SpaceX recently conducted an engine test on its Starship spacecraft ahead of the company’s 7th orbital test flight. The test, which lasted approximately 10 seconds, was part of a series of checkouts to ensure the vehicle is healthy before being transported to the launchpad.
The upcoming launch, Integrated Flight Test-7 (IFT-7), is expected to take place on January 11, based on communications with NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Once mated, the Starship upper stage will stand over 400 feet tall, making it one of the tallest vehicles ever built.
If successful, Starship will become the first fully reusable rocket in history. The vehicle’s design allows for return and fast refurbishment at SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility in Texas. In contrast, SpaceX’s current Falcon 9 launch vehicle requires expendable second stages after each mission.
Recovery at Starbase involves using “chopstick arms” to catch the rocket’s stages mid-air as they descend. While recovery of the Super Heavy booster during IFT-6 was unsuccessful, previous attempts have shown promise. The company is working towards recovering a Starship upper stage back at the launchpad in the future.
With four test flights under its belt this year, SpaceX aims to increase its launch frequency to 25 by 2025. NASA has contracted Starship for its crewed lunar landing mission, Artemis 3, expected to launch sometime in 2027. Despite the ambitious timeline, Starship still needs significant progress before reaching a crewed lunar landing.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/watch-spacex-starship-test-fire-180000851.html