Elon Musk has shared new details about SpaceX’s roadmap for future iterations of Starship as the company gears up for its 10th orbital flight test.
In a post on X, Musk noted that Starship V3 will be a “massive upgrade” over the current V2 and should be through production and testing by the end of this year, with heavy flight activity expected in 2026. The current version of Starship is powered by 33 Raptor engines — each more than twice as powerful as all four engines on a Boeing 747 combined.
Responding to a user who asked about when Starship will have more engines, Musk revealed that Starship V4 will feature 42 Raptor engines when three additional engines are added to a “significantly longer ship.” That version is currently targeted to fly in 2027.
The comments came as Musk shared a striking photo from beneath SpaceX’s latest flight-ready Starship prototype (stacked on top of a Super Heavy booster), showing the cluster of engines that will power the vehicle to orbit. Just last week, SpaceX also showed off the first grid fin for its next-generation Super Heavy booster, which will eventually be used for future Starship missions.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to push ahead with real-world testing. The company’s 10th orbital flight test of Starship, originally slated for August 24, has been delayed twice, with the launch now targeting Tuesday, August 26. The attempt will be streamed live on X and SpaceX’s website, with coverage starting at 6:55 p.m. ET/3:55 p.m. PT.
As development advances, SpaceX is already securing business for Starship. Earlier this month, the company signed its first commercial transportation agreement to Mars with Italy, underscoring Musk’s long-term vision of making humanity multiplanetary.
