Super Heavy moving to the pad at Starbase.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....51b2667696.png

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....275b9773e2.png
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Starship Flight 8: Booster 15 conducts Static Fire test!

Video.This was crazy. A nearly 60 second long Static Fire Test from Ship 34!

This is something I've been hoping to see for a long time.

A long duration test like this was only recently enabled by increasing the capacity of the Liquid Nitrogen storage for the deluge system.

​​​​​​​Side note...I'm not so sure what to think about the ending of this test. Looked a little spicy. Hopefully everything turned out okay.

Better footage of the static fire.

Video.Molten slag observed being ejected from the flame deflector during S34's sixty-second static fire last night.

It's possible that this correlates to moderate or severe damage to the deflector surface after such a harsh test. Concrete spalling would not throw this many sparks; this is almost certainly material from the deflector itself.

Snapshots of a few instances of the observed debris;

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c7be454a1.jpeg
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S36 nosecone and payload section has rolled out of Starfactory, and she's prepped for catching!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8e142018ea.png

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....57cc6eb3a6.png
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https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f182b62c87.png

An official airspace advisory has been posted for Starship test flight 8 listing Wednesday February 26th 2025 as the primary launch date with backups the following days.

https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_an...il.jsp?view=15

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5c9106fa5e.png
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From Nasaspaceflight.com
•BREAKING• Per a Federal Aviation Administration-supported advisory, SpaceX is targeting no earlier than February 26th, 2025 for Starship Flight 8. Backup dates between February 27th and March 6th. Daily windows between 5:30pm and 7:09pm CST (23:30 and 01:09 UTC).

FCC document notes that Starship Flight 9 (after the upcoming launch) has the option of Ship returning to the launch site for a catch.

Although unconfirmed by SpaceX, Flight 9 has the potential of reflying Booster 14, with Ship 35, and both returning to the launch site, with Booster returning to Pad A and Ship to Pad B.

https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/repor...stTimeout=1000

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0558a6bff2.png
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Surely they would want to achieve stable orbit, a deorbit burn and an accurate soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico before that. Wouldn't they?

As with the booster they can aim for a catch and divert to a water landing up to about a minute beforehand.

48 hour slip.

Elon has just announced that SpaceX intends to launch Starship test flight 8 this coming Friday February 28th at 5:30 pm cst. Let's Go!!

Is that 11:30 GMT?

2330Z - see post 968.

Launch is now Monday March 3rd.

FTS (Flight Termination System) explosives are currently being installed on Booster 15 for Starship test flight 8.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6bd53f598.jpeg
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FAA issued the launch license for Starship Test Flight 8 today.

https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExte...dalOpened=true

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....dc5b839d06.png

The hot staging ring has been re-installed onto Booster 15 tonight ahead of Starship test flight 8.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....05e135d9c2.png
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B16 rolling out for cryo. If it takes the same time as B15 after this then it will fly in roughly 2 months. Although it is speculated B14 will fly again for flight 9….

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....aa5bf9e352.png
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