The Super Heavy Booster 19, the first stage of SpaceX's Starship rocket, was photographed following a successful static fire test of its 33 Raptor 3 engines. Close-up images captured by space photographer Colin Lidtke clearly showed the post-test condition of the rocket's hull. This is reported by Ixbt.com news.
The images reveal dark spots and smoke trails on the hull surface. Experts note that this is not damage, but rather traces of engine exhaust and water mixture from the sound suppression system. Although some paint peeling and partial damage to protective tape were observed in certain areas, the rocket's main structure remains intact.
The new generation Raptor 3 engines are distinguished by higher thrust, efficiency, and lightness compared to the previous Raptor 2 models. Most importantly, these engines do not require external heat shielding due to an integrated cooling system. This makes them four times cheaper to produce and enables multiple reuses.
Starship is a fully reusable super-heavy launch system being developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. It is designed to transport cargo and people to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. The upcoming 12th flight will be the first major test for the new generation Starship equipped with Raptor 3 engines.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
