SpaceX Static-Fires Ship 40's 6 Raptor Engines for 60 Seconds Ahead of Starship Flight 13
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jul 2
SpaceX Static-Fires Ship 40's 6 Raptor Engines for 60 Seconds Ahead of Starship Flight 13
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jul 2
Summary
Ship 40 fired all six Raptor engines for 60 seconds at SpaceX's Massey site in Texas, a full-duration upper-stage static fire that moves Starship closer to its 13th integrated test flight.
The test followed Ship 40's first static fire last week, when a single Raptor burned for about 15 seconds; this run simulated flight-like conditions with three sea-level and three vacuum-optimized engines.
Flight 13 is expected within the next month or so and could come as early as August if the mission's Super Heavy booster clears its own pad tests, including static fires of its 33 Raptor engines.
The mission will be the second launch of Starship's Version 3 vehicle and is likely to repeat much of Flight 12 after the May 22 test, when the booster missed its planned soft ocean splashdown.
Can Starship meet NASA's revised 2028 moon landing deadline despite recent test flight failures?
How will Starship's massive new payload capacity reshape the global satellite internet race?
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Overview
SpaceX has made major progress with Starship Ship 40, highlighted by a successful static fire test on July 2, 2026. This test, which involved thorough engine checkouts, was a crucial step in proving the ship’s resilience to extreme loads and impressed experts. Such static fire tests are essential for isolating engine behavior and methodically qualifying hardware before moving forward. With this milestone, Ship 40 is now ready for stacking with its Super Heavy Booster, marking the last major hurdle before launch. This careful, step-by-step approach shows SpaceX’s commitment to technical readiness and reliable future missions.