SpaceX targets May 19 for first Starship Version 3 flight

SpaceX announced May 19 as the target date for the first flight of Starship Version 3 from Starbase, Texas, featuring upgraded Raptor engines and a new launch pad. The Flight 12 test will validate the redesigned booster and upper stage, including a soft splashdown for the booster, 22 mass simulators to model next-generation Starlink satellites, imagery payloads to test heat shield readiness, and reentry maneuvers as SpaceX pursues full reuse for orbital missions and potential Artemis lunar missions. SpaceX is also exploring additional launch sites (including a Louisiana parcel) to support thousands of Starship flights per year, alongside pads at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.