SpaceX has postponed the 12th test flight of Starship and Super Heavy by one day; the launch is now anticipated no sooner than May 20th local time (which translates to 01:30 Moscow time on May 21st). The rationale behind this delay is the necessity for supplementary system checks. This particular mission represents a crucial milestone for several key reasons: it marks the inaugural flight for Starship V3 and the very first launch from the Starbase Pad 2 facility.
These trials this time around will hold elevated importance as both the Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy booster have undergone substantial enhancements. The Starship spacecraft is slated to accomplish several objectives both in orbit and during its atmospheric re-entry. These include deploying 22 Starlink mass simulators, which match the dimensions of next-generation satellites. All of these simulators will follow the same suborbital path as the main vehicle. Furthermore, a single in-space restart of a Raptor engine is scheduled. Finally, the last two deployed simulators are intended for capturing imagery and analyzing the Starship’s heat shield: they are expected to transmit visual data back to the ground teams, enabling SpaceX to evaluate procedures for determining the thermal protection system’s readiness for future return to the launch site.
Consequently, the twelfth Starship flight transcends being a routine test; instead, it functions as the initial comprehensive evaluation of the updated system version, where SpaceX will rigorously examine multiple essential scenarios prerequisite for future fully reusable launch operations.
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