SpaceX
SpaceX performs space-like single-engine burn test for Starship Flight 7
SpaceX has performed a space-like single-engine burn for Starship Flight 7 super-heavy launch vehicle. This event will be one of the key exercises in the upcoming test mission.
The integrated large vehicle includes two stages a super heavy booster and a ship to carry the payload. The upper stage is designed for full reusability and to take the payload and humans into space.
The ship is 50 meters tall, 9 meters wide, and has a propellant capacity of 1,200 tons. It is equipped with 6 Raptor engines, which generate 1,500 tons of thrust.
SpaceX Starship Single-Engine Burn Test (Credit – SpaceX)
Among these are three vacuum engines designed similarly to the Raptor engine featuring a larger exhaust section and a larger expansion nozzle to maximize the engine’s efficiency in space.
The company uses a single engine to lead the mission in space. During its last flight, Starship reignited a single Raptor engine in space. This engine burn is crucial for a ship deorbit burn before starting full orbital missions.
The video clip posted on social media site X shows the Starship Flight 7 upper stage performing this test for a few seconds.
Single engine static fire demonstrating a flight-like startup for an in-space burn pic.twitter.com/jELpcCOaO5
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 17, 2024
Prior to this test, SpaceX also conducted an engine ignition test on all six engines. We’ll see the single-engine burn test once again with Starship Flight 7, which is expected to happen in January 2025.
