SpaceX stacks Starship V3 rocket, completes major fueling test ahead of debut launch

SpaceX has stacked Starship Version 3 at its Starbase facility in South Texas, preparing for the rocket’s 12th test flight, scheduled for no earlier than 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT) on May 21, 2026. The Super Heavy booster and Ship upper stage were mated on May 19, following prelaunch checkouts and engine assessments, including test firings of the booster’s 33 Raptor 3 engines. The company conducted a wet dress rehearsal on May 20, fully fueling both stages and simulating a launch countdown up to engine ignition. Starship Flight 12 will be a suborbital mission, with soft landings in the Gulf of Mexico for the Ship and the Indian Ocean for the Super Heavy, rather than a return to Starbase for recovery. While SpaceX has previously recovered Super Heavy boosters using launch tower arms, this attempt will focus on assessing the vehicle’s performance before potential in-flight recovery tests on future flights. Starship V3 marks a significant upgrade from earlier versions, featuring in-space refueling ports critical for missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). NASA has contracted SpaceX to use Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, with Artemis 3 targeting a crewed moon landing in 2028. The upcoming test flight will evaluate Starship’s ability to dock with NASA’s Orion capsule in LEO during Artemis 2, currently planned for late 2027. The launch will be livestreamed on SpaceX’s website and other platforms beginning at 5:45 p.m. EDT (2145 GMT). This mission is a key milestone for Starship’s development, as SpaceX works toward operational readiness for NASA’s lunar missions and beyond.