SpaceX Ignites Super Heavy Rocket's 33 Engines for the First Time
Elon Musk Podcast10 Helmi 2023

SpaceX Ignites Super Heavy Rocket's 33 Engines for the First Time

SpaceX, the leading private aerospace company, is taking a big step towards space exploration with its Super Heavy rocket booster. The company's first stage of the starship rocket is fully reusable, which is aimed to power NASA's return to the Moon and help humans settle on Mars one day. With 33 main engines, this is the first time in history that so many engines have been used on a rocket. The closest comparison to this is the Soviet Union's N1 rocket, which had 30 liquid-fueled engines, but each of them was only about two-thirds as powerful as the Raptor 2 engines used on the Super Heavy rocket.

The Super Heavy rocket is a crucial component of SpaceX's starship program, and its successful ignition of all 33 engines marks a significant milestone for the company. Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX, spoke at a commercial space conference in Washington, DC and stated that Thursday (the day of the engine ignition test) was going to be a "big day" for the company. Despite the significance of the moment, Shotwell emphasized that the test was just the first step and the real goal was not to "blow up the launch pad".

SpaceX's Starship program has been in development for several years, and after rapid-fire prototype tests in 2020 and 2021, the company has moved more cautiously with its testing at the Starbase facility in South Texas. The company has likely invested over $1 billion in building a massive launch-and-catch tower, as well as ground systems, to support the Super Heavy and Starship vehicles. With so many assets in one small area near the Gulf of Mexico, SpaceX is taking extra care not to risk destroying any infrastructure it has spent over a year building and testing.

In the event of any destruction, the starship launch campaign would be set back for months, and regulatory concerns raised by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would likely increase. Thus, the primary goal of the engine ignition test was to not blow up the launch pad, and after that, SpaceX would analyze the performance of the Raptor engines and replace any that show deviations from expected behavior.

The engine ignition test took place at around 3:15 pm local time in South Texas, and lasted for a "full duration" of the Raptor engines. According to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, one engine was turned off just prior to ignition, and another stopped itself, but 31 of the 33 engines would have provided enough thrust to reach orbit. Despite this, the launch infrastructure in South Texas remained mostly unscathed.

This successful engine ignition test could lead to SpaceX's first orbital launch attempt, which is expected to occur in the second half of March or early April. The thrust output of the Super Heavy's engines was likely nearly double that of NASA's Saturn 5 rocket or Space Launch System, which is a huge achievement for SpaceX.

Reusable Rockets: The Future of Space Exploration

SpaceX's Super Heavy rocket booster is designed to be fully reusable, which is a major shift in the traditional aerospace industry. In the past, most rockets were used only once and then discarded after their mission was complete. This was because it was deemed too expensive and time-consuming to recover and refurbish the rockets for reuse. However, SpaceX has taken a different approach and is working towards a future where reusable rockets are the norm.

Reusable rockets have several benefits. For starters, they significantly reduce the cost of launching into space. This is because the same rocket can be used repeatedly, reducing the need to build and launch new rockets for each mission. In addition, reusable rockets reduce the amount of debris generated during launches, which is crucial in maintaining a clean environment

Jaksot(1163)

Apple's Smart Home Hub Just Showed Up in iOS 26 Code

Apple's Smart Home Hub Just Showed Up in iOS 26 Code

Apple is working on a smart home hub with Face ID, profile switching, and Apple Intelligence support. Recent iOS 26 code leaks confirm several features that have been rumored for years, including a 1080p camera, person detection, and a personified Siri interface. The device will come in two versions: one for wall mounting and one with a speaker base resembling the iMac G4. Expected launch is March or April 2025. We break down what Apple is building and how it compares to Google and Amazon.⁠Join my community at the APEX CREATOR CLUB >> https://whop.com/apex-creator-club/⁠

16 Joulu 11min

xAI Is Burning $1 Billion a Month.

xAI Is Burning $1 Billion a Month.

Elon Musk's xAI has built an enterprise sales team to pitch Grok to major corporations, but the company faces serious obstacles. With no track record in enterprise sales, a burn rate of $1 billion per month, and public missteps including misinformation and controversial outputs, xAI is trying to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic for contracts it has not yet proven it can deliver on. We break down where Grok actually performs well and why corporations remain hesitant.⁠Join my FREE BUSINESS community at the APEX CREATOR CLUB >> https://whop.com/apex-creator-club/⁠⁠

16 Joulu 8min

SpaceX's $1.5 Trillion IPO Would Be the Biggest Ever

SpaceX's $1.5 Trillion IPO Would Be the Biggest Ever

SpaceX set a new share price of $421, valuing the company at $800 billion and reclaiming the title of the world's most valuable private company from OpenAI. Elon Musk confirmed plans for a 2026 IPO that could raise over $30 billion at a $1.5 trillion valuation. Google's parent company Alphabet is set to book another paper gain from its SpaceX stake. We break down the numbers and what the Musk-Altman rivalry means for frontier tech.⁠Join my FREE BUSINESS community at the APEX CREATOR CLUB >> https://whop.com/apex-creator-club/

15 Joulu 8min

Trump's AI Executive Order Has a $100 Million Lobby Behind It

Trump's AI Executive Order Has a $100 Million Lobby Behind It

Trump signed an executive order blocking states from enforcing AI regulations, creating a DOJ task force to sue states and threatening to withhold federal funding. Congress rejected this twice. Republicans are split. The courts will decide what happens next.https://whop.com/apex-creator-club/⁠

14 Joulu 10min

Why McDonald's Deleted Its AI Ad and the Defense of It

Why McDonald's Deleted Its AI Ad and the Defense of It

McDonald's Netherlands released a 45-second Christmas ad made entirely with generative AI. The internet called it creepy, soulless, and worse than Coca-Cola's AI ads. McDonald's disabled comments, pulled the video, and called it "an important learning." The production company defended the work, then deleted the defense. We break down what went wrong and why even the directors are distancing themselves.Join our FREE Business Community - ⁠https://whop.com/apex-content/⁠

13 Joulu 7min

The iPhone Fold: $2,400, No Face ID, and a Bet on Zero Crease

The iPhone Fold: $2,400, No Face ID, and a Bet on Zero Crease

Apple has ordered 22 million display panels for its first foldable iPhone, targeting a fall 2026 launch at around $2,400. IDC forecasts Apple will capture 22% of the foldable market and 34% of market value in its first year. We cover the leaked specs, the crease-free display technology, the under-display camera breakthrough, and why Samsung is scrambling to launch new foldables before Apple arrives.Join our FREE Business Community - ⁠https://whop.com/apex-content/⁠

12 Joulu 9min

How Intel's CEO Got Richer While Rescuing the Company

How Intel's CEO Got Richer While Rescuing the Company

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan pitched the company's board on buying an AI startup where he serves as chairman and holds a financial stake. The board said no, citing a conflict of interest. Then a bidding war with Meta drove up the price. This is one of at least three deals where Intel has pursued companies that benefit Tan personally. We break down the Rivos situation, the SambaNova talks, and what Intel's policies actually do to manage these conflicts.Join our FREE Business Community - ⁠https://whop.com/apex-content/⁠

11 Joulu 10min

AI Risk Is Off the Charts

AI Risk Is Off the Charts

At Abu Dhabi Finance Week, executives managing trillions of dollars debated whether AI stocks are worth their sky-high prices. Jenny Johnson of Franklin Templeton compared the frenzy to the gold rush. Chris Hohn of TCI said risk factors are off the charts. Stephen Schwarzman said we may need to double the electricity grid. We break down what each of them said.Join our FREE Business Community - ⁠https://whop.com/apex-content/⁠

11 Joulu 8min