SpaceX - Starship Super Heavy patch.
Aug. 4, 2022
Image above: SpaceX conducts a multi-engine stable test with a prototype Booster 7 Starship Super Heavy on August 31, 2022 at its Starbase facility in South Texas. Photo Credits: Rocket Ranch, TX/Space.com.
SpaceX Stable engine tested successfully booster Starship Super Heavy for the first time. Earlier this month, SpaceX conducted two static test fires with Booster 7 in an orbital launch at Starbase, South Texas.
Both tests involved only one of the launcher vehicle’s Raptor engines. Today, August 31, 2022 local time, SpaceX proceeded testing by powering three Raptor engines on the prototype Super Heavy for approximately five seconds at 2:03 p.m. local time.
SpaceX Super Heavy Booster 7 static fire seen from Rocket Ranch
This ‘static fire’ test is part of the ongoing preparations for the first orbital test flight of Starship. SpaceX is preparing for the first orbital test flight of the Starship, a fully reusable vehicle that includes a massive booster called the Super Heavy and the 50-meter-tall Starship spacecraft.
Both elements will be powered by SpaceX’s next-generation Raptor engines, 33 for the Super Heavy and six for the Starship. Ongoing preparations include “steady fire” tests of Booster 7 and Ship 24, two prototypes of which will conduct future test flights.
Livestreamed the test, and footage of the test shows that only two of the engines could be fully operational, while a third could be aborted. Whether or not a third Raptor is involved, this is still SpaceX’s first multi-engine super heavy static engine test.
Starship Super Heavy description. Animation Credit: SpaceX
Boca Chica’s Rocket Ranch also captured imagery from SpaceX’s test conducted today. The prototype Starship Ship 24 has conducted such tests in the past; It powered two of its six Raptors during a stationary engine test on August 9, 2022.
Static fire testing will continue to increase, with SpaceX adding more engines to the mix. As things continue to develop, it will certainly be interesting to see Booster 7 fire at all 33 Raptors for the first time.
There is no exact timetable for all these tests, but we should expect quick moves. SpaceX moves fast, and the company aims to launch Booster 7 and Ship 24 within the next few months.
SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/
Image (mentioned), Animation (mentioned), Video, Text, Credits: Space.com/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
Greetings, Orbiter.ch
