SpaceX scrubs Starship V3 debut, sets Friday launch attempt

SpaceX scrubbed the debut of Starship Version 3 on Thursday evening, pushing the 12th flight test of the giant rocket to a Friday attempt from Starbase in South Texas. The company’s launch page set a 90-minute window opening at 5:30 p.m. CT, with a webcast beginning about 45 minutes before liftoff.

The hold came deep in the countdown, after multiple pauses in the final minute and with the clock near T-minus 40 seconds, according to Spaceflight Now. Bloomberg reported that SpaceX delayed the mission after troubleshooting several problems just before liftoff, while CNBC said the vehicle had already been fully loaded before the scrub. SpaceX said it would try again on Friday, May 22, 2026.

The mission carried unusual weight because it was the first planned flight of Starship V3, also called Block 3 hardware, and the first launch from Starbase’s second launch pad. The Hindu reported that the vehicle was uncrewed and packed with dozens of upgrades aimed at faster Starlink satellite deployments and future NASA Moon missions. That makes Flight 12 more than another test hop: it is a check on whether SpaceX can move from experimental recovery toward repeatable, operational launches.

The stakes extend beyond engineering. TechCrunch reported that SpaceX has filed for an initial public offering and could go public within weeks, putting added pressure on the company to show that Starship can deliver steady progress, not just dramatic spectacle. A clean flight would strengthen the case for the rocket’s commercial and government roles; another stumble would underscore how far SpaceX still has to go before Starship can support routine Starlink launches or the lunar logistics NASA needs for Artemis.

The scrub also fit a pattern. SpaceX’s Starship Flight 11 launched on October 13, 2025 at 6:23 p.m. CT, and SpaceNews reported that the first three Starship V2 launches in 2025 ended in flight failures. After earlier mishaps, the FAA expanded Starship aircraft hazard areas to 1,600 nautical miles, a sign of how closely each launch is watched for safety and regulatory risk. Flight 12 was expected to carry 20 Starlink V3 mass simulators and 2 modified Starlink V2 mass simulators, reinforcing its role as a technical proving ground before SpaceX can claim Starship is ready for dependable service.