It has sent its next-generation rocket engine, the one it’s developing for the rocket that will ferry a spacecraft to the red planet, to its McGregor, Texas facility for testing. The Raptor won’t power these rockets or even the company’s next-generation rocket, the Falcon Heavy. Readers may recall that in a July 19 article, Digital Journal discussed the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Advertisement
There is an undercurrent of excitement in knowing the Raptor engine is going to be tested, and the news also lends credibility to Musk’s claims of a manned Mars mission by as early as 2024. However, this year the company has begun to show some tangible progress toward that goal. Further details about the much-awaited Mars mission is expected to be made public at the International Astronautical Conference in Mexico in September.
According to a report in Spaceflight Insider by Derek Richardson, “The static fire test is done to ensure that everything is working properly in advance of the launch”.
The shots in the video are taken from multiple vantage points, including a very close view of a Falcon 9 as it leaves the launch pad, and a wide view of the rocket’s first stage as it separates from the payload and heads back down to Earth for a landing.
This weekend’s launch will be the eight launch of the year for SpaceX in what will be a record year for the company in terms of launches to orbit.
Following stage separation, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship.
Advertisement
SpaceX is now delivering commercial and government payloads to space using the Falcon 9, and the company is aiming to make the rocket’s first stage fully reusable. Whereas the shuttle was powered by three main engines and two booster rockets, however, it is believed the large rocket SpaceX uses to colonize Mars would likely be powered by a cluster of nine Raptor engines.
