Along the southern tip of Texas’ coast, SpaceX’s sprawling Starbase has been bustling as plans commence to launch the world’s largest rocket once again from the site.
It’s been months since the behemoth known as Starship has thundered into the skies over South Texas, but activity has ramped up in recent weeks as billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket company readies a next-generation prototype. Leading up to the launch of the largest version of the rocket SpaceX has ever built, the company has put Starship through its paces at Starbase, conducting a series of preflight tests to ensure it’s ready to once again lift off.
That’s great news for spectators and SpaceX fans eager to see Starship launch for just the 12th time ever since April 2023.
Want a front-row seat to the launch? The closest you’re likely to get is a popular nearby locale known as South Padre Island.
Here’s where you can watch SpaceX conduct its next Starship flight test from Starbase, Texas, as well as what to expect for a mission referred to as flight 12.
When is the next Starship launch? SpaceX delays flight 12 a day
SpaceX announced that the launch window for Starship’s 12th flight test now opens at 6:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 20.
The new target date comes after SpaceX had originally indicated that it was working toward a May 19 launch of the world’s largest rocket. No reason was given for the delay.
Where does Starship launch in Texas? What to know about Starbase
As it has since its maiden launch in April 2023, Starship will once again get off the ground from SpaceX’s Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas. Starbase is located close to he U.S.-Mexico border near the well-known Boca Chica Beach, about 180 miles south of Corpus Christi.
In May 2025, Texas voters in Cameron County – most of whom are SpaceX employees – approved a measure to officially recognize the company’s headquarters as its own town, complete with a mayor and city commissioners.
Where in Texas can you watch Starship launch? What to know about South Padre Island
While Starbase isn’t open to outsiders for launch-viewing, a nearby location has become a famous spot for Texans and space enthusiasts to watch Starship get off the ground.
Isla Blanca Park, 33174 State Park Road 100, is located on the southernmost tip of the resort town South Padre Island on the southern Texas coast. With more than a mile of beaches, the park reliably attracts sizable crowds anytime Starship is due for its latest flight test.
The city of Starbase also recommends the nearby city of Port Isabel to the north as a place to view SpaceX launches.
What is Starship? World’s largest rocket bound for moon, Mars
Standing at more than 400 feet tall when fully stacked, Starship is regarded as the world’s largest and most powerful rocket.
SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions.
In the years ahead, a lunar lander configuration of Starship will be critical to NASA’s ambitions of returning astronauts to the moon under its Artemis program. Musk additionally dreams of sending humans aboard Starship to colonize Mars.
Closer to home, Starship is designed to carry larger versions of the company’s Starlink internet satellites and other payloads to Earth orbit.
See photos of Starship rocket launches
What is flight 12? SpaceX to debut Version 3 (V3) of Starship
At 407-feet tall, the next-generation Starship due to launch will be the largest version of the vehicle SpaceX has ever built. If all goes to plan, that prototype, known as Version 3 (V3,) will be the one to reach orbit and be capable of refueling midflight – a capability that will allow for distant missions into space.
Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. Powered by 33 of SpaceX’s Raptor-class engines, the booster provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, while the vehicle is where the crew and cargo would ride in orbit after the stages separate.
The main objective of the flight test, as SpaceX explained online, is simply to test both new pieces of hardware “in the flight environment for the first time.”
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: SpaceX prepares Starship for flight 12. Where to see the Texas launch
Reporting by Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY NETWORK / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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