# SpaceX Tripled the Saturn V’s Thrust. Now It Needs to Fly.

- slug: spacex-tripled-the-saturn-vs-thrust-now-it-needs-to-fly
- date: 2026-04-15
- category: Space & Aerospace

SpaceX just test-fired a rocket stage at 9,240 tons of thrust — more than Saturn V produced at liftoff. The V3 architecture targets 200 tons to orbit, vs 35 on the current version. Flight 12 targets May.

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