SpaceX Fires All 33 Engines on Super Heavy V3 Booster in Full-Duration Static Test

SpaceX announced on 4 May 2025 that it had successfully completed a “full duration and full thrust 33-engine static fire with Super Heavy V3,” posting video of the test to X. According to Space.com, this was the first successful full-up static fire test for a V3 Super Heavy booster — a result that had eluded earlier attempts on the same vehicle.

The burn lasted about 14 seconds, with all 33 Raptor engines igniting simultaneously while the booster remained bolted to the launch mount at SpaceX’s Starbase facility on the Texas Gulf Coast.

What a Static Fire Actually Tests

A static fire is exactly what it sounds like: the rocket fires, but goes nowhere. The vehicle is held down on the pad while engineers run the engines at full power, checking propellant flow, ignition sequencing, structural loads, and ground support systems — all the things that need to work on launch day.

For Super Heavy, which sits beneath the Starship upper stage to form the tallest rocket ever built, that means lighting 33 Raptor engines at once. It’s a demanding test by any measure.

Space.com reports that SpaceX had previously conducted a smaller 10-engine trial on the same V3 booster before attempting the full complement. That stepped approach is standard practice; you don’t go straight to full power without intermediate checks.

Earlier Attempts Fell Short — But Not Because of the Rocket

SpaceDaily reports that previous attempts at a full static fire on this booster were not fully successful, and that the problems lay with ground equipment rather than the vehicle itself. SpaceX did not publicly detail which ground systems were involved, but the distinction matters: a vehicle issue could push back the programme whereas a ground infrastructure problem is generally faster to resolve.

The V3 designation marks an upgraded configuration compared with earlier Super Heavy variants, though SpaceX has not published a full technical breakdown of every change between versions.

One unverified social media post, sourced from Instagram rather than official SpaceX channels, claimed the booster produces roughly 74 to 76 meganewtons of thrust. That figure has not been confirmed by SpaceX or any independent technical body, and should be treated with caution.

The Road to the Next Starship Flight

According to Space.com and SpaceDaily, the static fire forms part of the final propulsion checks before a planned Starship flight window in mid-May. SpaceX has not formally announced a launch date, and flight windows in the Starship programme have shifted before — but completing a clean 33-engine static fire removes one of the larger unknowns from the pre-launch checklist.

The full Starship system pairs the Super Heavy booster with the Starship upper stage, which SpaceX is developing as a fully reusable vehicle intended for missions ranging from satellite deployment to lunar landings under NASA’s Artemis programme. Each integrated flight test generates data that feeds directly into subsequent vehicle iterations.

Not Everyone Near Starbase Is Celebrating

The test programme has not been without controversy on the ground. SpaceDaily reports that homeowners living near the Starbase site have filed a lawsuit alleging damage caused by noise and vibration from repeated rocket testing. The claims have not been tested in court, and SpaceX has not publicly responded to the specific allegations in available reporting.

It’s a reminder that rocket development at this scale has real effects on surrounding communities — effects that don’t always make it into the launch highlights reel.

Eric Berger, space editor at Ars Technica and author of detailed SpaceX coverage, has previously described the static fire process as “the most important ground test a rocket can do before flight,” a characterisation that reflects the weight the industry places on these qualification steps.

What Comes Next

SpaceX has not confirmed when the V3 Starship system will fly, nor has the company published a detailed timeline for subsequent tests. The mid-May window cited in reporting remains unverified as a firm date. Regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration will also be required before any launch can proceed — a process that has caused delays in earlier Starship flight campaigns.

Whether the booster will be caught by SpaceX’s mechanical “chopstick” arms on return, as has happened in recent integrated flight tests, has also not been confirmed for the V3 configuration.

What This Means for Kent Residents

There’s no direct impact on Kent from this test. But Starship’s long-term purpose — launching large batches of Starlink satellites far more cheaply than current rockets — is relevant to anyone in the county using Starlink for broadband, chiefly in rural areas of Kent where fixed-line connectivity remains patchy. A faster, cheaper launch cadence could eventually mean more satellites, better coverage, and potentially lower subscription costs for UK consumers.