On December 15, SpaceX advanced its preparations for the next Starship launch by igniting the spacecraft’s engines in a critical test.
The latest test, performed over the weekend, saw SpaceX’s Starship fire its Raptor engines for about 10 seconds. This marks a significant step forward as the company gears up for its seventh orbital test flight, anticipated around January 11, contingent upon NASA and the FAA’s approval. The successful engine ignition serves as a pivotal check in ensuring the health of the vehicle before it heads to the launchpad for integration with its Super Heavy booster.
Standing at a towering 400 feet when fully assembled, the Super Heavy and Starship stack represent SpaceX’s ambitious leap forward in spacecraft technology. This massive structure is intended to become the first fully reusable rocket, a feat not yet achieved by any other launch vehicle.
During previous attempts, SpaceX has demonstrated success with its novel landing method. During Integrated Flight Test 5 (IFT-5), the Super Heavy booster was perfectly caught by the launch tower’s unique ‘chopstick arms,’ designed to snag the booster mid-air as it returns. However, subsequent attempts, such as IFT-6, faced complications, leading to an unplanned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico instead of a safe catch.
SpaceX has not yet tried to recover a Starship upper stage at the launch site, but each test flight has brought them closer, with the vehicle landing softly in the Indian Ocean during its last mission. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to progress toward operational missions with a goal of 25 Starship launches in 2025, double the efforts of previous years.
NASA, closely monitoring these developments, has a vested interest in Starship’s success, earmarking it for the Artemis 3 mission to the moon planned for 2027. This mission underscores the urgency for SpaceX to resolve lingering challenges and achieve full operational capability as a vehicle for crewed lunar missions.
The recent engine test marks a promising milestone in SpaceX’s ambitious Starship program. As preparations for the January launch intensify, the company remains focused on overcoming previous setbacks to achieve its goal of a fully reusable launch vehicle, all while under the watchful eye of NASA and global space enthusiasts.
