Get Ready: SpaceX’s Starship Mega-Rocket Set for Launch This Week!

SpaceX is set to launch its Starship megarocket for the eighth time this Friday, February 28. Elon Musk shared the news on social media, simply stating, “Starship Flight 8 flies Friday.”

While the exact launch time isn’t confirmed yet, this massive 120-meter rocket will take off from SpaceX’s site in Boca Chica, Texas, just like the previous seven flights.

This test flight comes after a successful mission on January 16, where SpaceX managed to catch the first-stage Super Heavy booster with mechanical arms attached to the launch tower. It marked the second time they accomplished this challenge.

However, that flight didn’t go entirely as planned. The upper-stage Starship spacecraft aimed to land in the Indian Ocean but encountered an issue and burned up over the Caribbean instead. For the upcoming flight, SpaceX hopes to successfully control landings for both the booster and the Starship itself.

Nasa is counting on the Starship for future crew and cargo trips to the moon and Mars. One of their goals is to use a modified Starship for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon in 2027. In a recent post, Musk labelled NASA’s focus on the moon as a “distraction,” emphasizing his dream of sending humans directly to Mars instead.

As Musk’s influence grows, some are curious about how this might shape future space exploration priorities. In recent speeches, leaders have hinted at a shift towards Mars, which adds to the excitement around SpaceX’s upcoming Starship flights.