Elon Musk’s SpaceX has completed engine testing on its Starship S20 spaceship, which will soon embark on its first orbital test
It’s the first time a Starship prototype has fired all six of its engines, which means it’s theoretically ready to go into orbit and back down, as SpaceX plans to accomplish soon.
S20 performed a “static fire” test in which he fired all of the engines while remaining on the ground.
SpaceX’s greatest hope for traveling deeper into space is the Starship, which is being created with the goal of one day traveling to Mars and other parts of the solar system.
The firing of all six Raptor engines installed into the bottom of the S20 was the most recent of these tests.
Elon Musk announced on Twitter that this was accomplished on Friday.
Before it is ready to go into orbit as part of a comprehensive test, S20 will be expected to do a modest “hop” – in which it lifts from the ground and then returns – as well as a number of tests.
STATIC FIRE and wow! Ship 20 fires up, with thrust this time, for a multi-engine test at SpaceX Starbase.
(Ship 20 has three sea-level Raptors and three RVacs. Hopefully, @elonmusk will tweet some info!)https://t.co/zCIrgzb0oI pic.twitter.com/h7IGZI0Y8g
— Chris Bergin – NSF (@NASASpaceflight) November 12, 2021
Mr. Musk has stated that the test might take place as early as this month.
The orbital mission will be carried upon a gigantic Super Heavy rocket, which SpaceX will attempt to capture and reuse. The Starship will take a 90-minute voyage around the Earth before landing off the coast of Hawaii.
