Watch SpaceX Starship’s third Super Heavy booster catch

On Thursday, SpaceX conducted Starship’s test flight 8 and completed the third Super Heavy booster landing on the catch tower. This test flight was launched from Starbase, Texas. After successfully clearing the launch pad, reaching the Max Q in a minute and marking stage separation at 2:35 minutes.

At this time, the booster performed boostback burn with 11 out of the 13 Raptor engines and also received a Go for tower landing from launch director.

Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/JFeJSdnQ5x

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 6, 2025

SpaceX has set several safety criteria that must be met by the booster in order to perform a launch site landing, including a healthy vehicle and tower. If failed, the booster must land in the Gulf of America for a splashdown.

However, that wasn’t the case with the Flight 8. The booster returned at supersonic speed at the launch base while maintaining its altitude. SpaceX ignited 13 Raptor engines and this time, 12 of these worked.

Source – SpaceX

Soon after, we heard the sonic boom in the area as the engine ignition phased out to only 3 center Raptors to take the booster between the catch tower chopsticks as they maneuver in the direction.

Eventually, the launch tower caught the booster and exhausted the final burn, completing Starship’s third ever Super Heavy catch.