Starship V3: The pivotal test that could reshape spaceflight

SpaceX’s Starship V3 is nearing a critical flight after years of updates and setbacks. If successful, it could enable mass Starlink launches, in-space refueling for Artemis-era missions, and a much lower-cost, higher-cadence launch regime, potentially bringing Starship into broad commercial use by 2028–2029. The stakes are high: a smooth flight would validate a radical new rocket path and reshape the launch market, while continued delays could push SpaceX’s broader plans and NASA timelines further into the future.