SpaceX Scrubs Starship Launch As $2 Trillion IPO Nears

InnovationScienceSpaceX Scrubs Starship Launch As $2 Trillion IPO NearsByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 22, 2026, 05:11am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.The SpaceX Starship V3 is seen docked at on a launch pad at Starbase on May 21, 2026 in Boca Chica Beach, Texas. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s reusable rocket company has spent more than $15 billion on its Starship program, according to filings tied to its initial public offering (IPO) on the U.S. stock market. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)Getty ImagesSpaceX has scrubbed a launch attempt for the latest version of its Starship launch system. It will now target Friday evening for a launch from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. The mission, Starship Flight 12, is now scheduled to launch during a 90-minute window opening at 6:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 22.It was postponed seconds before launch on Thursday, May 21. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, commented on X that, “the hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract.”The flight will mark the first launch of Starship V3, upgraded versions of both the Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy booster. Starship V3 is the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built, but investors will be watching to see how it performs ahead of SpaceX’s IPO in June, announced on Wednesday, May 20. SpaceX’s IPO valuation could reach a record-breaking $1.75 to $2 trillion, according to multiple reports.When Will Space Starship Launch?The launch window opens at 6:30 p.m. EDT (local time 5:30 p.m. CDT) on Friday, May 22, from SpaceX’s newly upgraded launch pad at Starbase. Launch timing remains subject to technical checks and weather conditions, meaning delays are possible.The launch will be streamed live on SpaceX.com, YouTube and...