SpaceX is adjusting the timeline for the debut flight of its next-generation Starship, with the first launch of the Starship V3 vehicle now expected in early April as testing continues at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas.
The updated estimate comes from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who shared on social media over the weekend that the first flight of the upgraded rocket could happen “in about four weeks.” Based on that statement, the launch would take place around April 4.
That timeline represents a modest delay compared to Musk’s previous projection in late January, when he suggested the next Starship launch could occur roughly six weeks later, which would have placed it in early March.
While neither Musk nor SpaceX provided a detailed explanation for the shift in schedule, the delay was not entirely unexpected. Observers tracking activity at Starbase had noted that development work and testing did not appear to be progressing quickly enough for an early March launch. In addition, the typical maritime and airspace notices that precede a launch campaign had not yet been issued.
SpaceX did confirm one key milestone in the lead-up to the next flight. On March 7, the company said it had successfully completed cryoproof testing of the Starship upper stage designated Ship 39. The tests are designed to verify the vehicle’s ability to withstand the stresses of loading supercooled propellants while ensuring the structure remains stable under operational conditions.
Ship 39 cryoproof operations complete, the first campaign with a next generation Starship V3.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 8, 2026
Across several days, engineers tested the vehicle’s redesigned propellant system and its structural strength, including squeeze tests to mimic the forces of future ship catches pic.twitter.com/aFtCYIqwLh
The upcoming mission will mark the first launch of Starship’s Version 3 design, which SpaceX intends to become the program’s long-term production configuration. The company has been steadily iterating on the vehicle through successive versions, each aimed at improving performance, reliability, and reusability.
Starship last flew in October during what was described as the final flight of Version 2. Following that mission, SpaceX signaled that development would transition to the more advanced V3 design. At the time, company officials suggested the first V3 launch could take place as early as January.
However, testing setbacks slowed progress. In November, the first Version 3 Super Heavy booster suffered damage during a ground test, forcing engineers to adjust the development timeline.
The launch cadence of Starship has taken on added importance as NASA continues preparing for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade. SpaceX is developing a modified version of Starship as a Human Landing System (HLS) for those missions, which it has now prioritized over missions to Mars.
