SpaceX Breathes Fire & Successfully Fires Up Starship In Texas

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True to form, SpaceX tested its Starship Super Heavy booster at the launch pad today after shipping the rocket earlier this week. The Starship static fire was the second for the booster nine on the pad, and by the looks of it, the test was a success. SpaceX shipped the rocket back to its assembly and production facilities earlier this month after Starship's first static fire saw some engines shut down. However, within a month, the firm had shipped the rocket back to the launch pad, and a static fire was quite likely today after SpaceX tested the rocket's pumps and local authorities in Boca Chica, Texas, sent out notices to residents warning them of a potential overpressurization event.

Today's test appeared to be a test, as SpaceX confirmed that Super Heavy booster nine had conducted a full-duration static fire. This marks a significant improvement over the previous static fire of the rocket that had seen some of its engines shut down, according to the mission controller who confirmed it live.

All Starship engines appeared to light up this time, and the test lasted for roughly six seconds. The test objectives require firing the Raptor engines to half their full power. Views of the rocket also showed SpaceX's new inter-stage on top, which will protect the booster during the hot stage separation during test flight two.

As the test ended, SpaceX's mission controller confirmed that the test was a full-duration run. From the start of the engines to their shutdown, it appeared that the test lasted six seconds. SpaceX's Dan Huot, who hosted the static fire live stream, also confirmed on air