SpaceX began to experience a prototype of the Starship rocket (video)

The American company SpaceX conducted the first firing tests of the prototype of the second stage of the Starship missile. This was written in his microblog by the founder of SpaceX, Ilon Musk.

Recall that initially the project of the new rocket was called BFR (Big Falcon Rocket), but in November last year Musk said that now BFR will be called Starship. The system will consist of two parts: the Starship (second step) ship itself and the Super Heavy accelerator (first step). In mid -January, Musk published in his microblog a photo of the Starship prototype. It was called Starhopper and has several technical differences from the full second stage of Starship. In particular, three Raptor engines will be installed on it instead of seven (so far only one is installed), and the case has a lower height and a simplified shape.

During the first test on the StarsHip prototype, fixed with the help of cables, a single engine was launched for several seconds. As a result, the ship made a small jump, according to the test plan.

Now engineers intend to install a new head of the case on Starhopper and two more Raptor engines, after which SpaceX will begin flight tests of the prototype, during which Starhopper will rise by several hundred meters, and then several kilometers. The company also prepares another prototype of the second stage, which will be used during full -fledged flights to orbit with a return to Earth, writes N+1 .

The first launch of the rocket assembly was scheduled for 2022, and already in 2023 it is planned to send a rocket with tourists on board to the lunar orbit. However, compliance with these terms so far looks unlikely.