SpaceX Revealed Raptor 3’s Insane Testing for Starship V3 Ascent Burn! Big Changes are Coming…

With the debut of version 3 nearing, SpaceX has given us our first real preview. The latest Raptor 3 test acts like a trailer for what's to come, revealing several important upgrades in the new engine. So, what should we expect from this next evolution? Meanwhile, Europe is uniting behind the development of a new lunar lander, a move that could redefine the continent's role in deep space exploration. And over in the suborbital world, Blue Origin has announced the full crew for the next New Shepard mission, which includes a passenger who uses a wheelchair, marking a meaningful step forward for accessibility in human space flight. An exciting lineup to say the least. Let's dive in on today's episode of Great SpaceX. It can be said that the B18 incident left many people disappointed because without that setback, we might have already seen the first Raptor 3 engines arrive at the production site. Even so, progress is still moving forward. S39 is preparing for transport, and once it completes its cryogenic test campaign, it'll receive its engine installation. This is why SpaceX has begun outlining the steps related to the Raptor 3 program in greater detail. Recently, SpaceX released an important update on its latest Raptor 3 test conducted at the company's McGregor facility. The video, which runs for 6 minutes and 40 seconds, gives one of the most comprehensive looks we have ever seen of a next generation Raptor engine in action. It begins with the ignition sequence, transitions into an extended burn with active gimbal movements, and ends with a clean shutdown. The footage switches between multiple perspectives, including close-up shots, wide angles, and views from outside the stand to show how the engine behaves under a range of conditions. Although SpaceX has not confirmed the full details, the test appears to involve a single Raptor 3. If that's the case, then this was clearly a long duration validation meant to demonstrate the engine's ability to operate continuously for an extended period of time. SpaceX supported this idea in the update attached to the video, which they wrote, "Validation testing on a Raptor 3 performing a Starship V3 ascent burn." This wording makes the purpose clear. The test was designed to simulate the most demanding segment of powered flight, which is the ascent phase. The ascent phase is when all engines work at their absolute maximum. For super heavy, all 33 engines must fire at full power to push the massive booster through the densest layers of the atmosphere. Later phases require fewer engines, but the initial climb is the moment of highest stress. The same applies to the ship. Its seale engines must operate at full throttle after stage separation, while the re-entry sequence depends only on three engines. The ascent is the most power- hungry portion of the flight because the vehicle must fight gravity and atmospheric drag at the same time. This is exactly why the ascent phase is so important for V3. SpaceX intends for Starship V3 to reach orbit, something neither V1 nor V2 were designed to do. Achieving orbit requires an engine that is not only powerful but also reliable for several minutes of uninterrupted operation. If the engine cannot maintain stable performance over that period, Starship may fall short of orbital velocity or consume more propellant than planned, which could compromise mission objectives. Of course, actual flight is far more complex than a controlled test stand burn. Engines do not operate alone in a vacuum. When they run together, they generate much higher temperatures, stronger vibrations, and significant exhaust interactions. These combined forces can affect performance in ways that cannot be perfectly replicated in isolated tests. This is why integrated system testing will be essential. Even so, tests like this one gives us confidence that Raptor 3 is moving toward meeting its operational requirements. The nearly 7minute burn shown in the video is extremely promising. To put that into perspective, a full Superheavy ascent lasts only 6 to 8 minutes with about 2 and 1/2 minutes spent at maximum power. Raptor 3 performing a burn of this length at test stand test stand conditions is a meaningful milestone. It indicates that the engine is capable of the sustained performance needed for real missions, especially for the center engines that carry the highest workload. SpaceX highlighted this in the update by stating multiple versions of this test will cover the different conditions seen by Starship's three inner engines during its initial climb to space. The center engines are different from the outer ring engines on Superheavy and the vacuum engines on the ship. They provide core thrust, but they also perform navigation duties because of their gimbal ability. This is why the video shows the engine pivoting repeatedly while firing. SpaceX is likely evaluating whether the engine can maintain stable combustion while moving through a wide range of steering angles. Still, there are more tests that must be completed before Raptor 3 is fully validated for flight. One of the most important will be the multiple restart test campaign. The center engines undergo several onoff cycles during a mission. On Superheavy, the center engines power down after liftoff, restart for the boost back burn, shut down again, and then restart during the landing burn. The ship will perform an additional restart in orbit as part of its relight test and later for operational tasks like payload deployment. These repeated start stop cycles are known to cause issues, which is why SpaceX must test them extensively with Raptor 3. Another key area is gimbal stress testing. In real flight, the engines can tilt aggressively while compensating for winds, shifting loads, and rapid maneuvers. Test stands allow SpaceX to push the gimbal system beyond typical flight limits to ensure it can handle extreme situations without loss of performance or control. Taken together, these Raptor 3 tests reveal the scale of changes coming with Starship V3. This new version is built for missions that are significantly more complex than earlier prototypes. The objectives include reaching orbit, deploying payloads, and executing controlled landings. Higher thrust alone is not enough. The engine must also handle long burns, survive re-entry phases, manage repeated restarts, and maintain precise guidance. The Raptor 3 test at McGregor shows that SpaceX is pushing hard to achieve this full range of capabilities. Once these standalone tests are complete, the next major milestone will be integrated static fires. These tests will show how Raptor 3 behaves when installed in a real stage with 33 engines firing together on Superheavy. The expected thrust of more than 9,000 tons will be one of the most jaw-dropping demonstrations in the history of rocket propulsion. These tests will also reveal how the engines handle thermal buildup, exhaust interactions, and structural vibrations. Regarding hardware progress, S39 has completed production and is expected to roll out for testing soon, likely in the first half of this month. After cryogenic testing, it'll move to the production site for engine installation. If the pace continues, Raptor 3 engines could appear on S39 as early as the second half of this month. This means a static fire attempt could realistically take place before the end of the year. Superheavy is lagging slightly behind. B19 remains in the stacking phase and work on it is likely to extend through the end of the month. Early next year, it should begin its cryogenic test sequence. If everything proceeds smoothly, Raptor 3 engines for B19 may appear by mid January with a full 33 engine static fire possible in the latter half of the month. These milestones may sound distant, but we are already in December. From this point forward, the debuts of Raptor 3 and Starship V3 will begin arriving one after another. The engine test released by SpaceX is only an early preview of the extraordinary performance that is on the horizon. Are you ready for what comes next? If you're excited for the arrival of V3, comment welcome V3 down below. Then make sure to like the video and subscribe so you can stay up to date on every step of SpaceX's next giant leap. And now we move on to updates about Europe's progress toward developing its first dedicated lunar lander. The global push to return to the moon has intensified in recent years. Several nations have already achieved soft landings or are actively developing their own spacecraft, including the US, China, Russia, India, and Japan. Europe, as one of the world's major space fairing regions, has long expressed interest in joining this group with a lander of its own. Now that ambition is moving into a concrete development phase. Europe has reached a major milestone in its lunar ambitions by selecting the companies that will design and build its new lander. Leading the efforts is Theos Elenia Space in Italy, a longestablished aerospace manufacturer known for its work on the ISS modules and major US programs. The company will head a consortium that includes the Elenia space branches in France and the UK, OB system AG in Germany and NAMO which will provide the propulsion systems main engine. Together these partners will build the Argonaut lander. Argonaut will consist of three main parts. The lunar descent element which is now entering development, the cargo platform element and the payload it carries. The lander will stand 6 m tall, measure 4 and 1/2 mters in diameter, and launch with a mass of nearly 10,000 kilos. Its first mission is expected to deliver roughly 1500 kilos of cargo to the lunar surface with a landing accuracy of about 250 m. Later versions aim to carry heavier payloads and achieve much higher precision. Argonaut is designed to be a versatile logistics vehicle capable of transporting supplies, instruments, and essential equipment to any location on the moon. It'll play a central role in Europe's long-term participation in lunar exploration and in supporting NASA's Aremis program. The first Argonaut mission is scheduled to launch in 2030 aboard an Aryan 64 rocket, followed by its first operational flight in 2031. According to senior leadership at the Alenia Space, forming the consortium marks a significant step toward establishing Europe's independent access to the lunar surface. With development now officially underway, Europe is moving from contributor to active operator, preparing to deliver its own cargo to the moon in the coming decade. The Argonaut lander will be a key part of that future, shaping Europe's presence in the next chapter of lunar exploration. And for our final piece of the updates today, Blue Origin is preparing for its next crude New Shepard mission NS37. And while the launch date remains unannounced, the full passenger list is now confirmed. The crew will include McKela Bentouse, Joey Hyde, Hans Kernixman, Neil Milch, Adonis Peruis, and Jason Stansel. McKela Bentouse is the defining figure of this flight. She is set to become the first wheelchair user to travel into space following a spinal cord injury from a mountain biking accident. Her inclusion has naturally prompted questions since even a brief suborbital mission requires strict medical review and careful safety planning. Blue Origin's approval indicates that she is fully prepared for the journey. If successful, her flight will mark an important step toward greater accessibility in human space flight. Ventous's determination delivers a compelling message about resilience and opportunity, showing that space may be within reach for more people than ever before. It will be worth watching closely as NS37 approaches its historic moment. In any case, folks, this has been Kevin with Great SpaceX. Don't forget to like the video and subscribe if you haven't already to stay up to date with yours truly on the latest milestones in SpaceX's journey. Thank you so much for watching and always remember, curiosity, imagination, and inspiration will follow you so long as you keep looking up.