For the first time in 2026, SpaceX's massive Starship rocket launched on a critical mission from Texas that took it halfway around the world.

The countdown is back on for the 12th flight of the Starship mega-rocket from Starbase after a series of problems forced a scrub Thursday.

SpaceX successfully launched its Version 3 Super Heavy-Starship rocket from Texas on Friday in a critical test flight for the company’s future. The 407-foot-tall V3 Starship rocket, designed as the most powerful ever built,

Incredible Views Of SpaceX Starship Re-Entering Earth's Atmosphere. Credit: SpaceX

For the first time, we have an outsider’s view of what Starship endures on the way home. Two small camera satellites, released from the vehicle during its Flight 12 test mission in May 2026, trailed behind the ship as it slammed back into Earth’s atmosphere and captured live images of its heat shield tiles glowing

SpaceX’s debut of its next-generation version of Starship managed to take flight Friday, suffering engine headaches after liftoff, but ultimately reaching its target landing site that climaxed with an expected fireball as

SpaceX stacked Starship 24 onto Super Heavy booster. The rocket is being prepped for a test flight in the near future. Credit: SpaceX | mash mix by Space.com's Steve Spaleta

SpaceX had announced a last-minute cancellation of its Starship megarocket prototype's 12th test flight on Thursday.