For the third time in three years, SpaceX has stacked a new version of its Starship rocket on a launch pad in South Texas, just a few miles north of the US-Mexico border. The newest-generation Starship, designated Starship Version 3, surpasses its predecessors in both height and power.
The upgrades incorporated into Starship Version 3 are extensive. Key enhancements include:
- Higher-thrust Raptor engines on both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage, improving efficiency and performance.
- A reusable lattice-like structure at the top of the booster, designed for hot staging—a critical maneuver for future missions.
- Three modified grid fins (reduced from four) to assist in the first stage’s return to Earth for recovery and reuse.
If testing proceeds as planned, Starship Version 3 will be the platform SpaceX uses to begin in-orbit refueling experiments. This capability is essential for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. In the near term, refueling will enable Starships to serve as lunar landers for NASA’s Artemis program.
Starship remains an iterative development program, with new versions already in development. However, Version 3 represents a significant milestone, moving SpaceX closer to operational space missions rather than solely proving the rocket’s launch and return capabilities.
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