Earlier this year, SpaceX unveiled the new version of its ship, dubbed the “V2 Starship” by Elon Musk. The V1 ship was the prototype that gave the engineers the information they needed to develop the new V2. SpaceX’s improved prototype aims to fix some of the V1’s worst flaws, including “unscheduled disassembly.”
Some of the changes are immediately obvious, such as the increase in height. The V2 comes in at 171 feet (52.1 m), a 6-foot increase over the V1’s 165 feet (50.3 m). The extra height creates room for more thruster; about 300 additional metric tons of it. More importantly, the V2 reduced its empty mass from 100 metric tons to 85 metric tons, while expanding its fuel capacity from 1,200 metric tons to 1,500 metric tons.
Rockets live or die by their mass ratio, which is the ratio of propellant weight to dry weight. Dropping 15 tons of structural weight while adding 300 tons of fuel gives the V2 better margins for orbital burns and landing. The lighter structure means there is more fuel available for reentry and has more capacity for payloads, which translates to better performance in real missions rather than just test flights. After analyzing test flights of the V1, engineers were able to discover problems with heat management and handling during reentry, particularly the aerodynamic stability of the craft. Using this data, V2 improves on those design issues by fixing those weaknesses.
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How SpaceX solved reentry problems
A black and white image showing the Raptor engines on the V1 spacecraft – Elon Musk/SpaceX
The front flaps of the V2 have changed significantly compared to the V1. Initially, these were thicker, with the V2’s flaps being thinner, saving weight and being aligned differently (at 140 degrees, compared to 180 degrees on its predecessor). The flaps were also moved to the lee side (the side protected during re-entry) to avoid direct heat. Starship V1 demonstrated a problem during hypersonic flight that this change fixes.
Starship V1 had conical domes between the propulsion tanks, but these were replaced by elliptical domes in V2. Power delivery also changed, with the V2 opting for separate downpipes for the three Raptor Vacuum motors, as opposed to the V1’s single shared duct. The three central Raptor engines still have a single downcomer, but by giving the vacuum engines individual fuel feeds, it is less likely that a single point of failure will affect multiple of the six Raptor engines during sustained burns. The result is better fuel flow and better engine power reliability.
The traction vector control systems have also changed, with the V2 replacing the hydraulic control systems and all related machinery with electric ones. The V2’s design ends up much cleaner and simpler than the V1. Observing flights one through four gave clues as to what needed to be changed. Thermal protection and engine power systems have been identified as potential points of failure, and the V2’s design addresses these deficiencies.
V2 has already been retired (but it did the job)
Concept art of modified artemis spacecraft landing on the moon – SpaceX
Despite being an upgrade, the V2 was never meant to stay. Flight 11 in October 2025 was the last for the V2, and SpaceX has already moved on to the development and testing of the V3. Fast development time is standard for the company, so this isn’t really a surprise. V2 allowed SpaceX to adjust its expectations.
V2 was originally programmed to carry a payload of 100 metric tons (220,000 lbs.), but this was revised to 35 metric tons (77,000 lbs.), showing how difficult it is to design a spacecraft like this. However, the revised payload is a major leap from the V1’s demonstrative capabilities. The biggest change between V1 and V2 comes from the manufacturing processes. The prototype-only V1 jigs have been replaced with new standardized versions. The build itself has moved to SpaceX’s new Starfactory facility, bringing with it better consistency and quality control. These improvements will carry over to V3.
V2 was a stepping stone, but it proved that the premise for designing these spacecraft worked and had the potential to change space travel forever. V1 and V2 were built as experimental craft to validate SpaceX’s approach. The successful re-entry and landing of the V2 proved the design work, clearing the way for operational missions of the V3. SpaceX selected Starship for NASA’s Artemis lunar landings, and the company’s primary goal is to colonize Mars. V2 was temporary, but it proved that the spacecraft that would get there was viable.
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