The first Starship test flight of 2026 is scheduled for as soon as early March as SpaceX enters a critical year in the vehicle’s development.

The launch date had been up in the air after the rocket's booster stage suffered an explosion during testing in November.

Flight 12 will try to extend that run of success while also breaking in the new "Version 3" of Starship. Among other modifications, this variant is a bit taller than its predecessors and will also be the first to employ SpaceX's new Raptor 3 engine.

A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas, U.S., October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Steve Nesius A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts ...

Join us for a detailed breakdown of SpaceX's Starship SN9 flight test from February 2021. We review the SN8 mission and the critical lessons that shaped SN9, covering engine failures, fuel supply challenges,

SpaceX conducted a static fire test of a single Starship 26 engine. The test demonstrated "flight-like startup for a Starship deorbit burn," according to SpaceX. Credit: SpaceX | edited by Space.com's

The upcoming launch, known as flight 12, follows a series of five test flights in 2025. Starship is the world's largest rocket and is being developed as a fully reusable transportation system. The new Version 3 prototype is expected to make its debut in ...