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SpaceX Starship V3 Set for Mid-March Launch
26 Jan
Summary
- Starship V3, a larger, more powerful rocket, is slated for mid-March.
- This version is designed for orbital docking and future moon/Mars missions.
- SpaceX faces competition from Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
SpaceX's enhanced Starship V3 rocket is now anticipated to undergo its initial test flight by mid-March, as announced by CEO Elon Musk. This V3 iteration represents a significant advancement, boasting increased size and power.
A critical capability of Starship V3 is its design for orbital docking, a prerequisite for SpaceX's long-term objectives of reaching the moon and Mars. It will also be instrumental in launching the company's next-generation Starlink satellites.
This development occurs as SpaceX aims for an IPO and under pressure to support NASA's lunar ambitions. The company faced a setback in November when a booster stage of a previous version exploded during testing.
Meanwhile, SpaceX's dominance in the launch market faces growing competition. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has recently conducted multiple successful launches of its New Glenn rocket, and is developing a larger variant to compete directly with Starship.
