SpaceX Prepares for Eighth Starship Flight Test

The eighth flight test of SpaceX’s Starship is set to launch on Friday, Feb. 28, pending regulatory approval. The test will feature a series of ambitious objectives aimed at advancing Starship’s reusability and payload deployment capabilities. The launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. CT, though the schedule remains subject to change.

After an extensive investigation into the loss of Starship during its seventh flight test, several hardware and operational modifications have been implemented to enhance the upper stage’s reliability. The upcoming test will target objectives that were not achieved in the previous attempt, including Starship’s first payload deployment and multiple reentry experiments designed to improve its capability to return to the launch site.

Notable improvements include:

• Enhanced Forward Flaps: Redesigned to reduce exposure to reentry heating, improving durability.

• Propulsion System Upgrades: A 25% increase in propellant volume that allows for longer-duration missions and improved vehicle performance.

• Avionics Overhaul: A complete redesign that provides greater capability and redundancy for complex missions such as propellant transfer and controlled return.

For the first time, Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, designed to mimic the next-generation Starlink satellites. These simulators will follow a suborbital trajectory and are expected to burn up upon reentry. Additionally, the test will include a planned in-space relight of a single Raptor engine.

Starship’s upper stage will also undergo rigorous reentry testing, with a variety of modifications aimed at improving heat resistance and structural integrity:

• Tile Stress Test: Select thermal protection tiles have been removed to assess the resilience of exposed areas.

• Alternative Reentry Materials: New metallic tiles, including actively cooled versions, will be tested as alternative heat shields.

• Aerodynamic Adjustments: Changes to the rear flaps will push the structural limits at maximum entry pressure.

• Radar Testing for Catch Operations: Radar sensors on the launch and catch tower’s ‘chopsticks’ will undergo further testing to enhance vehicle positioning accuracy.

The Super Heavy booster will also see improvements, featuring upgraded avionics, an enhanced flight computer, better power and network distribution, and integrated smart batteries. One of the mission’s critical milestones will be the booster’s return and catch attempt using the launch tower’s chopsticks.