FAA Authorizes SpaceX Starship Flight 8: Launch Targeted for March 3 with Enhanced Safety Measures and Payload Deployment

The FAA has granted SpaceX permission for the eighth test flight of its Starship megarocket, targeting a launch on March 3 from Starbase in South Texas. This follows the partially successful Flight 7 in January, where the Super Heavy booster was caught but the upper stage exploded due to a propellant leak. The FAA's approval comes after a safety review, while the investigation into Flight 7 continues. Flight 8 aims to replicate Flight 7's goals, including a Super Heavy booster catch and a Starship upper stage splashdown in the Indian Ocean. A key objective is the deployment of four mock Starlink satellites. Upgrades to Starship include enhanced forward flaps, a redesigned propulsion system with increased propellant volume, and a complete avionics redesign. The flight will also test Starship's ability to return to the launch site, with experiments involving tile removal, alternative materials, and thermal performance testing of catch fittings. The Super Heavy booster features upgraded avionics. Safety remains a priority; booster return will only occur if conditions are optimal. The launch window opens at 6:30 p.m. EST.