Starship Static Test Fire #2
Down in Boca Chica, TX, SpaceX completed the second static test fire of its Serial Number 4 Starship vehicle.
This unit is a test vehicle only. It has been fitted with only one Sea-Level-Optimized Raptor Engine. The Raptor has set the world's record for the most powerful rocket engine on earth that is currently in production.
This short <1 second burn is impressive. You can tell from the video that it shakes the earth and sounds much like a lightning strike.
Serial Number 5 will have three of these engines on it. The final non-test vehicle will have 3 Sea-Level engines and 3 Vacuum-Optimized Raptor engines for use while above the atmosphere.
Keep in mind that this vehicle is just the 2nd stage of the final vision for the Starship concept. This vehicle will ride on top of the Falcon Super-Heavy booster which is also in development. The Super-Heavy Booster will have 31 Raptor Engines on it!
This image shows the bottom of the Starship SN4 with the one Raptor Engine. Notice that it is off center. This is because the Thrust Puck that it is mounted to is designed for 3 engines. SN 5 will have all three engines in a center cluster.
The Super-Heavy Booster has the same diameter as this, so imagine this with 31 engines in the same area!
Starship SN4 will be making a short hop flight of 150 meters very soon.