SpaceX launches first Starship V3
Posted: Sat, May 23, 2026, 8:37 AM ET (1237 GMT)
SpaceX launched the newest version of its Starship vehicle Friday on a suborbital test flight. Starship lifted off from the company’s facility at Starbase, Texas, at 6:30 pm EDT (2230 GMT) on the Flight 12 suborbital mission after problems with the launch tower scrubbed a launch attempt Thursday. The vehicle flew a suborbital flight ending 66 minutes later with a soft splashdown by the Starship upper stage. During the flight both the Starship upper stage and Super Heavy booster suffered engine failures, which for Super Heavy prevented it from making a controlled descent after stage separation. Starship was able to deploy Starlink mass simulators during the suborbital flight. This was the first flight of Starship V3, with extensive upgrades to both stages along with a new launch tower. SpaceX plans to use Starship V3 for orbital missions as soon as later this year.
SpaceX launched the newest version of its Starship vehicle Friday on a suborbital test flight. Starship lifted off from the company’s facility at Starbase, Texas, at 6:30 pm EDT (2230 GMT) on the Flight 12 suborbital mission after problems with the launch tower scrubbed a launch attempt Thursday. The vehicle flew a suborbital flight ending 66 minutes later with a soft splashdown by the Starship upper stage. During the flight both the Starship upper stage and Super Heavy booster suffered engine failures, which for Super Heavy prevented it from making a controlled descent after stage separation. Starship was able to deploy Starlink mass simulators during the suborbital flight. This was the first flight of Starship V3, with extensive upgrades to both stages along with a new launch tower. SpaceX plans to use Starship V3 for orbital missions as soon as later this year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Thales and Airbus to build next-generation radar imaging satellites
Posted: Sat, Jun 13 10:02 AM ET (1402 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, June 14
AAC Clyde Space issues remuneration shares
AAC Clyde Space — 8:13 am ET (1213 GMT) HawkEye 360 Announces Over $100 Million in New International Contract Awards
HawkEye 360 — 8:13 am ET (1213 GMT) JP Donovan Announces Strategic Investment From Godspeed Capital
Business Wire — 8:12 am ET (1212 GMT) ESA signs an Agreement with Vast on behalf of the Czech Republic
ESA — 8:09 am ET (1209 GMT) How Innovative Is China’s Space Industry?
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation — 8:07 am ET (1207 GMT) |
