teleo/teleo-codex
8
0
Fork 0
Code Issues 22 Pull requests 43 Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions 422
teleo-codex/entities/space-development/starship-v3.md
Teleo Agents a6a698b03b astra: extract claims from 2026-04-22-nasaspaceflight-starship-v3-static-fires 
- Source: inbox/queue/2026-04-22-nasaspaceflight-starship-v3-static-fires.md
- Domain: space-development
- Claims: 0, Entities: 2
- Enrichments: 2
- Extracted by: pipeline ingest (OpenRouter anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5)

Pentagon-Agent: Astra <PIPELINE>
2026-04-22 09:04:03 +00:00

2 KiB
Raw Blame History

Starship V3

Type: Launch vehicle (next-generation heavy-lift) Developer: SpaceX Status: Pre-flight (static fire testing complete as of April 2026) First flight: Flight 12, targeting early May 2026 Launch site: Starbase Pad 2, Boca Chica, Texas

Overview

Starship V3 is the third-generation design of SpaceX's fully reusable super heavy-lift launch system. It represents a clean-sheet redesign from V2, featuring Raptor 3 engines, increased propellant capacity, and targeting 100+ tonnes payload to LEO.

Key Features

  • Raptor 3 engines: Simplified design with no external plumbing, reducing failure points and manufacturing complexity
  • Increased propellant capacity: Enables higher payload mass and mission flexibility
  • Target payload: 100+ tonnes to LEO (up from V2's demonstrated capacity)
  • Super Heavy Booster 19: 33 Raptor 3 engines
  • Ship 39: Upper stage with Raptor 3 engines

Development Status

V3 development appears more mature than V2 at equivalent milestones. Both Ship 39 and Booster 19 completed full-duration static fires without reported anomalies, contrasting with V2's multiple static fire issues during development.

Infrastructure

Flight 12 will be the first Starship launch from Pad 2 at Starbase, SpaceX's second orbital launch complex. The two-pad configuration doubles potential launch cadence at Boca Chica.

Timeline

  • 2025-10-13 — Flight 11 (final V2 flight) completed with ocean splashdown
  • 2026-04 — Ship 39 and Booster 19 complete full static fires
  • 2026-05 (target) — Flight 12, first V3 launch from Pad 2

Significance

V3 performance data will provide the first empirical validation of Starship's path toward sub-$100/kg launch costs. The Raptor 3 simplification and increased payload capacity are critical enablers for the reuse economics model underlying SpaceX's cost trajectory projections.

Related Systems

  • Starship V2 (predecessor)
  • Raptor 3 engine
  • Starbase Pad 2

Sources

  • NASASpaceFlight.com, April 2026