A key step in SpaceX’s long-running Starship programme is drawing closer, as the company prepares its most powerful version of the rocket for another test flight.
Elon Musk said SpaceX could be ready to launch Starship in about 6 weeks, pointing to a possible orbital test in March 2026, subject to technical readiness and regulatory approval. The upcoming mission will be the 12th Starship test flight and the first orbital attempt using the new Starship V3 configuration.
Starship V3 is the largest and heaviest version built so far. It forms part of a fully reusable launch system with the Super Heavy booster, which remains the most powerful booster ever flown. Engineers have introduced structural upgrades to support higher payloads and longer missions. Work has focused on strengthening key sections and improving heat shielding and propulsion to raise reliability during ascent and re-entry.
In a recent post on X, Musk said SpaceX is aiming for the second week of March 2026 for the next flight. The timing is not fixed, reflecting the company’s approach of launching only when hardware is ready. Previous Starship flights have slipped due to design changes and test results, but the mention of a window suggests growing confidence in system progress.
Earlier test missions followed suborbital paths with controlled ocean splashdowns. The planned V3 flight is expected to attempt a full orbital trajectory. Reaching orbit would allow SpaceX to study long-duration flight conditions, thermal performance, and guidance systems at scale. As with earlier tests, success will be measured by the data collected rather than by completing every stage perfectly.
The Starship programme follows a rapid development model based on continuous iteration. Hardware is updated between flights as engineers apply lessons from each test. Starship V3 reflects multiple rounds of improvement rather than a complete redesign.
Starship plays a central role in SpaceX’s long-term plans, including Moon missions under NASA’s Artemis programme and future crewed flights to Mars. While those goals remain years away, each test flight supports that roadmap. For now, attention is on the next launch window and what the V3 flight reveals once the engines ignite and the rocket lifts off.
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