SpaceX Prepares for Starship Flight 8

When will Starship 8 launch? At first, signs pointed to this week, but….
When will Starship 8 launch? At first, signs pointed to this week, but….
Intuitive Machines is set to launch its second lunar mission, IM-2, this Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. Carried on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission will deploy the Nova‑C lunar lander—affectionately named Athena—near the Moon’s south pole.
Washington, D.C. – On February 26, 2025, the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), will hold a pivotal hearing to assess NASA’s Artemis program.
SpaceX released an update on the failure of Falcon 9s second stage at the end of the Starlink 11-4 mission that launched February 1:
Cape Canaveral, FL – February 21, 2025 – SpaceX moved another step closer to completing its ambitious Starlink constellation project today with the successful launch of the Starlink Group 12-14 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch, which occurred at 10:19 a.m. EST (1519 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), deployed 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), further expanding the company’s global internet coverage network. This mission underscored SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to reusable rocket technology and its goal of providing high-speed internet access worldwide.
The second stage from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 used to launch Starlink 11-4 from Vandenberg on February 1st has apparently re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, with parts of the spacecraft’s debris reaching the ground in Poland. Initially entering over the Irish Sea, the reentering body broke apart, and the debris path of the spacecraft continued over the UK, western European countries including Poland and Ukraine.
Parts of the rocket body, including a suspected pressure vessel, were found near Poznan, Poland today, prompting local investigations into the incident and public safety concerns.
At the time of this writing, SpaceX has not confirmed that the debris is theirs, but according to the FAA, the company is investigating the matter.
Cape Canaveral, Florida — SpaceX is on the brink of setting a new milestone in spaceflight reusability with its Falcon 9 booster B1067 scheduled to launch for the 26th time on February 15, 2025, during the Starlink Group 12-8 mission. This mission, taking off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, will further demonstrate SpaceX’s commitment to a sustainable present in space through reliable reuse of its booster fleet.
NASA is preparing for an evaluation by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal oversight body led by Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro confirmed this development during a recent space industry conference in Washington, D.C., stating, “We are going to have DOGE come. They’re going to look—similarly to what they’ve done at other agencies—at our payments and what money has gone out.” Already deep in the Artemis Program, NASA has a lot on the line.
February 13, 2025 – Blue Origin, the commercial space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is preparing for significant layoffs as part of a strategic pivot aimed at reducing R&D costs and focusing on ramping up rocket launches. The announcement comes after years of extensive research and development, with the company now looking to streamline operations.
A Texas judge has officially signed off and approved a special election to decide if Starbase will be allowed to incorporate as a municipality. Starbase is, of course, the site of SpaceX’s Starship development, manufacturing and launch facilities.
In a news release Tuesday, NASA and SpaceX announced they are moving forward with adjusted launch and return timelines for the upcoming crew rotation missions to and from the International Space Station (ISS).