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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.