SpaceX targets Starship V3 debut after hydraulic delay

SpaceX is targeting a launch window opening at 6:30pm Eastern time on May 22 for the inaugural flight of the Starship V3. The attempt follows a scrub on May 21, when the countdown was halted at Starbase, Texas, due to a hydraulic pin failure that prevented the launch tower arm from retracting. Elon Musk confirmed the specific technical issue on X, prompting the delay to the following evening.

The Starship V3 represents a significant redesign from its predecessor, standing approximately five feet taller. Both the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage are equipped with Raptor 3 engines, which deliver increased thrust. The Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor 3 engines are capable of generating a combined thrust of over 18 million pounds, a capability designed to support heavier payloads for longer journeys into space.

According to SpaceX, the V3 iteration introduces advanced avionics capabilities aimed at achieving high flight-rate, full reusability, and enhanced reliability. For this specific mission, the primary objective is to demonstrate the new hardware through a successful launch, ascent, stage separation, and landing. This marks the 12th overall test flight for the Starship programme.

Unlike previous iterations where the Super Heavy booster was caught by the launch tower’s mechanical arms, this flight will not include such an attempt. Instead, the booster is set to land at an offshore location in the Gulf of Mexico, which the source text notes was renamed the Gulf of America in 2025 by President Donald Trump.

The upper stage will deploy 20 Starlink satellite simulators and two modified satellites to test heat shield effectiveness. The modified satellites will carry test hardware planned for Starlink V3 and will scan the Ship’s heat shield to analyse its durability for future return missions. The upper stage will also conduct maneuvers to stress its rear flaps and mimic the trajectory for future returns to Starbase.