SpaceX is set to launch its Starship megarocket for the eighth time on Friday, February 28, 2025.

This announcement was made by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who shared a brief update on X, stating: “Starship Flight 8 flies Friday.”

Starship Flight 8 flies Friday pic.twitter.com/CmOdg13e6K

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 24, 2025

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While SpaceX has not yet confirmed the exact launch time, the towering 120-meter rocket will take off from the company’s launch site near Boca Chica, Texas, similar to its seven preceding test flights.

This upcoming flight marks the first since January 16, when SpaceX successfully captured the returning first-stage Super Heavy booster with a pair of massive mechanical arms attached to the launch tower, marking this achievement for the second time.

However, during the same mission, the upper-stage Starship spacecraft aimed for a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean, a milestone previously achieved. Unfortunately, the vehicle encountered an anomaly and ended up burning up dramatically over the Caribbean.

For this eighth test flight, SpaceX aims to accomplish controlled landings for both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft.

NASA intends to utilize the Starship for crewed and cargo missions to both the Moon and Mars. The immediate objective is to adapt a version of the Starship spacecraft for landing the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface during the Artemis III mission, currently slated for 2027. However, recent reports indicate Musk’s eagerness to prioritize the inaugural crewed mission to Mars, a long-held ambition of his. In a December post on X, Musk dismissed NASA’s lunar-focused Artemis program as a mere “distraction,” asserting that “we’re going straight to Mars.”

As Musk gains influence during President Trump’s second term, speculation arises that he may be advocating for a greater focus on Mars exploration over lunar visits. Indeed, in Trump’s recent inaugural address, he highlighted Mars without mentioning the moon, igniting discussions about Musk’s potential impact.