Gallery: SpaceX Takes Huge Step With Starship-Super Heavy Flight Test

Irene Klotz November 23, 2023
Starship/Super Heavy
Credit: SpaceX

The primary goal of SpaceX’s second Starship-Super Heavy integrated flight test was to demonstrate a “hot-staging” separation system where the upper stage engines ignite while the ship is still attached to the Super Heavy first stage, which was firing three engines at the time. 

Starship-Super Heavy
Credit: SpaceX

With its 33 Raptor engines burning, the Super Heavy reached space on its second flight.

Raptor engines burning
Credit: SpaceX

After losing several engines during Super Heavy’s first flight on April 20, SpaceX modified the manifolds on the Raptor engines to help prevent leaks, among other improvements. During the second flight, all 33 Super Heavy engines ignited and remained firing during ascent.

Starship-Super Heavy second flight demonstration
Credit: SpaceX

After a successful demonstration of SpaceX’s new hot-staging separation system, the Super Heavy booster was destroyed while the Starship continued flying, reaching space for the first time before it too was lost.

hot-staging separation system
Credit: SpaceX

The newly remodeled Starship-Super Heavy launch mount showed no obvious signs of damage after launch on the vehicle’s second flight test on Nov. 18. 

SpaceX’s second integrated flight test of the Starship-Super Heavy launch system ended earlier than planned, with both vehicles lost prior to reentry demonstrations. But the Nov. 18 flight proved that the Super Heavy is an orbital-class launcher, and the new hot-staging separation system worked as planned.

Read more about the flight test and what is next on SpaceX's Starship-Super Heavy agenda: SpaceX Looks Ahead To Next Starship-Super Heavy Flight Test

Irene Klotz

Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International.