SpaceX Starship V3 launch live: How to watch 'most powerful rocket ever' blast off

SpaceX’s Starship V3, the most powerful rocket ever constructed, is preparing for its 12th test flight from the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The launch, initially delayed to 6:30 PM local time (12:30 AM UK time), will mark the first flight from Pad 2, which features upgraded infrastructure, including an expanded propellant farm with increased storage and faster filling capabilities. The launch tower has also been modified, with shorter ‘chopsticks’ for improved vehicle tracking and electromechanical actuators for faster, more reliable operations. The Starship V3 introduces significant upgrades to its Super Heavy booster and Raptor engines, designed to enhance thrust and fuel capacity for extended missions. SpaceX stated that the primary goal of this test flight is to demonstrate these new components in a real-world environment, incorporating lessons from years of development to enable rapid reusability. The mission includes a planned flip maneuver and the deployment of dummy satellites during the hour-long flight. Starship plays a critical role in NASA’s Artemis program, intended to transport crew and cargo to the lunar surface. Elon Musk has previously outlined ambitious plans for Starship, including deploying AI datacenters in space and facilitating human exploration of Mars by the end of 2026. The rocket’s capacity to launch up to 200 tons per flight could enable millions of tons of payload to be sent to orbit annually, supporting large-scale infrastructure projects in space. The launch follows a series of delays, with the most recent adjustment pushing the event back by half an hour. A live stream of the launch will be available on SpaceX’s official channels, beginning approximately 45 minutes before liftoff. This test flight is a pivotal step toward achieving Musk’s vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species, with Starship serving as the cornerstone of future deep-space missions.