SpaceX is approaching the next testing phase of the Starship rocket. The Flight 12 mission may take place after May 2026. Ixbt.com reports on this.
The primary innovation will be the installation of Raptor 3 engines.
According to data from Jarsy Research, the full assembly of the Starship system costs approximately 100 million dollars. The upper stage is valued at 20-30 million dollars, while the Super Heavy booster is estimated at around 30-40 million dollars.
Additionally, a set of 39 Raptor engines costs approximately 39 million dollars. Up to 2 million dollars is spent on fuel and other materials.
With a payload capacity of 100 tons for a single-use flight, the cost per kilogram of cargo is 900-1010 dollars. If the rocket is reused more than 20 times, this figure could drop to 115-125 dollars.
This makes the project one of the most promising programs for reducing the cost of space flights.
Super Heavy Booster 19 has been equipped with the latest Raptor 3 engines for the first time. This engine features higher thrust and lighter weight compared to the previous generation.
Due to the absence of external thermal protection, its production has become four times cheaper.
The US Federal Communications Commission has granted permission to use radio frequencies for the 13th flight of the Starship rocket. The Super Heavy B20 and Starship S40 prototypes will participate in this flight.
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