SpaceX’s Starship V3 debuts on Flight 12 as the most powerful Starship yet

SpaceX’s Starship V3 roared from Starbase on May 22, 2026 for Flight 12—the most powerful Starship yet—marking the first flight of the Version 3 core with upgrades like a new fuel transfer tube, faster PEZ deployment, 39 Raptors across two stages, three grid fins, and a reusable “hot stage ring.” The suborbital test culminated in fiery splashdowns of both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage. The launch advances SpaceX’s long-running Artemis program goals, with NASA eyeing Artemis 4 for a late‑2028 lunar landing and continuing discussions about Artemis 3 in Earth orbit and potential Blue Origin competition.