SpaceX Conducted The first Hot Fire Test Of The New Starship For Its 13th Test Flight
Credit: SpaceX
Starship’s 13th test flight is just around the corner: SpaceX recently conducted the first static fire test of the engines of the new spacecraft, ready for its next launch. The test involved Starship’s V3 upper stage, which fired one of the Raptor 3 atmospheric engines for 15 seconds. Such tests are important to ensure that the spacecraft’s engines are in working order before the actual launch.
The test took place after the tanks were quickly refuelled and included a brief engine burn lasting approximately 10 seconds. This generated a powerful exhaust cloud, which quickly dissipated after the test. According to preliminary data, the test focused on the operation of a single engine. The burn occurred approximately 20 minutes after the fueling was completed, possibly simulating a re-ignition in orbit.
The start of static fire tests of the spacecraft, and later the booster, gives hope that the rocket’s 13th test launch will take place before the end of summer. NASA and SpaceX have no time to waste—the Americans must return to the Moon by January 20, 2029, period. Donald Trump has decreed so.
