SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion (Thread 4)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1834714127249346661

Static Fire for B1088 at McGregor.

nsf.live/mcgregor

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1839130981069922416

Busiest rocket engine test site in the world.

This is just today:
nsf.live/mcgregor

[cpushack]

PB = PreBurner?
whats SP?

[catdlr]

PB = PreBurner?
whats SP?

Sprin Prime

[cpushack]

PB = PreBurner?
whats SP?

Sprin Prime

Oh yes of course, thanks

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1840836308966785256

WOW! A Raptor just fired for the longest duration ever and by some margin at McGregor just now.

A full 897 seconds! Nearly 15 minutes!!

Just seeing how long it could keep going for @elonmusk?

nsf.live/mcgregor

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Video:

https://twitter.com/nerdplysgames/status/1841305107536773516

If SpaceX McGregor wasn't interesting enough this week, we have what looks to be a test near the component stand. What could it be?

@NASASpaceflight nsf.live/mcgregor

https://x.com/bluemoondance74/status/1841328653528945000

A more focused MVac/2nd stage test from the sound, I believe

https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1841329209181966470

Maybe it has to do with resolving the current 2nd stage issue… by isolating the problem area, etc.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/adamcuker/status/1849149229182411001

Ever wondered if Raptor can do 5 firings back-to-back? Well wonder no more!

This appears to be a relight test of the Raptor engine at SpaceX in McGregor, TX.

nsf.live/mcgregor     @NASASpaceflight

[FutureSpaceTourist]

There's a Raptor going bonkies at McGregor!
nsf.live/mcgregor

It's still going! Now 20 (TWENTY) refires in a row!

21

22!

Errr 26...and still going!

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1849159782273257951

34 or 35! Checking.

And then Merlin wanted a piece of the action.

[wannamoonbase]

Surely this Raptor firing frenzy is a flex for IFT-6.

Gotta be right?

I love when they do things like this, it shows confidence and is epic.

[Metalskin]

Can someone share if we know which version of the raptor is being tested like this?

I don't track McGregor that much so I don't know if a stand is used for a particular version and if so which stands are which.

[TRS717]

What was the final count on the insane Raptor Relight Party (TM) today?

[InterestedEngineer]

Probably trying to establish wear patterns with starts/stops.

[edzieba]

Those all seemed to be pretty similar length. Assuming minimum possible throttle and fasted possible startup/shutdown, that should give the minimum possible Raptor Impulse Bit.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1849520448247070765

More "Fun with Raptors" today on the Tripid stand at McGregor.

nsf.live/mcgregor

So far:

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nerddashboards/status/1850704038230163861

McGregor - Weekly Update:
There were 81 tests over this past week.
6 different stands fired for a total of 736 seconds.

Powered by @NASASpaceFlight's McGregor Live

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/_jaykeegan_/status/1853915330386550999

A Raptor 3 engine experienced a RUD on the Raptor Vertical test stand at SpaceX's McGregor test site.

nsf.live/mcgregor

@NASASpaceflight

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1854571122815095253

As we thought, the Tripod Stand at SpaceX McGregor is being retired. They have started to remove its tanks.  🫡

nsf.live/mcgregor

[matthewkantar]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1854571122815095253

As we thought, the Tripod Stand at SpaceX McGregor is being retired. They have started to remove its tanks.  🫡

nsf.live/mcgregor

Even though it was designed for an 800 K Lb thrust engine, it has lasted a lot longer than I would have expected.  25 years is a good run!  Did it once host 9 engine firings of Falcon 9 first stages?

[edzieba]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1854571122815095253

As we thought, the Tripod Stand at SpaceX McGregor is being retired. They have started to remove its tanks.  🫡

nsf.live/mcgregor

Even though it was designed for an 800 K Lb thrust engine, it has lasted a lot longer than I would have expected.  25 years is a good run!  Did it once host 9 engine firings of Falcon 9 first stages?

IIRC it was originally designed and built by Beal for the 14.1 MN (3.2 M lbf) BA-3200. The BA-800 was tested horizontally - that horizontal stand is no longer in use by SpaceX after Merlin 1A was retired.

Yes, the tripod hosted Falcon 9 stage firings before the 'new' ground level stand with flame duct was constructed. Early F9 firings were against a bare concrete pad that was replaced after each firing, for about a year before the water-cooled 'scoop' flame diverter was built.