Starship flight test 8
{{Short description|Eighth launch of SpaceX Starship}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{about|the eighth flight test of the Starship+Super Heavy vehicle|other launches of Starship|List of Starship launches}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Starship flight test 8
| names_list =
| image = File:ISS072-E-757516.jpg
| image_caption = Ship 34 after breaking up in the upper atmosphere as seen from the International Space Station
| mission_type = Flight test
| mission_duration =
| operator = SpaceX
| spacecraft = Starship Ship 34
| spacecraft_type = Starship (Block 2)
| manufacturer = SpaceX
| payload_mass = ~8,000 kg (18,000 lb)
| launch_date = {{ltime|March 6, 2025|23|30|31|CST|net=no}}{{Cite tweet |number=1897805482443591708 |user=planet4589 |title=Revised launch time estimate 2330:31 UTC. Loss of attitude control with most engines out by T+8:29. Velocity (Earth-rel) around 5.64 km/s, lower than that reached by Flight 7; orbit about -3600 x 146 km x 26.4 deg. |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |author-link=Jonathan McDowell |date=2025-03-06 |access-date=2025-03-06}}
| launch_rocket = Super Heavy (Block 1, B15-1)
| launch_site = Starbase, OLP-A
| deployment_from = Boca Chica, Texas
| disposal_type = Starship: Breakup after tumbling due to loss of engines
| destroyed = Starship: March 6, 2025, 5:39:00 pm CST (23:39:00 UTC)
| landing_date = Super Heavy: March 6, 2025, 5:37:21 pm CST (23:37:21 UTC)
| landing_site = Super Heavy: Starbase, OLP-A
| orbit_regime = Suborbital
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|-3600|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|146|km}}
| apsis = gee
| payload_items = 4 Starlink mass simulators
| cargo_mass = ~8,000 kg (18,000 lb)
| insignia = Starship flight test 8 patch.png
| insignia_caption = Mission patch
| programme = SpaceX Starship flight tests
| previous_mission = Flight 7
| next_mission = Flight 9
}}
Starship flight test 8 was the eighth flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. The launch tower successfully caught Booster 15; Ship 34 was destroyed before completing its planned flight, as during its initial burn four of the six engines experienced premature shutdowns that resulted in a loss of attitude control followed by a total loss of telemetry. The vehicle's breakup was observed from the Bahamas, Florida, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacex-loses-starship-rocket-test-flight-prior-explosion-rcna194923 |title=SpaceX again loses its Starship rocket on test flight after explosion during previous attempt |last=Chow |first=Denise |date=March 6, 2025 |website=NBC News |access-date=March 6, 2025 }} It was the second flight and second failure of a Block 2 ship.
SpaceX had previously aborted a launch attempt late into the count on March 3, 2025,{{Cite news |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=March 3, 2025 |title=SpaceX calls off attempt to launch Starship's 8th test flight |url=https://www.cnn.com/science/live-news/spacex-starship-flight-8-launch-03-03-25/index.html |access-date=March 4, 2025 |work=CNN}}{{Cite tweet |number=1896710779761758449 |user=SpaceX |title=Standing down from today's flight test attempt. Starship team is determining the next best available opportunity to fly |access-date=March 3, 2025}} with a second attempt lifting off on March 6, 2025 at 5:30:31 pm CST (23:30:31 UTC).
Background
= Vehicle testing ahead of launch =
Booster 15 underwent cryogenic testing on December 29, 2024.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1LYWzFnf3c&t=291s |title=This Is How It Ends. That's Going To Do It. |date=December 31, 2024 |publisher=NASASpaceflight |time=4:51 |access-date=January 1, 2025 |via=YouTube}} Ship 34 was moved to Massey's test site on January 15, 2025, just before Flight 7, where it conducted cryogenic tests on January 17 and 18, 2025.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLMxpXP9FHc&t=261s |title=Booster Catch, Ship Failure & The Path to Starship Flight 8. Starbase Update |date=January 20, 2025 |publisher=NASASpaceflight |time=4:21 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |via=YouTube}}
On February 8, 2025, Booster 15 rolled to OLP-A for static fire testing,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvx0XZGqSFI&t=639s |title=Booster 15 Ready For Testing Ahead of Starship Flight 8 |date=February 8, 2025 |publisher=NASASpaceflight |time=10:39 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |via=YouTube}} and the test was conducted the following day.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AozAHAQTbGs&t=3961s |title=SpaceX Performs Testing with Booster 15 for Starship Flight 8 |date=February 9, 2025 |publisher=NASASpaceflight |time=1:06:01 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |via=YouTube}} On February 10, SpaceX rolled S34 to the Massey's test site for static fire testing.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxIayuCj5d4&t=255s |title=Starship Flight 8 Testing Begins With A 33 Engine Static Fire |date=February 10, 2025 |publisher=NASASpaceflight |time=4:15 |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=YouTube}} It conducted a long duration static fire (60 seconds) on February 11.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2ExgpezyuE&t=4630s |title=SpaceX Performs Static Fire with Ship 34 for Starship Flight 8 |date=February 11, 2025 |publisher=NASASpaceflight |time=1:17:10 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |via=YouTube}} B15 was rolled to OLP-A on February 25, and S34 was rolled to OLP-A on March 2.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arl6XbdwwE0 |title=SpaceX Rolls Booster 15 Ahead of Flight 8 |date=February 24, 2025 |last= |publisher=NASASpaceflight |access-date=February 25, 2025 |via=YouTube}} They were stacked later that evening.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWLExMk0CMI |title=The Stacking of Ship 34 and Booster 15 – Countdown to Launch |date=March 2, 2025 |last= |publisher=NASASpaceflight |access-date=March 3, 2025 |via=YouTube}}
= Impact of flight test 7 =
{{Main |Starship flight test 7#Mission outcome}}
During Starship flight test 7 on January 16, 2025, initial data indicated that a fire broke out mid-flight, leading to the destruction of the vehicle.{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=January 17, 2025 |title=Fire destroys Starship on its seventh test flight, raining debris from space |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/01/fire-destroys-starship-on-its-seventh-test-flight-raining-debris-from-space/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}} SpaceX suspects the fire was caused by an issue with the propellant system, that led to excess pressure in the cavity above the engine firewall.{{Cite news |last=Dunn |first=Marcia |date=January 16, 2025 |title=SpaceX Suspects Fire During Starship Flight 7 Linked to Pressure Issues |url=https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-launch-accident-e69d04467e2def65d2bc6b0e9645d715 |access-date=January 18, 2025 |work=Associated Press}}
The FAA ordered SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the breakup, grounding Starship until the inquiry was complete.{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2025 |title=General Statements |url=https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/general-statements |access-date=January 17, 2025 |website=Federal Aviation Administration}} Elon Musk described the event as "barely a bump in the road," indicating that the issues would be resolved quickly. Musk suggested that a subsequent launch could occur the following month, depending on testing progress.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jane |date=January 16, 2025 |title=SpaceX's Starship blew up. Elon Musk says it's 'barely a bump in the road.' |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/spacexs-starship-blew-up-elon-musk-says-its-barely-a-bump-in-the-road-20250116 |access-date=January 18, 2025 |website=MarketWatch}}
On February 24, 2025, SpaceX announced that they had completed their mishap investigation into Flight 7.{{cite web |date=February 24, 2025 |title=New Year. New Ship. New Lessons. |url=https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-7-report |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=SpaceX}} Subsequently on February 26, 2025, the FAA approved the launch license with modifications based on the results of the mishap investigation.{{cite web |title=Commercial Space Transportation License VOL 23-129 Rev. 5.2 |url=https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID173891218620231102140506.0001 |date=February 26, 2025 |website=FAA.gov |access-date=February 27, 2025}}
Mission profile
{{LaunchAttempt
| date1 = 2025-03-03 17:45
| result1 = Scrubbed
| reason1 = Technical
| decision_date1 = 2025-03-03 17:54
| decision_clock1 = −00:00:40 hold
| weathergo1 = 65%
| notes1 = Multiple undisclosed problems with first and second stage.
| date2 = 2025-03-06 17:30:24
| result2 = Failure
| reason2 = Technical
| decision_date2 = 2025-03-06 17:39
| decision_clock2 = +00:09:35
| notes2 = Failure of second stage engines resulted in loss of control and breakup of the vehicle.
}}
The mission profile for flight test 8 was similar to the previous launch's plan, targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean and a catch of the booster. The ship was scheduled to deploy four intentionally destructible Starlink "simulators" which were also expected to reenter over the Indian Ocean.{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2025 |title=Starship's Eighth Flight Test |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-8 |access-date=March 5, 2025 |website=SpaceX.com}}
= Flight timeline =
| class="wikitable collapsible"
!Time !Event !March 3, 2025 !March 6, 2025 |
| style="text-align:right" |−01:15:00
|Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading |{{Success|Go for propellant loading}} |{{Success|Go for propellant loading}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:45:59
|Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:42:59
|Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:41:22
|Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:35:35
|Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:19:40
|Super Heavy and Starship engine chill |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:03:20
|Starship propellant load complete |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:02:50
|Super Heavy propellant load complete |{{Success}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:00:30
|Flight director verifies go for launch |{{Failure|No go, launch scrubbed}} |{{Success|Go for launch}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:00:10
|Flame deflector activation |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |−00:00:03
|Super Heavy engine ignition |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |+00:00:02
|Liftoff |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |+00:01:02
|Throttle down for max q during ascent (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" |+00:02:32
|Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO) |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:02:40
|Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:02:45
|Super Heavy boostback burn start |{{N/A}} |{{Partial failure}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:03:30
|Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:03:32
|Hot-stage jettison |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:06:37
|Super Heavy landing burn start |{{N/A}} |{{Partial failure}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:06:57
|Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and catch |{{N/A}} |{{Success}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:08:44
|Starship engine cutoff (SECO) |{{N/A}} |{{Failure}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:17:24
|Starlink simulator satellites deploy demo |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:37:28
|Raptor in-space relight demo |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +00:47:22
|Starship atmospheric reentry |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +01:03:05
|Starship is transonic |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +01:04:20
|Starship is subsonic |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +01:06:04
|Starship landing flip |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +01:06:06
|Starship landing burn |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| style="text-align:right" | +01:06:26
|Starship splashdown |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |
| colspan="4" | {{small|Source: SpaceX}} |
=March 3, 2025, attempt=
On March 3, 2025, Starship and Super Heavy began propellant loading, with SpaceX targeting a launch at 23:45 UTC (5:45 pm CST). However, after propellant loading, undisclosed issues arose with both vehicles and the count was held at T−40 seconds. SpaceX was able to resolve the issue and resume the countdown, flight computers detected additional problems, automatically resetting the count to T−40 seconds. After additional attempts at troubleshooting, flight controllers scrubbed (discontinued) the launch attempt.
= Launch =
After the scrub of the launch attempt on March 3rd, Starship and Super Heavy launched from Starbase on March 6, with the booster completing its ascent burn nominally. Starship continued to ascend after stage separation from the booster, with the Super Heavy completing its boostback burn. The booster then descended and was caught by the chopstick arms on the launch pad. Starship continued its ascent burn, but 4 engines (1 RVac, 3 sea level Raptors) would start to shut down at T+8:04, roughly 30 seconds before the planned SECO. Starship lost attitude control, and SpaceX mission control confirmed that they lost contact with the ship. The ship was observed breaking up and reentering the atmosphere over Florida and the Bahamas several minutes after contact was lost.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=2025-03-07 |title=Watch fiery SpaceX Starship Flight 8 debris rain down over The Bahamas (video) |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/watch-fiery-spacex-starship-flight-8-debris-rain-down-over-the-bahamas-video |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Space.com}}
Similar to what happened in flight test 7, the FAA again ordered SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the breakup. {{Cite web |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=2025-03-08 |title=FAA investigating SpaceX Starship Flight 8 explosion that disrupted commercial flights |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/faa-investigating-spacex-starship-flight-8-explosion-that-disrupted-commercial-flights |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Space.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{SpaceX}}
{{Orbital launches in 2025}}
Category:March 2025 in the United States