SpaceX Starship Test Flight Launches but Misses Key Propulsion Targets

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on Friday evening after a previous attempt was scrubbed due to technical issues the day before. The launch window opened at 6:30 p.m. ET, and the flight lifted off at that time from SpaceX's facility in Starbase, Texas.

According to CNBC, the test flight of Starship V3 was a key event for SpaceX just days after the company publicly disclosed its IPO prospectus. SpaceX is expected to raise around $75 billion in an IPO next month. The company was valued at $1.25 trillion in February, when it merged with xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup.

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman traveled to Starbase before the launch and appeared in a flight suit with SpaceX employees on a livestream video. Before leading NASA, Isaacman paid to lead two private SpaceX flights, in 2021 and 2024, commanding crews on multiday trips around the Earth.

During the test flight, SpaceX successfully deployed dummy satellites into orbit and beamed live video of its rockets' operations from space. However, the company did not achieve all of its Starship goals. SpaceX missed propulsion targets it must hit in order to confirm its revamped rocket and engines are ready to conduct safe flights to orbit and back.

The Superheavy first stage, which powers the initial ascent of Starship, failed immediately after its separation from the upper stage. Anomalies then occurred during an engine relight sequence, destroying a significant part of the Superheavy aft section and resulting in a loss of control. The upper stage, traveling at Mach 7, lit two of its engines before splashing down vertically in the Indian Ocean. It then tipped over and exploded after the nose of the rocket hit the water, which SpaceX described as an expected outcome.

This was the 12th test flight for Starship and its first in seven months, following a string of explosions and other setbacks in early 2025. SpaceX said in its IPO filing that 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."

Starship is the largest rocket ever built or flown. It is also central to SpaceX's plans to expand its Starlink wireless internet service. The company said it plans to launch more satellites to strengthen its constellation and provide internet access in dense urban areas. Last year, SpaceX launched over 3,000 satellites on 122 Falcon 9 rocket missions. Starship was designed to carry more satellites per trip than the smaller Falcon 9.

NASA is also counting on Starship. The space agency is relying on the vehicle to land astronauts back on the moon in 2028. The system is made up of the Starship upper stage vehicle, the Super Heavy booster, and Raptor engines. The upper stage is designed to be fully reusable.

The production budget for Starship test flights and development is separate from the company's commercial ambitions, but Friday's results will factor into decisions about when the vehicle is considered ready for regular orbital operations. SpaceX has not announced a timeline for its next test flight.