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

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

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Tesla's $2.9 Billion Battery Deal Just Collapsed to $7,386

Tesla's $2.9 Billion Battery Deal Just Collapsed to $7,386

South Korean supplier L&F announced that its $2.9 billion contract to supply battery materials to Tesla has been written down to just $7,386, a reduction of more than 99 percent. The materials were intended for Tesla's 4680 battery cells, which power the Cybertruck. With the Cybertruck selling at a fraction of its production capacity and the $25,000 Tesla cancelled, the 4680 program that Musk promised would halve battery costs has collapsed.

3 Jan 11min

SpaceX Starship Flight 12 Update

SpaceX Starship Flight 12 Update

Track everything happening ahead of SpaceX Starship Flight 12 in one place. This live Starship Tracker follows the real-world milestones from Starbase as they happen, including vehicle status, test campaign progress, schedule signals, and any official updates that move the launch closer.What you will see on this tracker:Current readiness status and major pre-flight milestonesStarbase activity updates and test operations timelineShip and Booster progress checkpoints (as reported by credible sources)Launch window signals, delays, and what they likely meanFlight 12 news recaps when meaningful updates breakSources referenced may include: SpaceX statements, FAA notices, public filings, on-site reporting, and reputable spaceflight outlets. This is an independent tracker and is not affiliated with SpaceX.If you want more Starship coverage, subscribe and turn on notifications so you do not miss key Flight 12 developments.#SpaceX #Starship #Starbase #Flight12 #SpaceNews

2 Jan 24min

Tesla suffers MASSIVE 15% Drop in Sales

Tesla suffers MASSIVE 15% Drop in Sales

Tesla published its Q4 delivery consensus directly on its investor relations website for the first time ever. The expected number is 422,850 vehicles, a 15 percent drop from a year ago. Full-year 2025 deliveries are projected at 1.64 million, down 8.3 percent from 2024, marking a second consecutive year of declining sales. The move is seen as a defensive strategy to set expectations ahead of weak results following the expiration of the federal EV tax credit.

31 Dec 202511min

Billionaires are following Elon Musk out of California

Billionaires are following Elon Musk out of California

California's proposed Billionaire Tax Act would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents worth over $1 billion, potentially raising $100 billion from about 200 people. Larry Page and Peter Thiel are reportedly making plans to leave. Tech founders are calling it an organized seizure. Governor Newsom opposes it. The vote is in November 2026, but the residency cutoff is January 1, 2026, which is why billionaires are moving now.https://wilwaldon.com

30 Dec 202513min

Can Isaacman Beat China to the Moon?

Can Isaacman Beat China to the Moon?

Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA administrator on December 18 after a nomination process that included Trump pulling his name, a feud with Elon Musk, and a leaked 62-page restructuring plan. Now he says the US will land astronauts on the moon before Trump's term ends in January 2029. We break down who Isaacman is, what happened to his nomination, what Project Athena reveals about his vision, and whether any of this is achievable. https://wilwaldon.com

29 Dec 202512min

Musk Says "People Will Die" Over NYC's New Fire Commissioner

Musk Says "People Will Die" Over NYC's New Fire Commissioner

Elon Musk criticized incoming NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for appointing Lillian Bonsignore as FDNY commissioner, warning "people will die" because she has never been a firefighter. Bonsignore is a 31-year FDNY veteran who led EMS operations during COVID-19 and responded to 9/11. We break down her qualifications, the political context, and whether Musk's criticism holds up.

28 Dec 202514min

China Just Deployed Humanoid Robots to Its Border With Vietnam

China Just Deployed Humanoid Robots to Its Border With Vietnam

China has deployed humanoid robots to patrol border crossings with Vietnam. The UBTECH Walker S2 can guide travelers, conduct inspections, patrol corridors, and swap its own batteries for 24-hour continuous operation. Deliveries began in December 2025 under a $37 million contract. We break down what the robots actually do, how the technology works, what it means for workers, and where this fits in the global robotics race.

28 Dec 202520min

15 People Are Dead. Tesla Was Warned About Door Traps

15 People Are Dead. Tesla Was Warned About Door Traps

A Bloomberg investigation found at least 15 people have died in crashes where Tesla doors would not open. Elon Musk was warned about the design flaw in early 2016 during Model 3 development. Now federal regulators have opened a second investigation, lawsuits are stacking up, and Tesla says a redesign is coming. We break down the facts, the timeline, and what owners can do right now.

27 Dec 202512min

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