BUMPED: 12th Starship/Superheavy test delayed another day to May 21, 2026
UPDATE: One day after its announcement below, SpaceX announced another one day delay. The 12th Starship/Superheavy launch is now targeting May 21, 2026, with a launch window beginning at 5:30 pm (Central).
Original post:
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SpaceX earlier today announced a revised launch date for the 12th Starship/Superheavy orbital test flight, delayed one day from May 19, 2026 to May 20, 2026, with a launch window opening at 5:30 pm (Central).
No reason was given. I suspect weather might have played a factor, but it is also possible that some technical issues required a short delay.
Either way, the link to the X live feed will be posted here once it goes live. I will also embed it on Behind the Black once it goes live.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
UPDATE: One day after its announcement below, SpaceX announced another one day delay. The 12th Starship/Superheavy launch is now targeting May 21, 2026, with a launch window beginning at 5:30 pm (Central).
Original post:
———————
SpaceX earlier today announced a revised launch date for the 12th Starship/Superheavy orbital test flight, delayed one day from May 19, 2026 to May 20, 2026, with a launch window opening at 5:30 pm (Central).
No reason was given. I suspect weather might have played a factor, but it is also possible that some technical issues required a short delay.
Either way, the link to the X live feed will be posted here once it goes live. I will also embed it on Behind the Black once it goes live.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
It’s kind of sad that SpaceX cannot fly test flights with (more or less) abandon anymore. Now, if the flight is less than perfect, the knives come out on social media.
Looking objectively at what they are doing, it is developing the largest rocket ever flown, and the first that is not only 100% reusable, but relatively rapidly so! This effectively relegates everyone else to also-ran status, some unfairly to be sure, but some quite deservedly! Looking at you, ULA!
Now on top of it all, comes the IPO! I wonder if they are technically set to host the size of TV audience they may get on Wednesday?!
And there’s the old story about how a NASA engineer wondered “Will the Saturn 5 go up, or will Florida go down?!” If he’s still around, imagine what he must think about Starship!
Tom D,
The knives come out on social media whether a test is successful or not – or even whether there is a test or not. There’s just a lot of Musk Derangement Syndrome going around out there. Pay it all no mind. Just the usual pygmies trying to relieve themselves on the toes of a Titan.
Dick Eagleson wrote: “”Just the usual pygmies trying to relieve themselves on the toes of a Titan.””
Perfect.
Also, the “this is only a test” brings to mind the classic television We Control The Vertical, We Control The Horizontal. SpaceX certainly controls the huge SuperHeavy Booster and Starship, both horizontal and vertical. From the first videos of the return of SuperHeavy, seeming to hover over the water, to it nailing capture by the chopsticks. Whatever happens with the next launch, SpaceX will succeed with parts of it, learn and keep learning. What a great time to be alive!
“… Now, if the flight is less than perfect, the knives come out on social media. …”
well, SpaceX could talk to the public a lot more, address their legitimate concerns. Good start is to respond to what Anton says:
https://youtu.be/oKK0dgDIxKY?si=N1HCjXL7sfjPKhqP
Summary of the video as posted on youtube:
As SpaceX prepares for a major IPO and expansion of the Starlink network, Anton Petrov explores the environmental impact of thousands of satellites burning up in the upper atmosphere. Recent research highlights how metallic vapors and lithium residues from these re-entries could alter atmospheric chemistry, raising concerns about potential long-term consequences for the planet.
In the past, Starstool took the worst of it, with SuperHeavy not severely damaged after the first flight.
Now, for rapid reuse’s sake…the pad has less give…. might that be hard on the rocket in turn?
One of the reasons I avoid doctors is due to a belief that I am in a negative homeostasis…so many things are trying to kill me I just don’t know which way to fall.
A fellow worker underwent a procedure only to have a mild stroke not long after
Where Falcon enjoys what one might call a sweet spot….the more complex a beast like SS/SH becomes….the more like a human body it seems.
That’s actually the biggest reason I like SLS…two RATOs and just four liquid engines…. don’t tempt fate more than you have to.
Jeff Wright,
“Where Falcon enjoys what one might call a sweet spot….the more complex a beast like SS/SH becomes….the more like a human body it seems.”
This is one reason for Elon Musk’s philosophy that the best part is no part. Not only does it make the structure lighter, allowing for more payload and a greater victory over the rocket equation, but it is one less part to fail at a bad time. Or at any time.
I don’t have a problem with something having a lot of engines like Gary Church does–as long as the engines aren’t all in one core.
F9 could be OTRAG’ d and it would work fine in a Saturn IB situation… that’s my bet. Keep Vacuum Raptors on an expendable upper stage long enough to bulk up Starlink numbers.
Starship can come later.
Steve Richter,
As I’ve mentioned to you before, you can contact Elon Musk (and numerous SpaceX staff) fairly easily on X. They often reply even to very small accounts. Want an answer? Tweet at the guy.
Jeff Wright,
There’s no good reason to delay Starship for Starlink launches when Falcon 9 has launched more than ten thousand already. Diverting effort (when the number of engines on the first stage is not an issue) is a waste of time and money.