Full Breakdown
Starship Block 3 Progress at SpaceX’s Starbase, Texas
5/12/2026, 11:24:37 AM
Core Progress: Ship 39 and the First Full Block 3 Stack
On May 11, Avid Space and Lab Padre documented the movement of Starship Ship 39 at SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas. After a static-fire test, the vehicle was transferred from Mega Bay 2 through the Sanchez site to Highway 4, then turned left toward the coast before arriving at the launch complex. There it was positioned on Pad 2, where it was lifted by the “chopsticks” and placed atop top booster 19, creating the first full stack of Block 3 vehicles. This configuration marks the initial assembly of a complete Block 3 stack ready for integrated testing.
Operational Setback: Damage During the Static-Fire Test
The static-fire test generated a powerful pressure wave that impacted the support vehicle carrying the Rover 3 camera. Nearly all windows on the vehicle were blown out, and the SUV was displaced several inches. Initial analysis suggested the pressure wave caused the damage, but further review indicated that flying debris from the test likely struck the vehicle, producing the observed destruction. The support vehicle is slated for repair and return to service.
Regulatory Landscape: FAA Advisories and Hazard Summaries
Recent FAA filings provide the regulatory context for the upcoming launch. The agency released a space-operation summary outlining hazard zones associated with the Block 3 flight. Concurrently, multiple air- and sea-space advisories were issued, first setting a “no-earlier-than” launch date of May 12. Subsequent updates shifted the earliest permissible launch to May 15. These advisories reflect the FAA’s ongoing assessment of safety perimeters for both aerial and maritime traffic around Starbase.
Data Snapshot
- Raptor 3 engines: 33 operating on the static-fire vehicle.
- Top booster identifier: Booster 19, integrated with Ship 39.
- Support vehicle: Equipped with Rover 3 camera; suffered window loss and displacement.
- Launch complex: Pad 2, designated for Block 3 operations.
- Regulatory dates: Initial “no-earlier-than” May 12; revised to May 15.
Upcoming Tests and Launch Timeline
With the full-stack assembly complete, SpaceX plans a full-stack wet-dress rehearsal to verify vehicle performance and Pad 2 Stage 0 infrastructure readiness. The agency may conduct final rollbacks to the build site for additional checkouts before the launch attempt. Although the FAA’s latest advisories push the earliest launch window to May 15, the combination of pending wet-dress rehearsal and potential rollbacks suggests the launch date could slip further. Nonetheless, officials expressed optimism that Starship Block 3 could achieve flight within the next few weeks, pending successful completion of the upcoming tests.
What’s Next: Near-Term Milestones
- Completion of the full-stack wet-dress rehearsal.
- Final safety and performance reviews by FAA officials.
- Potential adjustment of launch dates based on test outcomes and regulatory clearance.
These steps will determine whether Block 3 proceeds to its inaugural flight as scheduled or experiences additional delays.
