SpaceX confirmed Super Heavy V3 and Launch Pad 2 ready for preflight testing

SpaceX has confirmed that the Super Heavy V3 booster is ready for preflight testing that will activate the Launch Pad 2 to prepare for Starship Flight 12.

The company has shared some eye-catching visuals of the Super Heavy stacked on the launch pad 2 at Starbase, lifted by the upgraded mechazilla arms.

The next stop in this test sequence is propellant loading operations, a process of filling a first stage’s stanks with liquid propellants and testing the maximum tank pressure.

SpaceX Super Heavy Booster V3 standing on the launch pad 2 at Starbase

On the other hand, the vehicle is the first to feature Raptor 3 engines with smaller sizes and increased thrust. Following the propellant loading operations, SpaceX is likely to conduct static fire with these new Raptor 3 engines.

According to the information, SpaceX could launch Starship Flight 12 as early as April, but we’ll have to wait for these tests to complete without any issues.

Over the coming days, we’ll conduct a series of tests to activate Pad 2 at Starbase, exercise new propellant loading operations, and operate a vehicle with new Raptor 3 engines installed for the first time pic.twitter.com/rLtOx9l2c1

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 9, 2026