It’s been simply over seven years since a raptor engine first fired aboard a car referred to as Starshopper on April 3, 2019. Since then, SpaceX has examined over 50 completely different autos and check tanks, and a few have ended higher than others. Throughout all of this testing, SpaceX has discovered many classes about how one can construct a car the dimensions of Starship and a launch pad for it.
Flight 12 is the end result of over seven years of labor accomplished at Starbase. It combines a clean-sheet design for Ship, Booster, and Launch Pad, with the hope that it will propel the Starship program to operational cadence and reliability. Flight 12 is slated to carry off no sooner than Might 21, at 5:30 pm CDT on Pad 2 out of Starbase, Texas.
STAKEOUT STREAM:
LAUNCH STREAM:
Pad 2, Booster 19, and Ship 39, the Intro of Block 3, and Raptor 3
Flight 12 will introduce many new parts to the Starship program. First off is a very redesigned launch pad, Pad 2, which, quite than six legs and 360-degree exhaust, directs the exhaust plume by a pair of openings by way of a flame trench and water deflector system. All the launch pad has been utterly redesigned with a brand new water deluge system, tank farm, launch mount, and tower.
For a extra in-depth have a look at the Pad, it’s lined on this standalone article right here: SpaceX’s new Starship pad readies for first launch.
Ship 39
Booster 19 is the booster for this flight and represents a clean-sheet design change in comparison with Block 2 boosters. There are numerous apparent adjustments, similar to the brand new built-in hotstage ring and truss, solely three grid fins, and a very redesigned aft part.
SpaceX has taken classes discovered during the last a number of years to make adjustments that booster engineers have needed for some time.
Booster 19’s Raptor 3 Engines (Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
For a extra in-depth have a look at the booster, it’s lined on this standalone article right here: Tremendous Heavy Block 3 the Booster of the Future
Subsequent up is Ship 39, which can be a block 3 design and {a partially} clean-sheet design for most of the techniques aboard. A couple of issues are the relocation of the widespread and aft domes to accommodate extra propellant, the addition of drogue docking ports, and a whole overhaul of the Response Management System (RCS). This newly designed ship is about to kick off Starlink missions, orbital refueling, and ultimately touchdown people again on the Moon.
For a extra in-depth have a look at the ship, it’s lined on this standalone article right here: Flight 12 readies for the debut SpaceX’s subsequent Ship evolution
Ship 39 rolling out for Flight (Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
Lastly, this flight introduces Raptor 3, which is a significant improve over Raptor 2. Raptor 3 is one other leap ahead for SpaceX to make an engine dependable sufficient for it to behave like an plane turbofan engine, which may be turned on at a second’s discover and is extremely dependable. To do that, engineers eradicated flanges across the turbopumps and simplified the general design to make the engine simpler to fabricate.
Different adjustments embrace the usage of a brand-new acoustic igniter system. These igniters don’t have any transferring elements or generate a spark, not like the igniter on an inside combustion engine or the torch igniters used on Raptor 2.
Acoustic igniters depend on the interplay between a supersonic jet circulation issuing from a nozzle and a resonance tube positioned intently downstream, producing a dramatic improve in temperature within the resonance tube. This improve in temperature will trigger the gases to ignite, thus creating an igniter. Utilizing one of these ignition eliminates {the electrical} techniques required for a spark ignition system and might simplify the ignition course of.
Validation testing on a Raptor 3 performing a Starship V3 ascent burn. A number of variations of this check will cowl the completely different situations seen by Starship’s three inside engines throughout its preliminary climb to house pic.twitter.com/Rrd4rEuGqt
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 3, 2025
With the igniters simply utilizing the propellant, SpaceX additionally switched the spin-up gases on Raptor 3; prior to now, Raptor used Helium or Nitrogen. Nonetheless, with Raptor 3, SpaceX has switched to utilizing gaseous Oxygen and Methane to start out their respective turbopumps.
Different enhancements for Raptor 3 embrace greater inside chamber stress, elevated thrust, and decreased weight. The upper thrust outcomes from elevated chamber stress. Raptor 3 sea stage engines will begin off at 250 tons (551,000 lbf) of thrust, with a remaining purpose of hitting 280 tons (617,000 lbf), and Raptor 3 Vacuum engines are at the moment at 275 tons (606,000 lbf).
The burden was additionally decreased, with the engine itself going from 1,630 kg (3,593 lbs) to 1,525 kg (3,362 lbs). Nonetheless, the true weight financial savings are on the car aspect, with every engine having misplaced about 2,000 lbs (907 kg) of mass as a result of deletion of a lot of the engine shielding on the aft of the booster.
Raptor 3 on Booster 19 (Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
This engine, with all its adjustments, is slated to be this system’s future till SpaceX comes up with one thing higher. This ought to be the engine that lands people again on the moon, and perhaps even on Mars.
In preparation for this flight, SpaceX has finished a ton of testing not solely on the brand new launch pad but in addition on the autos themselves and on many check tanks. B18.1, which is the booster aft check article, accomplished 16 cryo exams. S39.1 The ship aft check article has accomplished 13 cryo proof exams up to now. B18.3 The booster ahead and touchdown tank connect {hardware} check tank has additionally accomplished 16 cryo proof exams as far as nicely.
Many of those exams used actuators, crush caps, and different types of testing {hardware} to assemble knowledge to assist make Block 3 a greater car total. As for the autos themselves, Ship 39 has accomplished three cryo-proof exams, a number of tanking exams with igniter exams, a spin prime, and a full-duration 52-second six-engine static hearth. A few of the ship testing included chopstick sim testing and flap stress testing at Massey’s with the brand new truss construction.
Left to Proper: B18.1, Booster Touchdown Check Tank, Ship 40, S39.1, B18.3 (Credit score: Gage (Tough Riders Present) for NSF)
Then, Booster 19 has accomplished 4 cryo-proof exams, three tanking exams (two with igniter testing), two spin primes, one 10-engine and one 33-engine static hearth, each static fires aborted resulting from ground-side points, a 15-second 33-engine static hearth, and, lastly, a booster Moist Costume Rehearsal (WDR) during which SpaceX absolutely crammed the booster with Liquid Methane (LCH4) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX).
All the stack has additionally aimed to finish a full WDR the day earlier than launch on Wednesday, however appeared to halt operations mid-load. Clearly, SpaceX is taking these design adjustments significantly and guaranteeing many points are examined to confirm them.
Timeline
With a brand-new launch pad and rocket, SpaceX additionally modified your complete prelaunch timeline and several other components of the launch timeline. First off, the propellant load ballot now happens at T-00:50:00, which is far later within the rely than in Flight 11, which was at T-1:15:00. It is because SpaceX has considerably decreased the propellant loading occasions for Starship.
On Flight 11, the Ship propellant load would begin round T-00:53:00, and Booster would begin round T-00:41:15. On Flight 12, the Ship is about to start out at T-00:38:53, with Booster set to start out at T-00:35:00. This discount in fueling time has to do with the brand new design of Pad 2’s tank farm. Up to now, SpaceX solely had one pump for each Ship propellants; now groups have 4 for every.
Flight 12 Prelaunch Timeline (Credit score: SpaceX)
One other change is that, as a substitute of LOX and LCH4 hundreds beginning across the identical time for the ship or booster, they now begin in a staggered method. Ship LOX load begins, then Booster LOX load, then Booster LCH4 load, and the final half to load is Ship LCH4. Then, throughout propellant load, Raptor 3 chilldown begins round T-00:21:30, which is a bit earlier within the rely than in Flight 11.
Propellant load for your complete stack ends at T-00:02:10, which makes it solely 36 minutes and 43 seconds lengthy, which is barely barely slower than Falcon 9. Compared, Flight 11’s propellant load took 50 minutes and 10 seconds.
Then, because the rely nears T-0, at T-17 seconds, the flame diverters inside the brand new flame trench are activated, which embrace each buckets and the ridge. Then, a lot nearer to liftoff, the top-deck deluge plate would activate to succeed in full energy as soon as the rocket clears the launch mount.
In flight, a number of issues change as nicely: the second of peak aerodynamic stress on the rocket (MAX-Q) happens at T+45 seconds, in comparison with T+00:01:02 for Flight 11. That’s a full 17 seconds earlier, which simply goes to point out the rise in thrust and thrust-to-weight ratio Block 3 has over Block 2.
With MAX-Q a lot sooner, Most Engines Cutoff (MECO) and Hotstaging happen earlier within the timeline, as it would take much less time for the booster to get the ship to the specified velocity and altitude.
An occasion faraway from the timeline is hot-stage jettison, because the Block 3 booster now has the built-in scorching stage and truss as a part of the ahead dome.
Flight 12 Launch Timeline (Credit score: SpaceX)
Subsequent would be the Superheavy touchdown burn, which is a bit later within the timeline than on Flight 11. That is as a result of new booster glide-back profile, which is able to trigger the booster to glide again at a better angle of assault.
After Booster completes the touchdown, the Ship engine cutoff will happen round T+00:08:11. That is 47 seconds quicker than Flight 11. This simply goes to point out as soon as once more the rise in thrust that Raptor 3 brings to Block 3.
Between T+00:17:37 and T+00:27:15, the payload will likely be deployed, and at round T+00:38:37, the Raptor relight demo with Raptor 3 will happen for the primary time. Assuming Starship makes it by reentry, which begins round T+00:47:47, Ship 39 will full a touchdown burn round T+01:05:06. This touchdown will begin with three engines, then downselect to 2, earlier than ending on a single engine.
The mission as an entire is predicted to be accomplished at round T+01:05:26, when Ship 39 splashes down within the Indian Ocean.
Last descent and splashdown of Starship on Flight 11, captured by the SpaceX restoration group within the Indian Ocean pic.twitter.com/TzvFnf8Z6d
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 14, 2025
Mission Goals
There’s a lot driving on the success of Flight 12: the complete check of the newly constructed launch pad and the introduction of three main parts for the flight autos. These are the Block 3 Booster, Ship, and Raptor 3. Whereas testing all of those new items, SpaceX can even check a number of different issues on this flight.
Since it is a brand-new clean-sheet design booster, SpaceX is not going to try a catch with Booster 19 however will as a substitute try a splashdown within the Gulf. It will assist validate the brand new design, and if any points come up, the booster received’t injury the launch pad ought to the touchdown burn fail. There’s a probability Booster 20 is caught on Flight 13, however it relies on how nicely Booster 19 performs.
Tremendous Heavy hover pic.twitter.com/VLczlgdeH8
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 15, 2025
For the Ship, SpaceX will carry out a payload deployment demo and a Raptor relight demo. The payload will as soon as once more be a set of dummy satellites, however as a substitute of eight, SpaceX has loaded 20 for this mission, and added two modified Starlinks as nicely, for a complete of twenty-two satellites. The ultimate two to be deployed will likely be modified to check deliberate Starlink Model 3 {hardware} and try and scan Ship 39’s warmth protect earlier than reentry.
That is an try by SpaceX to {photograph} the ship’s warmth protect earlier than reentry to confirm that it’s nonetheless intact. This type of imagery will likely be very important to make sure that when a ship reenters land, it doesn’t break up and trigger injury.
Ship 39 painted Warmth Protect Tiles (Credit score: Colleen Liedtke for NSF)
To assist within the modified Starlinks and to carry out an experiment, a number of tiles have been painted gray and white to assist the imaging software program see the place on the ship it’s trying and to find out whether or not it could detect “pretend” lacking tiles. Different experiments for the warmth protect embrace eradicating a single tile behind one of many ahead flaps to check aerodynamic hundreds on the adjoining tiles when one is lacking.
And lastly, a number of tiles and 6 full patches have been glued to the leeward aspect of the ship to check a more moderen adhesive.
As for remaining goals, Ship 39 will carry out experimental maneuvers examined throughout earlier flight exams to simulate a ship-catch trajectory. Like deliberately stressing the aft flaps, and performing the dynamic banking maneuver as seen on Flight 11.
Trajectory
In step with the theme of every part altering this flight, the preliminary trajectory out of Starbase has additionally modified. Now, as a substitute of flying due east, which took Starship simply south of Florida, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands, and simply north of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Leeward Islands.
Comparability of New Flight Hall vs Earlier Flights
The brand new trajectory could have Starship head barely south. It will take the ship and thread it between Cuba and Jamaica, then south of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, and eventually between St Vincent and Grenada within the Leeward Islands. There are a number of causes for this variation in trajectory: first off, it will get out of the best way of a number of main airline routes to and from the USA and the northern Caribbean Sea.
And it additionally permits SpaceX to observe the trajectory required for Starlink flights out of Starbase sooner or later. The touchdown trajectory is comparatively the identical location, apart from a slight hook on the finish of the zone, the place the ship will carry out the dynamic banking maneuver earlier than touchdown within the Indian Ocean.
Booster 15-2 and Ship 38 Liftoff for Flight 11 In the course of the Identical Window (Credit score: Jack Beyer for NSF)
Launch Home windows
At present, Starship Flight 12 is concentrating on no sooner than Thursday, Might 21, at 5:30 pm CDT for carry off of Booster 19 and Ship 39, with the window itself being one hour and half-hour lengthy. SpaceX additionally has a backup window on Might 22 on the identical time. Nonetheless, ought to there be additional delays or scrubs, SpaceX must wait till Tuesday, Might 26, as Might 23, 24, and 25 fall on Memorial Day weekend, and the seaside can’t be closed on these days.
Now the highway closure time has additionally modified; prior to now, for late-afternoon flights, SpaceX would shut the highway round midday CDT. Nonetheless, for this flight, closures start at 6 am and proceed till 10 pm CDT. The tip of that closure assumes that the pad and launch website are secure for the general public to return to at the moment.
Regardless of when Flight 12 does launch, it is going to be a spectacle. This has been a flight years within the making for SpaceX and for spaceflight as an entire. A profitable launch on Flight 12 paves the best way for SpaceX to start out catching Block 3 boosters and even ships sooner quite than later.
Featured Picture: Ship 39 and Booster 19 stacked on Pad 2 (Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
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