SpaceX Inaugural Falcon 9 Static "Hot" Fire

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On March 13, 2010, SpaceX completed a test firing of the inaugural Falcon 9 launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex 40 located at Cape Canaveral. Following a nominal terminal countdown, the launch sequencer commanded ignition of all 9 Merlin first stage engines for a period of 3.5 seconds.

Just prior to engine ignition, the pad water deluge system was activated providing acoustic suppression to keep vibration levels within acceptable limits. The test validated the launch pad propellant and pneumatic systems as well as the ground and flight control software that controls pad and launch vehicle configurations. The completion of a successful static fire is the latest milestone on the path to first flight of the Falcon 9 which will carry a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit to orbit.

Video credit: SpaceX

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SpaceX
• Falcon
• static
• hot
• fire
• Dragon

[amitofu]

I can't stop thinking about how in those few seconds the turbopumps sucked several tons of fuel and oxidizer out of the tanks, mixed it, ignited it, and accelerated the exhaust to a few kilometers per second. And that mere movement of mass will send this machine away from our planet.

[khanrhy]

Here is rooting for you SpaceX!

[divedevil985]

You can even see how thye caught the launch pad on fire when the fuel valves didn't close!

These people are so arrogant that they don't know what they don't know!

[Video19555]

super cool :)