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SpaceX has flown Raptor Engine 314 on two separate Starship missions, demonstrating the feasibility of rocket engine reuse. The engine was first used on the fifth integrated flight test (IFT-5) on October 13, 2024, with Super Heavy Booster 12. It was then reused on the seventh integrated flight test (IFT-7) on January 16, 2025, with Super Heavy Booster 14. 

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During IFT-5, the Super Heavy booster was caught by the ‘Mechazilla’ arms of the launch tower upon its return, an event that required precision from all systems, including Raptor Engine 314. While there are no specific public quotes from SpaceX leadership about the engine’s performance during this flight, they confirmed the success of the booster catch on their official channels. 

The reuse of Raptor 314 was confirmed by Elon Musk on X, where he stated, “SpaceX is reflying Raptor 314 on Flight 7 after it successfully launched and caught on Flight 5.” This statement pertained to IFT-7, where the engine was employed again, this time for deploying simulated Starlink satellites. 

It’s harder than it looks https://t.co/2KFcVkUC8o

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2025

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“33 Raptor engines with enough thrust to lift a skyscraper off its foundations” –Elon Musk

IFT-7 aimed to accomplish several key objectives, including the deployment of ten Starlink simulators, testing in-space engine relights, and further experiments on ship return to launch site and catch. Despite these goals, the mission ended in a dramatic turn when contact with Ship 33, the upper stage, was lost, leading to an explosion over the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated a mishap investigation due to the loss of the vehicle during launch, although there were no reported injuries, and debris was contained within a designated response area. 

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The loss of Ship 33 during IFT-7 has drawn considerable attention, somewhat eclipsing the achievements of reusing Raptor Engine 314 and the successful catch of Booster 14. The explosion has led to discussions on safety and the reliability of the Starship system, overshadowing the engineering feat of engine reuse. The FAA’s investigation will focus on determining the cause of the failure, with implications for future Starship launches. A setback to quickening cadence of launches SpaceX hope to achieve in 2025.  

Despite this setback, the successful reuse of Raptor 314 remains an important data point for SpaceX. Reusing engines is central to SpaceX’s strategy to reduce the cost of space travel. The engine’s performance across two flights without major issues provides valuable insights into the durability and maintenance needs of Raptor engines under operational conditions. 

Musk addressed the dual nature of the test outcome on X, stating, “As gutting as losing S33 is, don’t let it taint the other milestones. Catching B14. An outstanding achievement yet again taking us a step closer to booster reusability. They also reflew Raptor 314 (Pi), and it completed its job, which is yet again a step towards reusability.” 

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