SpaceX is proceeding with the 12th test flight of its Starship megarocket, featuring the debut of the advanced V3 vehicle. The mission, planned for May 19, 2026, involves the deployment of 22 dummy Starlink satellites and two inspector spacecraft to test the rocket’s capacity for large-scale constellation support.
## The Debut of the Starship V3 Vehicle
The Flight 12 mission marks the first launch of the Starship V3 vehicle, representing a significant upgrade over previous iterations. This version of the megarocket—which is described as the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built—features several modifications and upgrades compared to its predecessors.
The V3 vehicle is constructed from stainless steel and utilizes a black heat shield composed of 40,000 closely set hexagonal tiles. While the mission will follow a familiar suborbital trajectory, it marks the first Starship launch in nearly seven months, according to Space.com.
## Satellite Deployment and Mission Objectives
A primary objective of Flight 12 is to test the vehicle’s ability to support the expansion of the Starlink broadband megaconstellation. According to a mission description provided by SpaceX, the Starship upper stage, known as Ship, is scheduled to deploy 22 dummy versions of Starlink spacecraft.
These simulators are
similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites, according to Space.com. This deployment represents a considerable increase in capacity compared to previous Starship flights, during which the Ship carried between eight and 10 mass simulators. The Flight 12 batch also includes two inspector spacecraft. The success of these deployment capabilities is central to SpaceX’s long-term goals. Beyond building out the Starlink megaconstellation, the company intends to use the Starship system to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface for NASA’s Artemis program and to assist in the establishment of a colony on Mars. ## SpaceX Leadership and Strategic Direction SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, who serves as the company’s CEO and chief engineer. Under his leadership, the company has focused on innovations in reusable rockets and commercial spaceflight. Musk, who holds citizenship in South Africa, Canada, and the United States, has also founded or co-founded several other major ventures, including Tesla, Neuralink, and the Boring Company. In 2026, the company’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, became a subsidiary of SpaceX. As of May 2026, Forbes estimates Musk’s net worth to be US$788 billion. Musk’s previous professional history includes founding the software company Zip2 in 1995 and the online payment company X.com, which later merged to form PayPal.