SpaceX conducts multi-engine test; Plans are to fly prototype to 50,000 feet from Boca Chica
At 3:14 a.m. Tuesday SpaceX conducted a successful static-fire test of the three engines mounted in its SN8 Starship prototype at the companys Boca Chica launch area.
It was the first time SpaceX has fired more than one of its liquid oxygen- and liquid methane-powered Raptor simultaneously. The test puts the company a step closer to launching the stainless-steel-clad SN8, which is set to receive a nose cone and perhaps another static-fire test before its first flight, possibly this month or early November.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Sept. 12 that testing of SN8 would include static fire, checkouts, static fire, fly to 60,000 (feet and back), but then on Sept. 26 tweeted that the prototypes first launch would be to 15 kilometers or about 50,000 feet.
If it comes to pass it will be by far the highest a Starship prototype has flown. SpaceXs rudimentary Starhopper prototype flew to 500 feet in August 2019, followed by 500-foot hops of the Starship SN5 prototype on Aug. 4 and the SN6 prototype on Sept 3. of this year. Each of those vehicles was powered by a single Raptor engine. SN stands for serial number.
Read more: https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/2020/10/20/spacex-conducts-multi-engine-test-plans-fly-prototype-50000-feet-boca-chica/