Starship V3 flies for the first time, but SpaceX loses the booster
SpaceX's first Starship V3 flight completed its mission, but the booster likely exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on return.
What happened
SpaceX launched Starship V3 for the first time from Starbase, Texas. The rocket stands 407 feet tall.
Results
- Booster: engines didn't properly re-ignite for the return burn; it likely exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Starship: lost one of its six Raptor engines on ascent.
- Deployed all 20 Starlink simulators plus two modified Starlink satellites.
- About an hour later it simulated a landing in the Indian Ocean and exploded as expected.
Why it matters
It was the first Starship flight since October 2025, ahead of SpaceX's expected IPO in June.
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