SpaceX's Starship V3 megarocket will do something completely new on Flight 12 — take a good look at itself
space.com·May 14, 2026
SpaceX successfully performed a full-duration static fire test on the upper stage of the Starship V3 vehicle, which features a stainless steel structure and a heat shield made of 40,000 hexagonal tiles, in preparation for its Flight 12 test.
The full-duration static fire test of SpaceX's Starship V3 upper stage, featuring a stainless steel body with an advanced heat shield of 40,000 hexagonal tiles, highlights a significant step towards enhancing heat resistance and durability for future space missions. This development could inform material and design choices for other commercial space ventures aiming for reusable and robust spacecraft.