SpaceX Scrubs Starship V3 Launch, Eyes May 22 for Historic Test Flight

SpaceX has scrubbed the launch of its next-generation Starship V3 rocket, postponing the critical test flight to Friday, May 22, 2026, from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The mission, designated Starship Flight 12, had been scheduled for a Thursday launch but was called off seconds before liftoff due to a technical issue involving the hydraulic pin securing the tower arm, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s announcement on X.

Launch Details and Technical Upgrades

The Starship V3, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built, features significant upgrades to both the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster. The booster will utilize the latest Raptor engines, with all 33 expected to ignite during ascent. Unlike previous test flights, this mission will not attempt a return-to-launch-site catch using the tower’s “chopstick” arms. Instead, the Super Heavy booster is planned to make a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Following separation, the Starship upper stage will deploy 22 Starlink simulators to mimic the size and shape of next-generation satellites. Two of these payloads will conduct imaging experiments focused on the Starship’s heat shield, capturing photographs and engineering data. Engineers have also removed a single thermal protection tile to study how surrounding tiles behave under extreme reentry conditions.

Impact on SpaceX’s IPO Timeline

The launch comes amid heightened anticipation for SpaceX’s upcoming initial public offering (IPO), which could value the company at up to $2 trillion. The company disclosed $4.28 billion in losses in its S-1 IPO filing, reflecting the financial risks of its ambitious ventures, including the Starship program and its push into artificial intelligence (AI). Investors are closely watching the Starship V3’s performance as a key indicator of SpaceX’s technological and financial trajectory.

“The risk isn’t whether SpaceX is a real business; it clearly is,” said Josh Gilbert, an analyst at eToro. “The risk is whether a $1.75 trillion valuation adequately prices in the execution challenges that come with being part rocket company, part internet provider, and part AI venture.”

Live Coverage and Public Engagement

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