SpaceX simultaneously launched 31 of the 33 Raptor engines of the prototype of the first stage of the launch vehicle
Drone testing of engines. Video: SpaceX
The purpose of the tests was to simultaneouslystart all 33 booster engines. But the team turned off one of the engines just before the start of the test, and another turned off in the process. Nevertheless, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk considers the tests a success. "Enough engines to go into orbit," he tweeted.
Booster 7 is the prototype of the first stagethe Super Heavy launch vehicle that SpaceX will use to launch the Starship spacecraft into Earth orbit. Earlier, Elon Musk said that in the event of a successful test, the first test flight of a launch vehicle with a spacecraft model is very likely to take place in March this year.
Preparation and testing of Starship engines. Video: SpaceX
Super Heavy launch vehicle if successfulflight will become the most powerful in the world. 33 engines will generate thrust in excess of 75 million N. For comparison, the Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle, which NASA used in the Artemis-1 lunar mission, generated almost half as much thrust - 39 million N.
Previously, Hi-Tech talked about new missiles that they plan to launch in 2023.
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