Daniel Mercer
SpaceX successfully conducted the inaugural test flight of Starship V3, achieving most of its predetermined objectives. Initially scheduled for May 21, the launch was postponed due to a technical glitch involving a hydraulic pin that failed to retract, which supports the spacecraft’s tower arm. on the following night, SpaceX proceeded with the launch of this advanced version of its spacecraft, intended for missions to the Moon and Mars.
Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/LQLdjK5V6K
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
The launch vehicle ignited all 33 newly designed Raptor 3 engines on its Super Heavy booster and lifted off at 6:30 PM Eastern Time from Starbase, Texas. During the ascent phase, one of the engines experienced a shutdown, yet Starship continued its trajectory until stage separation. The booster successfully completed a directional flip maneuver, a crucial test for future missions. Unfortunately, it was unable to ignite all engines necessary for a full boostback burn, which is essential for returning to the landing site.
As a result, the booster managed only a partial boostback burn before descending and crashing into the Gulf of Mexico, which was renamed the Gulf of America by President Donald Trump in 2025. Despite this, the mission was not deemed a failure; SpaceX has previously captured Super Heavy boosters with mechanical arms, but recovery was not the objective for this flight.
On the other hand, the upper-stage Ship met its target trajectory, despite losing one of its six Raptor 3 engines. Approximately 30 minutes post-liftoff, it successfully deployed 20 Starlink simulator satellites along with two modified Starlink satellites. These modified satellites, sharing a suborbital path with the upper stage, captured images of Ship in space.
Views of Starship in space from a @Starlink satellite pic.twitter.com/5hfw1n8v1o
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
Upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, Ship collected valuable data regarding its heat shield performance during reentry. It executed a series of maneuvers that SpaceX designed to stress-test its rear flap and simulate the return trajectories for future missions. After performing a landing flip and a descent burn using two Raptor engines, it ultimately splashed down and exploded in the Indian Ocean.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the twelfth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/XXBAtryPpL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
Despite the engine malfunctions, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk praised his team for the “epic first Starship V3 launch and landing,” emphasizing that they “scored a goal for humanity.” The test flight was largely successful and coincided with the company’s preparations for its initial public offering (IPO). SpaceX recently filed its IPO paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with reports indicating that shares are expected to begin trading on June 12.
