SpaceX’s ‘Starhopper’ Test Vehicle Takes a Short Raptor-Powered Trip
Elon Musk said all systems are green after its tiny tethered hop.
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As SpaceX proceeds with development of its Starship vehicle, its first the spacecraft’s Raptor engines. Today mounted with a single engine — as opposed to the more advanced Phase 2 version shown above — completed its first tethered hop of just a few inches , as spotted by nearby observers. Elon Musk tweeted “All systems green” after the test, which may not have gone far but recalls before we got used to the sight of Falcon 9 rocket engines returning to Earth after successful launches.
Musk previously said that suborbital test flights would require three of the engines — the final version of Starship f.k.a BFR — and we’ll be waiting to see when that happens.
Starhopper completed tethered hop. All systems green.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
As SpaceX proceeds with development of its Starship vehicle, its first the spacecraft’s Raptor engines. Today mounted with a single engine — as opposed to the more advanced Phase 2 version shown above — completed its first tethered hop of just a few inches , as spotted by nearby observers. Elon Musk tweeted “All systems green” after the test, which may not have gone far but recalls before we got used to the sight of Falcon 9 rocket engines returning to Earth after successful launches.
Musk previously said that suborbital test flights would require three of the engines — the final version of Starship f.k.a BFR — and we’ll be waiting to see when that happens.
Starhopper completed tethered hop. All systems green.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
