Starship v3 is a taller, upgraded Starship configuration with next-generation Raptor 3 engines on both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage. The engines provide higher thrust, improved reliability, and simplified designs with fewer parts. Structural improvements increase payload capacity to more than 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit in a reusable configuration. The vehicle includes a more robust heat shield, upgraded avionics, and modifications optimized for orbital refueling. The first launch is planned from Starbase’s second orbital pad to enable parallel operations and faster testing. Flight 12 targets a full ascent profile, hot-staging separation, in-space engine relights, and reentry testing, including booster splashdown and satellite deployments before reentry.
"Starship v3 represents a significant leap forward. At 124 meters tall when fully stacked, it stands taller than previous versions and boasts substantial upgrades. The vehicle incorporates next-generation Raptor 3 engines, which deliver higher thrust, improved reliability, and simplified designs with fewer parts. Both the Super Heavy booster (Booster 19) and the Starship upper stage (Ship 39) feature these enhancements, along with structural improvements for greater payload capacity-exceeding 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit in reusable configuration."
"SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have announced that the company aims to push the first launch of Starship v3 this Thursday. Musk included some clips of past Starship launches with the announcement. Now targeting launch as early as Thursday, May 21 → https://t.co/2gZQUxS6mm First Starship V3 launch later this week! pic.twitter.com/JFX4CrSfnY"
"There are a lot of improvements to Starship v3 from past builds. Key hardware changes include a more robust heat shield, upgraded avionics, and modifications optimized for orbital refueling, a critical technology for future missions to the Moon and Mars. This flight marks the first launch from Starbase's second orbital pad, allowing parallel operations and accelerating the cadence of tests."
"Flight 12 objectives include a full ascent profile, hot-staging separation, in-space engine relights, and reentry testing. The booster is expected to perform a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, while the ship will deploy 20 Starlink simulator satellites and a pair of modified Starlink V3 units before attempting reentry. Success would validate V3's design for operational use, paving the way for rapid reusability and higher flight rates."
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