SpaceX conducted full-term static fire tests on the spacecraft’s ultra-heavy boosters. This should probably fly on 8 flights. After the surprising explosion of the upper stage spacecraft of Flight 7, the latest information from Flight 8’s company slowed down. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for accident investigations. However, with the booster static fire tests completed, SpaceX may know from the FAA’s investigation when it will start its next Starship test flight.
SpaceX Starship Booster Static Fire May Mean That Flight 8 could fly quickly
SpaceX picked up the pace yesterday in a test of a potential Starship Flight 8 after transporting an ultra-heavy booster that should have flew next to the pads at night over the weekend. This was followed by a static fire for the full period of the rocket, first reported by local media and then confirmed by the company on social media.
The super heavy one suffered a static fire for a full period, and SpaceX later confirmed it was a full period of run. The static fire is one of the final tests before launch, and a static fire in the first half of February could mean that Starship Flight 8 will fly faster than expected.
SpaceX’s filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is listed as opening a launch window on February 24th. However, the final launch date will depend on the company’s Starship Flight 7 Mishap research. This is currently underway with all the signs.
After a successful static fire test, SpaceX’s chief Elon Musk shared another image on X. This showed the top of the spacecraft, suggesting that SpaceX could next test the ship. The success of the ship’s static fire, where engineers discover that they do not find abnormal or uncomfortable data points, means that the remaining tests before flight are full stack wet dress rehearsals on the launch pad.
The Upper Stage failed to meet most, if not all, of the Flight 7 test goals, so spacecraft Flight 8 will have to rerun January’s tests. It is uncertain whether SpaceX is still planning to emphasize the ship strongly to its limits, but what is clear is that the company must increase the rhythm of testing. 2025 is a key year for the spacecraft program, especially as SpaceX needs to demonstrate intraordinary fueling of propellant depots.
The depot is at the heart of NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS), and is the first human being to land on the moon since the Apollo era. SpaceX will need to catch the ship at the launch tower to demonstrate the second stage of reusability. Reusability is not essential for spacecraft missions, but it is essential for reducing mission costs for flights to Mars and the Moon.
Prior to the disaster of the spacecraft’s Flight 7, Musk had suggested that if the ship succeeds in water, his company could advance the Tower Catch on Flight 8. SpaceX flew the ship with catch hardware on Flight 7, but the future catch is unknown after the in-flight explosion in January.
