SpaceX is gearing up for its seventh test flight of the Starship megarocket, which could take place in about a month. The company recently conducted a static-fire test with Flight 7’s Super Heavy first-stage booster, briefly igniting its 33 Raptor engines at a pad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility.
Although no official launch date has been announced, NASA is targeting January 11 for the flight, which will be observed by a Gulfstream V jet. The successful test follows recent missions in April and November of 2023, as well as March, June, October, and November this year, all of which have seen both Super Heavy and Ship perform well and return safely to Earth.
The Starship is the most powerful launcher ever built, with nearly twice the liftoff thrust of NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket. Its six test flights have showcased its capabilities, including successful reentry into Earth’s atmosphere and a recent demonstration of booster catch-and-replace technology.
However, despite SpaceX’s expertise in launching payloads into orbit, there are still concerns about Starship’s ability to successfully land astronauts on the moon. The mission will require numerous orbital maneuvers, including fueling from a tanker and docking with the Lunar Gateway or Artemis 3 spacecraft.
While SpaceX has made significant progress, demonstrating many capabilities that have yet to be shown in actual spaceflight scenarios, it remains to be seen whether its Starship HLS will meet the demands of sending humans to the moon.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-test-fires-super-heavy-booster-for-7th-starship-launch-video-photos