News Archive / Tagged: McGregor

• Raptor fired at power level needed for Starship, Super Heavy

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 7th, 2019

  SpaceX's first Raptor flight engine performed another test, increasing its thrust and chamber pressure to levels required for Starship and Super Heavy.

• SpaceX rocket engine explodes on test stand in McGregor

  Jason RhianNovember 9th, 2017

  A SpaceX Block 5 rocket engine encountered an anomaly on the test stand during a qualification test held on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, at the NewSpace firm's site located in McGregor, Texas. The accident was made public three days later on Wednesday and comes at a time when the company is experiencing an unprecedented rate of launch.

• First SpaceX Falcon 9 scheduled to be re-flown tested at McGregor

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 6th, 2017

  SpaceX recently tested the previously-flown Falcon 9 first stage assigned to send the SES-10 communications satellite into space. That mission will mark the first time the company has re-flown one of its recovered boosters.

• Explosion rattles windows during SpaceX test in Texas

  Bart LeahyNovember 21st, 2016

  The Waco Tribune (TX) reported an explosion at SpaceX’s facility in McGregor, Texas, on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The explosion, which occurred during a pressurization test at the company’s research and development facility, caused no injuries or damage and the local fire department did not take action after the incident.

• SpaceX sends Raptor to Texas for testing

  Derek RichardsonAugust 10th, 2016

  In a keynote address at a Utah conference about small satellites, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell talked about how the company is working to fly CubeSats and other small spacecraft as a side payload on upcoming vehicles, including the Falcon Heavy and Red Dragon. She also mentioned the company has shipped the first Raptor engine to their McGregor, Texas, test facility for firing.

• SpaceX tests Falcon 9 ‘life leader’ at McGregor

  Derek RichardsonJuly 29th, 2016

  The Falcon 9 core that helped propel the JCSAT-14 satellite toward orbit before landing downrange on a landing platform has undergone a full-duration test firing. According to NASASpaceflight, the stage was taken to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, as part of the NewSpace firm’s evaluation of the rocket.

• SpaceX making progress on Crewed Dragon and Falcon Heavy

  Joe LatrellNovember 12th, 2015

  SpaceX continues to make progress on various fronts as it develops a set of flight capabilities which could enable a return to flight for U.S. astronauts – from their home soil. LC 39A is one of two launch sites used for the space shuttle that sat idle until NASA put the site up for lease – with SpaceX being approved to utilize the iconic site.

• SpaceX expands McGregor test facility

  Scott JohnsonMarch 10th, 2015

  We recently reported on a rather loud engine test by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) at its McGregor, TX, facility. The test was a full-up test of a Falcon 9 first stage and its nine Merlin 1D engines. Atmospheric conditions may have contributed to the noise carrying farther than usual – as far as Rogers, some […]

• SpaceX Merlin 1D engine test rattles Central Texas

  Collin SkocikFebruary 27th, 2015

  On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX ) conducted the latest test of the Falcon 9’s Merlin 1D rocket engine, and it made noise — a lot of noise. It was a full nine-engine test of SpaceX’s rocket engines, and cool weather that evening meant the noise traveled far. To residents of the […]