SpaceX launches Starship V3, but loses booster on return

SpaceX has launched the upgraded third version of its Starship rocket for the first time from Starbase, the company’s launch site in Texas. The 407-foot rocket—the most powerful ever built—lifted off at 5:30 p.m. local time. A few minutes after liftoff, the upper stage separated from the Super Heavy booster to continue into space. The booster was scheduled to perform a simulated landing in the Gulf of Mexico, but its engines did not properly re-ignite for the return burn. The booster then tumbled down to the water, where it likely exploded.

Meanwhile, the Starship upper stage continued its ascent, though it lost one of its six Raptor engines—the rocket engines developed by SpaceX. Despite the engine loss, the vehicle successfully deployed 20 Starlink satellite simulators along with two modified Starlink satellites meant to record footage of Starship’s exterior. Roughly one hour after liftoff, Starship simulated a landing in the Indian Ocean, before tipping over and exploding as expected.

The test launch also comes at a historical inflection point for SpaceX as a company. Its IPO filing was made public this week, and the company is expected to list on the Nasdaq in mid-June. The IPO is reportedly supposed to raise around $75 billion for SpaceX, which the company plans to use to fuel further development, support its artificial intelligence ambitions, and pay off some of the debt associated with xAI and Musk’s social media company X.

SpaceX plans to use Starship for future NASA missions to the moon, and eventually Mars. In the near term, the vehicle’s primary role is to deliver Starlink satellites to Earth orbit, supporting the satellite internet service which is currently the only profitable part of SpaceX’s business.

The mission represents the first Starship flight since October 2025. SpaceX had planned to attempt launching the upgraded Starship V3 earlier, but one of the first upgraded boosters suffered an explosion during testing in November. A first launch attempt on Thursday was delayed because a hydraulic pin on the launch tower arm refused to retract, according to Musk. This new version of Starship features Raptor engines, which have more thrust and a simpler design.

Why it matters

The test launch marks the first shakedown of the upgraded Starship V3 hardware and comes as SpaceX prepares for an IPO expected to raise around $75 billion.