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As the flight progressed, the booster and the ship’s avionics were reporting nominal signals. This confirmed the successful ignition of the 33 Raptor engines, enabling the vehicle to pass through the critical point known as Max Q—the moment of maximum aerodynamic pressure. The team prepared for hot staging, a significant maneuver where six engines on the ship ignited while still attached to the booster. This procedure, followed by the shutdown of most center engines, was critical to ensuring the mission's success.