SpaceX Prepares for Second Starship Flight with Extensive Changes and Successful Engine Test Fire.
SpaceX conducted a six-engine static test fire of the Starship vehicle that will be paired with a Super Heavy booster for the second test flight of the company's fully-reusable launch system. The firing took place at SpaceX's Starbase facility in south Texas, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk said it was a "key milestone completed for flight two." The fully-reusable Starship is expected to lower launch costs and enable missions to the moon and Mars, and was selected by NASA as the landing vehicle for the Artemis 3 mission. Improvements are being made to the Raptor engines and the stage separation system, and major repair work and modifications are underway to the Starship launch pad.