SpaceX conducts first static fire test of all Super Heavy rocket engines in Starship

SpaceX is one step closer to the first orbital test of the Starship spacecraft, the first stage of which

is a Super Heavy rocket. The aerospace company conducted the first static fire test of all 33 Raptor engines.

Views from drone of Booster 7's static fire test pic.twitter.com/KN4sk1nohf

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 9, 2023

The prototype of the Super Heavy rocket is called the Booster 7.The first attempt to start all engines was partially successful. The company intentionally turned off one engine, while another stopped working on its own. As a result, 31 engines worked normally. Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, said that this is enough for the rocket to reach orbit.

Team turned off 1 engine just before start & 1 stopped itself, so 31 engines fired overall.

But still enough engines to reach orbit! https://t.co/QYx3oVM4Gw

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2023

The Starship prototype is called Ship 24 and is equipped withsix Raptor engines. It has a height of 50 meters. The total height of the ship and rocket is 120 meters. As part of the test, the company's specialists refueled both stages with fuel. The fire test, during which the missile and the ship remained on the ground, lasted 7 seconds.

First static fire attempt of 33 Raptor engines on Booster 7 https://t.co/3haor6owfa

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 9, 2023

Super Heavy will become the most powerful rocket in the world.The 33 Raptor engines are capable of producing more than 8 million kg of thrust, twice that of a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The first lunar rocket has already successfully completed its mission, sending the Orion spacecraft into space. The debut test flight of Starship is expected in March, and two years later the ship will be used as part of the Artemis III mission to land people on the moon.