SpaceX launches 12th Starship test flight; booster fails

SpaceX conducted its 12th Starship test flight on May 22, 2026, from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The 407-foot-tall rocket launched at 6:30 p.m. ET as planned, but the Super Heavy booster failed to relight its engines post-separation and did not complete its intended water landing in the Gulf of Mexico. The Starship spacecraft, however, deployed all 22 Starlink simulator satellites, including two named Dodger Dogs, which captured images of the heat shield during the suborbital flight. The spacecraft splashed down explosively in the Indian Ocean, as expected, and SpaceX confirmed it would not recover the vehicle. The launch followed a delayed attempt on May 21, when a hydraulic pin issue halted the countdown at T-40 seconds. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk noted the problem on X, stating the pin failed to retract and could be fixed for the next attempt. The initial launch window opened at 6:30 p.m. ET but faced repeated delays due to upper-level winds. This test marked the first use of a newly designed launch pad and aimed to demonstrate critical components for NASA’s Artemis III mission, which will rely on Starship for lunar landings. The mission objectives included testing hot-stage separation, engine relight in space, and satellite deployment—though the booster’s failure altered the planned outcomes. SpaceX had previously stated it would not attempt to recover the Starship from the Indian Ocean, allowing it to sink after splashdown. The company will analyze data from the test to refine future iterations of the rocket system.