SpaceX Targets May 19 for Starship Flight 12

SpaceX is targeting May 19 for the first launch of Starship Version 3, also known as Flight 12. The mission would mark the company’s first Starship launch in more than seven months and another major test for a rocket central to both SpaceX’s long-term Mars plans and NASA’s Artemis program.

Launch Date and Window

According to SpaceNews in SpaceX sets date for first Starship version 3 launch, SpaceX announced plans to launch as soon as May 19 from Starbase in South Texas, with liftoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

USA Today similarly reported in SpaceX's Starship megarocket finally has a 2026 launch date. Here's when that the launch window opens at 6:30 p.m. ET and that a backup opportunity may be available on May 20 if needed.

What Makes This Flight Important

This test is significant because it is expected to be the first flight of Starship Version 3, a redesigned vehicle with upgrades intended to improve performance and support future reuse. It is also the next step in proving out technology that NASA is counting on for future lunar missions.

What to Expect From the Mission

SpaceNews reported that Flight 12 will follow a suborbital test profile. The Super Heavy booster is expected to perform a soft splashdown rather than return to the launch site, while the upper stage is planned to deploy 22 mass simulators and perform additional in-flight tests, including a Raptor engine relight.

Space added in SpaceX's Starship V3 megarocket finally has a debut launch date. Here's when it will fly that this Version 3 vehicle is designed to be larger and more capable than earlier iterations.

Source-Backed Reporting

SpaceNews says the launch is critical not only to SpaceX’s goals but also to NASA’s lunar plans. The report highlights that this is the long-delayed first launch of the Version 3 vehicle.

USA Today notes that this will be Starship’s 12th flight test and its first launch since October 2025, underscoring how long the gap has been between missions.

Space emphasizes the broader ambition behind the program, pointing to future moon and Mars missions as the long-term reason so much attention is focused on this test.

Important Facts

• SpaceX is targeting May 19 for launch from Starbase in South Texas.
• The launch window is scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m. ET.
• This is expected to be Starship Flight 12 and the first flight of Version 3.
• NASA is watching closely because Starship is tied to future Artemis moon missions.

What Comes Next

If the mission launches on schedule, the focus will quickly move to whether the upgraded vehicle meets its main test objectives. Even if delays continue, this flight remains one of the most closely watched milestones in commercial spaceflight this year.