STARBASE, Texas — SpaceX completed a full-duration static-fire test of a Super Heavy booster Friday as the company prepares for the 14th integrated flight test of its Starship launch system.
All 33 Raptor engines on the booster were fired while the vehicle remained secured at the launch site. Static-fire tests allow engineers to evaluate engines, fuel systems and ground equipment before a flight attempt.
SpaceX had previously tested the six engines on the Starship upper stage assigned to the mission. The company had not announced a launch date for Flight 14 as of the source publication.
The next mission follows Starship Flight 13, which launched July 24 from Starbase. The upper stage completed its planned flight and remained intact after splashing down in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX later recovered the vehicle for its return to Texas and engineering analysis.
Any Flight 14 launch will require regulatory clearance and the completion of additional vehicle and range preparations. Road and beach-access notices are published by the City of Starbase when closures are required for testing or spaceflight operations.
