SpaceX launched on Friday (22) the first unit of Starship V3 — the third generation of the spacecraft that Elon Musk designs for missions to the Moon and Mars. The test flight lasted about an hour, with liftoff at 5:30 p.m. (local time) from Starbase facility in Texas, according to Valor Econômico. It was the 12th Starship test since 2023 and the first launch from the company's new Pad 2. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A SpaceX lançou sua 12ª Starship em um voo sem tripulação a partir do Texas nesta sexta-feira (22)"
"decolou por volta das 17h30 desta sexta-feira (horário local) das instalações da SpaceX em Starbase, Texas"
The mission tested 20 simulated Starlink satellites and two real modified satellites to analyze the spacecraft's heat shield during reentry, as reported by Spaceflight Now. The Super Heavy booster landed in the Gulf of Mexico six minutes after liftoff, while Starship completed its trajectory in the Indian Ocean an hour later, despite losing one of six engines during ascent. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"For this 12th test flight, 20 Starlink simulator satellites will be deployed on a sub-orbital trajectory over a roughly 10-minute period, starting about 17 minutes into the flight. Two additional satellites, described by SpaceX as "modified Starlinks" will be released to "attempt to scan Starship's heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators"
"O Super Heavy desceu no Golfo do México cerca de seis minutos após a decolagem. A Starship, por sua vez, atingiu a fase de cruzeiro de seu voo espacial suborbital, apesar da perda de um de seus seis motores do estágio superior"
SpaceX spent more than $15 billion to develop Starship as a fully reusable vehicle, according to Valor Econômico. The project is central to plans for expanding the Starlink network and to NASA's Artemis program, which selected Starship as one of two landing systems for crewed lunar missions, according to Wikipedia data. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A Starship, que a SpaceX gastou mais de US$ 15 bilhões para desenvolver como uma espaçonave totalmente reutilizável"
"Starship is the latest project in SpaceX's reusable launch system development program and plan to colonize Mars, and is one of two landing systems selected by NASA for the Artemis program's crewed lunar missions"
Launch occurred on Friday (May 22, 2026) from Starbase facility in Texas
Mission was postponed from Thursday due to hydraulic system problem in launch tower
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
SpaceX filed for public offering with $1.75 trillion valuation
Starship caught fire after landing in Indian Ocean
Conflicting versions (1)
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What was the specific outcome of the Indian Ocean landing — did Starship catch fire after splashdown as reported by Revista Oeste?
Why it's still unknown: Revista Oeste reports the spacecraft caught fire after splashdown, but Valor Econômico doesn't mention this detail
Did not cover: Valor Econômico -
When exactly did SpaceX file for IPO and what's the basis for the $1.75 trillion valuation?
Why it's still unknown: Revista Oeste mentions filed IPO request and specific valuation, but provides no dates or sources for this data
Did not cover: Valor Econômico -
Why wasn't recovery of the Super Heavy booster or Starship attempted in this test?
Why it's still unknown: Valor Econômico mentions SpaceX decided not to attempt recovery 'even if everything went as planned', but doesn't explain the reason for this decision
Did not cover: Revista Oeste