SpaceX revealed New Breakthrough Upgrade on Raptor 3 Engine in 2026 Totally Ahead of Time

SpaceX unveils a major upgrade to its Raptor 3 engine, showcased during the Flight 11 livestream. The sea level and vacuum variants now deliver record breaking thrust, up to 280 tons and 306 tons respectively, making the vacuum version the most powerful methalox (methane/liquid oxygen) rocket engine ever built. The upgrade also trims the engine’s weight while boosting efficiency and reliability, key improvements for enabling rapid reusability on the Starship V3 and Super Heavy booster, and ultimately supporting SpaceX’s interplanetary travel ambitions.