SpaceX is edging toward the 12th launch of its Starship rocket, which this time will see a new version of the massive vehicle head skyward.
The launch team has just completed a crucial test of the Starship’s first stage — the Super Heavy — at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
It shared a short video and some images (below) of the most powerful booster ever built with the message: “Cryoproof operations complete for the first time with a Super Heavy V3 booster. This multi-day campaign tested the booster’s redesigned propellant systems and its structural strength.”
No anomalies have been reported, setting the booster up nicely for a static fire test, hopefully in the coming days.
After that, attention will shift to the upper-stage Ship, which will also undergo preflight testing prior to being lifted atop the Super Heavy in preparation for launch.
SpaceX is targeting March for the 12th Starship test flight, according to a recent post on X by Elon Musk, the company’s CEO.
The updated Starship, known as Version 3, stands about a meter higher than its 123-meter-tall predecessor, and comes with more powerful engines and a series of design tweaks to enhance performance.
In an update on Sunday that surprised many, Musk said that SpaceX is pivoting its near-term focus to building a self-sustaining city on the moon, deprioritizing his previously stated ambition of building a city on Mars.
The CEO said the lunar plan is achievable in under 10 years, with the moon offering a more rapid path due to frequent launch windows (every 10 days vs. Mars’ 26-month alignments) and shorter trips (2 days vs. 6 months).
There’s also the added challenge of safely getting humans to the red planet, a feat that has yet to be achieved.
SpaceX’s Mars‑city efforts will continue as part of a long‑term plan, while the company will continue with its involvement in NASA’s Artemis lunar program using Starship.