For SpaceX, the stakes of next week’s Starship rocket test flight are sky-high
SpaceX is preparing for a critical test flight of its updated Starship megarocket, a key step in NASA's Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon. The upcoming launch, featuring a redesigned third-generation vehicle, comes after a series of previous test failures and amid preparations for a potential IPO. Success is crucial for meeting tight deadlines to support NASA's lunar missions in 2027 and 2028.
- ▪SpaceX plans to launch its third-generation Starship, known as V3, on a suborbital test flight from its Starbase facility in Texas.
- ▪The test flight will attempt to deploy 22 mock Starlink satellites and test in-space engine relight, with the upper stage expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean.
- ▪NASA now expects the Artemis III mission to launch in late 2027, giving SpaceX and Blue Origin more time to develop lunar landers.
- ▪SpaceX's Starship development has faced delays due to prior test flight failures, including midflight explosions and uncontrolled re-entries.
- ▪The company is also preparing for a highly anticipated IPO, with its prospectus expected to go public shortly after the test launch.
- ▪Starship V3 is 408 feet tall and features major redesigns to both the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Ship for improved performance and reusability.
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| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 11:30:00 GMT |
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SpaceFor SpaceX, the stakes of next week’s Starship rocket test flight are sky-highElon Musk’s company is preparing to launch a new version of its megarocket — a prototype of the system NASA could use to carry astronauts to the moon’s surface.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Starship V3 on the launchpad during a rehearsal.SpaceXShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 17, 2026, 7:30 AM EDTBy Denise ChowSpaceX plans to launch an updated version of its Starship megarocket — a new prototype of the system that NASA hopes will carry its astronauts to the moon in two years — on a critical test flight Tuesday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The stakes for Starship, and by extension for Elon Musk’s rocket company, have…
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