SpaceX places Starship Flight 8 booster on launch pad before liftoff schedule

SpaceX has confirmed that the Starship Flight 8 booster is now standing on top of the launch pad. The company moved this mega-rocket out of the bay to the launch site and was picked up by the launch tower arms to place on top of the orbital launch mount.

The rocket maker has announced this new flight will liftoff from Starbase, Texas no earlier than February 28. SpaceX could change the date and time based on weather and regulatory approval.

Earlier this month SpaceX completed a static fire for Starship Flight 8 booster with a few seconds of engine ignition. The first stage equips 33 Raptor engines and throws 7,590 tf of thrust at liftoff. The booster is 9 meters wide and 71 meters tall creating a massive structure with 3,400 tons of propellant capacity.

Source – SpaceX

After liftoff from the pad, the flight achieves Max Q followed by the hot-staging, and the first stage returns to the launch trajectory. However, the booster needs to meet certain criteria in order to return to the launch site.

If the booster doesn’t meet these criteria then the landing trajectory switches for a splashdown in the Gulf of America.

In the final moments before landing, the booster will fire its 13 center engines to slow down its descent and then switch to the last three to take the rocket between the chopsticks. During this last phase, we’ll also hear audible sonic booms in the area around the landing zone.

(source)