SpaceX fires up 11 engines as it prepares massive rocket for orbital test

The Super Heavy rocket was fired for about 12 seconds, making it the longest firing so far. The test of 11 of the 33 rocket engines came at a time when the company is working on a Super Heavy launch attempt.

Tuesday's test did not set a new record for the number of engines tested, despite the fact that 14 engines were fired on this booster for a short time earlier this month. This is the longest period of time that so many engines have been fired at the same time.

What do you think will happen now? It's not clear what path to take for the launch system of the company. Super Heavy's engines were to be fired for about 20 seconds to test autogenous pressurization. The method of pressurizing fuel tanks uses gases generated on the rocket instead of a separate loaded gas.

It is possible that Tuesday's test was a slightly shorter version of the autogenous pressurization test. The test plans for the Super Heavy first stage are fluid because the company is taking an iterative design and development approach.

There are a couple of key tests that need to be completed before the combined Super Heavy rocket and Starship upper stage are launched from the company's Star base facility in South Texas. In order to gain confidence in the entire plumbing to fuel and pressurize the rocket's propulsion system, there will be a short-duration test firing of all 33 Raptor engines. The combined vehicles have to complete a wet dress rehearsal after the upper stage is stacked on top of Super Heavy.

Recent tests, including Tuesday's, have ended without any obvious failures, as the approach to working with the Starship architecture is maturing.

After completing all of its technical preparations, the Federal Aviation Administration needs to approve a launch license for the company. There is a chance that the test flight will slip into the early part of the next decade.