When will we first see a Raptor V3 (or other**) engine fly on a Starship?
3
68
475
2026
21%
Before June
34%
Before August
47%
Before October
50%
Before 2025
53%
Before July 2025
59%
Before 2026

Last May Elon Musk announced that a new Raptor Engine version (referred to variably as Raptor 3, Raptor V3, or Raptor 3.0) achieved a record breaking 350 bar chamber pressure (269 tons of thrust) in a static fire; however we've heard very little about its development since and it's unclear if/when we'll see one in use

This question asks when we'll actually see a major new engine version (of any type) be used on a Starship

Answers will resolve yes once a Starship Super Heavy launch* occurs with at least one satisfactory** engine on the first or second stage

*Launch is defined as lifting off of the pad, even if only slightly, under the power of its own thrust (an explosion on the pad does not count).

**For an engine to be counted as satisfactory for the purposes of this question, it must not be referred to as a Raptor V2 (or V1) or as some variant of Raptor V2 (or V1).

Examples of real or hypothetical engine versions that would resolve yes: Raptor 3, Raptor V3.5, Raptor 4.0, 1337, T-Rex, BE-4, Merlin

Examples of real or hypothetical engine versions that would not resolve yes: Raptor V1, Raptor 2, Raptor 2.5, Raptor 1e, Raptor V2 Block 2

The dates will resolve no as they are reached, unless a launch occurs with evidence of a possible but unconfirmed satisfactory engine in which case I would wait for a while to see if any confirmed information comes out

The engine does not have to operate nominally, or even operate at all

Dates use UTC

As confirmed by SpaceX or a credible SpaceX employee, or if high confidence - by photographic evidence of a description or name on a Raptor engine

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