SpaceX Conducts Static Fire Test for Starship Booster, Paving Way for Future Tests
TapTechNews July 16th news, after the Starship booster to be used for the fifth test flight in August was transported to the launch pad last week, SpaceX conducted a static fire test on the rocket at its facility in Texas yesterday. This test was carried out at 10:13 am local time in Texas, and previously SpaceX had evaluated the fuel pump performance of the rocket through the spin start test.
Conducting a static fire test of the super heavy booster paves the way for the possible subsequent static fire test of the second-stage Starship. If this test goes smoothly, then only a few tests remain to be completed before SpaceX feels confident enough about the high-risk fifth Starship test flight.
Earlier that day, when SpaceX placed the capture device of the tower above the booster and the nearby roads were closed, there were signs indicating that a static fire test might be conducted. The local media video showed that the outside of the Starship booster was frosted, and then a static fire test of about 10 seconds was conducted. Since the Starship uses 33 Raptor engines to generate thrust, SpaceX will start the engines in groups to ensure safe start. The video showed multiple flashes during the static fire process, indicating that all the engines used for the fifth test flight of the super heavy booster have been ignited.
According to TapTechNews, the engine is the key to the success of the Starship. From the first to the fourth test flight, SpaceX has been continuously improving the performance of the engine. Only one engine failed during the ascent in the last test flight, and all the engines used for the Starship's entry and landing burns were successfully reignited. These engines are also crucial to the performance of the second-stage Starship, as SpaceX needs to demonstrate the space ignition ability at a certain stage of the Starship test.
Space ignition is a complex engineering that requires engineers to carefully manage fuel and tank pressure. Since the rocket is not vertical during space flight and the fuel inside is more prone to fluctuations due to the lack of gravity, the possibility of abnormality is higher than on Earth. SpaceX originally planned to conduct a space ignition test in the third Starship test earlier this year, but this plan was cancelled at the last minute, and there is little public information about this decision.
In addition to space ignition, the fifth Starship flight may also see SpaceX's first attempt to use the tower to capture the booster. Using the launch tower to capture the booster is a core part of the Starship's landing process because it allows SpaceX to quickly reuse the first-stage booster. However, this is also one of the most dangerous operations because even the slightest miscalculation can lead to the destruction of the launch pad. This will not only delay the Starship plan, because if the backup launch pad is unavailable, SpaceX will have to rebuild the infrastructure, and the review of regulatory agencies may also suspend future tests.
Today's test is also notable for the large amount of dust generated after SpaceX's ignition. So far, the company has not shared any test information, but from the appea rance after the launch pad test, there is no major damage. SpaceX will also build a second launch pad in Texas to achieve launch redundancy and plans to conduct a maximum of 25 Starship orbital launches per year.