SpaceX launched its Starship V3 rocket Friday evening from its Starbase facility in Texas, after postponing an initial attempt the previous day because of technical issues. The 90-minute launch window opened at 6:30 p.m. ET, and liftoff occurred at the start of the window.
The flight marked the 12th test of Starship, the largest rocket ever built or flown. It was also the first Starship test in seven months, following earlier failures in 2025 that included explosions and debris concerns that affected air travel. Friday’s mission carried mock Starlink satellites, but no astronauts or customer cargo.
The test comes shortly after SpaceX publicly disclosed its IPO prospectus. The company is expected to seek about $75 billion in a public offering next month. In February, SpaceX was valued at $1.25 billion after merging with xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, according to the report.
In its filing, SpaceX said Starship is intended to deliver 100 metric tons to Earth orbit in a fully reusable configuration, with turnaround times comparable to commercial aviation. The system includes the Starship upper-stage spacecraft, the Super Heavy booster, and Raptor engines. SpaceX says the upper stage is designed to carry cargo and people, and the company plans to use it for NASA astronaut lunar landings in 2028.
Starship is also central to SpaceX’s plans for expanding Starlink, its satellite-based internet service. The company said it intends to launch additional satellites to improve service, including in dense urban areas. In 2025, SpaceX launched more than 3,000 satellites on 122 Falcon 9 missions. Starship is designed to carry and deploy more satellites per flight than Falcon 9.
The outcome of Friday’s test is expected to inform SpaceX’s technical plans and investor messaging as it approaches a possible market debut. Additional tests are likely before any operational Starship missions.