SpaceX has once more begun static fire testing on the Starship program at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. That is the primary static fire on the suborbital pads in 6 months.
Between the Masseys Testing Facility and suborbital pad B, Ship 25 has had 5 cryo proof tests accomplished, and leading as much as the static fire, SpaceX accomplished a spin prime test on June twenty second, during which the 6 Raptor engine pumps are spun up and cryogenic liquid oxygen is flowed through the complete system and shut down shortly before what could be engine ignition.
On June twenty seventh, SpaceX began fueling cryogenic liquid oxygen and methane into Ship 25 and lighting the 6 Raptor engines for a brief duration. Previously, this will have taken a couple of tries, nonetheless, SpaceX was capable of move incredibly easily throughout their countdown and eventual ignition of the three sea level Raptor engines and three vacuum Raptor engines.
Ship 25 completes a six-engine static fire test at Starbase in Texas pic.twitter.com/wCCrh0RRNA
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 27, 2023
It’s fairly remarkable that SpaceX did all the pieces so easily during this primary static fire, as Ship 25 has been in a wait-and-see mode before being chosen for the subsequent fully integrated test flight. The Raptor engines were installed many months ago and haven’t been fired since their departure from the McGregor testing facility.
Ship 25 can also be one of the traveled, because it has moved not less than 18 miles (28.9 km) between the production site, Masseys Test Facility, and the suborbital launch mount.
Additional views from yesterday’s Ship 25 static fire pic.twitter.com/dwdVETLJsV
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 27, 2023
Given all that movement, constant sitting and waiting throughout various weather, including severe thunderstorms, throughout the static fire, only a couple of of the heatshield tiles fell off. Ship 25 is actually robust and it should be interesting to observe as SpaceX continues its testing campaign in the approaching weeks and months.