SpaceX's upgraded Starship V3 launches on debut test flight from Texas
SpaceX launched its next-generation Starship V3 prototype from Boca Chica on Saturday, with the upper stage splashing down in the Indian Ocean as planned. The company called it a key step toward the Mars-focused architecture transition and said it backs the previously announced IPO plans.
SpaceX successfully launched the Starship V3 prototype from its Boca Chica facility in Texas on Saturday. The company said the first stage, powered by 33 Raptor 3 engines, ignited within the planned window and was caught back over the Gulf of Mexico, while the upper stage performed a controlled splashdown in its assigned Indian Ocean corridor. The test was the first full mission profile since the unsuccessful V2 attempt in December 2025.
Speaking to investors who watched the flight on site, SpaceX Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said the V3 is the only architecture able to support NASA Artemis lunar missions' full propellant transfer protocol. According to Investing.com, the company plans seven additional V3 launches through end-2026 and is targeting a first commercial satellite deployment in March 2027. Preparations for the September IPO led by Goldman Sachs were said to remain on schedule.
The flight also carries weight for the Pentagon's Rapid Response Space Capabilities programme. A Department of Defense spokesperson said the V3's 200-tonne payload capability would accelerate deployment of the Golden Dome missile defence constellation. Suppliers ASML, Lam Research and Texas Instruments traded between 1.4% and 2.1% higher in post-flight pre-market sessions.
More from North America
Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein agrees to buy apparel retailer Everlane
Singapore-headquartered Shein has agreed to acquire San Francisco-based sustainable apparel brand Everlane. The deal is reported at $320 million and marks a shift by Chinese fast fashion toward ethical-production positioning.
UAE says OPEC exit was a strategic economic move, not political
The United Arab Emirates said its decision to leave OPEC was a strategic economic choice rather than a political one. Officials told CNBC the move lets the country deploy spare production capacity freely and align output with its energy diversification plans.
BlackRock weighs $5-10 billion investment in SpaceX IPO
BlackRock is in talks to commit between $5 billion and $10 billion to SpaceX's upcoming initial public offering, The Information reported. The investment, if completed, would mark one of the largest single-firm commitments to a US listing in years.