Engine failures and unexpected flips define the Starship V3 debut
Witness the high-stakes testing of the new Starship V3. This flight featured the debut of Raptor V3 engines and launch mount 2, showcasing a mix of technical triumphs and dramatic hardware failures during ascent and descent.
The Flight 12 mission served as the first appearance of the Starship V3, utilizing the new Raptor V3 engines. While the spacecraft successfully reached its target sub-orbit despite engine failures on both the booster and Starship, the flight was marked by significant instability. The booster's flip maneuver appeared to move in the wrong direction, potentially triggering a violent engine failure immediately following the turn.
As a result of these failures, the booster entered the atmosphere with higher velocity and intensity than previous flights, lacking the necessary engine power for a soft landing. However, the Starship's entry remained nominal. The mission also introduced 'Dodger Dogs,' a new method for capturing orbital images of the spacecraft. Despite these successes, the absence of a successful engine relight test suggests the next flight may not yet be ready for an orbital launch.
Source: Starship Flight 12 - V3 Debuts with Max Power, Fatal Flips, Fast Landings and Exploding Raptors
