SpaceX pulled off its first test launch of the upgraded Starship V3, but the Super Heavy booster didn’t complete its Gulf of Mexico return burn. Starship still carried out key mission steps, including deploying all 20 Starlink satellite simulators and performi
At 5:30 p.m. local time, a 407-foot Starship rose off SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas—then the launch quickly turned into a test of what still works, and what doesn’t.
The upgraded third version of the rocket lifted off with the Super Heavy booster. Just a few minutes later, the upper stage ship separated and continued on into space as designed. The booster, though, headed back toward Earth for a simulated landing in the Gulf of Mexico.
That return didn’t go according to the plan SpaceX has been building toward. The booster pitched away from Starship and aimed for the sustained burn meant to deliver it back to the launch site. Instead, its engines did not properly re-ignite for the burn. It tumbled into the water, where it likely exploded.
Up in space, Starship wasn’t perfectly clean either. During ascent, it lost one of its six Raptor engines. Still, it hit several major test objectives. Starship successfully deployed all 20 of the Starlink satellite simulators. It also released two modified Starlink satellites meant to record footage of Starship’s exterior.
Roughly an hour after liftoff, Starship staged its simulated landing in the Indian Ocean. It tipped over and exploded as expected—part of the test sequence, even as other parts of the flight exposed rough edges.
For SpaceX, this launch mattered beyond a single mission outcome. It was the first real shakedown of the upgraded Starship V3 hardware that has been in development for months. The company was also testing an all-new launchpad at Starbase—something it has been developing and building for years.
The test comes at a charged moment for the company. SpaceX’s IPO filing was made public this week. and the company is expected to list on the Nasdaq in mid-June. The IPO is reportedly intended to raise around $75 billion. SpaceX plans to use that money to fuel further development. back massive AI ambitions. and pay off some of the debt associated with xAI and Musk’s social media company X. If this really is the kind of milestone investors will be watching. then Starship’s next moves may come with a sharper spotlight.
The flight also fits into a tight recent timeline. This was the first Starship flight since October 2025. SpaceX had planned to attempt launching Starship V3 earlier. but one of the first upgraded boosters suffered an explosion during testing in November. On Thursday. the company attempted the launch again. but delayed it after a hydraulic pin on the launch tower arm refused to retract. according to Elon Musk.
Starship V3 is built around SpaceX’s third-generation Raptor engines. The new engines offer more thrust and a far simpler design than earlier versions. and the new booster is designed for faster takeoffs and easier catches by the launch tower. This test launch didn’t prove everything. The booster’s failed re-ignition for its sustained return burn was a clear setback. But Starship’s successful deployment of the full set of satellite simulators and the planned simulated landing showed the flight was doing its job—collecting data even while certain systems stumbled.
SpaceX updated the test reporting to include information about Starship’s simulated landing, underscoring how much of the mission still depends on what happens after the headlines fade: the engineering lessons gathered from every separation, deployment, and explosion.
SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster Raptor engines Starlink simulators Starbase Gulf of Mexico landing Indian Ocean simulated landing IPO Nasdaq