What time is SpaceX's Starship Flight 8 launch on March 3?

[Admin]

SpaceX is poised to launch Flight 8 of its Starship megarocket on Monday (March 3). Here's how to watch the action live.

What time is SpaceX's Starship Flight 8 launch on March 3? : Read more

 

[Philly]

Can't wait until they try to re-fly a SH. To me that is really the next big step forward. I am hopeful they will be attempting to land the Starship within 3-6 months. Hopefully they will be re-flying the entire system by the EOY.

I am nervous that Starship will have to fly over populated areas to land. I could eventually see a launch and landing complex on a remote island in the Bahamas. If there is a problem with the approach to landing, they could always bail out over water. Considering most of the launches will be fuel tanker type missions for beyond LEO missions.

I am still betting on a shuttle or glider type for the human rated Starship. Something with some kind of 3rd stage launch abort or detachment launch abort that can land on a plane. I still feel the chopstick catch is just too risky with humans on board. That late flip maneuver is all or nothing with no room for any errors. Maybe even a 3rd stage makes more sense to be Human rated? Losing a fuel tanker Starship isn't such a big deal. Losing 20 people due to the same type of crash, is a huge deal.

 

[ChrisA]

Can't wait until they try to re-fly a SH. To me that is really the next big step forward. I am hopeful they will be attempting to land the Starship within 3-6 months. Hopefully they will be re-flying the entire system by the EOY.

I am nervous that Starship will have to fly over populated areas to land. I could eventually see a launch and landing complex on a remote island in the Bahamas. If there is a problem with the approach to landing, they could always bail out over water. Considering most of the launches will be fuel tanker type missions for beyond LEO missions.

I am still betting on a shuttle or glider type for the human rated Starship. Something with some kind of 3rd stage launch abort or detachment launch abort that can land on a plane. I still feel the chopstick catch is just too risky with humans on board. That late flip maneuver is all or nothing with no room for any errors. Maybe even a 3rd stage makes more sense to be Human rated? Losing a fuel tanker Starship isn't such a big deal. Losing 20 people due to the same type of crash, is a huge deal.

Yes, 100%. They will never catch a manned ship with a crew inside using chopsticks. Doing the water-abort is not an option with a crew. One option I see is to place a Crew Dragon like capsule on top of starship. Or maybe replace the entire second stage with a space shuttle style design.