I’m still worried about the Raptor shutdowns, but I’m crossing my fingers that it’s just extra conservative limits during the testing. As long as there isn’t really a risk to the pad, though, I hope they go for it and launch regardless of some flaky engines.
Definitely worrying but it’s also very early in Raptor development.
I think recently they got into the triple digits and they are still heavily developing them.
I do hope they stabilize at each variant enough to use them successfully to launch though. Just look at the iteration and versions of the Merlin.
All in all: HYPE
Yeah man I’m no expert but I don’t think you want to just send it when it comes to rockets. Flaky sounds like a no go but I’m not running the rocket show
I agree for most other companies, but SpaceX’s whole MO is to keep pushing limits and prototyping and testing. They probably could have stabilized the Raptor design and had something more reliable if they stopped trying to push the performance limits. This booster has some other big changes that are worth testing, so as long as they can get through stage separation, flying it as-is would have a lot of value.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
SpaceX conducted a second hot fire test of its Super Heavy booster on Friday afternoon, likely taking a key step toward the next launch of its massive new rocket.
If additional data reviews verify this performance, it appears likely that SpaceX has completed the last major hardware test needed before a second flight of the Starship launch system.
This was a problem during the rocket’s unsuccessful debut test flight in April when the lack of a sound suppression system led to significant damage, including the rupture of concrete chunks from the launch pad that rained down debris for miles around the Starbase location in South Texas.
About four weeks ago, SpaceX successfully tested a new water deluge and flame deflector installed beneath the Starship launch mount.
The company must receive a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been reviewing a “mishap investigation report” submitted by SpaceX following the April test flight.
After accepting or modifying this report, the Federal Aviation Administration and SpaceX will identify corrective actions that the company must make ahead of its second test flight to ensure the safety of people, property, and wildlife near the South Texas launch site, which is surrounded by wetlands and the Gulf of Mexico.
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