SpaceX plans to launch its eighth full-scale test flight of the Starship rocket, following regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The test flight will be similar to the previous attempt in January, which ended in failure due to a rocket breakup and debris shower over the Atlantic Ocean.
The new test aims to complete testing on key features such as satellite deployment mechanisms and heat shield material. Flight 8 is set to lift off at 5:30 pm CST from SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility in Texas.
SpaceX has upgraded its Block 2 version of the Starship rocket, with larger propellant tanks that provide 25% more volume than previous iterations. The payload compartment near the top is smaller, but officials believe this will bring them closer to attempting challenging maneuvers like returning the rocket to Earth’s orbit.
The upgraded rocket will be used for various missions, including launching Starlink Internet satellites and demonstrating in-orbit refueling. NASA has awarded SpaceX over $4 billion worth of contracts for developing a human-rated Moon lander under the Artemis program.
Elon Musk’s ambitious goal is to establish a human settlement on Mars, with the Starship rocket playing a central role in achieving this objective.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/spacex-readies-a-redo-of-last-months-ill-fated-starship-test-flight