SpaceX’s Starship is poised for its eighth flight test, with the upper stage, Ship 34, moved to the launch pad at Starbase on March 2, 2025, atop Super Heavy Booster 15. This milestone sets the stage for a launch targeted no earlier than 5:30 p.m. CST today, following a swift recovery from Flight 7’s partial failure in January. The fully stacked rocket, towering at 121 meters, aims to advance SpaceX’s vision of a reusable spacecraft capable of revolutionizing space travel.

The preparations follow rigorous testing in February, with Booster 15’s 33 Raptor engines roaring through a static fire on February 9, and Ship 34 enduring a 60-second test on February 11—the longest yet for a Starship upper stage. These trials addressed issues from Flight 7, when Ship 33 exploded over the Atlantic due to a propellant-related fire, prompting an FAA-approved mishap investigation concluded by February 24. Upgrades for Flight 8 include a 25% larger propellant capacity, redesigned flaps to reduce reentry heat, and a nitrogen purge system to prevent fires, reflecting SpaceX’s iterative approach.

The mission will launch from Starbase, aiming for a booster catch by the tower’s “chopstick” arms seven minutes later—a feat achieved in Flight 7—followed by Ship 34’s splashdown in the Indian Ocean after 66 minutes. Objectives include deploying four Starlink simulator satellites and testing an in-space Raptor relight, edging closer to orbital capability. A live webcast will begin at 4:50 p.m. CST on SpaceX’s platforms.While Elon Musk eyes 25 launches in 2025, environmental concerns linger around Starbase’s intense activity.