SpaceX has been hard at work preparing for Starship’s next flight following the explosion that brought IFT-7 to an abrupt end. Although SpaceX has been quiet regarding their current investigation, new FAA filings suggest that Starship could fly again very soon.
An FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center Advisory From 25 February lists the earliest that IFT-8 can launch will be Wednesday, February 26th. The advisory supports an afternoon launch attempt, with an almost two hour window starting at 5:30 PM CT.
Another FAA advisory lists backup dates through March 5th. The launch window will remain the same each day.
It is believed that the flight profile will be relatively similar to January’s test flight, but SpaceX has yet to confirm any details about IFT-8. SpaceX will likely launch Starlink dummy payloads to test Starship’s capabilities of placing satellites into orbit.
A lot still has to be done to prepare for launch, but an FAA filing suggests that a resolution to their investigation is expected soon. In past launches, launch licenses have been issued within 24 hours of an attempt.
If you are planning to visit South Texas to witness the launch, keep an eye out for updates from SpaceX. That should be coming soon if indeed the launch is scheduled for next week.
See Also: FCC Filing Hints At Possible Starship Launch
