SpaceX performed a static fire test of the Starship Hopper vehicle at the company’s Boca Chica facility early this morning ahead of its first untethered hop.
The Starship Hopper static fire occurred at 03:24 UTC this morning (22:24 on July 16 local time ). The test saw the vehicle’s single next-generation methane-fueled Raptor engine fired for approximately four seconds.
Although the test appeared to have been successful, the vehicle remained on fire for as much as four minutes following the test. As SpaceX ground crews attempted to extinguish the fire, the vehicle was engulfed in a large fireball. It is as yet unclear if the vehicle suffered any damage or if the incident will affect the hop test that was expected to follow later this week.
