After scrubbing a launch attempt on Monday, March 3, and destacking Ship 34 to address issues with the ship and booster, SpaceX launched Starship on its eighth flight test on Thursday, March 6. Booster 15 and Ship 34 lifted off at 5:30 PM CST (23:30 UTC) from SpaceX’s Starbase launch and production facility in south Texas.
Following a nominal first stage ascent and stage separation, Ship 34 ignited its six Raptor engines while Booster 15 returned to the launch site, where it was successfully caught by the launch tower “chopstick” catch arms. Moments later, however, Ship 34 lost attitude control and began to tumble, resulting in its destruction and reentry over the Atlantic.