SpaceX is aiming to conduct its next Starship test flight in mid-March, Chief Executive Elon Musk said, as the company continues development of its heavy-lift launch system.
Musk said in a post on social media platform X that a “Starship launch [is] in 6 weeks,” indicating a tentative timeline for the next test. The flight is expected to evaluate upgrades incorporated into the latest Starship prototype, part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to improve performance and reliability.
Starship launch in 6 weeks pic.twitter.com/3HFf4H5cc4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 26, 2026
SpaceX is developing what it refers to as the V3 version of Starship, which is designed to be larger and more powerful than earlier iterations. The company has said the system is intended to support a range of missions, including launching larger batches of Starlink satellites and enabling in-orbit operations such as docking between Starship vehicles.
The previous Starship test flight in November ended unsuccessfully when the prototype damaged its booster during an explosion. SpaceX has since been preparing for another round of testing as it refines the design. NASA plans to use a variant of Starship as a lunar lander under its Artemis program, making progress on the vehicle a key element of the agency’s long-term plans to return astronauts to the Moon.
Earlier versions of the system have achieved several milestones. SpaceX has previously launched simulated Starlink payloads aboard Starship and demonstrated partial recovery of booster stages back to the launch site.
While SpaceX remains the dominant launch provider in the United States, competition in the heavy-lift segment is increasing. Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is testing its New Glenn rocket, with another flight planned for late February. New Glenn has already carried a NASA payload into orbit, providing the agency with an additional launch option.
