SpaceX’s Starship photographed in space by Dodger Dog’s camera. Flight Test 12, (Ren@art, SpaceX, 22 May 2026).
SpaceX’s Starship Flight Test 12 launched successfully from pad 2 at Bocachica, Texas, USA on 22 May 2026. The first test of version 3 of the Starship was a success, collecting all the expected data and demonstrating the viability of new technology in all areas.
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Starship Launch Test 12 - 22 May 2026.● Countdown.
● Lift-off & Ascent.
● Stage separation & Booster landing.
● Orbit insertion & Satellite deployment.
● Re-entry & Water landing.
Background
NASA's Artemis Programme.Artemis plans for the Moon.
Moonwalkers.
Artemis Accords.
Artemis Goddess of the Moon.
UPDATES
Starship Launch Test 12
– 22 May 2026 -
The first launch attempt on 21 May was scrubbed because the hydraulic safety pin that locks the lower arm kept triggering a “hold” as it would not retract. This arm supports the fuel pipes during loading of the tanks and is required to fully retract for launch. The issue was solved successfully, and the launch was resumed the next day.
On 22 May 2026, Starship successfully launched from Starbase’s brand-new launch pad 2 at Bocachica, Texas. The flight profile included the following milestones.
- Launch firing all 33 new Raptor Engines.
- Ascent and separation testing the new integrated hot stage.
- The booster performs a return burn and controlled water landing.
- Starship continues entering orbit to deploy 20 satellite simulators and 2 test simulators, a.k.a. Dodger Dogs.
- Starship performs a return burn to initiate re-entry.
- Starship performs an autonomous controlled water landing in the Indian Ocean.
Countdown
Starship v3 during countdown on brand-new Launchpad 2 at Starbase, the “Gateway to Mars”.Notice the historic relic Sky-Hopper in the carpark opposite the platform (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).
Starship v3 loading cryogenic fuels: Methane (CH4) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX)into the tanks of both stages, Booster and Starship (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).
Starship v3 closeup 40sec before launch. Notice larger Grid-Fins and open walls of the integrated Hot-Stage (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).
Starship v3 Raptor Engines (also v3): 3 inner, 3 outer rings.Notice open walls at the interface with the Hot Stage that constitutes the top of the booster’s fuel tank (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 21 May 2026).
Lift-off & Ascent
Starship FT12: Lift off.Notice all 33 raptor engines firing on the Super Heavy Booster (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Ascent with all booster engines ignited. Bocachica coast in the background (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Ascent. Starbase and Bocachica coast in the background (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Watch Test Flight 12 Lift-off:
Video of Flight Test 12’s “Liftoff of Starship!” posted on “X” (SpaceX, 22 May 2026) (51sec).Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/LQLdjK5V6K
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
Public videos of the launch of Starship Flight Test 12.
Stage separation & Booster landing
Starship FT12: Separation boost. Note the ring of fire around the interface diverted by the integrated Hot Stage.Notice that all 6 engines of Starship ignited (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Stage Separation. Note the opened wall surrounding the Booster's integrated Hot Stage (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Superheavy booster in free fall guided by the new larger Grid Fins towards the Gulf of America.Notice that one of Starship’s engines switched off (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Watch the Super Heavy Booster controlled vertical landing on a barge parked on the Gulf of America during Flight Test 12.
Orbit insertion & Payload deployment
Despite the unintentional loss of one engine, Starship compensated the power using its remaining 5 raptors to continue with its mission and entered lower orbit.
Once the required altitude and speed were reached, the cargo was deployed without anomalies. Starship’s cargo consisted of 20 satellite simulators and 2 experimental ones fitted with cameras and sensors that stuck out at both ends, for which they were affectionately known as “Dodger Dogs”.
In comparison with Test 11, the payload deployment was faster, satellites were ejected in pairs. The last test satellite recorded the exit looking back at the compartment, the exit door and the outside of the ship filming for the first time the complete Starship suspended in space. In the future, modified instruments will fly around Starship to inspect the Heat Shield before proceeding with re-entry.
Starship FT12: Starship S39 in orbit with the Earth in the background (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Stack of 20 Satellite simulators ready for deployment.Notice the elongated opening at the end and the cupula of the fuel tank at the bottom of the image (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Deployment of the first pair of satellite simulators.The engineering teams at Starbase applaud to celebrate their success (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Starlink’s view of the port as it exits Starship.Notice one of the four round supports for future docking to another Starship for refuelling in space (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Starlink’s view of the full unshielded side of Starship in space (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Watch Dodger Dog’s view of Starship in space as it is deployed into orbit:
Video of Flight Test 12’s “Starlink satellite view” of deployment from Starship, posted on “X” (SpaceX, 23 May 2026) (1min).Views of Starship in space from a @Starlink satellite pic.twitter.com/5hfw1n8v1o
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
Re-entry & Splashdown
Re-entry was completed successfully with the expected formation of plasma. The process was transmitted live via the Starlink network, avoiding the communications blackout that typically hinders missions during re-entry.
Starship FT12: Re-entry with formation of plasma (SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Waiting for Starship in the Indian Ocean was the SpaceX team represented by Suren Sanai during the live broadcast. Their main goal was “range-clearing”, ensuring the predicted landing zone is clear of vessels or other obstacles; they also collect imagery of Starship’s water landing using cameras mounted on buoys. Over time, the buoys and cameras were fitted with means to steer and aim at the fast-moving vehicle, helped by Starship’s ability of precise landing.
Starship FT12: Suren Sanai represents the Indian Ocean team, preparing bouys with cameras and aiming equipment(SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship FT12: Indian Ocean SpaceX team onboard “JMR19005 N.T.140” in charge of range-clearing and imagery collection(SpaceX, Flight Test 12, 22 May 2026).
Starship cruised down towards the Indian Ocean and performed all manoeuvres as expected, including a flip to vertical and hover seconds before touchdown over the ocean. After contact, Starship fell on its belly and the programmed auto-destruction was activated, creating a large explosion that consumed the remaining fuel minimising chemical contamination of the ocean. Debris from the ship were gathered by recovery teams.
Mr Isaacman thanked President Donald Trump and NASA partners in Congress, the agency’s workforce, the international partners including the European and Canadian Space agencies, and the American Taxpayers.
“There is no doubt that there is a price to pay when it comes to exploring the Cosmos, but there is also a return, in the jobs it creates, the technologies that improve life on Earth and the inspiration it sparks on those who choose to follow” (Jared Isaacman, 2026).
Astronaut Christina Koch described a crew as a team where everyone has the same needs, must face the same threats and must care for each other no matter what because they are in the same journey. When watching the Earth suspended alone in the blackness of space, she realised that Planet Earth is analogous to a crew.
Jeremy Hansen was praised by Lisa Campbell, Canadian Space Agency President, for representing “the best of what it means to be Canadian, exemplifying the deepest values of discipline, humility and hard work”.
US Representative Chairman Brian Babin, representing the US Congress and the district of Texas, said that the Artemis 2 crew inspired not only America but the entire World and generations of humans that will come after them.
“The United States is ready for this challenge and ready to lead. As the US leads in space, they carry the principles of Freedom, Innovation and Opportunity” (Brian Babin, 2026).
Michael Cloud, US Representative of the congressional district of Texas thanked the crew for inspiring everyone again.
At the end of the conference, Commander Reid Weisman addressed the NASA astronauts-in-training who had attended the event and promised that the Artemis 2 crew would support them at every step of the way in their journey to the Moon.
Artemis 2 Crew on stage, presented by Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator, Huston, Texas, USA (NASA, 11 April 2026).
Artemis 2 astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen and Victor Glover deliver their personal messages to the world,Huston, Texas, USA (NASA, 11 April 2026).
Speakers at the Welcome Back Artemis 2 event: Norm Knight, Jared Isaacman, Vanessa Wyche, Lisa Campbell, Brian Babin and Michael Cloud,Huston, Texas, USA (NASA, 11 April 2026).
Watch the full video “Artemis II Crew returns to Huston” (1hr).
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Artemis 2 returns to Earth – 10 April 2026
The crew of Artemis 2 returned to Earth with a successful splashdown in the Pacific ocean in the evening of 10 April 2026.
During the Artemis 1 mission, re-entry consisted in bouncing off the atmosphere to reduce speed, resulting in 20 minutes of exposure to extreme heat, and some damage to the tiles. Learning from that experience, Artemis 2 went for a direct re-entry reducing thermal exposure to 13 minutes, which was more protective to the heat shield.
Descent and landing critical events
- Separation of the Crew Module Orion from the European Service Module (37min before splashdown).
- Orion performs a Raise Burn to position the module in correct orientation for re-entry.
- Orion begins entry into the atmosphere at 121km of altitude (13min before splashdown).
- Jettison of the Forward Bay Cover at 10km of altitude to expose parachute system.
- Parachutes: Drogues, Pilots and Main, are deployed in sequence starting at 6km, 2km and 1.5km respectively.
- Splashdown on the Pacific Ocean.
- Uprighting system deploys to stabilise the capsule on the surface.
- Recovery.
Separation from the Service Module
Separation of the Orion capsule from the Service Module was successfully completed 37min before splashdown as the crew of Artemis 2 continued their journey towards the atmosphere.
The European Service Module (ESM) was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and controlled from the ESA Eagle Control Room at the ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
