Starship V3 launch: Spectacular photos of SpaceX’s most powerful rocket in flight

SpaceX launched its upgraded Starship megarocket on Friday, May 22, 2026. After scrubbing a highly anticipated attempt on Thursday, Starship V3 embarked on its 12th flight test from the Starbase manufacturing and launch facility in South Texas.

The image shows the first flight of the Starship megarocket.

This flight marked the first Starship mission since October 2025. Despite this still being a test program, NASA is counting heavily on Starship’s eventual success to safely land astronauts on the lunar surface for the upcoming Artemis III mission.

The image beautifully captures the moment of lift-off for Starship V3’s first flight into space.

Towering at 407 feet, the upgraded Starship stands significantly taller than its older iterations. It features a sturdier fuel architecture to ensure an uninterrupted supply to all 33 main engines, along with upgraded camera and navigation systems.

The image shows the Starship V3 shooting through the clouds into space.

Liftoff was successful despite one of the Super Heavy booster's 33 engines failing during ascent. Relying on its engine redundancy, the massive rocket maintained its trajectory, successfully heading east into a suborbital coast phase 120 miles up.

The image shows the Starship V3 in outer space for the first time, going around the Blue Planet.

This image from Associated Press shows the first flight of the SpaceX Starship launch. Captured by photographer Eric Gay, the launch was photographed on May 22, 2026. 

This image from Associated Press shows the SpaceX Starship heading towards space. The picture was taken by Eric Gay on May 22, 2026.

The May 22 launch featured a live-streamed look at the immense progress SpaceX has made in developing its giant rocket. Briefing the public, SpaceX stated the primary goal of this mission was to validate critical hardware redesigns in flight.

This image from Associated Press shows the Starship V3 launch on May 22, 2026.

Starship V3 successfully executed its reentry sequence, splashing down at its designated target in the Indian Ocean. This was an impressive feat, given the engine anomalies both stages experienced during the flight.

The image shows the landing burn of the Starship V3.

Upon splashing down, Starship tipped over and its remaining fuel spectacularly ignited. Contrary to how it appeared, this fiery conclusion was entirely planned; SpaceX intended to expend the vehicle after gathering critical reentry data, prompting Elon Musk to call the mission "epic."

The image shows the SpaceX Starship V3 landing over the Indian Ocean.