Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX is set to launch its upgraded version 3 of Starship on Thursday, ahead of its highly anticipated Initial Public Offer (IPO).
The high-stakes test flight is notable for the company as the success of the launch could impact investor confidence surrounding the IPO, currently expected in June 2026.
The massive rocket will lift off from its launch pad in south Texas on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from Starbase, Texas. The launch window opens at 6:30 PM EDT (10:30 PM GMT).
The highly anticipated test flight comes a day after SpaceX filed with U.S. financial regulators to go public in what will be a record-breaking initial public offering ranging from $1.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion.
Speaking of V3 features, the rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, includes a redesigned, more powerful and lighter propulsion system and improved avionics to support long-duration spaceflight, such as docking and refueling in orbit.
The launch marks the vehicle’s twelfth test flight and the first in seven months. The primary purpose of the mission is to test recent design improvements. The company will not attempt to land a booster at the launch site.
The test flight is also important for carrying out NASA’s Artemis mission, where Starship is expected to serve as the Human Landing System for future lunar missions.
This is SpaceX’s Flight 12 test mission and the very first launch of the new ‘Version 3’ spaceship system. You can watch the livestream of the launch via SpaceX on X and SpaceX Launch Page. For alternative live coverage, check out NASA Spaceflight YouTube.
