SpaceX completes static hearth of Starship prototype, will hop subsequent

Shiny metal tube spews smoke and flame.

Enlarge / Overhead view of SN5 static hearth take a look at on Thursday. (credit score: Elon Musk/Twitter)

After scrubbing a number of makes an attempt for climate issues, technical points, and even a spread violation because of a close-by boat, SpaceX succeeded in static-fire testing the newest prototype of its Starship car on Thursday.

At 3:02pm native time in South Texas, the one Raptor engine connected to the Starship prototype dubbed Serial Quantity 5, or SN5, roared to life for a couple of seconds. In video shared by NASASpaceflight.com, the take a look at seemed to be nominal, evidently offering SpaceX engineers with the boldness they want within the newest iteration of Starship.

Shortly after the take a look at, the founder and chief engineer of SpaceX, Elon Musk, confirmed that the static hearth meant the corporate now plans to maneuver ahead with a brief take a look at flight of the car. Based mostly upon a notification from the US Federal Aviation Administration, this 150-meter flight take a look at might happen as quickly as Sunday, with a launch window opening at 8am native time (13:00 UTC).

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