SpaceX’s 12th test flight of the Starship rocket, designated Flight 12, is scheduled for May 21, 2026, following multiple delays from an original launch date of May 19. The launch will occur at SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas during a 90-minute window starting at 6:30 PM EDT (10:30 PM GMT).
This mission marks the debut of Starship Version 3 (V3), the most powerful iteration yet, equipped with upgrades. The rocket’s upper stage will undertake a suborbital flight, landing in the Indian Ocean about 65 minutes post-launch, while the Super Heavy booster will perform a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico roughly seven minutes after liftoff.
Future missions aim to enhance reusability by landing both stages back at Starbase. This flight will deploy 20 dummy Starlink satellites and two rovers equipped with cameras for Earth photography, as SpaceX continues preparations for future missions, including NASA’s Artemis 4 lunar landing. A live stream of the launch is expected, starting 45 minutes prior to liftoff.
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