SpaceX, under the leadership of CEO Elon Musk, is gearing up for the eighth flight test of its Starship rocket from Boca Chica, Texas. The launch is tentatively scheduled for this Friday, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Musk confirmed the upcoming flight on Sunday via a post on X, stating, “Starship Flight 8 flies on Friday.”
This test marks the first time SpaceX plans to deploy payloads and conduct experiments focused on re-entry. The goal is to return the upper stage of the rocket to the launch site for a controlled catch. Additionally, the Super Heavy booster, which propels the rocket off the launchpad, is expected to be caught and reused.
The seventh test flight, which took place over a month ago, ended with the upper stage Starship experiencing a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” nearly 12 minutes into the flight. Debris was seen streaking across the sky during the incident. Despite this setback, SpaceX remains committed to refining the Starship program.
During the upcoming flight, Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, which mimic the size and characteristics of next-generation satellites. These simulators will burn up upon re-entry. SpaceX also plans to test the restart of a single Raptor engine while the Starship is in space.
If all goes according to plan, the launch window opens at 6:30 PM ET. The launch follows the seventh test flight, which saw the Super Heavy booster successfully maneuvered back to Earth and caught by a mechanical arm at Starbase. However, the Starship’s upper stage did not fare as well, disintegrating during its ascent.
SpaceX has been investigating the cause of the disintegration, although the investigation remains open. For the eighth flight to proceed, the FAA must give its approval. In 2023, the FAA issued SpaceX a five-year license for launches in Texas, which is reviewed for each mission to account for adjustments such as rocket trajectory. The FAA could grant approval once mission specifications and regulatory requirements are met.
However, the investigation into the seventh flight’s mishap must be closed, and the FAA must accept its findings, particularly regarding public safety concerns. As of now, the investigation remains ongoing, and the FAA has not yet approved the launch. It is common for such approvals to be issued just a day or two before the launch, according to the FAA.
SpaceX has not commented on the matter in response to inquiries from Tech Word News Digital.
Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Tech Word News Digital, contributed to this report. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@fox.com or on Twitter @GregWehner.
(Image 1 caption: Starship Flight 7 launches from Starbase, Texas, before its upper stage is lost. (Associated Press))
(Image 2 caption: Starship Flight 7 launches from Starbase, Texas. (Associated Press))
