Elon Musk's SpaceX has been quiet on Starship launches in 2026. When will Flight 12 take off? The delay is unusual, given SpaceX's consistent testing schedule since Starship's second flight in November 2023. Could it be that SpaceX is preparing a pivotal version of the 400-foot megarocket? With 2026 already three months old, Starship hasn't launched this year. The world's largest rocket hasn't taken off from Starbase in South Texas in nearly five months. This is a significant delay, as SpaceX typically tests every one to four months. The gap might be due to SpaceX's final preparations for a new Starship version, designed for key missions to orbit, the moon, and potentially Mars. Elon Musk, the world's richest man and SpaceX founder, hinted at an early March launch for Flight 12 in January. However, as of March 2, SpaceX hasn't announced an official target date, and the mission isn't listed on their online schedule. The Federal Aviation Administration approved new flight paths for SpaceX to fly Starship, crucial for reaching orbit and landing back at Starbase. The time between Starship flights 11 and 12 is notable, as SpaceX hasn't launched since October 2025. The gap between the first and second test flights was also significant, with a seven-month gap. Starship's maiden voyage ended in disaster, but the second test flight in November 2023 achieved milestones before exploding. Standing at over 400 feet tall, Starship is the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle, designed for reusability. It will help NASA astronauts land on the moon under the Artemis program and potentially transport humans to Mars. SpaceX conducted five Starship tests in 2025, with the final two being successes. Version 3 of Starship, expected to debut during Flight 12, is slightly larger and more powerful, with the ability to refuel mid-flight, crucial for reaching distant destinations like Mars.
