Elon Musk Podcast SpaceX Starship Flight 12 Update - Hardware Details, Flight Information, News from Starbase Texas
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Jan 10, 2026 SpaceX's upcoming Starship Flight 12 promises exciting advancements. For the first time, Raptor 3 engines will boost performance significantly. The mission will see Ship 39 attempting a controlled reentry above the Indian Ocean. There are crucial ties to NASA's Artemis program, making Flight 12 a pivotal moment for lunar exploration. Updates on the ship's design changes and inspection protocols highlight SpaceX's commitment to safety. With a roadmap set until 2028, anticipation builds for this major leap in space travel.
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Operational Era Begins With Flight 12
- Flight 12 marks the move from technology demonstrations to operational Block 3 Starship flights.
- Success here enables orbital refueling and lunar mission milestones tied to NASA's timeline.
Raptor 3 Delivers Big Thrust Gain
- Raptor 3 brings a measurable thrust and performance jump over Raptor 2 with 33 engines on the booster and 6 on the ship.
- The upgrade yields roughly 19–22% more total thrust for Block 3 boosters at sea level.
Engine Simplification Enables Faster Production
- Raptor 3 increases chamber pressure to ~350 bar while reducing part count and mass.
- The simpler, lighter design speeds manufacturing for high launch cadence needs.