Tag

Raptor 3

All articles tagged with #raptor 3

technology3 days ago•8 min saved

SpaceX’s Starship V3 First Flight Advances, Yet Engine Hurdles Remain

SpaceX launched Starship V3 from Starbase, reaching about 195 km in altitude, testing heat shield performance and fins during a fiery reentry, while deploying 22 payloads (20 Starlink mockups plus two inspection satellites) and completing a water landing. Two Raptor engines failed during ascent (one on the booster, one on Starship), and a planned in‑space engine restart was not attempted, though the vehicle demonstrated engine‑out resilience. The booster did not return to a controlled splashdown, while the ship’s flight offered valuable data as SpaceX eyes an orbital test later this summer and progress toward NASA Artemis milestones.

via Ars Technica|

#raptor-3 #spacex #starbase

space13 days ago•73 min saved

Starship V3 redefines SpaceX’s giant rocket for rapid reuse and Artemis-era lunar missions

SpaceX’s Starship Version 3 (V3) is a major redesign that boosts power and durability: the two‑stage vehicle is taller, the Super Heavy booster uses 33 Raptor 3 engines for over 18 million pounds of thrust, and features a redesigned hot‑stage and larger grid fins, with improved fuel transfer. The Ship upper stage gains a bigger propellant tank, enhanced cryogenic fuel handling, and four docking ports to enable in‑space refueling—crucial for high‑flight‑rate missions. SpaceX plans a May 19 debut from Starbase to test these upgrades, including 22 Starlink simulators, heat‑tile dispersion tests, an in‑space relight, and reentry maneuvers, all part of maturing Starship toward an orbital refueling‑driven, reusable architecture for NASA’s Artemis program (with Artemis 3 targeted for 2027 and Artemis 4 subsequently).

via Space|

#artemis #raptor-3 #space

technology14 days ago•6 min saved

SpaceX targets May 19 for Starship V3 debut from Pad 2 with Raptor 3 upgrades

SpaceX is targeting May 19 for the debut of Starship V3 (Flight 12), the first launch from Pad 2, featuring Raptor 3 engines, an integrated hot stage, enhanced heat-shield testing with Starlink satellites, and planned splashdowns for Booster 19 and Ship 39 as part of its propulsion and lunar-return testing program.

via Spaceflight Now|

#heat-shield #pad-2 #raptor-3

space-and-spaceflight1 month ago•15 min saved

Starship V3 Engine Fire Sparks at Texas Test Site Ahead of May Launch

A fire and explosion erupted during a Raptor 3 engine test at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas facility as Starship Version 3 moves toward its May debut. Video shows flames and a smoke plume from the test stand; the Raptor 3 engine delivers about 280 tons of thrust. SpaceX says the incident may be an anomaly and is unlikely to delay Starship’s inaugural flight, which has been rescheduled multiple times in recent months.

via Gizmodo|

#mcgregor-texas #raptor-3 #space-and-spaceflight

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Raptor 3 Test Explodes, Delaying Starship’s Mars-Moon Ambitions

SpaceX’s Starship V3 Raptor 3 engine test at Starbase Texas ended in a dramatic explosion, highlighting the hurdles as the company pushes toward orbital flights, lunar/Mars missions, and an IPO. While the test may yield useful data, the blowup could delay Starship V3’s first flight (set for May) and the June IPO, complicating Artemis-related plans and the concept of in-orbit refueling by another Starship.

via Jalopnik|

#ipo #raptor-3 #rocket-testing