SpaceX Conducts Successful Starship Flame Deflector Test
On July 28, 2023, SpaceX conducted a critical test of the flame deflector system at its Starbase launch facility in South Texas. The test involved firing the Raptor engines of a Starship prototype at full throttle for several seconds while aiming the exhaust at the flame deflector.
The flame deflector is a crucial piece of infrastructure designed to protect the launch pad during Starship launches. It consists of a semicircle of high-powered water cannons capable of spraying 100,000 gallons of water per minute to dissipate the heat and force of the engine exhaust. Properly functioning flame deflectors are vital to avoiding damage to launch pads during the takeoff of large rockets.
According to SpaceX, the Starship flame deflector test was a success. The system was able to withstand the heat and force of multiple Raptor engines firing simultaneously. The huge amount of water sprayed during the test successfully absorbed and redirected the exhaust without any harm to the launch pad.
This successful test is a major milestone for SpaceX’s goal of launching the orbital Starship from Starbase. With the flame deflector validated, the company can proceed with installing a full stack of Starship prototypes on the pad for integrated testing. Eventually, this will lead to the first orbital launch attempt of the massive next-generation reusable rocket.
The flame deflector and launch pad will need to hold up to the power of around 33 Raptor engines firing together on the Super Heavy booster. Therefore, confirming the system’s capabilities with fewer engines is an important step before the full-power launch. Going forward, SpaceX will perform additional integrated tests to wring out the flame deflector design.
With the Starship system projected to be the most powerful rocket ever built, getting the launch infrastructure right is key. The successful flame deflector test puts SpaceX one step closer to that goal and launching the rocket that will realize Elon Musk’s visions of interplanetary space travel.
