SpaceX Has Conducted A Fire Test For The Prototype Starship SN20

Run by tech billionaire Elon Musk, SpaceX conducted the first electrostatic tests of a prototype starship SN20 in preparation for the launch of the spacecraft. Space.com says this is an important milestone in the spacecraft's planned orbital path. The 165-foot SN20, now powered by two Raptor engines, underwent a brief "static fire" test at 8:16 pm ET at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica in southern Texas.

According to a NASASpaceflight.com commentator who broadcast the event live, only one of the two predators participated in the test. One of the SN20 engines is a standard "Marine" Raptor and the other is a "vacuum" version optimized for space operations. About 30 minutes after testing, SpaceX confirmed via Twitter that the vacuum predator had been raised. According to the company, this is the first test of a vacuum raptor integrated into the Starship spacecraft. Then, at 9:18 pm ET on Thursday, SN20 took a second static image. According to commentators on NASASpaceflight.com, this one looks a little lighter and more powerful than the first, and could contain both predators.

SpaceX is developing a spacecraft to transport people and cargo to the Moon, Mars and other distant places. NASA has registered and selected Starship as the first manned lunar landing system for the Artemis lunar program. The spaceship consists of two elements: a spaceship called Starship and a huge level 1 booster known as Super Heavy. Both are fully usable and both are equipped with Raptors (6 for new starships and 29 for new starships). 

Ultimately there will be six Raptors for the Super Heavy SN20 (three standard and three vacuum), the report said. SpaceX is preparing the vehicle for a test orbital flight in the coming months, the first of its Starship program. The prototype spacecraft is a three-engine vehicle that has already been launched but reaches a maximum altitude of about 10 miles.