SpaceX’s new Raptor 3 is the most advanced rocket engine ever built

Key upgrades over earlier Raptors:

• Nearly double the thrust compared to Raptor 1
• About 4× cheaper to manufacture, dramatically lowering launch costs
• A simplified design that saves over 40 metric tons of mass per Starship launch
• Durable enough to eliminate the need for an external heat shield, reducing complexity and maintenance

Raptor 3 is designed to fly on Starship Version 3, with first flight targeted for early 2026