SpaceX is targeting May 19, 2026 for Starship's next test flight from Starbase in South Texas, with May 20 listed as a backup by the FAA. Designated Flight 12, this would be the first launch since October 2025 following a seven-month pause while engineers prepared the upgraded Version 3 (V3) prototype. V3 is the largest configuration yet and could attempt in‑orbit refueling — a key capability for crewed lunar and Mars missions. NASA, the FAA and other observers will closely monitor the test for signs that Starship can meet its reusability and deep-space goals.
SpaceX Targets May 19, 2026 For Starship Flight 12 — V3 Could Attempt In‑Orbit Refueling
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
SpaceX has set a target date of May 19, 2026 for the next test flight of its massive Starship vehicle, marking the long-awaited return of the program after several months of upgrades and schedule slips. The company plans to attempt liftoff from its Starbase facility in South Texas, with a launch window that opens at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Launch Details
SpaceX named Tuesday, May 19 as the primary target; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lists May 20 as an alternate date in its planning advisory. This test — designated Flight 12 — would be Starship's first launch since October 2025 and its 12th flight overall. The more-than-seven-month pause is the longest interval between Starship missions since the rocket's April 2023 debut.
What’s New With Version 3 (V3)
Engineers prepared an upgraded configuration called Version 3 (V3) during the downtime. V3 is being readied as the most powerful configuration yet and could attempt in-orbit refueling. That complex maneuver would see two Starship vehicles, each fitted with docking adapters, rendezvous and transfer hundreds of tons of super-cooled propellant — a capability central to crewed deep-space missions.
Rocket Specs And Reusability
Fully stacked, Starship tops more than 400 feet in height. The system pairs a lower-stage booster, Super Heavy, with the upper-stage spacecraft known as Starship. Super Heavy is powered by 33 Raptor-class engines and supplies the bulk of liftoff thrust, while the upper stage carries crew and cargo after stage separation. SpaceX is developing the system to be fully reusable so both stages can be refurbished and used on multiple missions.
Recent Flight History
Through 11 flight tests so far, Starship has recorded a mix of setbacks and technical milestones. Highlights include twice deploying mock Starlink payloads, twice reusing a Super Heavy booster, and multiple attempts to catch a returning booster using the launch‑site "chopsticks" arms. The upper stage has reached suborbital altitudes and completed long downrange reentries that ended in the Indian Ocean.
In 2025 SpaceX conducted five Starship tests: the first three ended in destructive anomalies before key objectives were met, while the final two launches (August and October) were broadly judged successful — momentum that helped drive the V3 upgrade campaign.
Why This Test Matters
Observers including NASA and the FAA will be watching closely. NASA is particularly interested because SpaceX is developing a lunar lander variant of Starship for the Artemis program and because in‑space refueling is essential to the company’s long-term goals for crewed lunar missions and eventual human trips to Mars. Starship is also competing with Blue Origin to supply lunar lander capabilities to NASA.
What Could Go Wrong: As with prior tests, anomalies are possible during engine ignition, stage separation, orbital insertion, or the complex docking and propellant-transfer phases if attempted. SpaceX's iterative test approach accepts risk as engineers validate hardware and procedures.
Reporting credit: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY Network. This article is based on SpaceX and FAA advisories and public records of past Starship tests.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.
SpaceX's Starship rocket is seen Tuesday, Aug. 26 after lifting off from Starbase, Texas, as seen from South Padre Island. The megarocket roared into the skies on its 10th test flight, following a string of explosive failures that cast doubt about its ability to realize Elon Musk's vision of colonizing Mars.
People gather Tuesday, Aug. 26 on South Padre Island to watch SpaceX Starship launch on it its tenth test flight from the nearby Starbase in South Texas.
People gather Tuesday, Aug. 26 on South Padre Island to watch SpaceX Starship launch on it its tenth test flight from the nearby Starbase in South Texas.
Starship, standing more than 400 feet tall when fully stacked, launches Tuesday, Aug. 26 from SpaceX's Starbase complex in South Texas on its tenth test flight since April 2023.
Starship, composed of both an upper stage and rocket booster known as Super Heavy, sits at the launch pad Tuesday, Aug. 26 before sunrise at SpaceX's Starbase complex ahead of the company's third attempt to launch a mission it referred to as flight 10.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster separates from the Starship spacecraft Tuesday, Aug. 26 during its 10th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
Starship's Super Heavy booster propels the spacecraft into the sky Tuesday, Aug. 26 after launching from Starbase in South Texas.
Starship's contrail can be seen in the sky.
Starship launches Aug. 26 on its 10th flight test from SpaceX's Starbase complex since April 2023. The successful mission ended a string of explosive setbacks for the company in the spacecraft's development.
Starship launches Aug. 26 from South Texas.
Starship soars into the sky Tuesday, Aug. 26 after launching from South Texas.
Starship, composed of an upper stage spacecraft and lower stage rocket booster known as Super Heavy, lifts off Aug. 26 from SpaceX's Starbase headquarters in South Texas.
Starship, composed of an upper stage spacecraft and lower stage rocket booster known as Super Heavy, lifts off Aug. 26 from SpaceX's Starbase headquarters in South Texas.
Starship, composed of an upper stage spacecraft and lower stage rocket booster known as Super Heavy, lifts off Aug. 26 from SpaceX's Starbase headquarters in South Texas.
Starship, composed of an upper stage spacecraft and lower stage rocket booster known as Super Heavy, lifts off Aug. 26 from SpaceX's Starbase headquarters in South Texas.
Starship, composed of an upper stage spacecraft and lower stage rocket booster known as Super Heavy, lifts off Aug. 26 from SpaceX's Starbase headquarters in South Texas.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft sits Oct. 12, 2025 atop the Super Heavy booster before sunrise as preparations continue for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft sits Oct. 12, 2025 atop the Super Heavy booster before sunrise as preparations continue for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft is hoisted Oct. 11, 2025 along the launch tower for stacking atop the Super Heavy booster in preparation for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft sits Oct. 12, 2025 atop the Super Heavy booster before sunrise as preparations continue for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft sits Oct. 12, 2025 atop the Super Heavy booster before sunrise as preparations continue for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas.
The SpaceX Starship spacecraft is hoisted Oct. 11, 2025 along the launch tower for stacking atop the Super Heavy booster in preparation for its 11th test flight from the company's complex in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s 11th Starship test flight lights up the skies over Brevard as seen from the Kennedy Space Center October 13, 2025. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
SpaceX’s 11th Starship test flight lights up the skies over Brevard as seen from the Kennedy Space Center October 13, 2025. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
SpaceX's Starship rocket launches Oct. 13 during the 11th test flight, as seen from South Padre Island in Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed by the U.S. government as the Gulf of America, after launching the SpaceX Starship spacecraft October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off October 13, 2025 on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas.
The Super Heavy booster returns to its launch pad March 6 after the SpaceX Starship continued.
Help us improve.
