SpaceX Targets Monday for Starship Flight 8

FAA is preparing for the eighth test flight of the Starship rocket as it contemplates handing over a Verizon contract to Starlink.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 04:56 PM ET

Verified

SpaceX returns Starship’s Super Heavy booster to the launch pad during Flight 7, a feat Flight 8 will attempt to re-create. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX is preparing for Starship Flight 8, opening Monday, which will attempt repeated objectives like the Super Heavy booster catch and new feats such as Starship's first payload deployment and experiments for a future full Starship catch.
This flight follows the midair explosion of Flight 7; SpaceX has implemented upgrades to address the root cause (fuel leaks from harmonic response) and is working with the FAA to resolve the mishap investigation.
Separately, the FAA is reportedly considering a 15-year, $2 billion contract for Starlink (owned by SpaceX) to upgrade its communications systems, raising concerns about a conflict of interest given the FAA's regulatory oversight of SpaceX and Elon Musk's involvement.

See a mistake? Contact us.

As SpaceX and Starlink become increasingly tangled with the FAA, which regulates those companies, the agency is gearing up for the next launch of SpaceX’s Starship.

According to the FAA’s current operations plan advisory, the launch window for the eighth test flight of Starship—the largest rocket to ever fly—opens Monday at 6:30 p.m. EST. SpaceX confirmed that in an update Thursday. The company had previously been aiming to fly Friday.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.