SpaceX may be conducting a static-fire test of all 33 Raptor engines in its Super Heavy booster as early as next week, according to Bill Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX. The test will take place at the company’s Starbase test site in Boca Chica, Texas.
Gerstenmaier stated that there is still a lot of work to be done before the test can take place, but did not elaborate on the nature of that work. Road closures have been planned for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 on the highway leading to Starbase, but no reason for the closures other than “non-flight testing” has been provided.
In preparation for the test, SpaceX announced on Twitter that it had separated the Starship SN24 spacecraft from its Super Heavy booster. The destacking process is a crucial step in preparing for the test, which is expected to involve firing all 33 Raptor engines simultaneously.
Both SpaceX and NASA have identified the 33-engine static-fire test as a major remaining milestone before the vehicle is ready, at least technically, for an orbital launch. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that he believes the company could be ready for an orbital launch as soon as late February, but SpaceX has missed past schedule estimates on Starship’s first orbital flight.
Starship is essential not just for NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon, but also SpaceX’s deployment of its second-generation Starlink constellation, and ultimately, sending humans to Mars. Gerstenmaier is Vice President, Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX.
The successful completion of this static-fire test will bring SpaceX one step closer to achieving its ambitious goals. The company’s Starship spacecraft is designed to take humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, and this test is a crucial step in that journey. The public will be watching closely as SpaceX continues to work towards its goal of space travel for all.
