SpaceX has cleared a major hurdle in preparing its next-generation Starship system for flight, successfully testing the upgraded water-cooled top deck on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) at Pad 2 earlier this week. The full-scale demonstration validated the system’s ability to withstand the punishing heat and acoustic forces expected from the 33 Raptor 3 engines that will power the new Block 3 Super Heavy booster.
The milestone brings SpaceX a step closer to launching Starship Flight 12 — the first mission to feature the Block 3 (V3) configuration — from its expanding Starbase launch complex in South Texas.
Credit: StarshipGazer
The new deluge system is designed to protect launch infrastructure during liftoff by flooding the mount with high-pressure water. This water absorbs and deflects heat while damping the extreme acoustic energy generated at ignition.
The upgrade represents a significant evolution over the system installed at Pad 1 following the dramatic “concrete tornado” during Starship’s inaugural orbital test flight. That early mission exposed the destructive power of the Super Heavy booster’s engines, sending debris far beyond the pad and prompting a redesign of the launch mount and water suppression system.
At Pad 2, preparations for the latest test were evident when crews removed scaffolding from the OLM’s top deck. After completing five Detonation Suppression System (DSS) trials, SpaceX initiated the full deluge test late Monday. The mount erupted in towering plumes of water, demonstrating the immense flow rate and pressure engineered into the upgraded system — a critical safeguard for Block 3 operations.
Booster 19 Nears the Pad
Pad 2’s first integrated challenge will come later this month when Booster 19 rolls out for a static fire campaign. The vehicle is the designated Block 3 Super Heavy for Flight 12.
Booster 19 recently completed a series of cryogenic proof tests at SpaceX’s Massey test site. Multiple full cryogenic cycles were conducted without incident — a notable achievement after structural concerns led to the scrapping of its predecessor, Booster 18. Following successful validation, the booster returned to Mega Bay 1 for installation of its 33 Raptor 3 engines.
Before Flight 12 can proceed, Pad 2 must still demonstrate its ability to flow cryogenic propellants into a vehicle — a milestone it has yet to achieve.
The remaining open question is whether SpaceX will conduct a full-stack wet dress rehearsal (WDR) before launch. A WDR involves stacking the booster and ship on the pad and fully loading them with propellants, allowing engineers to verify interactions between the vehicle and ground systems under launch-like conditions.
Given that Flight 12 introduces both a brand-new Block 3 vehicle configuration and a newly commissioned launch pad, many observers argue a WDR would provide valuable risk reduction. Such a test could reveal integration issues before they surface during static fire or flight operations.
SpaceX has increasingly streamlined its campaign timelines in recent years, sometimes forgoing full WDRs to accelerate cadence. However, the debut of the V3 architecture on Pad 2 may justify a more conservative approach.
Expanding Infrastructure at Starbase
Beyond Pad 2, SpaceX is accelerating work across the Starbase complex.
At Pad 1, crews are pushing forward with a comprehensive redesign intended to bring the older pad up to modern standards. Upgrades include a new water-cooled launch mount, a rebuilt flame trench, and modifications to the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms used for booster catches. Continuous Flight Auger piling for the flame trench appears complete, with sheet piles now being driven to manage soil and groundwater — challenging construction in terrain close to the water table, reminiscent of historical pad work at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.
Meanwhile, activity at the tank farm signals ongoing system shakedowns. Venting observed on both the oxygen and methane sides indicates valve and plumbing tests ahead of vehicle fueling operations. Future upgrades are expected to include larger methane storage tanks, replacing older horizontal units to support a higher launch cadence.
The Air Separation Unit (ASU), critical for on-site propellant production, continues to take shape, though progress has slowed. Scaffolding remains in place as crews work on compressors and motors. Plumbing and electrical integration are still pending.
A Buckner-owned LR11000 crawler crane is slated to install a new protective roof atop the launch tower between mid-February and mid-March, according to Federal Aviation Administration obstruction filings. The structure is expected to shield tower equipment during future ship catch attempts — another sign that SpaceX is engineering for rapid reuse and operational resilience.
Countdown to Flight 12
With Booster 19’s engine installation advancing and Pad 2’s launch mount demonstrating its water suppression capability, the coming weeks will determine how quickly SpaceX can transition from ground validation to flight readiness.
Flight 12 is poised to mark the debut of Starship Block 3 — a configuration designed to increase performance, reliability and turnaround speed as SpaceX works toward higher launch cadence and future deep-space missions.
If Pad 2 performs as intended under the full fury of 33 Raptor 3 engines, it will represent another major step toward making Starship a routinely reusable heavy-lift system — and accelerating SpaceX’s long-term ambitions beyond Earth orbit.
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