SpaceX prepares Starship for flight 12. Where to see the Texas launch

SpaceX is targeting 5:30 p.m. CT on May 21 for Starship’s 12th flight test from Starbase, Texas, after delays pushed back the original May 20 launch window. The test marks the first launch of the largest Starship version yet, with spectators gathering nearby on South Padre Island for viewing opportunities." "article": "SpaceX has set a new launch window for Starship’s 12th flight test, now targeting 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 21, from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The delay follows an earlier pushback from May 20, with no official reason provided for the change. This test will feature the largest version of Starship built to date, with SpaceX conducting preflight tests in recent weeks to prepare for the mission. Starbase, located near the U.S.-Mexico border about 180 miles south of Corpus Christi, serves as SpaceX’s primary launch site for Starship. The facility was officially recognized as a town in May 2025 after a Cameron County vote, granting it a mayor and city commission. The area remains closed to outsiders during launches, but nearby South Padre Island has become a popular spot for spectators. Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, accessible via State Park Road 100, offers prime viewing for the launch. The park’s mile-long beach provides an unobstructed view of Starship’s ascent, attracting space enthusiasts and locals alike. This will be the 12th Starship flight test since its maiden launch in April 2023, with each iteration bringing incremental advancements toward operational readiness. SpaceX has not disclosed specific mission objectives for Flight 12, but past tests have focused on evaluating Starship’s structural integrity, propulsion systems, and orbital capabilities. The company continues to refine the rocket ahead of planned crewed missions and lunar or Mars-bound flights under NASA’s Artemis program. Updates on the launch will be available through SpaceX’s official channels.