Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
SpaceX is working on many things right now, but the most exciting one by far is Starship. That is why so many people are eagerly waiting for the next launch, Starship Flight 12, of this massive rocket. Recently, SpaceX added something unexpected to the Starship booster, and it could play an important role in how Flight 12 unfolds. We will break down what this new addition is, why it matters, and how it could affect the upcoming launch. Before we get into the details, make sure to subscribe to the channel for more SpaceX updates and future launches.
Flight 12 is expected to use Super Heavy Booster 19 and Ship 39, and it is planned to be the first flight of what SpaceX internally treats as the Block 3 Starship configuration. Block 3 is not a marketing label. It reflects real hardware changes that affect engines, hot staging, and how the ship and booster connect to each other.
The biggest change in Block 3 is the introduction of Raptor 3 engines. Earlier Starship flights used Raptor 2 engines, which produce roughly two hundred thirty to two hundred thirty five metric tons of thrust each at sea level. Raptor 3 increases that to around two hundred eighty metric tons of thrust per engine. This is a large jump. On the Super Heavy booster, which uses thirty three engines, that increase adds well over one thousand five hundred metric tons of extra thrust at liftoff compared to earlier flights. Raptor 3 achieves this by simplifying the engine design, and running at higher chamber pressure. It is also lighter and designed to be produced faster.
SpaceX is working on many things right now, but the most exciting one by far is Starship. That is why so many people are eagerly waiting for the next launch, Starship Flight 12, of this massive rocket. Recently, SpaceX added something unexpected to the Starship booster, and it could play an important role in how Flight 12 unfolds. We will break down what this new addition is, why it matters, and how it could affect the upcoming launch. Before we get into the details, make sure to subscribe to the channel for more SpaceX updates and future launches.
Flight 12 is expected to use Super Heavy Booster 19 and Ship 39, and it is planned to be the first flight of what SpaceX internally treats as the Block 3 Starship configuration. Block 3 is not a marketing label. It reflects real hardware changes that affect engines, hot staging, and how the ship and booster connect to each other.
The biggest change in Block 3 is the introduction of Raptor 3 engines. Earlier Starship flights used Raptor 2 engines, which produce roughly two hundred thirty to two hundred thirty five metric tons of thrust each at sea level. Raptor 3 increases that to around two hundred eighty metric tons of thrust per engine. This is a large jump. On the Super Heavy booster, which uses thirty three engines, that increase adds well over one thousand five hundred metric tons of extra thrust at liftoff compared to earlier flights. Raptor 3 achieves this by simplifying the engine design, and running at higher chamber pressure. It is also lighter and designed to be produced faster.
