All articles tagged with #raptor 3
SpaceX conducted a static-fire test at Starbase, Texas, where Ship 40—the Starship upper stage for the upcoming Flight 13 demonstration—lashed a single Raptor 3 engine for about 15 seconds as part of prelaunch checks for the Version 3 Starship upgrade, which includes six Raptors on Ship 40 and upgrades like enhanced grid fins and greater fuel capacity as the company moves toward a fuller flight campaign.
SpaceX's Starship V3—the biggest variant yet with the new Raptor 3 engine—launched May 22 from Starbase, overcoming some engine glitches and a booster splashdown; SpaceX says the flight advances in-space propellant transfer and long-duration testing, essential for NASA's Artemis program (Artemis 3 in 2027 and Artemis 4 in 2028), with plans for several more Starship flights this year to demonstrate ship-to-ship refueling, life-support integration, and a rapid production cadence.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.