Revisiting Starship Flight 7 and 8

Integrated Flight Test (IFT) 8 launched 49 days after IFT 7, marking the second-shortest turnaround time between Starship flights.
SpaceX received FAA approval for IFT 8 before the investigation into the IFT 7 mishap was fully concluded.
+ IFT 7 introduced the upgraded Block 2 version of the Starship spacecraft. During that flight, a propellant leak reportedly caused a fire between the engine bay and the tank, leading to the failure of one sea-level engine, followed by others in quick succession. To address this, SpaceX conducted a prolonged ground test burn to assess whether vibrations could affect the ship, though it’s unclear if this test identified the root cause of the failure.

• In IFT 8, a vacuum engine appeared to malfunction, damaging adjacent engines and causing the spacecraft to spin out of control.
  These incidents may lead to delays as the FAA evaluates whether SpaceX has adequately resolved these issues. Debris from both flights fell over the Caribbean, raising concerns about safety and airspace management. Extended closures of airspace disrupted airline traffic, forcing planes into holding patterns or diversions. So far, no injuries from debris have been reported.

Both IFT 7 and IFT 8 saw their Super Heavy boosters return to the launch site and be captured by the tower. However, during IFT 7, one engine failed to relight on the booster’s return, and in IFT 8, two engines did not relight.
These recurring engine issues raise questions about the Block 2 design and whether SpaceX can identify and resolve the underlying problems.

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, favors rapid iteration cycles and aims to reach Mars by the end of 2026. The company anticipates resuming flights within 4 to 6 weeks.

IFT Timeline

Comparing Flight Trajectories

• Speed over Time

• Altitude over Time

• Difference between Ship V1 and V2:

Note: Ship V2, used in IFT 7 and IFT 8, is larger and heavier than V1 (IFT 3–6), resulting in lower speed and altitude at Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) due to increased demands on the booster.

Starship Specifications

Source: SpaceX Starship Data

More Information

Tim Dodd was lucky enough to get three guided tours around Starbase by Elon Musk:

Tour 2024:
+ First Look Inside SpaceX's Starfactory w/ Elon Musk
+ Join Elon Musk on a tour of Starship just before it launches! (w/ post launch interview)

Tour 2022:
+ 2022 Elon Musk Explains Updates To Starship And Starbase!
+ Go up SpaceX's Starship-catching robotic launch tower with Elon Musk!
+ Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Merlin Engine!
+ Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine!

Tour 2021:
+ Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 1 // Summer 2021]
+ Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2 // Summer 2021]
+ Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3 // Summer 2021]

Further information

StarshipGazer.com: Useful Starship links
Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia
FAA: SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
FAA: Licensed Launches

Starship OFT flight plan

Lex Fridman: Starship: The most powerful rocket ever made | Tim Dodd and Lex Fridman

SpaceX Starship Explosive Potential, and Big Bang Theory

Tim Dodd made a video contrasting Starship V1 and V2:
What's new with Flight 7's massively upgraded Starship?!?

Vote for my witness: @blue-witness