SpaceX IFT-12 Countdown Underway — 6 Days to Starship Flight 12 Window Opening at Starbase

On May 6, 2026, SpaceX's Starship Integrated Flight Test 12 (IFT-12) stands 6 days from the opening of its primary launch window on May 12, with Ship 39 (Starship V3) and Booster 19 stacked and standing on Pad 2 at Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas. Final pre-launch preparations are underway including roll-back checks, propellant loading rehearsals, and confirmation that the FAA post-IFT-11 investigation closure requirements have been met; an FCC communications license is active through October 2026 and FAA flight-safety approval was granted in late April 2026. IFT-12 introduces the debut of the Starship V3 architecture — featuring a taller upper stage, increased propellant capacity, and upgraded Raptor 3 engines — in a revised mission trajectory: Ship 39 will execute a sub-orbital flight profile with splashdown in the Indian Ocean, while Booster 19 will attempt a return to the Mechazilla integration tower for a catch. The mission's primary objectives include first-flight validation of the docking port hardware and the propellant transfer system components integrated into Ship 39's forward section — critical prerequisites for Starship HLS to qualify for the Artemis III Earth-orbit rendezvous and docking demonstration in 2027. No orbital ship-to-ship propellant transfer will be conducted during IFT-12; that demonstration remains a future milestone. Launch windows extend through May 18, 2026. The IFT-12 launch is a critical step for Artemis program timelines: successful demonstration of docking hardware on IFT-12 enables SpaceX to advance toward the full orbital refueling architecture required for Artemis IV's crewed lunar landing, currently targeting 2028.