SpaceX has resumed testing the mega-spacecraft Starship—another launch is already on the horizon.

SpaceX has resumed testing of the new super-heavy rocket system Starship

After a series of failed launches of the Block 2 version, the company developed a third iteration of the booster and ship. The first ground tests of the updated Booster in November 2025 ended in an explosion, delaying the transition to flight tests. The latest Booster test was successful, allowing another flight to be scheduled.

What was tested
- Super Heavy (Booster 19) was delivered to the Starbase site in Texas.
- The team conducted a series of ground checks before launch.
- Booster 19 successfully passed cryogenic tank tests, confirming their strength – a key step before the planned launch in March 2026.

New capabilities of Block 3
Parameter | Change | Body | Increased size for greater payload capacity. | Engines Raptor 3 | More thrust, lighter weight, improved heat shield, higher reliability. | Design | Strengthened to withstand new loads. | Docking ports | Allow the ship to connect with other vehicles in orbit – critical for refueling, lunar landings and Mars colonization.

Strategic significance
- Starlink: Block 3 can quickly expand the satellite network by launching heavier V3 satellites with improved characteristics, thereby increasing network throughput.
- Moon and Mars missions: The new reliability and docking capabilities make the ship suitable for long‑term space programs.

Lessons learned from explosions of previous Starship and Booster 18 versions (November 2025) were incorporated into the design, improving the overall reliability of the system.