US Top News and Analysis | SpaceX readies 12th test flight of massive Starship rocket as IPO looms AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. SpaceX is gearing up for the 12th test flight of its massive Starship rocket, slated for Thursday, as a key milestone before the company’s anticipated IPO in June that could raise about $75 billion. The launch will debut Starship V3—a fully reusable vehicle designed to deliver 100 metric tons to orbit and enable rapid turnaround akin to commercial aviation—and will take place from a newly built pad at the Starbase facility in Texas. With a 90‑minute window opening at 6:30 p.m. ET, the test will carry mock Starlink satellites (no crew or cargo) and could be delayed by weather. The test is central to SpaceX’s growth strategy, which hinges on scaling Starship to increase launch cadence and payload capacity, supporting the expanding Starlink constellation that generated $11.4 billion in sales and 69 % of the company’s revenue in early 2025. Successful demonstration of Starship V3 is expected to bolster investor confidence ahead of the IPO, the proceeds of which could fund further development, including NASA’s Artemis IV lunar mission planned for early 2028. Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/21/spacex-plans-12th-test-flight-of-massive-starship-rocket-as-ipo-looms.html #SpaceX #ElonMusk #Starlink #StarshipV3 #Starbase