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Rocket Report: China wants Raptor 3; SpaceX readies Starship test

Weekly space report from Ars Technica highlights China's interest in Raptor 3 engines and SpaceX preparing for a major Starship test.

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19 Sep 2026Source: Ars Technica1 min read (0 views)
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Rocket Report: China wants Raptor 3; SpaceX readies Starship test

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

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  • China shows interest in developing the Raptor 3 rocket engine
  • SpaceX is gearing up for a major flight test of the Starship system
  • Ars Technica's weekly rocket report details latest aerospace milestones

In this week's global aerospace updates, Ars Technica's regular Rocket Report column has highlighted significant developments regarding rocket propulsion technologies and upcoming flight testing milestones in the commercial space sector.

A primary focal point of the report involves China, with indications pointing toward their interest in the advanced Raptor 3 rocket engine design pioneered by SpaceX, representing a notable benchmark in modern aerospace propulsion engineering.

rocket engine test stand facility

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Concurrently, SpaceX is actively preparing for a major system test of its Starship spacecraft, marking a crucial step forward as the company continues refining its architecture for deep space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

China's reported interest in the Raptor 3 engine underscores the profound impact of SpaceX's rapid iteration approach and full-flow staged combustion cycle design using methalox, which has set a new performance standard for modern rocket engines.

Furthermore, the report notes a brief operational update confirming that SpaceX has already completed captive testing phases, signaling steady progress ahead of their next scheduled launch campaigns.

Source: Ars Technica

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