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SpaceX Launches First Starship V3 on Test Flight; Booster Failure Triggers FAA Investigation

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Starship V3 Debuts in Suborbital Test, Ends in Mishap

SpaceX launched the first Version 3 (V3) of its Starship rocket on a suborbital test flight from its Starbase facility in South Texas on May 22, 2026. The mission, designated Flight 12, encountered technical issues, including a failure of the Super Heavy booster after stage separation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has classified the event as a mishap and will oversee a SpaceX-led investigation before the vehicle can fly again.

Launch Details

The launch—the 12th overall for the Starship program—was originally targeted for May 19, 2026, but faced delays. An initial attempt on May 21 was scrubbed due to a stuck hydraulic pin in the tower arm, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

The rocket lifted off from the new Pad 2 at Starbase during a 90-minute window that opened at 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT) on May 22. According to SpaceX's Dan Huot, the new pad allows for approximately 20% faster propellant loading than the original pad.

Vehicle: Starship V3

The V3 Starship is a new variant of the rocket, standing approximately 124.4 meters (408 feet) tall—making it taller than previous V2 versions.

Key Upgrades

Raptor 3 Engines:

  • The Super Heavy booster uses 33 sea-level Raptor 3 engines producing 250 tf (551,000 lbf) of thrust each, up from 230 tf in previous versions
  • The Ship upper stage has six engines, including vacuum-optimized versions producing 275 tf (606,000 lbf) each
  • Engine mass has been reduced to 1,525 kg per engine

Super Heavy Booster:

  • Features three grid fins (down from four), each 50% larger and stronger, with new catch points
  • The hot-stage ring is now integrated into the booster and is not discarded
  • The fuel transfer tube has been redesigned and is now roughly the size of a Falcon 9 first stage

Ship Upper Stage:

  • Includes a redesigned propulsion system with increased propellant tank volume
  • Improved reaction control systems
  • Upgraded payload deployment mechanism (PEZ-dispenser style)
  • Equipped with four docking ports for in-space propellant transfer

Heat Shield:

  • Consists of approximately 40,000 hexagonal tiles
  • For this test, one tile was intentionally removed to measure aerodynamic loads on neighboring tiles
  • Several tiles were painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets

Mission Profile

The flight was suborbital, lasting approximately 65 minutes. Neither stage was recovered.

Super Heavy Booster

Performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico approximately seven minutes after launch. The booster successfully separated from the ship but then experienced an apparent engine failure—or series of failures—during the burn intended to return it. The booster subsequently tumbled and experienced a hard splashdown, likely breaking apart on impact.

Starship Upper Stage

Deployed 22 dummy Starlink satellites, described by SpaceX as the heaviest payload ever carried on Starship. Two of the dummy satellites carried cameras to capture imagery of the ship's heat shield.

The ship lost one of its six Raptor engines after separation, leading SpaceX to abandon a planned in-orbit engine burn. The ship made a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia, though it broke apart on impact, which SpaceX stated was expected.

FAA Investigation and Regulatory Action

On May 27, 2026, the FAA declared the May 22 launch a mishap. The agency stated that SpaceX must conduct an investigation, which the FAA will oversee and must approve the final report, including any corrective actions, before further Starship launches can proceed. The FAA noted that no injuries or property damage were reported.

Significance for NASA's Artemis Program

Starship V3 is critical to NASA's Artemis program. NASA has selected Starship to serve as a lunar lander, alongside Blue Origin's Blue Moon.

The agency's revised plans include:

  • Artemis 3 (currently scheduled for mid- to late 2027): A low-Earth orbit rendezvous and docking test between Orion and a Human Landing System
  • Artemis 4 (targeted for late 2028): Aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch.

Technical milestones still required for Starship to support these missions include reaching orbit, demonstrating in-space propellant transfer, and developing a life-support system.

Financial Context

SpaceX disclosed spending over $3 billion on Starship development in 2025 and $930 million in the first quarter of 2026. The company's launch business reported a $662 million loss in Q1 2026.

SpaceX is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), with the prospectus expected to be made public as early as June 2026. The company has reportedly been taking reservations for private flights to the Moon and Mars, though timelines remain uncertain.

Development History

Starship first flew in April 2023 on a test flight that ended in an explosion shortly after liftoff. Previous test flights encountered failures including uncontrolled re-entry and midflight explosions.

The last two flights prior to this one were described as completely successful. All previous flights used V1 or V2 variants. Flight 12 was the first flight of the V3 variant.

SpaceX is also constructing additional Starship launch pads at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37, and is exploring potential launch sites in Louisiana and internationally.