SpaceX Fires Up Starship Engines For Fifth Test Flight

SpaceX recently conducted a static fire test involving all six engines of its Starship spacecraft while it awaits clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the fifth test launch of the powerful rocket.

The pioneering space company, led by Elon Musk, shared visuals of the engine test on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. The video captures the engines igniting while the spacecraft remains on the launch pad.

Six engine static fire of Flight 6 Starship pic.twitter.com/fzJz9BWBn6

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 19, 2024

For its missions, the Starship is launched into orbit by the Super Heavy booster, which generates an astounding 17 million pounds of thrust at lift-off, making it the strongest rocket ever constructed.

To date, the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft—collectively referred to as Starship—have undergone four launch attempts, with each showing incremental improvements over its predecessors.

The first launch, which occurred in April of last year, ended in an explosion shortly after takeoff from SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The second flight, seven months later, successfully achieved stage separation but ultimately also resulted in an explosion, a dramatic moment captured on video. The subsequent third and fourth launches lasted significantly longer and accomplished several mission objectives, including successfully placing the Starship into orbit.

According to recent reports, the fifth flight test is not expected to take place until November at the earliest. This trial will see SpaceX attempt to use enormous mechanical arms to “catch” the Super Heavy booster as it returns to the landing zone. SpaceX has expressed its frustration regarding the timeframe for the FAA’s investigation, which is necessary for the fifth test to proceed. The company has indicated its readiness to launch the spacecraft within days upon receiving FAA approval.

After testing is finalized, NASA plans to utilize the Starship, in conjunction with its Space Launch System rocket, to transport astronauts and supplies to the moon, and potentially even further destinations like Mars. NASA has already made plans to adapt the Starship for landing the first astronauts on the lunar surface in fifty years, as part of the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for 2026.