The next firing tests of the SpaceX Starship SN8 rocket prototype were accompanied by unexpected fireworks
Today, the second static fire tests of the SpaceX Starship SN8 prototype rocket, which for the first time should rise to an altitude of 18 km, took place at the Boca Chica test site. During the test, shortly after the Raptor engine was ignited, some burning debris began to fly from the launch pad. What was the reason for the unexpected fireworks is not reported. If the engines remain intact, another static fire test could take place tomorrow.
I must say that this time the Starship prototype for the first time looked like a space rocket. Before that, and even the first static fire tests of the SN8 with three Raptors on board were carried out on a cylindrical “repeats” type facility. It all started with the launch of the first prototype, from which a hurricane tore off the fairing and it was decided not to install it. All jumps up to 150 m were without fairings. Only Starship SN8 looks like a rocket, and now it is on the launch pad.
The third static start of engines to test their operation with small fuel tanks may take place tomorrow at around 18:00 Moscow time. The next step is to climb SN8 to an altitude of 18 km, followed by landing on engines.
In the final version, Starship will be 50 meters high and will be supported by six engines: three for atmospheric propulsion and three for vacuum propulsion. The rocket should help in the exploration of the Moon and Mars. But this is still in distant plans. We hope that today the debris flew not from the engine, but from the concrete platform, otherwise, there will be delays again.
