May 23, 2026, 3:21 PM EDT. SpaceX successfully launched the first test flight of its upgraded Starship V3 rocket and Super Heavy booster from Starbase, Texas. The 33-engine, 408-foot-tall vehicle cleared its launch tower and splashed down on target in the Indian Ocean after a flight lasting just over one hour. Unlike earlier iterations, Starship V3 avoided break-up during launch, marking a major progress milestone for SpaceX's stainless steel mega-rocket program. CEO Elon Musk and COO Gwynne Shotwell praised the team's efforts on social media. NASA, which aims to use Starship as a crewed Moon lander, closely monitored the test with Administrator Jared Isaacman attending the launch. The flight follows a seven-month development period, during which SpaceX completed a second launch pad and conducted multiple ground tests to refine the design.
