Starship’s Eighth Flight Test: Booster Recovery Success, Upper Stage Control Failure
On March 6, 2025 (local time), SpaceX carried out the eighth test flight of Starship from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The mission showcased both progress and setbacks in SpaceX’s pursuit of a fully reusable super-heavy launch system.
A Milestone in Booster Recovery
Roughly two and a half minutes after liftoff, the Super Heavy booster shut down most of its Raptor engines as planned, keeping three active to perform a hot-staging separation. Starship’s upper stage then ignited six Raptor engines, cleanly detaching from the booster and continuing its climb.
Meanwhile, the booster executed a controlled descent and was successfully caught by the “Mechazilla” launch tower arms—a feat SpaceX has now achieved three times. This marks another step forward in SpaceX’s long-term vision of rapid booster reusability.
Upper Stage Anomaly
Despite the booster’s flawless recovery, the upper stage encountered serious problems. SpaceX confirmed that multiple Raptor engines failed near the end of ascent, causing the vehicle to lose attitude control. Communication with Starship was lost soon after, and the spacecraft ultimately exploded mid-flight.
This failure comes after January’s seventh test flight, which also ended in a mid-air explosion due to engine issues. Like flight seven, the booster recovery succeeded, but the upper stage could not complete its planned mission.
SpaceX Statement and FAA Response
In an official update, SpaceX explained that “a strong anomaly occurred near the tail end of ascent burn, leading to the loss of several Raptor engines. As a result, Starship lost attitude control and communications were terminated.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that no further Starship launches will be permitted until the investigation into the March 6 incident is complete. SpaceX emphasized that the vehicle followed its designated safety corridor and that contingency procedures were activated immediately in cooperation with regulatory agencies.
Lessons and the Road Ahead
The Starship V2 design was central to this eighth test, incorporating hardware and software upgrades intended to address the failures of earlier flights. While booster recovery technology continues to mature, the upper stage remains the biggest technical hurdle for achieving orbit and beyond.
SpaceX is treating each flight as a learning opportunity. Data gathered from flight eight will inform engineering changes aimed at improving reliability in future tests. As Elon Musk’s company pushes toward eventual missions to the Moon and Mars, solving upper-stage control and engine resilience will be critical.
Final Thoughts
Flight eight underscored both the remarkable progress in booster reusability and the persistent challenges of upper-stage reliability. While the sight of the massive booster being caught by Mechazilla captured headlines, the failure of the upper stage highlights the steep learning curve that remains.
For SpaceX, success is measured incrementally. Each explosion brings a trove of data, bringing Starship closer to its ultimate goal: a fully reusable launch system capable of carrying humanity to Mars.
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