SpaceX's next Starship breathes fire for 1st time in prelaunch test (video)

Key Points:

• SpaceX has begun testing its next Version 3 Starship rocket, Ship 40, at its Starbase facility in Texas, conducting a successful 15-second static fire test of one central Raptor 3 engine.
• Ship 40, equipped with six Raptor 3 engines, is slated for the upcoming Flight 13 demonstration mission, advancing preparations for a full flight campaign including tests of all engines on both the Ship and Super Heavy booster.
• The Starship V3 rocket, standing 408 feet tall, is SpaceX's most powerful iteration featuring upgraded Raptor 3 engines, enhanced aerodynamic grid fins, improved thermal protection, increased fuel capacity, and docking nodes for in-space refueling.
• Starship has yet to reach orbit, relying on refueling flights to extend its range beyond low Earth orbit, a critical capability for NASA's Artemis lunar missions where Starship will serve as the crew lander requiring multiple refueling flights.
• SpaceX aims to launch Flight 13 before the end of summer, progressing toward demonstrating the full capabilities of Starship's upgraded systems in preparation for future lunar missions scheduled in the late 2020s.