SpaceX Schedules Starship’s Next Launch Attempt on February 28
SpaceX is preparing for its eighth Starship test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Friday, pending regulatory clearance. The most powerful rocket ever built, Starship, continues to advance deep-space exploration in spite of past disappointments.
Starlink Test: Starship Soars
About an hour after launch, the rocket’s 171-foot (52-meter) upper stage, called Ship, was scheduled to drop a payload for the first time on Flight 7: ten models of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites. The payload was to circle most of the world before landing in the Indian Ocean.
The Super Heavy booster’s launch, return, and catch are all included in the trip. As the first satellite deployment mission exercise, SpaceX also plans to install four Starlink simulators during this flight.
Starship Flight 8: Advancing Catch & Return for Upcoming Missions
The last flight occurred on January 16. The mission was partially successful; SpaceX used the “chopstick” arms of the Starbase launch tower to successfully capture Super Heavy, Starship’s massive first-stage booster.
In the long run, SpaceX hopes to capture Ship with the chopsticks as well; the corporation explained that this recovery plan will make the complete vehicle’s examination and re-flight more effective. Musk stated that SpaceX hopes to capture Ship for the first time in early 2025, however given the stage issue on Flight 7, it is unlikely that this will occur on Flight 8.
This test flight also focusses on the return of the starship’s top stage to the launch location.
SpaceX must first demonstrate that Starship is safe and flightworthy for crewed missions before achieving these lofty objectives. In order to facilitate long-distance space travel, the business must also show that it can do sophisticated in-orbit refuelling, utilising other Starships as fuel tankers.
