SpaceX’s Third Starship Megarocket Stands Tall for Upcoming Test Flight
SpaceX is making significant progress in its ambitious mission to explore outer space. The company recently completed the stacking of its third Starship megarocket at its Starbase site in South Texas, marking a major milestone in its development. The enormous vehicle, known as Ship 28, was placed atop its Booster 10 first-stage partner, ready for an upcoming test flight.
In a post on X today, SpaceX announced that the Starship team is preparing for a full launch rehearsal ahead of Flight 3. The company also shared photos of the milestone, showcasing the towering rocket standing tall on the orbital launch mount. Additionally, SpaceX released a short video of the stacking process, which was carried out by the “chopstick” arms of Starbase’s launch tower.
According to SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, Flight 3 is expected to take place in approximately three weeks, provided that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grants the necessary launch license in time. This upcoming test flight follows the first two test flights of Starship, which took place in April and November of the previous year.
While both previous missions ended in explosive failures, they also achieved significant milestones. Notably, the 33 Raptor engines of Starship’s first stage successfully completed their initial burn during the November mission. Additionally, the booster separated seamlessly from the upper-stage spacecraft, demonstrating the potential for future successful launches.
The Starship megarocket is a groundbreaking innovation in space exploration. Standing at an impressive height of 400 feet (122 meters), it is currently the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. SpaceX envisions using this remarkable vehicle to transport people and payloads to destinations such as the moon and Mars. Furthermore, it has the potential to revolutionize travel on Earth, offering superfast trips for passengers.
SpaceX has already secured NASA as a customer for its Starship program. The space agency has chosen Starship to be the first crewed lander for its Artemis program, which aims to explore the moon. If all goes according to plan, Starship will play a crucial role in the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for September 2026. This mission will mark the first time NASA astronauts set foot near the lunar south pole.
The successful stacking of SpaceX’s third Starship megarocket is a testament to the company’s dedication and progress in advancing space exploration. As the countdown to Flight 3 begins, excitement builds for the potential breakthroughs and achievements that lie ahead. With SpaceX’s visionary leadership and cutting-edge technology, humanity’s journey into the cosmos takes a giant leap forward.
