--- title: "SpaceX Fires Up Starship Engines Ahead of Miles-High Flight Test" description: "SpaceX has fired up the three Raptor engines attached to its latest Starship prototype called SN8 for the fourth time on Tuesday evening. " date: "2020-11-25" modified: "2020-11-25" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-starship-prototype-fourth-static-fire" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" tags: - "elon musk" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "the digest" --- # SpaceX Fires Up Starship Engines Ahead of Miles-High Flight Test ![SpaceX has fired up the three Raptor engines attached to its latest Starship prototype called SN8 for the fourth time on Tuesday evening. ]() *\Image: BocaChicaGal/NASASpaceFlight\* ## Latest Attempt SpaceX fired up the three Raptor engines attached to its latest Starship prototype, called SN8, for the fourth time on Tuesday evening. The successful test means the prototype could go on to make its maiden voyage to roughly nine miles in altitude as soon as next week, according to a [Tuesday tweet]() by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. "Goals are to test 3 engine ascent, body flaps, transition from main to header tanks & landing flip," Musk said, describing the manuevers SN8 will be put through during its first-ever test flight. ## Big Jump If all goes according to plan, the massive prototype will take off vertically and fly miles high before tumbling back down to the surface while [using its "belly" to slow itself down](). Once it closes in on the landing pad, the prototype will lift itself upright again using side boosters to slow its descent further, as shown in a [fan-made animated video]() that Musk himself called "very close to actual expected flight." ## Going Orbital The final Starship is designed to eventually use three sea-level variant Raptor engines as a second stage to reach orbital velocity, with an additional [three vacuum-optimized engines](), which are far bigger, to accelerate it through space. SN8 is currently outfitted with only the first three. SpaceX is also working on a first stage rocket booster that will fire before either of those systems, called Super Heavy. That gigantic system will feature around 30 Raptor engines just on its own. **READ MORE:** [SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype fires engines ahead of major test flight]() \[*Space.com*\] **More on Starship:** *[Elon Musk: First Mars City Will Start With Glass Domes]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()