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Starbase, Texas — SpaceX is preparing for the 12th integrated flight test of its Starship vehicle, marking the debut of the more powerful Version 3 (V3) design and the first launch from the company’s second orbital launch pad (OLP-2) at Starbase.
The flight is currently targeted for no earlier than Thursday, May 21, with a launch window opening around 5:30–7:00 p.m. CDT, though dates remain subject to technical readiness, weather, and regulatory factors. Previous target dates of May 19 and May 20 have slipped.
This will be the first Starship launch since Flight 11 in October 2025. The mission will use Super Heavy Booster 19 and Ship 39, both in the V3 configuration. Key upgrades include Raptor 3 engines (offering higher thrust and simplified design), larger propellant tanks, improved avionics for higher flight rates, and other changes aimed at full and rapid reusability.
Mission Profile
The suborbital test will follow a profile similar to recent flights:
- Booster — After separation, Booster 19 is expected to perform a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico (no tower catch attempt announced for this V3 debut flight).
- Ship — Ship 39 will continue to near-orbital velocity, deploy Starlink simulator payloads (approximately 20–44 tonnes in some descriptions), attempt an in-space Raptor engine relight, and test reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX has described Flight 12 as a major step incorporating lessons from prior tests, with no heat shield tiles on the booster for this iteration.
Recent preparations include a wet dress rehearsal for the full stack and static fire tests. The company has conducted full-duration static fires on V3 hardware in recent weeks.
Starship V3 represents a substantial evolution of the world’s largest and most powerful rocket, designed to support NASA’s Artemis lunar program, future Mars missions, and high-volume satellite deployment. Success on this flight would clear the path for more ambitious objectives, such as longer-duration flights and in-orbit propellant transfer demonstrations later in 2026.
SpaceX streams its Starship test flights live on its website and X account. The FAA must issue a license amendment, and environmental monitoring continues in coordination with federal agencies.
As with all Starship test flights, the primary goal is data collection to accelerate development toward full reusability.
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