SpaceX continues to accelerate production of its next-generation Starship vehicles at the Starfactory facility in Starbase, Texas. With vehicles up to Ship 48 in various stages of assembly and preparation, attention is now focused on the first two Block 3 vehicles slated to fly in 2026.
Both are undergoing detailed inspections of their Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles, a critical component for surviving the intense heat of atmospheric reentry, with returns to the launch site for a tower catch expected early in the Block 3 era.