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SpaceX Readies Starship Rocket for Eighth Test Flight Pending FAA Approval

The uncrewed mission on Friday aims to test booster recovery, payload deployment, and upper-stage return, following January's failed flight.

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Orange balls of light fly across the sky as debris from the SpaceX Starship that launched Thursday in Texas. The debris was spotted over Turks and Caicos Islands in this screen grab obtained from social media video.
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Overview

  • SpaceX plans to launch the Starship rocket on its eighth test flight Friday at 4:30 PM EST from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, pending FAA approval.
  • The mission will test key capabilities, including the recovery of the Super Heavy booster, deployment of Starlink payload simulators, and the return of the upper-stage vehicle to the launch site.
  • The previous test flight in January ended in failure when propellant leaks caused an explosion, with SpaceX identifying the issue as a series of engine shutdowns and fires in the Starship's aft section.
  • Starship is the world's largest rocket, designed for full reusability to support missions to the Moon and Mars, including NASA's Artemis program and Musk's long-term goal of human Mars exploration.
  • The FAA is reviewing SpaceX's licensing request for 25 Starship test flights in 2025, as the company continues to refine the rocket's reliability and performance.