Updated
Updated · nextbigfuture.com · Jun 25
SpaceX Reloads Starship 40 for Static Fire After June 24 Igniter Test
Updated
Updated · nextbigfuture.com · Jun 25

SpaceX Reloads Starship 40 for Static Fire After June 24 Igniter Test

1 articles · Updated · nextbigfuture.com · Jun 25

Summary

  • Starship 40 underwent multiple propellant-loading cycles at Massey’s on June 25 as SpaceX pressed ahead with a static-fire campaign after an earlier attempt ended in detanking.
  • A brief ignition flash was seen before that rollback in testing, with observers describing it as either another igniter test or an aborted static fire rather than a sustained engine firing.
  • A flap test followed the reload sequence — a standard pre-engine-test check — while the tank farm stayed active for chilldown and engine-test preparations.
  • Ship 40 had rolled out on June 23–24 and completed an engine igniter test on June 24, putting it on track for Starship Flight 13 targeted for July 2026.

Insights

With Flight 13 next month, what key hurdles remain for Ship 40's new Raptor 3 engines after their latest ground test?
Is Starship's development pace truly fast enough to meet NASA's critical deadlines for landing astronauts back on the Moon?
As a new public company, can SpaceX's high-risk testing model deliver its promised low-cost space access on schedule?