SpaceX completes Starship static fire test with all six engines
Capitalism in space: SpaceX today successfully completed a short static fire test of Starship prototype #20 using all six orbital engines.
Though this prototype has previously completed static fire tests, those used only two engines. This test was the first using all the engines that will fly on the spacecraft’s first orbital flight.
When that flight will occur remains uncertain. Elon Musk has said it could fly as early as this month. First however the FAA must give final approval of its environmental reassessment of SpaceX’s Boca Chica spaceport. The agency has released a preliminary draft approval, but that is not yet finalized, with no clear date on when an approval will be issued.
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX today successfully completed a short static fire test of Starship prototype #20 using all six orbital engines.
Though this prototype has previously completed static fire tests, those used only two engines. This test was the first using all the engines that will fly on the spacecraft’s first orbital flight.
When that flight will occur remains uncertain. Elon Musk has said it could fly as early as this month. First however the FAA must give final approval of its environmental reassessment of SpaceX’s Boca Chica spaceport. The agency has released a preliminary draft approval, but that is not yet finalized, with no clear date on when an approval will be issued.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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Very good news!
I don’t think we’ve seen the 33 engine test of superheavy yet. That’ll be neat.
Scott Manley tweets an amazing point: “In theory this test article has more thrust than any single rocket in the world, there are some multicore and SRB assisted vehicles, but this is a single vehicle. No guarantee they went to full thrust on this test, but even then the lower limit is blistering.”
“Elon Musk has said it could fly as early as this month.”
Am I correct in assuming that they will first be doing static fire tests on SH, including one with all it’s 20+ engines?
That will be the milestone I’m looking for. Starship has had static testing and launch tests but SH hasn’t been lit yet.
When the StarShip separates from it’s booster, will it ignite all six motors for the push to orbit?
Or, will it continue on just the three vacuum optimized Raptors, and de-orbit and land just using the three, sea level Raptors?
Asking for a friend…
Am I correct in assuming that they will first be doing static fire tests on SH, including one with all it’s 20+ engines?
More likely a graduated series of static fires, starting with a small set of the engines, and going up from there to a firing of all of them.
Realistically, I think we have to assume that the orbital test flight will not happen until 1Q of next year – even if the FAA works expeditiously.
Starship 20 has lost some more of heat shield tiles during this static fire (about one minute into the video).
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54439.280
“When the StarShip separates from it’s booster, will it ignite all six motors for the push to orbit?”
I’m pretty sure it will use all 6, because gravity losses outweigh the ISP loss from the sea-level engines.