The 12th test flight of Starship V3 is designed to demonstrate new redesigned components in a flight environment for the first time.

↗️ NEXT LAUNCH: 🛰️ Mission: Flight 12 🚀 Launcher: Starship V3 🕒 Scheduled for: Thu, 21 May 2026 22:30:00 UTC  Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. 🏗️ Launch Provider: SpaceX → [60 launches this year] 🌍 Launch Site: Orbital Launch Pad 2 at SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA 🇺🇸 📡 Mission Description: 12th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Maiden Flight of Starship V3. The flight test’s primary goal will be to demonstrate each of these new pieces in the flight environment for the first time, with each element of the Starship architecture featuring significant redesigns to enable full and rapid reuse that incorporate learnings from years of development and test. The Starship upper stage will target multiple in-space and reentry objectives, including a payload deployment of 20 Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, and two specially modified Starlink satellites. The two modified satellites will test hardware planned for Starlink V3 and will attempt to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to test methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for return to launch site on future missions. Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned. For Starship entry, a s... #space #launch #spacelaunch

⏮️ JUST LAUNCHED: Go for Launch 🛰️ Mission: Flight 12 [Test Flight] 🕒 Launched on: Thu, 21 May 2026 23:30:00 UTC  ☄️ Status: Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. 🚀 Launcher: Starship V3 🏗️ Launch Provider: SpaceX → [60 launches this year] 🌍 Launch Site: Orbital Launch Pad 2 at SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA 🇺🇸 📺 Watch Live: 1 📡 Mission Description: 12th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Maiden Flight of Starship V3. The flight test’s primary goal will be to demonstrate each of these new pieces in the flight environment for the first time, with each element of the Starship architecture featuring significant redesigns to enable full and rapid reuse that incorporate learnings from years of development and test. The Starship upper stage will target multiple in-space and reentry objectives, including a payload deployment of 20 Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, and two specially modified Starlink satellites. The two modified satellites will test hardware planned for Starlink V3 and will attempt to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to test methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for return to launch site on future missions. Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned. For Starship entry, a s... #space #launch #spacelaunch