Tesla Roadster 2, the Flying Car – 15 0ctober 2026

Tesla’s Roadster reveal event on 15 October 2026 (Tesla, 2026).

Tesla revealed the new Roadster, a second generation that took a decade to engineer and develop. An outstanding demonstration of a working flying car, a combination of Tesla’s vehicle technology and SpaceX’s rocket developments.

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Updates

17 Oct 2026: Car-expert journalists' opinion.

Background

Tesla Roadster Release, 15 October 2026.
Roadster's demostration.
Roadster reveal videos.

References

UPDATES

Car-expert journalists’ opinion on
the Tesla Roadster reveal
– 17 Oct. 2026 -

Engineering and car experts were truly impressed by the capabilities demonstrated at the Tesla Roadster reveal.

Luke Chillingsworth, car expert and reporter for “Express”, an online magazine wrote: “Elon Musk has lifted the covers off the new Tesla Roadster, with the EV giant showing off one jaw-dropping future”. In the article he concluded: “I think Elon Musk’s new Tesla Roadster is one of the most exciting car launches we’ve ever seen, and it is deserved for a true space-age model. It’s genius because it’s got everyone talking about Tesla. They are back on the front pages. Like the Wright Brothers’ first flight, could this really be the date we all look back on as the start of a new age in motoring, … the new Tesla Roadster might be our first glimpse at the future”.

Benjamin VanderVeen, an EV enthusiastic journalist, was equally impressed and has many questions regarding the battery and mainly price ranges and technical details like the mention of compressed air versus nitrogen and the production dates, since this model was originally promised to be on the market by 2020.

Tesla Roadster: A glimpse into the future (Tesla, 2026).

END of UPDATES

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BACKGROUND

Tesla’s Roadster 2 revealed – 15 October 2026

The reveal of the second generation of Tesla’s Roadster electric vehicle took place at SpaceX’s McGregor Test Site in central Texas on 15 October 2026.

The event was hosted by Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, and Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, who were joined by Elon Musk to introduce the new Roadster. The presentation consisted of a live demonstration of the vehicle’s capabilities in front of a selected audience.

Roadster reveal event at Waco, Texas. Audience in the foreground and testing setup at a safe distance (Tesla, 2026).

The Roadster was original launched in 2008 as a sports car and the prototype of the second generation was shown in 2017, with production expected by 2020. In fact, it took almost a decade of research and innovation for Tesla and SpaceX engineering teams to produce a working demonstration model. It is expected to hit the market in 2028.

Roadster 1 in red, released in 2008. Roadster 2 in white, to be released in 2028 (Tesla, 2026).

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The Roadster demonstration

The new Roadster’s demonstration started with the car facing a track that curved upwards and curled back. Starting with a G-Force of 1 (normal gravity pull), the vehicle drove towards and up the ramp with the downforce increasing rapidly. When the car reached an altitude of 1 metre and an inclination angle (pitch) of 30 degrees, the downforce increased to 434 kg. Continuing upwards slowly, the car stopped in a vertical position, with a pitch of 90 degrees at an altitude of 9 metres, experiencing a downforce of 3,286 kg (3 tonnes).

Roadster demo: Start and slow climb to 30-degree inclination (Tesla, 2026).

Roadster demo: Stopped in a vertical position up the ramp (Tesla, 2026).

The Roadster continued climbing slowly even further, reaching an altitude of 14 metres and an inclination of 123 degrees, defying a downforce of 4,487 kg. Finally, it stopped at a height of 20 metres, essentially upside down at the top edge of the curved ramp, with a pitch of 170 degrees and a downforce of 4,692 kg.

Roadster demo: Climb above vertical and stop upside-down (Tesla, 2026).

After this amazing feat, under complete control, the vehicle reversed down the same track and begun another slow ascent. This time, instead of stopping at the end, it continued off the ramp and into the air. The 10 thrusters on its sides and underside took over control of the Roadster as it turned over in a twisted to regain a horizontal position and slowly descend and land on the ground enveloped in a cloud of white gas; then, as the cloud dissipated, the Roadster drove away.

Composite image showing the sequence of flipping from upside down at the top of the ramp (20m) to landing horizontally on the ground (Tesla, 2026).

Roadster driving away after landing (Tesla, 2026).

Roadster demo: Close-up of vehicle hovering during descent (Tesla, 2026).

Roadster demo: Side view of hover during descent (Tesla, 2026).

The crowd cheered as they witnessed the first official demonstration of a flying electric car. Elon and the engineers explained that this was possible using a suction method that pulls the car against the ground, increasing wheel traction. The suction automatically increases to compensate for the inclination of the car, even beyond the vertical position and into an upside-down position. The flight was then controlled with thruster technology borrowed from SpaceX vehicles, precisely controlled to ensure a smooth turn from an upside-down attitude to a horizontal position, followed by a controlled soft landing.

How it works

Elon Musk: Not safety-optimised (Tesla, 2026).

There are 2 overly pressed vessels in the car, making a total of 600 litres, with around 250 kg of air and 10 nozzles to vent air. This uses an advanced ultra-high-pressure air tank. This air tank is recharged by the car itself; it doesn’t need any special propellent as it preps itself (see “Under the bonnet” below).

Elon commented that “This is not a safety-optimised car” but a technical demonstration vehicle that is not ready for human consumption just yet.

Watch the ramp demonstration.

Tesla Roadster ramp demonstration (Tesla, 15 October 2026) (46sec).

But that was not all!

For the next part of the demonstration, they lined up a group of Tesla vehicles on the track, including the tall truck. The Roadster drove from one side towards them, and just before touching them it flew over them all, performed a twist and landed on the other side, then continued along the road.

Roadster demo: Approaching the line of Teslas from one side and performing a “Kickflip” over them to land on the other side (Tesla, 2026).

Roadster demo: Composition of close look at Roaster kickflip over Tesla Truck (Tesla, 2026).

Watch the kickflip demonstration.

Tesla Roadster kickflip over all tesla models (Tesla, 15 October 2026) (44sec).

Interior and features

The Roadster was driven onto the stage by two engineers to demonstrate the vertical opening doors and the interior. This is a two-seat sports-oriented car with a Steer-by-Wire system that consists of a steering wheel in the shape of a bowtie.

Elon Musk looks at the new Roadster on stage (Tesla, 2026).

Roadster’s interior: Two-seats, steer-by-wire control and monitor (Tesla, 2026).

The vehicle’s “Fan Sucker” system creates a vacuum under the car that increases traction to corner at more than 2G and accelerate with all the traction needed for the wheels to grip to the ground, which is at about 1.6G. There are 2 operational modes: High Downforce and a Low Drag. The fan system also has 2 modes: At Low-speed, it sucks the car down to give traction when needed and at High-speed the front and back vents open to create even more flow under the car.

The rear wing has a variable pitch that can automatically and dynamically, adjust the downforce to optimise speed. The Back Thrusters create over 80 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust. This equals to the force needed to lift 8.2 tonnes at sea level. 80 kN of force would accelerate 1-tonne vehicle at about 8G.

Roadster rear wing and thrusters assist the rear drive wheels (Tesla, 2026).

Speed record

At the live demonstration the Roadster outperformed expectations accelerating from 0 to 100k/h (0 to 60 m/h) in 0.81 seconds!

The Roadster reached 100 km/h in 0.81 seconds (Tesla, 2026).

Elon Musk proposed a challenge to the engineering team: Make the Roadster reach half the speed of sound (Mach 0.5) or 613 km/h, which is now their next goal.

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Roadster reveal videos

Watch the Roadster introduction clip that includes the demonstration.

The new Tesla Roadster coming to the public in 2028 (Tesla, 2026) (1m 27sec).

Watch new features of the Tesla Roadster.

Tesla Roadster promo video showing main features (Tesla, Carbuzzimages.com, 2026) (34sec).

Watch the Tesla Roadster Launch Event.

Tesla Roadster reveal event (Tesla, 15 October 2026) (20min).

Watch the reaction of a known YouTuber invited to the Roadster reveal event.

I watched the Tesla Roadster fly in person (What’s inside? 16oct2026) (14m).

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The Roadster's guts

The new Tesla Roadster is packed with carefully selected technology and design. From details on the exterior and interior, to mechanical engineering and aerospace technology to manage performance on the road and in the air.

Tesla Roadster's business end: Thrusters, tank and rear-drive (Tesla, 2026).

Nitish Garg presented the physics behind the Roadster performance on his article in CellCog/>, a sample of which is presented here:

The Roadster results from a combination of a rear-traction electric vehicle, a fan system that pushes the car onto the road and cold-gas thrusters that push the car in 3 axes, forwards, upwards and sideways.

Based on those technologies, the Roadster is available in 3 versions or trims:

1. Performance

Electric vehicle with rear-wing and fans that suck the air from under the car, creating vacuum that pushes the car down increasing tyre traction. This suction can be strong enough to hold the 2.4 tonnes of weight when upside-down. The commercial version is likely to feature only a fraction of the suction power.

Tesla Roadster: Performance trim: The resulting forward force (red) comes from wheel traction assisted by the Rear Wing and Suction Fans (blue).
They produce downward forces (green): The weight of the car through the wheels, augmented by suction of air
from under the car at any speed, and downward push by the rear wing at high speed (Ren@rt, Tesla, 2026).

2. Thrust

Electric car with rear thrusters, demonstrated to take the vehicle to 100km/h in 0.81seconds. Full thrust is likely to consume most of the air in the tank in a second.

Tesla Roadster: Thrust trim: The rear thrusters add a large force to the above by releasing jets of air at high speed from the rear
creating a reciprocal forward thrust (Ren@rt, Tesla, 2026).

3. Rocket

Includes 10 thrusters requiring 2 air tanks capable of lifting and turn the vehicle in short bursts.

Tesla Roadster: Rocket trim: High speed air jettisoned through 10 thrusters that move the vehicle in three directions
determined by the ejecting forces (blue). Bursts are limited by the air-tank reserves (Ren@rt, Tesla, 2026).

Production of Performance and Thust versions is expected to start in 2028. The Rocket trim will be produced by invitation as this option is not suitable for public roads.

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REFERENCES

» Chillingsworth L (2026) I’m a car expart. Tesla’s new flying car is completely genius and I absolutely love it. Express, 17 Oct 2026 [Online article]. Available at Express.co.uk. Accessed: 20 Oct 2026.
» EV-Gobal (2026) The New Tesla Roadster: The Thrusters Got the Headlines, the Engineering Deserves Them. EV-Global 16 Oct 2026 [Online article]. Available at EV-Global.org. Accessed: 20 Oct 2026.
» VanderVeen B (2026) We just watched the new Tesla Roadster fly. Sort of. Wh have questions. Electric Future, 15 Oct 2026 [Online article]. Available at ElectricFuture.org. Accessed: 20 Oct 2026.

== END of Tesla Roadster v2 reveal - 15 oct 2026 ==

SpaceX’s Starship Flight Test 12 – 22 May 2026

SpaceX’s Starship photographed in space by Dodger Dog’s camera. Flight Test 12, (Ren@art, SpaceX, 22 May 2026).

SpaceX’s Starship Flight Test 12 launched successfully from pad 2 at Bocachica, Texas, USA on 22 May 2026. The first test of version 3 of the Starship was a success, collecting all the expected data and demonstrating the viability of new technology in all areas.

Go to

Updates

Documentary: Critical Path SLT 12 - 10 July 2026.
Starship Launch Test 12 - 22 May 2026.
● Countdown.
● Lift-off & Ascent.
● Stage separation & Booster landing.
● Orbit insertion & Satellite deployment.
● Re-entry & Water landing.
Launch Test 12 Broadcast.

Background

Flight Test 12: Testing goals.
What is new in Flight Test 12?
Documentary: Test like you fly.

References

UPDATES

Absorb pain for change
Making things happen
- 10 July 2026 -

Watch an amazing documentary about the preparation for Starship Flight Test 12.

See what happens inside SpaceX when a flight needs to be scrubbed and the reason for aborting a launch. How it was fixed and successfully launched the next day, and the recovery team’s preparation that secured amazing data about re-entry and landing of Starship.

Starship Flight 12 Documentary (SpaceX, 2026) (34min).

--O--

Starship Launch Test 12
– 22 May 2026 -

The first launch attempt on 21 May was scrubbed because the hydraulic safety pin that locks the lower arm kept triggering a “hold” as it would not retract. This arm supports the fuel pipes during loading of the tanks and is required to fully retract for launch. The issue was solved successfully, and the launch was resumed the next day.

On 22 May 2026, Starship successfully launched from Starbase’s brand-new launch pad 2 at Bocachica, Texas. The flight profile included the following milestones.

• Launch firing all 33 new Raptor Engines.
• Ascent and separation testing the new integrated hot stage.
• The booster performs a return burn and controlled water landing.
• Starship continues entering orbit to deploy 20 satellite simulators and 2 test simulators, a.k.a. Dodger Dogs.
• Starship performs a return burn to initiate re-entry.
• Starship performs an autonomous controlled water landing in the Indian Ocean.

Countdown

Starship v3 during countdown on brand-new Launchpad 2 at Starbase, the “Gateway to Mars”.
Notice the historic relic Sky-Hopper in the carpark opposite the platform (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).

Starship v3 loading cryogenic fuels: Methane (CH4) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX)
into the tanks of both stages, Booster and Starship (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).

Starship v3 closeup 40sec before launch. Notice larger Grid-Fins and open walls of the integrated Hot-Stage (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).

Starship v3 Raptor Engines (also v3): 3 inner, 3 outer rings.
Notice open walls at the interface with the Hot Stage that constitutes the top of the booster’s fuel tank (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).

Lift-off & Ascent

Starship FT12: Lift off.
Notice all 33 raptor engines firing on the Super Heavy Booster (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Ascent with all booster engines ignited. Bocachica coast in the background (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Ascent. Starbase and Bocachica coast in the background (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Watch Test Flight 12 Lift-off:

Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/LQLdjK5V6K

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026

Video of Flight Test 12’s “Liftoff of Starship!” posted on “X” (SpaceX, 22 May 2026) (51sec).

Public videos of the launch of Starship Flight Test 12.

Starship FT12 liftoff, public perspective (@LaunchHeaven, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12 liftoff, ground camera perspective (@LaunchHeaven, 22 May 2026).

Stage separation & Booster landing

Starship FT12: Separation boost. Note the ring of fire around the interface diverted by the integrated Hot Stage.
Notice that all 6 engines of Starship ignited (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Stage Separation. Note the opened wall surrounding the Booster's integrated Hot Stage.
Notice that multiple booster engines switched off after a rapid separation (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Superheavy booster in free fall guided by the new larger Grid Fins towards the Gulf of America.
Notice that one of Starship’s engines switched off (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Most of the Super Heavy Booster engines shut down after stage separation due to an unexpected rapid booster flip (see image above), and 8 of the 28 engines required for the Boost-back Burn, failed to relit. These anomalies contributed to missing the landing spot. In addition, only one engine relit for the Landing Burn, therefore the booster experienced a “hard splashdown”, meaning, it crashed into the Gulf of America.

Consequently, on 27 May 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested a mishap investigation declaring “The FAA will oversee the SpaceX-led investigation, be involved in every step of the process, and approve SpaceX’s final report, including any corrective actions”, effectively grounding SpaceX’s Starship until the review is completed.

Orbit insertion & Payload deployment

Despite the unintentional loss of one engine, Starship compensated the power using its remaining 5 raptors to continue with its mission and entered lower orbit.

Once the required altitude and speed were reached, the cargo was deployed without anomalies. Starship’s cargo consisted of 20 satellite simulators and 2 experimental ones fitted with cameras and sensors that stuck out at both ends, for which they were affectionately known as “Dodger Dogs”.

In comparison with Test 11, the payload deployment was faster, satellites were ejected in pairs. The last test satellite recorded the exit looking back at the compartment, the exit door and the outside of the ship filming for the first time the complete Starship suspended in space. In the future, modified instruments will fly around Starship to inspect the Heat Shield before proceeding with re-entry.

Starship FT12: Starship S39 in orbit with the Earth in the background (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Stack of 20 Satellite simulators ready for deployment.
Notice the elongated opening at the end and the cupula of the fuel tank at the bottom of the image (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Deployment of the first pair of satellite simulators.
The engineering teams at Starbase applaud to celebrate their success (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Starlink’s view of the port as it exits Starship.
Note one of the four round bowl-shaped supports or “Docking drogues” that will allow docking of another ship
for fuel transfer in space (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Starlink’s view of the full unshielded side of Starship in space (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Watch Dodger Dog’s view of Starship in space as it is deployed into orbit:

Views of Starship in space from a @Starlink satellite pic.twitter.com/5hfw1n8v1o

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026

Video of Flight Test 12’s “Starlink satellite view” of deployment from Starship, posted on “X” (SpaceX, 23 May 2026) (1min).

Re-entry & Splashdown

Re-entry was completed successfully with the expected formation of plasma. The process was transmitted live via the Starlink network, avoiding the communications blackout that typically hinders missions during re-entry.

Starship FT12: Re-entry with formation of plasma (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Waiting for Starship in the Indian Ocean was the SpaceX team represented by Suren Sanai during the live broadcast. Their main goal was “range-clearing”, ensuring the predicted landing zone is clear of vessels or other obstacles; they also collect imagery of Starship’s water landing using cameras mounted on buoys. Over time, the buoys and cameras were fitted with means to steer and aim at the fast-moving vehicle, helped by Starship’s ability of precise landing.

Starship FT12: Suren Sanai represents the Indian Ocean team, preparing bouys with cameras and aiming equipment
(SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Indian Ocean SpaceX team onboard “JMR19005 N.T.140” in charge of range-clearing and imagery collection
(SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Inside the atmosphere, Starship cruised down towards the Indian Ocean and around 20 metres above sea level, the Raptor engines lit up for a landing burn, flipping the ship to vertical and hovering over the landing zone before touchdown over the ocean. Once in the water, Starship fell on its belly and the programmed auto-destruction mechanism was activated, resulting in a large explosion that consumed the remaining fuel minimising chemical contamination of the ocean. The event was filmed by buoy and drone cameras. Debris from the ship were later gathered by recovery teams.

Starship FT12: Starship descending inside the atmosphere at subsonic speed (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Starship’s landing burn and flip to vertical (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Starship falling from vertical onto the ocean (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Starship’s controlled explosion (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Starship FT12: Starship’s mushroom cloud following explosion to burn out fuel (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).

Watch Buoy’s view of Starship water landing:

Starship flip and landing burn at the end of its twelfth flight test pic.twitter.com/0iJUox3FJt

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2026

Video of Flight Test 12’s Starship's landing on the Indian Ocean, posted on “X” (SpaceX, 23 May 2026) (23sec).

Starlink-equipped buoys provided real-time video streaming in the Indian Ocean during Starship's twelfth flight test pic.twitter.com/SzfmwUMg4N

— Starlink (@Starlink) May 26, 2026

Video of Flight Test 12’s Starship's flip and landing on the Indian Ocean, posted on “X” (SpaceX, 23 May 2026) (16sec).

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Launch Broadcast – 22may2026

Hosts

The broadcast of Flight Test 12 Launch was hosted by Emmy Award Winner Kate Tice, Senior Manager, Quality Systems Engineering; Jake Berkowitz, Lead Propulsion Engineer, and Dan Huot, from the Communications team, all based near the production floor at Star Factory in Bocachica, Texas. An additional presenter was Tyler Lionquist, Starlink Business Analyst based in Hawthorne, Texas.

Flight Test 12 Broadcast Hosts: Kate Tice, Jake Berkowitz, Dan Huot and Tyler Lionquist (SpaceX, 22 May 2026).

Guests

A special guest of the webcast was Jared Isaacman, a former SpaceX customer in Inspiration 4 and Polaris Dawn missions. He flew onboard Dragon Capsule Resilience in both missions and in the latter, he performed the first commercial spacewalk. Isaacman is the current NASA Administrator and arrived at the launch complex in style, with a flyby on his supersonic F5 private jet. He was delighted to see the changes and a brand-new rocket on the launchpad.

Find more about the Polaris Dawn mission that launched on 10 September 2024 at SpaceX Polaris Dawn - 10 to 15 Sep 2024 (opens on a new tab/window).

And about Jared Isaacman’s new role as NASA Administrator 18 December 2025 at Jared Isaacman NASA Administrator - 18 Dec 2025 (opens on a new tab/window).

Jared Isaacman’s private F5 jet during flyby over Starbase at Boca Chica.
Below: Co-pilot filming Launch Pad 2 before Starship FT 12 launch, Starbase at Boca Chica, Texas (Matt Anderson, Yahoo! News, 23 May 2026).

Starship on Launch Pad 2 before FT 12 launch, Starbase at Boca Chica, Texas (Matt Anderson, Yahoo! News, 23 May 2026).

Flight Test 12 Broadcast: Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator interviewed by Dan Huot (SpaceX, 22 May 2026).

Another news presented during the webcast was that entrepreneur Chun Wang, who sponsored the Fram 2 mission, will be the first commercial inter-planetary traveller onboard the first Starship mission to fly past the Moon on its way to Mars.

Wang also flew the Dragon Capsule Resilience fitted with a transparent cupula.

Learn more about Fram 2 that launched on 31 March 2025 at SpaceX FRAM 2 - 31 Mar to 04 Apr 2025 (opens on a new tab/window).

Entrepreneur Chun Wang during Fram 2 mission with the Earth in the background seen through Dragon Capsule’s cupula (SpaceX, 01 April 2025).

Cameo appearance

During the first launch attempt, rapper Nicki Minaj surprised the audience when she appeared during the broadcast wearing a “Starship” T-Shirt. The media reported an “embarrassing appearance” at the failed rocket launch.

Rapper Nicki Minaj surprised the audience appearing during FT12 broadcast (SpaceX, 21 May 2026).

Starship's Flight Test 12 Launch: Full Webcast

Watch Flight Test 12’s full broadcast on SpaceX.com (1h 44m)

Watch Starship's twelfth flight test https://t.co/caRB1thMlg

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026

Video of full broadcast of Starship Flight Test 12 Launch from Launchpad 2 at Starbase, posted on “X” (SpaceX, 22 May 2026) (1h 44sec).

END of UPDATES

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BACKGROUND

Flight Test 12: Testing goals

The following is a summary of the main goals of Starship’s Flight Test 12. With this new version, the full system required thorough testing to analyse issues and find solutions for future versions.

Booster: Successful launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, landing burn and landing point offshore in the Gulf of America. Because this is the first test for a new system the booster will not attempt return for catch.

Starship: Payload deployment of 20 Starlink simulators (emulating v3 satellites) and 2 v2 simulators modified with measuring instruments. It was also envisioned to send modified satellites that scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit images to control to simulate inspection for future missions. Some tiles painted white to simulate missing tiles. Relight of single Raptor engine in space.

Launchpad: Evaluate functionality of the structure and its integrity.

What is new in Test 12?

The third generation of Starship and Super Heavy vehicles was powered by the third version of Raptor engines. The assembled rocket launched from a new version of Launch pad at Starbase.

Super Heavy version 3 Booster

Integrated Hot Stage with open walls
and only 3 grid fins (SpaceX, 2026).

1. Grid Fins reduced from 4 to 3, each 50% larger and stronger to support lift and catch operations. They have been lowered in the body to reduce heat exposure during stage separation.
2. The Hot Stage is now integrated, consisting of a steel plate shaped as a dome to protect the fuel tank. The walls are open to allow energy dispersion.
3. Cryogenic fuel transfer tube to 33 Raptor engines was redesigned to ensure starting up simultaneously, faster and more reliably.
4. The aft and thermal protection system around the engines was redesigned.
5. The booster now has two connection points to the pad.

Starship version 3

1. Propulsion system redesigned to increase propellant tank volume and is more exposed to avoid trap propellent leakage.
2. Aft fluid and electrical system rerouted to reduce environmental control.
3. Aft flap actuator reduced from 2 to a single one with 3 motors, providing redundancy and reducing mass and cost.
4. Starlink PEZ dispenser enhanced for faster satellite deployment.
5. Improved cryogenic propellent management for extended coasts in space.
6. Docking drogues added to enable docking with other Starships with propellant feed connection for ship-to-ship propellant transfer.
7. Advanced avionics for higher flight-rate, reusability and reliability.
8. Upgraded multi-sensor navigation for precise autonomous flight with higher redundancy.
9. Precision radio-frequency sensors for measuring propellent in micro-gravity, important to monitor propellant during transfer.
10. Upgraded cameras to provide 50 views for better coverage, with high-speed Starlink connection.

Raptor Engine version 3

1. Increased thrust from previous 230 to 250 Tonnes-Force (tf) at sea-levels, and for vacuum engines, from previous 258 to 275 tf.
2. Sensors and controllers covered by engine thermal protection.
3. Redesigned ignition system.
4. Lighter engines with mass reduced from 1.6 to 1.5 tonnes.

Raptor Engines: 33 on v2 (left) and v3 booster. Bottom: Evolution of raptor engines 1 to 3, 2017 to 2026 (SpaceX, 2026).

Launch Pad 2

1. Increased storage capacity of propellant farm.
2. More propellant pumps for faster vehicle filling.
3. Shorter tower chopsticks for faster motion, with their actuators changed from hydraulic to electromechanical for better speed, redundancy and reliability.
4. The quick disconnect arm for loading propellant is stronger and rotates farther away from the rocket during launch.
5. Launch mount and hold-downs redesigned to improve load sharing, reliability and protection. Vent valves and filters for booster fluid relocated to isolate Oxygen from Methane for safety.
6. A new flame trench with bidirectional flame diverter and deflector re-designed to eliminate ablation, built with concrete-filled stainless-steel walls and stainless-steel cladding on the floor, making it one of the most heavily reinforced and protected flame trenches ever built.

Launch Pad 2: New development with a taller base and a propellant farm.
Note Grass-hopper original SpaceX Rocket in the carpark (SpaceX, 2026).

Starlink Satellite Network

Stack of satellites inside Starship’s hull.
Note two of the four docking drogues
under the satellite deployment door (SpaceX, 2026).

Two of the released dummy-satellites were tech demonstrations with instruments at both ends, therefore named “dodger dogs”.

The new instruments tested v3 components and included cameras that provided video of the deployment and views of the outside of Starship (see above). Future instruments will allow inspection of the heatshield before re-entry.

V3 Starlink downlink capacity will be 60 Terabits/sec per satellite, which is 20 times more than each v2 does today.

In the future, Starlink will include AI satellites that will allow cloud computing reaching a capacity of 100gW to 1tW of AI computing annually. Later, a new orbital network around the Moon will connect with that around the Earth using lasers for fast transmissions.

Starlink’s Orbital Network extended to the Moon for laser communications with the Earth (SpaceX, 2026).

Orbital Data Centres

Elon Musk provided a view into the future of orbital space and the harnessing of solar power.

“By directly harnessing near-constant solar power with little operating or maintenance costs, these satellites will transform our ability to scale compute. It’s always sunny in space! Launching a constellation of a million satellites that operate as orbital data centres is a first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization, one that can harness the Sun’s full power, while supporting AI-driven applications for billions of people today and ensuring humanity’s multi-planetary future” (Elon Musk, 2026).

More about Elon Musk’s views on data centres in upcoming posts.

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Test like you fly

SpaceX presents the evolution of Spaceship in the documentary "Test Like You Fly" (25min).

Watch the epic journey of Starship up to Test Flight 12 (SpaceX, 2026) (25min)
(Click the image to open the link in a new tab or window).

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REFERENCES

» Kimmins L (2026) MAGA Rapper Makes Embarrassing Appearance at Elon Musk’s Failed Rocket Launch. Yahoo! News Malasia, 22 May 2026 [Online article]. Available at Yahoo.com. Accessed: 02 Jun 2026.
» Leone A (2026) FAA grounds SpaceX’s Starship after booster malfunction. MyNews13, 27 May 2026. [Online article]. Available at MyNews13.com. Accessed: 04 June 2026.
» Low L (2026) Artemis II Crew Arrives at Launch Site, Shares Moon Mascot. NASA, Missions, 27 March 2026. [Online article]. Available at NASA.gov. Accessed: 30 March 2026.
» NASA (2026) NASA's Artemis II Crew Comes Home (Official Broadcast). NASA, 10 April 2026. [Online video]. Available at YouTube.com. Accessed: 10 April 2026.
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» SpaceX (2026) Liftoff of Starship. “X” Post, 22 May 2026. [Social Media Post]. Available at X.com. Accessed: 24 May 2026.
» SpaceX (2026) Views of Starship in space from a @Starlink satellite. “X” Post, 23 May 2026. [Social Media Post]. Available at X.com. Accessed: 24 May 2026.
» SpaceX (2026) Updates. SpaceX blog. [Online articles]. Available at SpaceX.com. Accessed: 24 May 2026.
» Storyful (2026) Starbase seen from the sky ahead of SpaceX Launch. Yahoo! News [Online article]. Available at Yahoo.com. Accessed: 02 June 2026.

== END of SpaceX’s Starship Flight Test 12 – 22 May 2026 ==