SpaceX successfully launched its colossal Starship rocket on Friday from its Starbase, Texas facility, overcoming a previous day’s technical scrub. This crucial 12th test flight is a pivotal moment for Elon Musk’s company, coinciding with the public disclosure of its IPO prospectus, which anticipates a record-breaking $75 billion offering next month after a $1.25 trillion valuation following a merger with xAI.
While the flight achieved significant milestones, including deploying mock satellites and live video streaming from space, it also encountered challenges, such as a Superheavy first stage failure and missed propulsion targets, indicating further refinement is needed for future human and cargo missions to orbit and the moon.
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SpaceX made history on Friday with the successful launch of its massive Starship rocket, achieving orbit after technical issues forced a scrub of its initial attempt just a day prior. The launch commenced precisely at 6:30 p.m. ET, marking the opening of a 90-minute window from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas.
A Tesla Cybertruck drives past SpaceX facilities in Hawthorne, California, US, on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Ethan Swope | Bloomberg | Getty Images
This test flight of Starship V3, featuring revised systems, was a key precursor to SpaceX’s highly anticipated public market debut. Earlier this week, the aerospace and defense giant, led by Elon Musk, publicly disclosed its IPO prospectus. The company is projected to raise approximately $75 billion in an IPO next month, building on a staggering $1.25 trillion valuation achieved in February following its merger with Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI.
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman was present at Starbase before the launch, appearing in a flight suit alongside SpaceX employees on a livestream to commend the significant achievements. Isaacman, who previously funded and commanded two private SpaceX flights in 2021 and 2024, has cultivated a close relationship with Musk through his multi-day trips around Earth.
During Friday’s test flight, SpaceX successfully deployed dummy satellites into orbit and transmitted live video footage of its rockets’ operations from space. However, the mission did not fully achieve all of its ambitious Starship goals. The company missed crucial propulsion targets necessary to validate the revamped rocket and engines for safe orbital flights and return trajectories.
A significant setback occurred when the Superheavy first stage, responsible for the initial ascent, failed immediately after separation. Subsequent anomalies during an engine relight sequence led to the destruction of a substantial portion of the Superheavy aft and a loss of control.
Despite these challenges, Starship, after reaching a speed of Mach 7, successfully ignited two of its engines before executing a vertical splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The rocket then tipped over and exploded upon hitting the water, an outcome that was anticipated as part of the test parameters.
As outlined in its IPO filing on Wednesday, Starship "is designed to deliver 100 metric tons to Earth's orbit in a fully reusable configuration while enabling rapid turnaround times akin to commercial aviation." This marked the 12th test flight for Starship, which stands as the largest rocket ever constructed or flown.
Starship is also integral to SpaceX’s strategy for bolstering its Starlink wireless internet service. The company plans to deploy more satellites into orbit using Starship to expand its constellation and enhance wireless internet connectivity for customers, including those in densely populated urban areas.
Last year, SpaceX launched over 3,000 satellites across 122 Falcon 9 rocket missions. The Starship system is engineered to transport and release a greater number of satellites per mission compared to the smaller Falcon 9.
Comprising the Starship upper stage vehicle, Super Heavy booster, and Raptor engines, the upper stage is designed for full reusability. NASA is heavily relying on SpaceX’s Starship to facilitate the return of astronauts to the moon in 2028.
Friday’s test flight was the first for Starship in seven months, following a series of explosions and other setbacks in early 2025 that caused disruptions to air travel due to falling debris. While the company successfully deployed mock Starlink satellites during this flight, no personnel or customer cargo were on board.
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