Elon Musk says Starship Flight 12 launching in 4 weeks as testing continues

SpaceX Founder and CEO, Elon Musk, said that the Starship Flight Test 12 could happen in 4 weeks, as the company keeps on testing the first and second stages of this massive space launch vehicle.

This new extension comes as Musk previously predicted Flight 12 to fly in 6 weeks through his X post dated January 26, 2026. That’s already a month’s delay, which could now expand to April according to the new timeline.

These delays are the result of new testing and improvements on V3 blocks.

Starship V3 represents a major leap in the vehicle’s design and capabilities. The new design has a lighter structure, improved thermal protection, and more efficient propulsion to achieve full reusability. The first flight (IFT-12) will test these upgrades in a real environment, including booster recovery and ship reentry.

In order to prepare Ship 39, the company rolled it out to Massey’s testing site in late February. As of today, it has already completed a rigorous series of cryogenic proof tests. These tests involved filling the vehicle with super-chilled propellants to simulate launch stresses.

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Ship 39 not only survived initial cryo loads but passed multiple subsequent proofs without anomaly, demonstrating its structural integrity following earlier V2 challenges. Engineers are now advancing to static fire tests, where its six Raptor engines will ignite in a controlled burst. Additional evaluations include flap actuation checks and “chopstick” simulator squeeze tests to validate catch compatibility with the launch tower.

Meanwhile, the Super Heavy V3 booster, Booster 19, is keeping pace. After successfully enduring four days of cryogenic proof testing, technicians have installed its 33 Raptor engines and grid fins. Static fire testing will come next, firing all engines simultaneously to verify thrust vector control and performance. Once cleared, the booster will return to the pad for integrated stacking with Ship 39.

Before liftoff, SpaceX must complete a final sequence of critical milestones: full-stack wet dress rehearsals, engine gimbal checks, and the FAA’s approval. Pad 2 upgrades, including a reinforced flame trench, are nearly finished to support the higher-energy V3 profile.

For now, we remain optimistic that the Starship Flight 12 could fly in 4 weeks, but that will depend on how these upcoming tests goes primarly the static fires.