
SpaceX readies Starship V3, a 407-foot behemoth for a high-stakes test
SpaceX is preparing to fly Starship V3, the tallest and most powerful version yet at about 407 feet (124 meters), on a roughly one-hour suborbital test from Starbase, featuring a redesigned fuel-transfer system, grid fins, and 33 Raptor 3 engines. After liftoff, the Super Heavy booster will return for a water landing in the Gulf while the Starship spacecraft detaches, deploys 22 Starlink simulators, and tests heat-shield and relighting capabilities in space, with no attempt at a catch landing. The mission aims to advance rapid reuse and in-space propellant transfer, supporting SpaceX’s Moon/Mars ambitions and NASA’s Artemis program. The launch window was slated for around 6:30 p.m. EDT (as early as May 19, 2026) from Starbase, Texas.










