India, May 23 -- SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight 12 on Friday, May 22, 2026, from the newly debuted Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas. The high-stakes mission marked the highly anticipated debut of the souped-up Starship Version 3 (V3) system, yielding a mix of milestones and developmental challenges. Liftoff occurred at 6:30 PM EST (4:00 AM IST, Saturday, May 23).
Launch Timeline and Delays
The mission was originally planned for May 19, but a series of technical challenges led to multiple delays. One of the most significant setbacks came on May 21, when the countdown was stopped just moments before launch after engineers detected a hydraulic pin issue on the launch tower. Following repairs and system checks at the launch site, engine...