SpaceX carried out fire tests of the Starship SN4, the prototype of a promising spacecraft, which is seen as a tool for flights to the Moon and Mars.
As part of the tests, Elon Musk's company used one Raptor engine. He worked for a few seconds, then passed out.
This is an important step towards the next stage of the SN4 tests - a jump of 150 meters. It is also known that in the foreseeable future SpaceX will send another demonstrator of the Starship spacecraft, the SN5, on a longer "journey". It will be powered by three Raptor engines.
SN4? soon. Raptor looks so smōl. pic.twitter.com/WcMdo6wAtj
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2020
The Raptor is a key element of the future space system, consisting of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy accelerator. Previously, the complex had the designation Big Falcon Rocket. As the concept was developed, it underwent technical changes more than once.
Starship SN4 Static Fire Test
Starship should be the largest spaceship in history. Previously, NASA allocated a large sum to SpaceX to design a lunar lander based on this spacecraft. You can learn more about the prospects of Starship as part of the Artemis lunar exploration program in our new material.