SpaceX static-fires Starship Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 8
SpaceX static-fires Starship Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines
12 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 8
At Starbase in Texas, the 14-second full-duration, full-thrust test marked the first successful full-up static fire for the Version 3 booster ahead of a targeted 15 May Flight 12.
Earlier March and 15 April booster tests ended early because of ground-equipment problems, while the upper-stage Ship completed a six-engine static fire on 14 April.
Starship has flown 11 suborbital tests since 2023; Flight 12 follows a November pressure-test loss of the original booster and is a step toward future NASA Artemis lunar-lander missions.
With NASA flagging critical safety flaws, can SpaceX's Starship be trusted to safely return astronauts to the Moon?
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Breaking Barriers: Super Heavy V3’s 33 Raptor Engines Ignite 9,240 Tons of Thrust Ahead of Flight 12
Overview
On May 7, 2026, SpaceX successfully completed the first full-duration static fire of its Super Heavy V3 booster, firing all 33 powerful Raptor 3 engines simultaneously and generating 9,240 tons of thrust. This milestone followed earlier test failures in March and April, which led to key upgrades at Starbase Pad 2, including a reinforced launch mount and water-deluge system. The test validated the booster’s engine cluster, thrust vector control system, and ground infrastructure, clearing the final technical hurdle before Flight 12. Flight 12, targeted for mid-May, aims to demonstrate stable orbit, full reusability, and in-orbit refueling, advancing SpaceX’s goals for lunar and Mars missions.