technology
SpaceX Targets May 19 Launch of Upgraded Starship Version 3
SpaceX is aiming for a May 19 launch of its Starship megarocket from South Texas, marking the vehicle's 12th test flight and the debut of an extensively redesigned Version 3. The flight will test new propulsion, thermal protection and in-space refueling capabilities critical to NASA's Artemis lunar lander and future Mars missions.
May 13, 7:47 AM·3m read3 sources
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SpaceX is targeting a May 19 launch for the next test flight of its Starship megarocket, the company announced. m. ET from the company's facility near the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas. If needed, a backup opportunity exists on May 20. The flight will be Starship's 12th overall and its first in more than seven months, following the previous test in October 2025.
It marks the debut of Version 3, described as the largest and most powerful iteration yet. The company has incorporated dozens of design changes intended to support orbital refueling, rapid reusability and long-duration spaceflight. Version 3 features a completely redesigned propulsion system on the upper stage, a new fuel transfer system the size of a Falcon 9 first stage, and upgraded Raptor engines.
Sea-level Raptors now produce 250 tons of thrust, up from 230 tons, while vacuum Raptors reach 275 tons. Engine mass has been reduced by about 105 kilograms per unit. The booster incorporates a grid fin redesign, dropping from four fins to three that are 50 percent larger, stronger and repositioned.
An integrated hot staging system removes the previous disposable shield, and the interstage actuators retract after separation. The company also upgraded the launch pad with a larger propellant farm, electromechanical chopstick actuators and a bidirectional flame diverter.
During the mission the upper stage is scheduled to deploy 22 dummy Starlink satellites. Two of those satellites will carry cameras to scan the heat shield, which includes several tiles painted white to simulate damage. Engineers plan to remove one heat shield tile entirely and conduct aggressive maneuvers to test the structural limits of the rear flaps.
The booster will not attempt a catch at the launch site. Instead it will perform a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico. The full test flight is expected to last about 65 minutes. The company has described the schedule as dynamic and subject to change.
