly slowed aircraft outside the area where space vehicle debris was falling or stopped aircraft at their departure location. Normal operations have resumed.

Background A mishap investigation is designed to enhance public safety, determine the root cause of the event, and identify corrective actions to avoid it from happening again. The FAA will be involved in every step of the SpaceX-led mishap investigation process and must approve SpaceX's final report, including any corrective actions. A return to flight is based on the FAA determining that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety.

A Debris Response Area is activated only if the space vehicle experiences an anomaly with debris falling outside of the identified closed aircraft hazard areas. It allows the FAA to direct aircraft to exit the area and prevent others from entering."

06 March 2025 - Elon Musk

"Today was a minor setback. Progress is measured by time. The next ship will be ready in 4 to 6 weeks."

History

Elon Musk confirmed after Flight test 6, that if Flight 7's ship lands safely in the ocean, they will attempt to catch the Ship in this flight (as well as the Booster). However Ship 33 was lost on ascent before being able to splashdown; therefore SpaceX refrained from moving on with this plan.

Elon tweeted that the flight will be in February, but this, despite possible, at the time appeared difficult due to the ongoing investigation into the Flight 7 outcome. On the other hand, SpaceX conducts the investigation by themselves (as per FAA rules), so they may do so rapidly. After previous flight tests (namely 1 and 2), they closed the investigation with a list of recommendations, most of which had already been implemented at that time. Furthermore, the fixes for Flight 8 seem minor.

SpaceX confirmed the use of S34 in the post regarding the long duration static fire test which was completed on 12 February 2025. B15 has also completed its static fire test a few days prior, on 9 February. As of 21 February 2025 safety advisories are starting to be issued. On 26 February 2025, the FAA issued the launch license modification for Flight Test 8 and clarified two days later, that, while the mishap investigation on Flight Test 7 remained open, SpaceX would still be allowed to launch Starship 15/34.

SpaceX targeted to launch on March 3rd 2025. During the countdown, technical difficulties were encountered on both the Booster and the Ship, leading the team to hold at T-40 seconds. After resolving these issues, SpaceX resumed the countdown; however, an automatic hold was triggered shortly thereafter, prompting the team to scrub the launch for the day.

06 March 2025 - Launch

Resources

• Official SpaceX stream: here
• SpaceX videos: launch, catch
• Video with a view from the launch from under the OLM: here
• Footage of the S34 detonation: here, here
• Videos of S34 debris: debris over Dominican Republic, debris over Turks and Caicos
• Engine bay explosion: here
• Footage from the ISS: here

Timeline

Click to view the pre-stacking timeline:

c SpaceX

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File:50306-IFT-8-S34-Explosion.jpg

Explosion of S34. c SpaceX

• 10:31 | -06:28:00| Road closed
• 11:07 | -06:22:00| Pad cleared
• 12:27 | -00:05:02 | Chopsticks moved in the launch and catch position, landing rails have been deployed
• 13:27-42 | -04:02-03:47 | Chopsticks performed an actuation test
• 13:55 | -03:34 | SpaceX: "Counting down to Starship's eighth flight test. Weather looks favorable at the pad and the 60-minute launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. CT"
• 14:44 | -02:45:00 | Tank farm venting started
• 14:56 | -02:33:00 | Vent stack started
• 15:55 | -01:34:00 | Tank farm venting started to increase (expecially on CH4 side)
• 16:03 | -00:01:26 | Roadblock move further inland with SpaceX clearing Starbase and surrounding areas
• 16:10:30 | -01:19:30 | OLM venting started; OLIT vent also spotted around this time
• 16:24 | -01:06 | SpaceX: "The Starship team is go for prop load. The launch webcast will go live ~30 minutes before liftoff"
• 16:44:33 | -00:45:27 | Ship loading started; OLIT vent decreased, CH4 "hyppo vents" started up - CH4 loading started on both stages
• 16:46 | -00:43:00 | SpaceX: "Propellant load of Starship’s upper stage and Super Heavy booster underway"
• 16:50 | -00:40 | Ship venting from the aft section
• 16:51:08 | -00:38:51 | LOX loading on Booster started as OLM vent stopped; frost on other tanks started to appear
• 17:00 | -30:00 | SpaceX stream intro started after the waiting loop
• 17:01 | -28:52 | Stream: SpaceX commentary started with Kate Tice (Sr quality engineering manager) and Dan Huot (Communications) from Starfactory. Recap of the scrubbed launch attempt
• 17:05 | -25:35 | Stream: Status update: Loading underway (B-LOX 31%, B-CH4 42%, S-LOX 55%, S-CH4 55%), no issues tracking on vehicle; Weather Go, range projected to be Go at launch time
• 17:09 | -21:15 | Stream: Update from Chris Gebhardt (Communications) at Hawthorne command center, giving an introduction on Raptor engines
• 17:10 | -19:40 | Engine chill sequence began (LabPadre)
• 17:11:27 | -18:33 | Engine chill vent at south side of pad started
• 17:14 | -15:53 | Stream: Mission profile; SpaceX: "Starship and Super Heavy’s combined 39 Raptor engines are chilling down in preparation for liftoff"
• 17:20 | -10:00 | Flap testing for about one minute
• 17:22 | -08:08 | Stream: No major issues; Weather, Range, Vehicle currently Go
• 17:22 | -07:53 | Stream: Loading levels: B-LOX 80%, B-CH4 85%, S-LOX 98%, S-CH4 97%
• 17:26 | -04:00 | Status: still all looking good
• 17:27 | -03:00 | Tower vent restarted - ship loading completed
• 17:28 | -01:30 | TVC test on Booster engines
• 17:29:20 | -00:40 | 31 seconds Hold for final launch checkouts, especially temperatures on ship fuel (34:26)
• 17:39:51 | -00:40 | Clock restarted
• 17:30 | -00:26 | "... Flight director is go for launch"
• 17:30 | -00:15 | Detonation suppression system startup
• 17:30 | -00:03 | Deluge system startup
• 17:30 | -00:02 | Raptor engines startup sequence started
  • -00:01.5 | Inner 13 engines ignited
  • -00:00.5 | All but 5 outer engines iginited
  • -00:00.26 | Remaining outer engines ignited
  • -00:00.84 | Speed 1 km/h shown for short time, back to 0
• 17:30:31 | +00:02.0 | Lift off (Speed 1 km/h)
• 17:30:36 | +00:07 | "We have lift off"
• 17:30:41 | +00:12 | "Vehicle is pitching downrange"
• 17:30:54 | +00:25 | "Booster chamber pressure pressure nominal"
• 17: 31:14 | +00:45 | "Booster and ship, avionics, power and telemetry nominal"
• 17:31:38 | +01:09 | Max-Q passed
• 17:32:29 | +02:00 | Initial call for go for booster catch
• 17:33:02 | +02:33 | Booster engine cut off
  • 02:33.5 3 outer engines cut off
  • 02:33.7 4 more outer engines cut off
  • 02:33.85 3 more outer engines cut off (10 remaining, with 1 gap each)
  • 02:34.05 5 more outer engines cut off
  • 02:34.25 remaining 5 outer engines cut off
  • 02:34.45 5 middle engines cut off
  • 02:34.65 3 more middle engines cut
  • 02:34.9 remaining 2 middle engines cut off
• 17:33:08 | +02:39 | Hot staging (separation of starship)
  • 02:39.65 3 Rvac engines ignited (Telemetry: Speed 4454 km/h, Altitued 61 km)
  • 02:40.45 3 center engines ignited
• 17:33:11 | +02:42 | Stage separation
• 17:33:12 | +02:43 | Boostback burn startup(11 of 13 B15’s raptor ignited)
  • 02:43.45 2 middle engines startup
  • 02:43.9 2 more middle engines startup (adjacent to the 2 previous)
  • 02:44.05 1 more middle engine startup
  • 02:44.45 2 more middle engines startup
  • 02:44.65 1 more middle engine startup, 2 next to each other missed
• 17:33:35 | +03:06 | Still go for booster catch
• 17:33:41 | +03:12 | "?? chamber pressures nominal"
• 17:34:01 | +03:32 | "Ship avionics, power and telemetry nominal"
• 17:34:07 | +03:38 | Booster middle engines shut down
  • 03:38.45 3 middle engines cut off
  • 03:38.65 4 middle engines cut off
  • 03:38.85 remaining middle engine cut off
• 17:34:35 | +04:06.65 | Boostback burn completed with 3 inner engines cut off
• 17:34:38 | +04:09 | Hot-stage ring jettison
• 17:35:36 | +05:07 | "Starship is on a nominal trajectory"
• 17:36:30 | +06:01 | "Raptor chamber pressure nominal"
• 17:37:03 | +06:34 | Landing burn started (12 of 13 B15’s raptor ignited)
  • 06:34.65 3 center engines ignited (Altitued 1 km, speed 1149 km/h)
  • 06:34.85 4 middle engines ignited
  • 06:35.05 1 more middle engine ignited (Star shaped)
  • 06:35.85 4 middle engines ignited (just one left)
• 17:37:09 | +06:40 | Landing burn middle engines shut down
  • 06:40.5 5 middle engines cut off
  • 60:40.85 last 4 middle engines cut off
• 17:37:28 | +06:59 | Landing burn shutdown (telemetry was not on sync with the video, time indication according to telemetry data)
  • 06:59.65 2 center engines cut off
  • 06:59.85 Remaining center engine cut off
• 17:37:29 | +07:00 | "Booster landing burn shutdown"; booster catch
• 17:38:14 | +07:45 | Live video show orange glow in engine bay of the Ship as well as on a RVac engine
• 17:38:33 | +08:04 | Engine loss on Ship
  • 08:04.85 One RVac engine lost (Speed: 20095 km/h, altitude 146 km)
  • 08:05.25 One center engine lost (not adjacent to lost RVac)
  • 08:05.545 Another center engine lost
• 17:38:36 | +08:07 | Grey plume seen coming from engine bay
• 17:38:36 | +08:07.85 | Remaining center engine lost; visible loss of attitude control
• 17:39:07 | +08:38 | "Ship FTS is safed"
• 17:39:38 | +09:09.5 | Second RVac engine lost
• 17:39:55 | +09:26.43 | Last RVac engine lost
• 17:40:02 | +09:33.9 | Last telemetry update (Speed 20400 km/h, Altitude 134 km); Loss of contact to Ship
• 17:42 | Stream: Footage from the control room shows a screen with recap videos, one of which appears to show an explosion in the engine bay
• 17:45 | Stream: Confirmation of loss of contact with the Ship; Measures for safety; recap
• 17:54 | Chopsticks with B15 started to move toward the center and started to lower
• 18:51 | B15 lowered on to the OLM
• 20:27 | Road opened

Analysis

Starship Flight Test 8, as analyzed by space commentator Marcus House in his video released on March 15, 2025, showcased a mix of operational successes and a critical upper stage failure during its launch from Starbase, Texas, on March 6, 2025. The mission commenced with liftoff, where all 33 Raptor 2 engines on the Super Heavy Booster (Booster 15) ignited successfully, propelling the fully stacked vehicle into the atmosphere.^:1:58–2:34 The stage separation executed cleanly, with the upgraded Block 2 upper stage (Ship 34) separating from the booster, marking an initial triumph for SpaceX’s iterative improvements.

The Super Heavy Booster’s return phase provided further insights into its enhanced design. House notes that despite two Raptor engines failing to reignite during the boostback burn—attributed to unexpected issues despite prior upgrades—the booster maintained sufficient thrust to reverse its trajectory and target the launch site.^:3:03–3:33 Equipped with upgraded avionics, a more powerful flight computer, improved power distribution, and smart batteries, the booster executed its descent without an entry burn, relying on atmospheric drag to shed velocity from over 4,000 km/h to a manageable speed.^:3:33–5:54 This culminated in a successful catch by the launch tower’s "chopsticks" at Stage Zero, the third such achievement in SpaceX’s catch attempts (following Flights 5 and 7). However, House speculates on an unusual gimbal shift and subsequent chopstick adjustment during the catch, suggesting possible off-track alignment or a new debris-avoidance maneuver, though no definitive explanation could be provided.^:6:55–7:22

RVac engine with a visible orange glow. Also, the orange color in the engine bay indicates the presence of a fire. Footage from SpaceX stream.

The upper stage’s flight, however, ended in disaster, overshadowing the booster’s success. Ship 34’s ascent continued for roughly a minute post-separation before anomalies emerged, with onboard footage revealing a glowing orange vacuum engine and venting gases from the engine skirt—reminiscent of Flight 7’s issues.^:7:22–7:49 At T+08:05, a powerful gas outburst was seen on the stream and two sea-level Raptor engines and one vacuum engine were shut down, followed by the loss of the remaining center engine three seconds later. The two remaining Rvac engines continued to fire, but the unbalanced thrust induced a severe tumble. At T+08:38, FTS was safed according to a callout. The second Rvac engine was lost at T+09:10 and the third at T+09:26. Telemetry was lost at T+09:32.^:7:49–8:49 Recap footage from the engine bay, seen on a monitor in mission control, shows an explosion in that area, possibly indicating the explosion of the Rvac engine that was glowing. House suggests a leak in the aft section as a probable cause, echoing Flight 7’s mishap, and notes SpaceX’s subsequent activation of a debris response area, as confirmed by the FAA, to manage fallout observed over the Bahamas.^:8:49–9:18 A FAA statement later corroborated the initiation of a mishap investigation.

House’s analysis underscores the mission’s dual nature: a testament to SpaceX’s progress in booster recovery juxtaposed against persistent upper stage challenges. The Block 2 Starship, boasting 25% more propellant capacity and thousands of design changes from its Flight 7 predecessor, aimed to demonstrate payload deployment and reentry but fell short due to engine bay instability.^:1:29–1:58 The recurring aft-section issues across the first two Block 2 flights (7 and 8) signal a critical focus for SpaceX’s upcoming mishap investigation, with House predicting extensive upgrades for the next ship in line to address this pattern.^:9:18–9:45 Despite the setback, the booster’s third successful catch reinforces SpaceX’s iterative approach, refining systems like the hot staging ring—still a temporary fixture—and paving the way for future integrated designs as the program evolves toward operational reliability.

Launch site damage

c Interstellar Gateway

c Interstellar Gateway

Footage showed that two vaporisers at the OLS tank farm were damaged during launch. Work to remove them was conducted on 08 March 2025.

Telemetry

Comparison between IFT-5, IFT-7 and IFT-8. © Jobo555

Telemetry of Ship and Booster on IFT-8. © Jobo555

Propellant rate vs time © Dedarkener

Acceleration vs time © Dedarkener

03 March 2025 - Scrubbed Launch attempt

SpaceX attempted to launch Starship on 03 March 2025. Several holds were triggered during the count which made SpaceX hold at the T-40 seconds mark for several minutes. Shortly after the count resumed, another automated hold was triggered. The launch was scrubbed for the day due to lower than acceptable pressures on the ground spin start system for two of the outer engines on the booster. Furthermore, as teams started to work through it, they triggered a hold on booster LOX levels.

The issue on the ground spin start system was traced down to a misconfiguration on ground hardware that was easily fixed. After destacking, some repairs on the ship and additional checkouts were conducted ahead of the second launch attempt.

Timeline

• 10:43 | -06:46:00 | Road closed
• 12:07 | "Fast Crew Ship Hannah Ray is underway to patrol the offshore range at Starbase, ahead of Flight 8." (Gav Cornwell)
• 12:28 | -05:01:00 | Chopsticks opened to launch configuration
• 13:30 | -03:59:00 | Pad cleared
• 16:13 | -01:16:00 | Roadblock moved further inland
• 16:23:17 | T-01:06:43 | OLIT-1 venting
• 16:38 | T-01:21:00 | OLM venting started
• 16:42 | T-01:17:00 | Tank farm venting started: LOX and CH4 subcoolers began venting
• 16:44 | T-01:15:00 | "The Starship team is go for prop load. Targeting 5:45pm CT for liftoff of Starship’s eighth flight test. The launch webcast will go live ~40 minutes ahead of liftoff" (SpaceX)
• 17:02 | T-00:42:00 | Fueling started (SpaceX)
• | -00:23 | Hold. At T-40 seconds, there is time to troubleshoot issues
• 17:30 | -00:19:40 | Engine chill sequence started
• | -00:11:15 | Range Go; Weather Go, 35% chance of launch violation; Vehicle Go; Issue on the booster should posssibly be cleared at T-2 minutes
• | -00:09:19-09:02 | Flap test
• | -02:00 | Likely, there will be a hold at T-40 Seconds as mentioned on stream
• | -00:50 | There will be a hold at T-40 Seconds
• 17:44:33 | Hold
• 17:44:50 Issue with booster cleared; tracking an issue on Ship
• 17:49:21 Still working on a Ship issue, couple more minutes possible to hold
• 17:50:45 Countdown started rolling
• 17:50:55 Back to T-40 hold
• 17:52 Hold was triggered automatically
• 17:53:08 Scrub
• 17:54 "Standing down from today’s flight test attempt. Starship team is determining the next best available opportunity to fly (SpaceX)
• 20:16 Road opened

Stream Timeline

As part of the stream, SpaceX revealed new footage from their new Starlink manufacturing factory in Bastrop TX with over 1000 employees. They also confirmed their plans to buld a Gigabay at both Starbase as well as in Florida, where they plan to launch already this year.

Launch Information

Aims and mission profile

The upgrades for Block 2 Ship will be tested on this flight as the Ship didn't manage to complete it's mission on the previous test. Those upgrades include a redesign of the forward flaps to significantly reduce their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling. Redesigns to the propulsion system, including a 25 percent increase in propellant volume over previous generations, add additional vehicle performance and the ability to fly longer duration missions. And the vehicle’s avionics underwent a complete redesign, adding additional capability and redundancy for increasingly complex missions like propellant transfer and ship return to the launch site.

The Ship will deploy four Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites, as as the first exercise of a satellite deploy mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon entry. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned.

The flight test includes experiments to improve Starship’s upper-stage return. Tiles have been removed to stress-test vulnerable areas, while alternative metallic tiles, including an actively cooled option, will be evaluated for reentry protection. Catch fittings and a smoothed tile edge aim to address thermal issues observed in the sixth flight test. The reentry profile will stress-test the upper-stage rear flaps at peak dynamic pressure. Radar sensors on the launch tower’s chopsticks will be tested to enhance distance measurement accuracy. The Super Heavy booster features upgraded avionics, including a stronger flight computer, improved power distribution, and smart batteries.

The Super Heavy booster’s return and catch require both vehicle and pad criteria to be met, including healthy systems and a final manual command from the Flight Director. If conditions are not met, the booster will default to a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. During descent, the booster will generate audible sonic booms, with their intensity depending on weather and distance from the landing zone.

Upgrades

On Flight Test 7, a a single Raptor on the middle ring safely aborted on startup due to a low-power condition in the igniter system. Raptor engines have been improved with a pre-planned igniter upgrade to mitigate this issue.

As part of the investigation that SpaceX conducted after Flight Test 7, an extended duration static fire was completed with the Starship flying on the eighth flight test (S34). The 60-second firing was used to test multiple engine thrust levels and three separate hardware configurations in the Raptor vacuum engine feedlines to recreate and address the harmonic response seen during Flight 7. Findings from the static fire informed hardware changes to the fuel feedlines to vacuum engines, adjustments to propellant temperatures, and a new operating thrust target that will be used in this flight test.

To address flammability potential in the attic section on Starship, additional vents and a new purge system utilizing gaseous nitrogen are being added to the current generation of ships to make the area more robust to propellant leakage. Future upgrades to Starship will introduce the Raptor 3 engine, reducing the attic volume and eliminating the majority of joints that can leak into this volume.

Planned countdown

all times approximate:

Hr/Min/Sec	Event
01:15:00	SpaceX Flight Director conducts poll and verifies GO for propellant load
00:45:59	Ship LOX (liquid oxygen) load underway
00:42:59	Ship fuel (liquid methane) load underway
00:41:22	Booster fuel load underway
00:35:35	Booster LOX load underway
00:19:40	Raptor begins engine chill on booster and ship
00:03:20	Ship propellant load complete
00:02:50	Booster propellant load complete
00:00:30	SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launch
00:00:10	Flame deflector activation
00:00:03	Raptor ignition sequence begins
00:00:00	Excitement guaranteed

Planned flight test timeline

All times approximate:

Hr/Min/Sec	Event
00:00:02	liftoff
00:01:02	Max Q (moment of peak aerodynamic stress on the rocket)
00:02:32	Super-Heavy MECO (most engine cut-off)
00:02:40	Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation)
00:02:45	Super Heavy boostback burn startup
00:03:30	Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown
00:03:32	Hot-stage jettison
00:06:37	Super Heavy landing burn start
00:06:57	Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and catch
00:08:44	Starship engine cutoff
00:17:24	Payload deployed demo
00:37:28	Raptor in-space engine relight demo
00:47:22	Starship entry
01:03:05	Starship is transonic
01:04:20	Starship is subsonic
01:06:04	landing flip
01:06:06	landing burn
01:06:24	An exciting landing!

Pre-launch Announcements and Updates

06 March 2025

Ship transport stand left launch site (01:17)

Shana Diez: "Happy launch day (part 2)! After a little extra love hopefully Ship feels better about going to space today. Visibility should be better than Monday which is a bonus. Still in wind watch territory but will keep an eye on that while we get ready to fly."

SpaceX: "Counting down to Starship's eighth flight test. Weather looks favorable at the pad and the 60-minute launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. CT"

05 March 2025

Ventilation hose removed from the LOX tank hatch indicating the completion of work on the Ship (04:33); Clean room pulled away from S34 (05:12)

TFRs for Brownsville updated: Mon, Dec 30, 6p CST → Sun, Jun 29, 7p CDT: 10000ft; Mon, Dec 30, 6p CST → Sun, Jun 29, 7p CDT: 2000ft; Thu, Mar 6, 5:15p → 7:09p CST: unl; Fri, Mar 7, 5:15p → 7:09p CST: unl

SpaceX: "Starship's eighth flight test now targeting to launch as soon as Thursday, March 6"

S34 was stacked back onto B15 and the flaps of S34 as well as B15's grid fins were tested.

04 March 2025

SpaceX: "Now targeting to launch Starship's eighth flight test as soon as Wednesday, March 5"

Since the March 5 NOTAMs (see below) are for the same time, it may again be 5:30 pm CST. The webcast tentatively starts at 5 pm.

However, 2 NOTAMs for the Gulf of Mexico have been published respectively for March 6 and 7 while others NOTAMs have been removed which show March 6 as the NET date :

• March 6, 17:15 - 19:09 CST (23:15 - 01:09 UTC)
• March 7, 17:15 - 19:09 CST (23:15 - 01:09 UTC)

03 March 2025 - Scrub and post scrub updates

SpaceX announced a scrub for first launch attempt :"Standing down from today’s flight test attempt. Starship team is determining the next best available opportunity to fly"

Otherwise, Elon Musk tweeted about the scrub reason and envisaged another attempt in the next two days : "Too many question marks about this flight and then we were 20 bar low on ground spin start pressure.

Best to destack, inspect both stages and try again in a day or two.»

Finally, a new NOTAM has been published which shows 4 March as the next NET date, again for around 17:30:

• March 4, 18:12 - 21:05 CST in Boca Chica (March 5, 00:12 - 03:05 UTC)

Entry and splashdown NOTAM

03 March 2025 - Pre scrub updates

Elon Musk: "@johnkrausphotos Literally about a hundred experiments running simultaneously on that heat shield, which is part of why it looks so patchy"

Booster and Ship stands left launch complex towards build site shortly after midnight.

The chopsticks opened into launch configuration.

Rollback closure for B15 was added for after IFT-8; booster transport stand and other equipment was parked in the ring yard ready to recover B15.

02 March 2025

After installation of the non-structural catch pins and closure of the payload door, S34 was moved to the launch site and was stacked onto B15.

01 March 2025

Bruckner LR11000 at OLS laid down; LR11000X also started to being laid down ahead of the flight test

4 Starlink simulators moved into mega bay 2 (13:13); Starlink loader jig used on S33 now moved to mega bay 2 (16:01); Starlink loader lifted to S34 payload bay (20:03); Payload integration started (21:17); 4th and final Starlink simulator loaded into S34 (22:18)

28 February 2025 - FAA green light for launch

The last remaining bit was the open mishap investigation, however, a statement from the FAA clarified that SpaceX could launch with while the investigation remains open:

"FAA on February 28 2025: On Feb. 26, the FAA made the following determinations:

SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Mishap / Return to Flight

After completing the required and comprehensive safety review, the FAA determined the SpaceX Starship vehicle can return to flight operations while the investigation into the Jan. 16 Starship Flight 7 mishap remains open. The FAA is overseeing the SpaceX-led investigation.

[And further:] The FAA issued a license modification authorizing the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch. The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for the suborbital test flight. The Flight 8 mission profile involves launch of the combined Starship/Super Heavy vehicle from Boca Chica, Texas, a return to the launch site of the Super Heavy booster rocket for a catch attempt by the launch tower, and a water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean west of Australia."

28 February 2025

The flight NET date is Monday March 3rd, 2025.

As of Friday, the SpaceX Liebherr 11000 crane is being moved away from Tower 1.

NOTAM for the Gulf of Mexico has been updated:

• March 03,23:30 UTC - March 04,01:09 UTC

New MSIB/NOTMAR for launch on 3 March 2025 (3pm-7:10pm), Backup dates 4-7 and 9 March 2025

27 February 2025 - FAA launch license and other

SpaceX: "Now targeting to launch Starship's eighth flight test as soon as Monday, March 3"

B15 FTS install was underway.

The FAA has granted the launch license for starship flight test 8 . However, the mishap investigation of Flight 7 is still open.

Otherwise, a TFR (temporary flight restriction) for the gulf of Mexico has been issued from 3 March 2025 at 2315 UTC to 4 March at 0109 UTC

TFR restrictions

2 new NOTAMS have been published for potential debris recovery areas in the Atlantic Ocean. These weren’t published for previous flights:

• 28 23:30-03:00 UTC
• 01 13:00-16:30 UTC
• 03-05:23:30-03:00 UTC

Debris NOTAM

Debris NOTAM

26 February 2025

SpaceX launch date update: "Now targeting to launch Starship's eighth flight test as soon as Monday, March 3". The time of the opening of the launch window has not changed.

Two NOTAMS have been published in Atlantic Ocean for potential debris recovery areas. Notice that it is the first time that NOTAMS are published in these areas.

Gav Cornwell: "Fast Crew Ship Hannah Ray, which supported the previous two Starship flights out in the Gulf of Starbase, is heading to Port Isabel in preparation for Flight 8."[1]

Detonatition Supression System (DSS) tested (12:47); Chopsticks tested ahead of IFT-8; raised and lowered back down again

Hot stage load spreader attached (19:41), B15 hot stage removed once again for unknown reasons (21:37)

25 February 2025

NOTAM for the Indian Ocean

Both OLM alignment arms were removed ahead of flight.

Third and last required NOTAM for Indian Ocean published:

• March 01, 00:12-03.05 UTC
• March 01, 13:42-16:32 UTC
• March 04, 00:12-03:05 UTC
• March 05, 00:12-03:05 UTC
• March 06, 00:12-03:05 UTC

24 February 2025

Elon musk states that they are targeting Friday for Starships's eight flight test (the 28th of Feb)

Navigational Warning for the Indian Ocean.

New Navigational warning published for the Indian Ocean:

• March 01-08, 00:12-03:05 UTC

NOTAM 2 for the Indian Ocean.

Second out of three required NOTAMs for the Indian Ocean published, still starting on the 27th:

• 00:12-03:05

24 February 2025 - SpaceX web update

" The eighth flight test of Starship is preparing to launch as soon as Friday, February 28, pending regulatory approval.

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.

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 upcoming flight will target objectives not reached on the previous test, including Starship’s first payload deployment and multiple reentry experiments geared towards returning the upper stage to the launch site for catch. The flight also includes the launch, return, and catch of the Super Heavy booster.

Extensive upgrades to Starship’s upper stage debuted on the previous flight test, focused on adding reliability and performance across all phases of flight. Starship’s forward flaps have been upgraded to significantly reduce their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling. Redesigns to the propulsion system, including a 25 percent increase in propellant volume over previous generations, add additional vehicle performance and the ability to fly longer duration missions. And the vehicle’s avionics underwent a complete redesign, adding additional capability and redundancy for increasingly complex missions like propellant transfer and ship return to the launch site.

During the flight test, Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites, as the first exercise of a satellite deploy mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon entry. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned.

The flight test includes several experiments focused on enabling Starship’s upper stage to return to the launch site. A significant number of tiles have been removed from Starship to stress-test vulnerable areas across the vehicle. Multiple metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will test alternative materials for protecting Starship during reentry. On the sides of the vehicle, non-structural versions of Starship’s catch fittings are installed to test the fittings’ thermal performance, along with a section of the tile line receiving a smoothed and tapered edge to address hot spots observed during reentry on Starship’s sixth flight test. Starship’s reentry profile is designed to intentionally stress the structural limits of the upper stage’s rear flaps while at the point of maximum entry dynamic pressure. Finally, several radar sensors will once again be tested on the launch and catch tower’s chopsticks with the goal of increasing the accuracy when measuring distances between the chopsticks and a returning vehicle.

The Super Heavy booster for this flight features upgraded avionics, including a more powerful flight computer, improved power and network distribution, and integrated smart batteries.

Distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to the return and catch of the Super Heavy booster, requiring healthy systems on the booster and tower and a final manual command from the mission’s Flight Director. If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory for a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and booster return will only take place if conditions are right.

The returning booster will slow down from supersonic speeds, resulting in audible sonic booms in the area around the landing zone. Generally, the only impact to those in the surrounding area of a sonic boom is the brief thunder-like noise with variables like weather and distance from the return site determining the magnitude experienced by observers.

Developmental testing by definition is unpredictable. But by putting flight hardware in a flight environment as frequently as possible, we’re able to quickly learn and execute design changes as we seek to bring Starship online as a fully and rapidly reusable vehicle. "

The second out if three required NOTAMS for the Indian Ocean has been published and start on 27th February. Moreover, a new navigational warning has been issued for the Indian Ocean.

23 February 2025

FTS for B15 is at launch site already The sign that indicates that flight termination system installation is being performed is posted on MB2. Ship 34 is having the FTS installed before rollout for Flight 8.

Elon Musik: "Starship Flight 8 flies Friday"[2]

22 February 2025

Road closures are now scheduled for February 26th, and backup dates on February 27-28.

NAV warning for the Gulf of Mexico.

NAV warning for the Indian Ocean.

Navigational Warnings for the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean were published.

FAA: The FAA operations advisory board now listed flight 8:

• Primary: 02/26/25, 2330Z-0109Z
• Backup: 02/27/25, 2330Z-0109Z

Recovery vessels are heading to the ship landing zone in the Indian Ocean.

21 February 2025

NOTAM for Indian Ocean.

The first out of three NOTAMS for the Indian Ocean has been issued on 27th February.

Road closures have been posted for IFT-8 on February 26th at 10:30am to 11:30pm Central with backups on 27th and 28th (Cameron County)

20 February 2025

A Cadena OIS adivsory now lists Flight 8 with a primary date of Feb 26th, at 17:30 CT, with backup dates on Feb 27th - March 5th (except March 2).

NOTAM for Gulf of Mexico.

A Mexican NOTAM has also been published on February 26th at 5:30pm local time.

17 February 2025

As observed by Starship Gazer on 17 February 2025, the Starlink simulator satellites for flight test have been delivered to Starbase. They have been spotted in the Starfactory.

31 January 2025: FCC Aproval

The FCC approved flight test 8: “License granted: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dates: 24/02/2025-24/08/2025 Purpose: Launch vehicle communications for test flight mission launching from Starbase, TX. Th(…)”

16 January 2025

Elon Musk: "Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area. Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month."

20 November 2024

Elon Musk: "We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower."

Gallery

c Max Evans

c SpaceX

c SpaceX

c SpaceX

c SpaceX

Booster 15 landing burn

c SpaceX

c SpaceX

c SpaceX

S34 after the explosion c. SpaceX

An Image from Starship IFT-8 showing the engine bay missing a vacuum raptor and possibly a sea-level raptor engine. A RVac, and a sea level raptor, were jettisoned during the explosion.

An image of S34 spinning. It is speculated that 2 raptor engines can be observed away from the ship, as if they were jettisoned out of the engine bay after one of them exploded.

Ship 34 spinning above the Gulf of Mexico

c Joe.B

Ship 34 RUD

References

2.https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=140066&RequestTimeout=100