SpaceX fires up 11 engines as it prepares massive rocket for orbital test

The test, which ignited 11 of the 33 Raptor rocket engines, came as SpaceX continues working toward an orbital launch attempt of this Super Heavy first stage and its Starship upper stage. It is anticipated that SpaceX will conduct at least a short-duration test firing of all 33 Raptor engines simultaneously to gain confidence in the totality of the complex plumbing to fuel and pressurize the rocket's propulsion system. The company is taking an iterative design and development approach to the Starship vehicle and its Super Heavy first stage, so its test plans are fluid, not unlike the rocket's cryogenic propellants.