Elon Musk claimed that the Raptor 3 is the “best rocket engine ever”, a title based on its unprecedented combination of thrust, weight reduction, and extreme simplification.
The Raptor 3 which was unveiled in 2024, weighs just 1,525kg but delivers 280 metric tons of thrust-effectively doubling the thrust-to weight ratio of NASA’s legacy RS-25 engines.
As of early 2026, the Raptor 3 has become the standard operational engine for Starship Version 3, marking the program’s transition from an experimental phase into a high-cadence production environment.
Innovations in the Raptor 3 have significantly improved parts reliability and simplified manufacturing with the potential to drive costs as low as $250,000 per engine at scale. This achievement powers Starships’ Flight 12, which is set for early 2026 from Texas while enhancing excitement for reusable flights to Mars.
The Raptor 3’s specific design allows SpaceX to remove tons of fire suppression systems and heat shields behind the engines, enabling a lighter vehicle and a more efficient turnaround.
Additionally, Raptor 3 is engineered for high-volume production helping SpaceX build a more efficient and cost-effective engine for the Starship program.