SpaceX announced a mid‑March target for the 12th Starship test, which will introduce the larger, more powerful Version 3 vehicle and the new Raptor 3 engine, CEO Elon Musk said on X. V3 is slightly taller than V2 and is rated to lift over 100 tons to low Earth orbit, compared with ~35 tons for V2. A Super Heavy booster buckle in November required a replacement booster for Flight 12. If V3 demonstrates orbital flight and in‑space refueling, SpaceX may attempt uncrewed Mars missions later this year.
SpaceX Targets Mid‑March Debut for More Powerful Starship V3, Musk Says
SpaceX's Starship launches on its 11th test flight from Starbase, Texas on Oct. 13, 2025. | Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX plans to attempt the first flight of its larger, more capable Starship Version 3 (V3) in mid‑March, CEO Elon Musk announced on X on Jan. 25. If the schedule holds, this will be the 12th overall Starship test and the first to fly the upgraded V3 vehicle and its new Raptor 3 engines.
What’s Changing With V3
Starship V3 is slightly taller than the previous V2 model (408.1 ft / 124.4 m vs. 403.9 ft / 123.1 m) and is designed to be significantly more powerful. According to Musk, V3 should be capable of lifting more than 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO), compared with roughly 35 tons for V2. That performance jump is driven by the new Raptor 3 engine variant, which is expected to fly for the first time on this test mission.
Program Status And Recent Tests
Since Starship’s debut in April 2023, SpaceX has completed 11 suborbital test flights, including five in the past year. The most recent launches on Aug. 26 and Oct. 13 were fully successful. However, a Super Heavy booster originally slated for Flight 12 suffered a structural buckle during ground testing in November, forcing SpaceX to prepare an alternate booster for the upcoming mission.
Why This Flight Matters
Flight 12 will be a milestone because V3 is the first Starship iteration SpaceX says is capable of Mars missions. To enable crewed or uncrewed Mars operations, SpaceX still needs to demonstrate critical capabilities such as achieving Earth orbit and performing in‑space refueling. Musk has said that if these and other tests go well, SpaceX could consider sending a small fleet of uncrewed Starship V3 vehicles to Mars later this year.
Bottom line: Mid‑March’s test will reveal whether the Raptor 3–powered V3 can deliver the step‑change in capability SpaceX requires for ambitious orbital and interplanetary missions.
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