SpaceX is targeting Starship Flight 12 on Thursday, May 21, 2026, for the first test launch of its redesigned Starship V3 rocket from Starbase in South Texas.
The 90-minute launch window opens at 6:30 p.m. EDT, 2230 GMT and 5:30 p.m. local Texas time. SpaceX coverage is expected to begin about 45 minutes before liftoff.
The mission will use Super Heavy Booster 19 and Starship upper stage Ship 39. SpaceX completed a wet dress rehearsal on May 20, including a simulated countdown and propellant loading.
The upper stage will fly a suborbital path and target splashdown in the Indian Ocean about 65 minutes after liftoff. The booster will aim for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico about seven minutes after launch.
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The V3 design adds stretched tanks, upgraded Raptor 3 engines and internal changes for future in-space refuelling tests. The flight also marks the debut of Pad 2 at Starbase.
SpaceX plans to use Starship for Starlink launches and future NASA Artemis lunar missions.
