SpaceX has just launched Starship Test Flight 8. As the picture below shows, they successfully caught the booster - the third time in a row - which is incredible.
However, like Flight 7, Starship experienced an RUD shortly into its flight and was completely lost.
The question is: Will the Starship Flight 8 RUD affect the Mars 2026 mission?
Maybe, but there’s still time.
Booster catch - Success: This is good for reuse, enabling more launches to get ships into orbit and refuel them.
Starship RUD - Failure: This is concerning, as it’s now two in a row. This does delay the test schedule, though they can probably catch up. However, if it’s a major design flaw, a delayed Flight 9 that RUDs again will definitely pose a problem.
Conclusion: Still optimistic for the Mars 2026 mission. The possible impact is fewer ships on the mission.
What impact do you see it having?
The question is whether there is a design flaw or just bad luck.