By Kashmira Konduparty
SpaceX postponed the launch of Starship Flight 12 after scrubbing the mission moments before liftoff on Thursday, May 21, due to technical issues. The company has now rescheduled the launch attempt for May 22 from Starbase, Texas, according to a report by Space. Flight 12 is the first launch of the upgraded “Starship V3” (Version 3) system and one of the company’s most important Starship tests to date.
The countdown on Thursday, was halted in the final seconds before the launch. Reports said engineers detected abnormal fuel readings, propellant temperature & pressure concerns and a hydraulic pin issue involving the launch tower arms.
Elon Musk, CEO & CTO of SpaceX, posted on X saying, “The hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract.”
“If that can be fixed tonight, there will be another launch attempt tomorrow at 5:30 CT,” Musk added.
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SpaceX is now targeting a new 90-minute launch window beginning at around 6:30 pm Central Time on Friday. The mission will launch from the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX said the delay is not expected to significantly affect the broader Starship testing schedule.
Flight 12 marks the debut of the upgraded Starship V3 design. According to the reports, the new version of the Starship includes stronger and lighter Raptor engines, redesigned fuel systems, improved heat shield protection and upgrades for rapid satellite deployment. The rocket is designed to eventually carry up to 100 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.
SpaceX plans to test stage separation, booster recovery systems, reentry performance, engine relight capability and payload deployment operations. The mission is also expected to include simulated Starlink payload testing and additional heat-shield analysis during atmospheric reentry.
Starship Flight 12 is the company’s first Starship launch in about seven months. Earlier flights achieved partial successes but also experienced major failures, including explosions during ascent or reentry. Previous tests helped SpaceX improve booster recovery, fuel transfer systems and launch infrastructure. The company follows a rapid-testing approach where failures are treated as part of the engineering process.
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Starship is central to SpaceX’s long-term plans for Moon missions, Mars explorations, Starlink satellite deployment and fully reusable spaceflight. NASA plans to use a modified Starship vehicle for future Artemis lunar missions. Musk has repeatedly described Starship as the rocket intended for eventual human mission to Mars.
The launch comes as SpaceX reportedly moves closer toward a potential IPO that could value the company at more than $1 trillion. Analysts view Starship’s success as critical to SpaceX future business model and expansion plans. The rocket is expected to play a major role in lowering launch costs and increasing payload capacity for commercial space operations.
Although the first launch attempt was delayed, Flight 12 remains one of the most closely watched missions in SpaceX’s Starship program. The rescheduled launch will serve as another major test of whether the company can move closer to reliable, fully reusable spaceflight and future deep-space missions.