# Starship Flight 12

**Type:** Test flight  
**Vehicle:** Starship V3 (Ship 39 upper stage, Booster 19 Super Heavy)  
**Launch Site:** Starbase Pad 2, Boca Chica, Texas  
**Status:** Pre-launch (static fires complete as of April 2026)  
**Target Date:** Early May 2026  

## Overview

Starship Flight 12 represents the first flight of the V3 generation Starship and the inaugural launch from SpaceX's second orbital launch pad at Starbase. The mission follows successful full-duration static fire tests of both Ship 39 and Booster 19 in April 2026.

## Vehicle Configuration

- **Upper Stage:** Ship 39 (Starship V3)
- **Booster:** Booster 19 (Super Heavy with 33 Raptor 3 engines)
- **Key V3 Features:**
  - Raptor 3 engines with no external plumbing
  - Increased propellant capacity
  - Target payload capacity: 100+ tonnes to LEO

## Development Timeline

- **March 9, 2026:** Initial target date
- **April 4, 2026:** Revised target date
- **April 2026:** Both vehicles complete full-duration static fires
- **Early May 2026:** Current launch target

## Significance

Flight 12 is critical for validating V3's performance claims, particularly the 100+ tonne payload capacity and reuse economics enabled by Raptor 3's simplified design. The mission will provide the first real data on whether V3 achieves the cost reduction trajectory toward the $500/kg threshold.

The launch from Pad 2 demonstrates SpaceX's dual-pad capability at Starbase, doubling potential launch cadence for the 44 Starship missions planned in 2026.

## Timeline

- **2026-04-22** — Ship 39 and Booster 19 complete full-duration static fires; Flight 12 targeting early May 2026 launch from Pad 2