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SpaceX’s Starship may be just one static fire test away from an orbital launch

Posted in space travel

The private space firm fired up 11 of Booster 7’s 33 next-generation Raptor engines.

SpaceX is making steady progress towards the orbital maiden test flight of its massive Mars-bound Starship rocket. The private space firm conducted a “static fire” test on Tuesday (Nov .29), at its South Texas facility. It ignited a total of 11 of 33 next-gen Raptor engines on its Starship first-stage Super Heavy prototype, Booster 7.

The static fire engine test started at 2:42 pm EST (19:42 GMT) and lasted for 13 seconds. On Twitter, SpaceX shared an image and wrote, “Booster 7 completed a long-duration static fire test of 11 Raptor 2 engines on the orbital launch pad at Starbase.”


SpaceX / Twitter.

The private space firm conducted a “static fire” test on Tuesday (Nov .29), at its South Texas facility. It ignited a total of 11 of 33 next-gen Raptor engines on its Starship first-stage Super Heavy prototype, Booster 7.