SpaceX has successfully conducted a static fire test of its Super Heavy booster in preparation for its second test flight. The test took place at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, and involved all 33 of the Super Heavy’s Raptor engines.

The Super Heavy booster is the most powerful rocket ever built, generating approximately 17 million pounds of thrust during launch. Although the engines were not fired at full power during the test, the thrust level still exceeded that of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which produces around 5 million pounds of thrust.

One of the primary objectives of the test was to evaluate the performance of a new water-cooled flame deflector. This steel water-deluge system is designed to protect the launchpad from the intense heat and force generated during a Starship launch. In the previous test flight in April, the launchpad was damaged and disintegrated due to the extreme conditions. However, the latest test seemed more successful, with the launchpad remaining mostly intact, albeit with four of the Raptor engines shutting down prematurely.

The upcoming second test flight of the Super Heavy has a roughly 50% chance of reaching orbital velocity, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The company aims to achieve at least a stage separation during this flight. The date for the second flight has yet to be determined, as regulators are still evaluating the effects of the first flight.

Once fully tested, SpaceX plans to use the Starship system to transport cargo and crew to destinations such as the moon, Mars, and potentially beyond. As part of NASA’s Artemis III mission in 2025, a modified version of the Starship spacecraft will be used to land two astronauts on the lunar surface.

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