SpaceX: the twelfth launch of the Starship rocket is now scheduled for no earlier than May 16

We have reported on the partnership between Anthropic and SpaceX regarding artificial intelligence (also thanks to xAI, part of the aerospace company). Elon Musk's company is also working to achieve operational readiness for its new fully reusable rocket, Starship, which has reached its twelfth flight (also known as Flight 12).

In recent days, there was the possibility that the launch could occur no earlier than May 13 (Italian time). Now, new information provided by the U.S. Coast Guard indicates that the launch will not take place before May 16 (Italian time), with SpaceX using the remaining days to continue testing Super Heavy Booster 19, Ship 39, and also to try some components of future innovations, such as Ship 40.

Starship Booster 19 is back on the OLM at Starbase Pad 2 for more testing after rolling from the Production Site overnight. With Flight 12 No Earlier Than May 15th, this should hopefully be the final tests before flight.

As we know, the twelfth launch of Starship will be the first of the third generation, which involves several innovations in terms of design and components. For example, the Raptor 3 engines will be used for the first and second stages for the first time. Super Heavy has also reduced from four aerodynamic fins to just three, thus reducing mass and complexity (the recovery supports through Mechazilla have also disappeared, which will rely on the fins instead). It will also be the first time that Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, is used, as Pad 1 is undergoing upgrades.

In the past hours, Super Heavy Booster 19 was transported from the production facilities to the pad for a new static fire (a previous one was conducted shortly after mid-April, while an initial ignition test occurred at the end of March). Therefore, a new ignition is expected in the coming hours. As for Ship 40, the upper stage that will be used in Flight 13, cryogenic tests have been conducted at Massey in preparation for the installation of the final components.

One of the possibilities is that the sequence of events sees a static fire of Super Heavy Booster 19, followed by an assessment of the conditions of the first stage, then moving to a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) together with Ship 39 and finally to the launch. SpaceX's plans involve not recovering either Super Heavy or Ship. Both units of Starship will be made to land gently in the Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean, respectively.

If Flight 12 goes as planned (but since it is new generation hardware, unforeseen events are possible), Flight 13 might involve the recovery of Super Heavy while Ship 40 will once again be made to land in the Indian Ocean, near the coast of Australia. If this latest launch goes well, Elon Musk previously stated that we could witness the first orbital mission of Starship, with Ship launching from Texas and returning to Texas to be caught "in flight" by the launch tower Mechazilla.

Many uncertainties remain, and until there are official communications, it will be difficult to understand how SpaceX intends to proceed with the development program. Let's remember that Starship HLS is the lunar lander that could be used during the Artemis IV mission, while a first test will take place with Artemis III, in low Earth orbit.