Update: 6:55 p.m. ET: Today’s SpaceX launch has been scrubbed due to an unspecified issue, and the company may attempt to launch again tomorrow. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Original article below.

SpaceX is preparing for the eighth test flight of its Starship rocket, aiming to rectify the issues that led to the explosive malfunction in January, which scattered debris from the upper stage across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Starship launch is scheduled for Monday within a one-hour window starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. The event will be live-streamed on SpaceX’s website and the company’s page on X, with the webcast commencing approximately 40 minutes before liftoff. According to SpaceX, “the upcoming flight will target objectives not achieved in the previous test, including Starship’s first payload deployment and multiple reentry experiments aimed at returning the upper stage to the launch site for catch.” Additionally, you can follow the launch through the third-party livestreams provided below.

During the seventh test flight, Starship’s upper stage experienced an engine glitch, leading to an early shutdown, which caused it to disintegrate and scatter debris over the Turks and Caicos islands in the Caribbean. This incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch an investigation into the cause of Starship’s premature breakup.

In late February, SpaceX released a statement attributing the rocket malfunction to a “harmonic response several times stronger in flight than had been seen during testing,” referring to vibrations amplified by resonance that put additional stress on Starship’s propulsion system. Subsequently, the FAA granted SpaceX permission to proceed with the eighth test flight, stating, “The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, and other licensing requirements for the suborbital test flight.”

The upcoming flight will follow the same suborbital trajectory as previous tests. SpaceX will make a second attempt to deploy test satellites from Starship for the first time, utilizing four Starlink simulators that mimic the size and weight of the company’s next-generation satellites. However, these simulators are designed to reenter the atmosphere on a similar suborbital trajectory as the rocket itself and will not remain in orbit.

During test flight 8, SpaceX will also conduct multiple reentry experiments focused on returning the upper stage to the launch site for mid-air capture, similar to the booster. The flight will include another booster catch attempt.

Starship has undergone several upgrades prior to its previous test flight, including a smaller forward flap positioned higher on the rocket to reduce heat during reentry, and its propulsion system now holds 25% more fuel. The avionics have been improved for better valve control and sensor readings, enhancing performance and enabling longer missions, according to SpaceX. Additionally, Starship’s heat shield features new, upgraded tiles with a backup layer underneath in case any tiles fall off or are damaged during reentry.

However, “a significant number of tiles have been removed from Starship to stress-test vulnerable areas across the vehicle,” as explained by the company. “Multiple metallic tile options, including one with active cooling, will test alternative materials for protecting Starship during reentry,” among other strategies.

Despite the incident in January, SpaceX is progressing with its Starship rocket. During the fifth test flight in October 2024, Starship’s Super Heavy booster successfully landed on the 400-foot-tall Mechazilla tower, a feat repeated during the seventh test in January. SpaceX plans to retrieve and reuse both Starship’s booster and upper stage.

Although Starship’s test flights are not always flawless, the megarocket consistently delivers an impressive show.