How long is expected between 13 and 14?

@Eliza I usually create markets for the next two launches. If there's interest, I can create a market for flight 14 early.

@OlegEterevsky 50 traders on this market created 6.5 months ago. I think there is a good chance of flight 14 within ~6 months so I don't think flight 14 sounds too remote for there to be interest.

Even flight 15 might be within 6 months and having market open earlier just allows more time for people to be interested enough to trade it? Open longer = better ? Maybe if it is too remote it gets ignored rather than traded. Links to the other flight markets in description and/or comments might help them advertise the others and you should want it to be easily found and available when people go looking for it?

@ChristopherRandles Let's see. I've created the market: /OlegEterevsky/when-will-starship-flight-14-happen

How many times is a rocket "engine" (?) test fired before it goes to space? Does each and every one get like 10 tests before they attach it to the big tube or is it like "lets just yolo this"?

Do they test them both individually and in the full group before doing an actual launch?

After it goes to space do they just leave them all on the big tube or do they take them off and clean em with a toothbrush before re-flying?

@Eliza
We don't get to see exactly which engine is being tested at McGregor test facility. Sometimes an engine being driven past cameras are identifiable and it might seem likely that that is the one being tested as no other engines seen going towards test stands.

So not an exact count of tests for each engine however we can probably get an idea: I am guessing somewhat and some people may have better estimates but:

Highest raptor 3 serial number is at around 144. The number of single engine test fires expected to be raptor 3 tests is probably a few hundred so this might sound like maybe 10 single tests per engine. However this includes development work like test some individual engines 20 or more times building up to more comprehensive tests perhaps even to test to destruction. For engines actually used for starship launches it would probably be more like 1 to 3 tests ending with an acceptance test.

McGregor only does individual engine tests, once loaded on to a Starship at Starbase we have clearer idea. A single static fire for the ship or booster not stacked together would be the aim but sometimes the static fire will need to be repeated and for flight 12 booster 19 that is looking like it could well be 3 static fires.

After flying to space and returning through re-entry, we don't know yet re starship and raptor 3 engines. Falcon 9:minimum turnaround time is like a week and I expect they at least remove the engines for inspections. SpaceX are aiming to at least avoid removals for inspections with Starship maybe even just remote sensors and inspections. Even if removal is eventually not needed, I would expect it will take a while of gaining experience and adding adaptations to remove problems before it happens.

Perhaps add some later dates?