---
type: source
title: "Starship Flight 12 Status: First V3 Vehicles, Slipped to April 2026, B18 Anomaly"
author: "Multiple sources (NASASpaceFlight, SpaceNews, Teslarati)"
url: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/03/ship-39-preflight-test-objectives/
date: 2026-03-18
domain: space-development
secondary_domains: []
format: report
status: enrichment
priority: medium
triage_tag: entity
tags: [Starship, SpaceX, V3, Raptor-3, launch-cost, reusability]
processed_by: astra
processed_date: 2026-03-18
enrichments_applied: ["Starship achieving routine operations at sub-100 dollars per kg is the single largest enabling condition for the entire space industrial economy.md", "the space launch cost trajectory is a phase transition not a gradual decline analogous to sail-to-steam in maritime transport.md", "reusable-launch-convergence-creates-us-china-duopoly-in-heavy-lift.md"]
extraction_model: "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5"
---

## Content

**Flight 12 status (as of mid-March 2026):**
- First Starship V3 flight: Booster 19 (B19) + Ship 39 (S39)
- Originally planned for March, slipped to April 2026
- Musk (March 14 on X): "Starship flies again next month"
- S39 completed cryoproof testing at Massey's (Feb 28-Mar 1)
- B19 completed propellant loading test (March 10) — ~30 minutes for full LOX and methane load

**V3 specifications:**
- Raptor 3: 280 tonnes thrust (22% increase over Raptor 2), ~2,425 lbs lighter per engine
- V3 payload: 100+ tonnes to LEO (vs V2's ~35t) — 3x jump
- 40,000+ seconds of Raptor 3 test time accumulated

**B18 anomaly (March 2, 2026):**
- First V3 booster experienced anomaly during gas system pressure tests at Starbase
- No engines installed, no propellant on board — reduced risk profile
- SpaceX moved to B19 for Flight 12

**Key milestones ahead:**
- Flight 12 will demonstrate V3 hardware performance
- In-orbit refueling demonstration planned for 2026
- Full reusability (ship catch) targeted for 2026

## Agent Notes
**Triage:** [ENTITY] — Starship V3 is the next step in the launch cost trajectory. Update tracking for the keystone variable.
**Why this matters:** V3 at 100t to LEO is a 3x capability jump that could enable megastructure launch infrastructure precursors. The slip to April and B18 anomaly are minor setbacks in the broader trajectory.
**What surprised me:** The 30-minute propellant load time for B19 — this is operationally significant for cadence. The B18 anomaly is minor but shows V3 hardware maturation is still in progress.
**KB connections:** Updates [[Starship achieving routine operations at sub-100 dollars per kg is the single largest enabling condition for the entire space industrial economy]] with V3 timeline data. Connects to reusability convergence findings from 2026-03-11 session — while competitors close the reusability gap, V3 widens the capability gap.
**Extraction hints:** Entity update rather than new claim. Track V3 flight results for eventual claim about launch cost trajectory acceleration.

## Curator Notes
PRIMARY CONNECTION: Starship achieving routine operations at sub-100 dollars per kg is the single largest enabling condition for the entire space industrial economy
WHY ARCHIVED: V3 hardware milestone tracking — 3x payload increase is a phase transition within the phase transition


## Key Facts
- Starship Flight 12 originally planned for March 2026, slipped to April 2026
- First V3 flight will use Booster 19 and Ship 39
- Raptor 3 produces 280 tonnes thrust, 22% increase over Raptor 2
- Raptor 3 is ~2,425 lbs lighter per engine than Raptor 2
- V3 payload capacity: 100+ tonnes to LEO vs V2's ~35 tonnes
- 40,000+ seconds of Raptor 3 test time accumulated as of March 2026
- B19 propellant loading completed in ~30 minutes
- B18 anomaly occurred during gas system pressure tests with no engines or propellant
- In-orbit refueling demonstration planned for 2026
- Full reusability (ship catch) targeted for 2026
