Key Highlights

  • SpaceX fired the Starship V3 upper stage for a full-duration static test on April 14 at its Texas facility
  • The Super Heavy booster underwent a 33-engine static fire test the next day on April 15
  • The upgraded V3 measures over 408 feet in height with a payload capacity exceeding 100 tons to low Earth orbit
  • Flight 12 will mark the debut mission for the V3 variant within the broader Starship testing program
  • NASA has selected Starship as a lunar landing vehicle for astronauts in the Artemis program

SpaceX has successfully conducted two critical engine tests for its advanced Starship rocket, bringing the company closer to a May launch target.

The aerospace manufacturer ignited the upper stage of Starship V3 on April 14 at Starbase in southern Texas. Engineers followed up with a Super Heavy booster test on April 15, simultaneously firing all 33 engines while the massive rocket remained anchored to the test stand.

Both evaluations achieved full-duration burn times, with engines operating through their entire planned sequences without premature cutoff.

SpaceX announced that the upper stage evaluation marked a first-time milestone for the Version 3 configuration. Technical teams are currently analyzing performance metrics, propellant flow characteristics, and structural response data before authorizing subsequent testing phases.

A previous booster test attempt encountered difficulties related to ground systems hardware. The successful April 15 evaluation has resolved that concern.

Version 3 Upgrades and Capabilities

The V3 represents a significant advancement over earlier iterations. The fully assembled vehicle reaches 124 meters in height, translating to approximately 408 feet. Its cargo capability surpasses 100 tons for missions to low Earth orbit.

This payload performance demonstrates nearly triple the capacity of predecessor models. The enhancement stems from next-generation Raptor engines installed on both the ship and the Super Heavy first stage.

Flight 12 will serve as the inaugural mission for the V3 design while representing the twelfth demonstration flight across the entire Starship development effort.

Elon Musk indicated on April 3 that the forthcoming test flight was scheduled “4 to 6 weeks away,” suggesting a launch timeframe during the first or second week of May.

Critical Role in Lunar Exploration

Starship serves as a cornerstone element within NASA’s Artemis initiative, designed to transport astronauts back to the lunar surface. The space agency has awarded SpaceX a contract to create a Human Landing System based on Starship technology, working parallel to Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander development under Jeff Bezos.

NASA achieved a significant milestone earlier this month by completing a lunar flyby mission that sent four crew members around the Moon for the first time in more than five decades. The agency currently schedules the first crewed surface mission for late 2028 under the Artemis IV designation.

Starship development challenges have already affected this schedule. The landing mission originally had a December 2025 target date.

Experts from NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel have identified ongoing technical obstacles with the Starship-based Human Landing System. Panel members suggested that the next half-year of Starship flight tests will prove decisive in determining whether the vehicle can transport crew members before 2030.

Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine testified before a Senate Committee in September, expressing concern that current trajectories may result in the United States falling behind China’s lunar landing schedule.

SpaceX has yet to announce an official launch date for the upcoming test flight.