SpaceX Fires Up Super Heavy Booster B22 for Starship Flight 15 Test Campaign

SpaceX took a major step toward its next Starship launch by static-firing the Super Heavy booster designated B22 on Sunday, October 25. The test at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, ignited the booster's Raptor engines while the vehicle remained anchored to the pad, a standard preflight check to verify engine performance and ground systems. This marks the beginning of a test campaign for Starship's Flight Test 15, the next orbital attempt for the world's most powerful rocket. The Super Heavy booster stands about 230 feet tall and is powered by 33 Raptor engines, generating over 16 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. A successful static fire is critical for clearing the vehicle for flight, as it validates the complex plumbing, avionics, and engine startup sequence. With each test, SpaceX gathers data to improve the fully reusable launch system, which is central to its goals of reducing launch costs and enabling missions to the Moon and Mars. The timeline for Flight Test 15 has not been officially announced, but the static fire suggests the launch could occur within weeks, pending regulatory approval and final vehicle stacking. Keep an eye on Starbase—SpaceX is moving fast.