Part 3/12:
Looking further ahead, Elon projects V4’s debut in 2027, with significant increases in height, weight, and the payload to orbit, roughly doubling capacity again. When asked whether V2 is sufficient for Mars missions, Elon clarifies that V2 is still operational with only one more left to launch and that V3 can reach Mars, but V4 is more robust and scheduled for 2027.
He also confirmed that a technical presentation had already been given during the recent SpaceX livestream and highlighted ongoing milestones, such as the potential for Flight 11 to be an orbital test with just the V2 ship, which would validate engine relight and orbital injection capabilities. The subsequent flights—V3 testing and validation—are likely to be scheduled around Flights 12 and 13, depending on success rates.