[Reading Science] Humanity's First Full-Scale 'Spacecraft', Final Rehearsal Success

SpaceX Conducts Static Fire Test of Starship Upper Section 'Ship 25'

Elon Musk's SpaceX, which is developing the most powerful space launch vehicle ever, Starship, for lunar and Mars exploration, has delayed the second test launch. Meanwhile, the final rehearsal for the launch test of the upper spacecraft (Ship 25) attracted attention.

Static fire test of SpaceX's Starship upper stage spacecraft (ship 25) conducted on the 26th (Eastern Time, USA). Photo by SpaceX Twitter account.

On the 26th at around 8:27 PM (Eastern Time), SpaceX successfully conducted a static fire test by igniting six Raptor engines of the Starship upper spacecraft for 5 seconds at its own spaceport, 'Starbase,' located in Texas, USA. This type of test is called a static fire test. It is a final rehearsal before launch, where the launch vehicle is fixed on the ground, the engines are briefly ignited, and then shut down. Prior to this, on the 22nd, SpaceX conducted a test to cool and spin the Raptor engine pumps in a manner similar to flight conditions. SpaceX plans to conduct the launch test of the Starship upper spacecraft in August or later. The spacecraft will be mounted on the first stage called Booster 9 for launch, orbit the Earth partially, and then crash into the sea near Hawaii.

This spacecraft is the upper part of the Starship, the most powerful space launch vehicle being developed by SpaceX. It carries cargo and people. After being carried on the first stage and leaving the atmosphere, it is designed as a transport vehicle that reaches extraterrestrial planets such as the Moon or Mars and returns, making it the first full-fledged 'spacecraft' in human history. It is scheduled to be used for NASA's Artemis 3 mission, the second human lunar landing exploration project, planned for after 2025.

Static fire test of SpaceX's Starship upper stage (ship 25) conducted on the 26th (Eastern Time, USA). Photo by SpaceX Twitter account.

Earlier, on April 20th, SpaceX conducted the first orbital launch test of the complete Starship (first stage Super Heavy + second stage Starship). The launch vehicle passed through the Max-Q point, where it experiences the greatest pressure, and reached an altitude of 39 km, achieving some success. However, some of the 33 first-stage engines malfunctioned, and the first stage failed to separate, leading to self-destruction a few minutes after launch, revealing problems. The launch pad at Starbase was also partially damaged, with some areas burned and melted. In particular, the engine's aftershock was stronger than expected, and damage caused by debris from the self-destruction led to strong protests from nearby residents. As a result, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began a safety re-investigation, delaying the reschedule of the launch. Regarding this, Musk announced on Twitter on the 13th that the launch is expected this summer. When asked about the next launch date, he simply replied "6 to 8 weeks."

When combined, the first and second stages of Starship reach a height of 120 meters, making it the largest and most powerful space launch vehicle ever. The first stage consists of 33 Raptor engines, each producing 200 tons of thrust, generating a total thrust of 16.7 million pounds (approximately 7,575 tons). This is twice the thrust of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), the current strongest. The entire launch vehicle is designed to be reusable multiple times. It is expected to drastically reduce launch costs within Earth's atmosphere and open new horizons for lunar and Mars exploration.

Static fire test of SpaceX's Starship upper stage (ship 25) conducted on the 26th (Eastern Time, USA). Photo by SpaceX Twitter account.