ORLANDO, Florida—SpaceX’s first Super Heavy Version 3 booster is expected to be rolled out to Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, in “days to weeks, not weeks to months,” with a launch possibly as early as January, Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX vice president of launch, said on Nov. 5. “It’s a development program that’s progressing rapidly,” he added. The rollout marks a significant milestone in the development of SpaceX’s next-generation booster, which is designed to support the company’s Starship lunar and Mars missions.
The new booster, named Super Heavy Version 3, aims to enhance performance and reusability, building upon earlier prototypes. SpaceX is accelerating its testing and manufacturing processes to meet an ambitious schedule, with some industry insiders speculating that the inaugural launch could take place as early as the upcoming winter.
Kiko Dontchev emphasized that the vehicle’s development remains on track and that the company is working closely with regulators to ensure safety and compliance. “We are pushing ahead with full throttle and aim to demonstrate Super Heavy’s capabilities in the coming months,” he said.
The upcoming rollout is expected to be hosted at Starbase, SpaceX’s southern Texas facility, which has become the hub of the company’s innovative launch infrastructure. This phase will include extensive ground testing before the vehicle’s first flight, which expects to pave the way for future missions, including lunar cargo and crewed Artemis missions. Industry analysts view this as a key step in sustaining reusable launch capabilities and reducing costs in the rapidly evolving commercial space sector.
