SpaceX has moved Starship prototype 35 (Ship 35) to the Starbase, Texas launch site in preparation for the upcoming Flight 9 test.
Ship 35 went through two static fire tests on 30th April and 1st May. One of the six Raptor engines experienced an anomaly during the 2nd test. This was a 30-second 6-engine static fire test, the earlier test was performed on a single engine.
Yesterday, SpaceX reported on X that Ship 35 has been moved to the launch site (Massey Outpost) ahead of the Flight 9 test. However, due to the previous anomaly, SpaceX will perform another static fire test before the Flight 9 launch.
Why the 6-Engine Flight 9 Static Fire Failed
Although the single-engine static fire test was a success, the next day’s 6-engine testing was a partial failure. The discovery of this anomaly is the reason static fire tests are conducted—to find issues before the actual flight. SpaceX performed the second static fire test for a 30-second duration.
Reportedly, a drain of one of the six engines was clogged. This blockage caused an internal fire in a Raptor engine’s joint. The accumulation of pressure and fire inside the engine resulted in an explosion. This is a similar anomaly that happened during the Flight 8 test and resulted in a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD) of Ship 34.
A large flash of the explosion was witnessed as the Raptor engine caught fire during the Flight 9 Ship 35’s second static fire test.
Possible Flight 9 Schedule
If all goes well with the third Starship 35 static fire test and mounting it on Booster 14 at Starbase, the Starship Flight 9 launch is expected to happen no earlier than (NET) Monday, May 19th. However, SpaceX hasn’t released an official NET date yet.
SpaceX has already conducted two static fire tests of the Flight 9 Starship upper stage. Elon Musk’s space company is using the Super Heavy Booster 14 rocket prototype for this flight.
SpaceX first used Booster 14 in the Flight 7 launch and landing test. Flight 9 launch test will be the first Starship flight that’s going to reuse a previously flight-proven Super Heavy rocket booster and Raptor engines.
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