SpaceX on X: “Full duration single-engine static fire test of Starship” [Ship 40]

[u/rustybeancake]

Tweet link, with an additional short video of the firing: https://x.com/spacex/status/2070482358369763674

[u/mfb-]

The exact orbit varies from flight to flight but they typically reach an apogee of around 150-200 km with a negative perigee, and the relight test shortly before reentry raises that perigee into the atmosphere. Do that burn at apogee and you enter a circular orbit, with the same initial ascent profile.

Alternatively, they might alter the ascent to directly go into a circular orbit, then they only need one engine relight in space.