SpaceX fires up all 6 of Starship's engines ahead of 13th test flight (video)

Less than one week after its previous test launch, SpaceX returned its latest Starship spacecraft to the launch stand. The company conducted essential engine checkouts in preparation for an upcoming test flight. The upper stage of the giant Starship rocket, referred to simply as "Ship," underwent a critical static-fire test. Specifically, Ship 40, the vehicle in question, lit up all six of its powerful Raptor engines. This test took place at the company’s Massey site in Starbase, Texas. Ship 40 is currently scheduled for the thirteenth test flight of a fully stacked Starship vehicle. This major launch is expected to occur within the next few weeks.

SpaceX shared video footage of the engine test on its X account on Thursday, July 2. The video provided several angles of the ignition sequence, allowing viewers to see the process in detail. It clearly showed all six engines firing simultaneously to simulate flight-like conditions. This simulation is crucial for verifying that the vehicle can handle the stresses of actual launch. Ship is equipped with six Raptor engines in total. These include three sea-level engines designed for lower atmospheric flight and three vacuum-optimized engines built for operation in space. This configuration allows the rocket to perform efficiently across different phases of flight.

Ship 40 had previously conducted its first-ever static fire just one week prior to this recent event. That initial test involved lighting only a single Raptor engine for approximately fifteen seconds. The more recent test represented a significant escalation in complexity and power. This latest ignition involved all six Raptor engines firing together for a full minute. According to SpaceX, this duration is necessary to thoroughly verify engine performance under sustained load. Such tests are standard procedure to ensure safety and reliability before attempting orbital insertion.