SpaceX FOUND Serious Raptor Problem Days Before Starship Flight 15 - This Is Troubling!

Summary

The video reviews Starship preparations for Flights 15–17, discusses concerns about Raptor 3’s reliable thrust, and outlines NASA’s revised Artemis plans.

Starship Flights 15–17

Flight 15 preparations

Booster 22 completed a static fire of all 33 engines, testing ignition, propellant delivery, valve sequencing, and vehicle controls. The test also evaluated changes intended to address engine shutdowns seen during Flight 14.

Ship 42 completed a single-engine firing and a 60-second, six-engine static fire. The latter followed a software fix for an engine-computer problem that had caused a Raptor vacuum engine to stall on Flight 14. Flight testing will be needed to confirm whether the fix works in operational conditions.

An FAA planning document listed Flight 15 for November 8, though the date is not guaranteed. The mission is expected to attempt Starship’s first tower catch, as well as another Super Heavy booster catch. Success would advance reusability, but inspections and repairs would still determine how soon the vehicles could fly again.

Flight 16 preparations

Ship 43 underwent cryogenic tank tests with liquid nitrogen and simulated structural loads, followed by tower-handling rehearsals. These included lifting and positioning the ship, connecting and disconnecting the quick-disconnect interface, and testing tower pushers and stabilizer arms. Booster 23 also underwent cryogenic testing.

The FAA schedule tentatively listed Flight 16 for December 10. It could be Starship’s first launch from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A, though SpaceX had not confirmed the site.

Flight 17 hardware

Ship 44 was completed and moving into systems integration. Booster 24’s methane-tank assembly was nearing completion, while Ship 45 was being assembled. The parallel work suggests SpaceX is preparing for a sustained sequence of flight tests.

Raptor 3 performance concern

Elon Musk reportedly said Raptor 3 can reliably produce about 230 metric tons of thrust—roughly the Raptor 2’s level. The video cites higher Raptor 3 targets: 250 tons in published figures, an earlier target of 280 tons, and a longer-term goal of 300 tons. The exact reason for the reliability limit has not been disclosed publicly.

Raptor’s full-flow staged-combustion cycle depends on closely coordinated turbomachinery, propellant flow, combustion, and cooling. Higher thrust increases demands on those systems. Raptor 3’s lighter, more integrated design—with less exposed piping and extensive use of complex 3D-printed parts—also raises demands on manufacturing precision, internal cooling, and component integration.

Musk’s stated goal for Raptor 4 is 300 tons of sea-level thrust at approximately Raptor 3’s weight. Achieving it will depend on resolving these challenges.

NASA Artemis plans

The video summarizes a NASA briefing on plans for a crewed lunar return by 2028.

• Artemis 3, described as planned no earlier than June 2027, is presented as a 14-day low-Earth-orbit mission to test Orion’s compatibility with SpaceX’s Starship HLS and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander. The crew would test Blue Moon first, then conduct a docking and integrated-control test with Starship without entering the Starship lander. The mission would end with Orion returning to Earth for a Pacific splashdown.
• Artemis 4, targeted for early 2028, is planned as the first crewed lunar landing of this program. NASA has not yet selected Starship HLS or Blue Moon Mark 2. The video describes SpaceX’s approach as requiring multiple tanker launches and orbital fuel transfer, followed by a Starship lunar landing. Blue Origin’s plan instead uses separately launched stages assembled in low Earth orbit and does not rely on orbital propellant refueling. Both companies must demonstrate their systems through uncrewed lunar missions.
• The video also notes ongoing development of Artemis hardware, including Orion, the landers, and two lunar spacesuit designs: a lighter suit for shorter sorties and a more capable suit intended for longer surface work.

Reviews, guides, or tutorials

None are presented; this is a news and engineering update.

Main speakers and sources

The video is narrated by Scientia Plus. It cites Elon Musk for Raptor performance comments, FAA planning documents for tentative launch schedules, and NASA’s Artemis briefing for lunar mission plans.