Key facts
By the
numbers.
| Operator | SpaceX |
|---|---|
| Height | 124.4 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
| Booster engines | 33 Raptor V3 |
| Ship engines | 3 Raptor + 3 Raptor Vacuum |
| First flight | 22 May 2026 (Flight 12) |
| Launch site | Starbase, Texas |
The Real Rocket
Starship V3: history, specs and first flights
Starship V3 is the third generation of SpaceX’s fully reusable Starship and Super Heavy. At 124.4 m it is the tallest version yet and the first to fly on Raptor 3 engines. It first launched on 22 May 2026, and on 28 September 2026 a V3 Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
Facts checked October 2026 · sources below
By the
Versions
How it
evolved.
| V1 · Block 1 | 121.3 m tall. Flights 1–6, April 2023 to November 2024. |
|---|---|
| V2 · Block 2 | 123.1 m tall, 25 % more propellant, smaller forward flaps moved leeward. Flights 7–11, 2025. |
| V3 · Block 3 | 124.4 m tall, Raptor 3 engines. Flight 12 onwards, from May 2026. |
V3 flights so far
Moments that
made history.
- Flight 12
First V3 flight and first launch from Starbase’s second pad. The ship splashed down as planned in the Indian Ocean; the booster was lost after stage separation.
- Flight 13
First deployment of real Starlink V3 satellites: 20 of them, all of which made contact with the constellation.
- Flight 14
Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites one by one.
Records & firsts
Worth
knowing.
- Tallest and most powerful version of the largest rocket ever flown.
- First Starship to reach orbit (Flight 14, 28 September 2026).
- Raptor 3 allowed SpaceX to remove most of the booster’s engine shielding, saving weight.
FAQ
Quick
answers.
How tall is Starship V3?
The full stack of Super Heavy and Starship V3 is 124.4 metres tall and 9 metres wide.
When did Starship V3 first fly?
On 22 May 2026, on Starship’s twelfth flight test.
Has Starship reached orbit?
Yes. On 28 September 2026 a V3 Starship reached orbit on Flight 14 and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites.
What changed from V2 to V3?
V3 is 1.3 m taller and switches to Raptor 3 engines, which need far less heat shielding on the booster.
The past
More we’ve built.
Custom models & B2B