SpaceX President Revealed New Schedule for Starship Flight 12! No Launch Until…

Well, I've gotta say, that's very disappointing news. It appears we have to wait a bit longer for Flight 12. A recent update from Gwynne Shotwell suggests the next launch may not happen as soon as many had hoped. So what's causing the delay? Meanwhile, the operational life of the ISS has been extended, allowing humanity's largest laboratory in space to Back on Earth, SpaceX has launched another mission, one that created a stunning display across the night sky. What happened, and what could it mean for the future of spaceflight? Let's take a closer look in today's episode of Great SpaceX. People, we are now in March, and at the current pace, the chances of seeing Flight 12 launch this month appear very small. Much of the uncertainty is related to the progress of and the timeline for FCC certification. The schedule has already shifted several times. Flight 12 was previously expected to launch in January, but that plan changed after the B-18 incident. Later, at the end of January, Musk said that the flight could occur within six weeks, pointing to an early March target. In February, following the water deluge test at Pad 2, he again suggested the next launch could take place the following month. More recently, an update attributed to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell has circulated, though the original source remains unclear. According to that report, the next Starship launch, Flight 12, may be about four to six weeks away. If that estimate was made in early March, it would place the launch in early to mid-April within the early portion of the Federal Communications Commission's published launch period. If Flight 12 launches in April, it would occur roughly six months after Flight 11 last October. Preparation work on the launch infrastructure appears to be progressing. The launch pad has undergone major testing, including a full water deluge test designed to protect the structure from the heat and force of liftoff. SpaceX has also tested key systems such as the mechanical chopsticks designed to catch the booster and the quick-disconnect arms used for both the booster and the ship. The booster assigned to the mission has also advanced through testing. B-19 has completed its cryogenic test, a procedure in which extremely cold propellants are loaded into the tanks to verify structural integrity and plumbing systems. The booster is currently inside Megabay 1 receiving its engines. If progress continues, it could roll out for a static fire test around mid-month during which the engines ignite while the vehicle remains secured to the launch mount. After that test, the booster would return to Megabay for final inspections before launch. Progress on the upper stage has been slower. S-39 is undergoing cryogenic testing after arriving at the Massey test site near the end of February. Recent updates indicate that it has completed its fourth overall test and its third cryogenic loading test. Current estimates suggest S-39 may return to the production site between March 8th and the 10th. Once there, engineers would inspect the vehicle and install its engines, a process that could take more than a week. The ship would then likely return to the Massey site for additional testing later in March. If those tests are completed successfully, the ship would travel back to Megabay for further inspections and final integration work. At that stage, engineers would install payload components and the flight termination system, a safety system that allows controllers to destroy the rocket if it deviates from its planned trajectory. Installation and verification of the FTS typically requires about a week. Based on this sequence of steps, S-39 may not reach the launch pad until early April. At the same time, the broader development schedule for Starship remains tied to future missions. SpaceX is developing an HLS version or Human Landing System version of Starship for NASA's Artemis program. This effort requires demonstrating capabilities such as orbital refueling, long-duration spacecraft operations, and docking procedures in orbit. Current plans include a docking demonstration later in the decade followed by lunar landing missions that would require multiple Starship vehicles. A successful Flight 12 would support continued development and testing of the system. So what do you think about this possible new schedule for Flight 12? If you believe the delay is reasonable and necessary to ensure a successful flight, respond with 1. If you think SpaceX should launch sooner and maintain a faster testing pace, respond with 2. And don't forget to like the video and subscribe to the channel to keep following SpaceX's development journey. While the debate over timing continues, the hardware itself is racing ahead. Flight 13 is already nearing completion. Construction began in February, and by March, many major components had already entered final assembling. For the booster, the first sections of B-20 arrived at the production site in early February. By mid-month, the aft section, the lower structure that houses the engines, was moved into Megabay 1. The arrival of the aft section typically marks the beginning of final assembly when engines, plumbing, and other systems are installed. Work on the upper stage is also progressing. On March 2, the aft section of Ship 40, the final structural segment of the vehicle, was delivered to Megabay 2. This section contains internal plumbing used to route propellants through the ship. On March 3, technicians installed the large methane and oxygen pipes inside the vehicle. These pipes carry super-cold propellants from the tanks to the engines. Later that night, and into the morning of the 4th, the aft flaps were installed. These are large aerodynamic control surfaces mounted near the base of Starship that help guide and stabilize the vehicle during atmospheric re-entry. Based on current progress, the booster and ship for Flight 13 could be ready by the middle or toward the end of March. If Flight 12 launches successfully, the next vehicle could already be approaching rollout while final preparations for the earlier flight are completed. Under those conditions, SpaceX could begin increasing the launch cadence as production and testing continue to improve. A faster cadence would support continued development of the Starship system. And with Starship's pace accelerating, attention now turns to another frontier in spaceflight, the International Space Station. NASA has planned to retire the station and safely deorbit it around the end of the decade. However, that timeline may now change. A new bill from the Senate Commerce Committee proposes extending the ISS's operational life by two years. Instead of retiring around late 2030, the station could continue operating until late 2032. The proposed extension is linked to delays in the program intended to replace the ISS. NASA is working with private companies to develop new orbital platforms through the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations Program, or CLD for short. The objective is to transition from a government-owned station to commercially operated stations where NASA purchases services. However, progress in the program has been slower than expected. According to the bill, NASA has repeatedly delayed the release of a request for proposals for the next phase of commercial station development. The bill states, NASA has repeatedly delayed the release of a request for proposals for sustained commercial low earth orbit services, and such delays coupled with shifting environments and inconsistent programmatic direction have introduced substantial uncertainty into the development planning, financing, workforce scaling, and infrastructure investment decisions of commercial providers. It continues, as a result of such uncertainty and delayed procurement action, commercial providers have been unable to scale development and private investment at a pace aligned with NASA's previously articulated objective of deorbiting the ISS in or around 2030. Because of these delays, the bill proposes maintaining ISS operations while commercial stations continue development. Under the proposal, NASA would continue current station operations, including astronaut rotations, cargo missions, and research activities. The bill also instructs NASA not to begin transitioning away from the ISS until at least one commercial replacement station is operational in orbit. In addition, NASA would be directed to select at least two companies for the next phase of the CLD program. Extending ISS operations would require continued support missions to supply the station and transport crews. At present, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is the primary vehicle carrying astronauts to the ISS, and additional missions would likely be required if the station remains operational beyond 2030. Other spacecraft under development, such as Sierra Space's Dream Chaser cargo vehicle and Boeing's Starliner capsule, could also support station operations. The ISS program involves multiple international partners, including the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. Extending operations would require continued participation from these partners. Meanwhile, development of commercial space stations is ongoing. Several companies are working on proposed platforms intended to operate in low-Earth orbit after the ISS retires. Projects currently in development include Vast's Haven Station, Axiom Station, Starlab, and Orbital Reef. The proposed legislation indicates that the ISS may remain operational longer than previously planned while commercial stations continue development. What do you think about this possible extension of the ISS? Let's discuss in the comments. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues launching missions with its Falcon 9 rocket. On March 4th, at 5.52 a.m. Eastern, a Falcon 9 lifted off from Florida, carrying a new batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. During ascent, the rocket produced a striking visual effect in the sky. As the upper stage released exhaust high in the atmosphere, the expanding plume was illuminated by sunlight that had not yet reached the ground. The result was a glowing formation that many observers described as resembling a large jellyfish. Observers across parts of Florida reported seeing a bright, expanding cloud with a translucent glow. The rocket had already climbed high above the darker sky below, but its exhaust plume remained high enough to catch the rising sunlight. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a space jellyfish. It can occur during launches near dawn or dusk when the ground remains in darkness while the upper atmosphere is already illuminated. Exhaust released at high altitude spreads outward and reflects sunlight, creating visible shapes that can be seen from long distances. For Falcon 9, the upper stage burns propellants that produce exhaust composed primarily of water vapor and carbon dioxide. In the thin air of the upper atmosphere, this exhaust expands into large clouds that can reflect sunlight and create the visible effect. While the visual display attracted attention on the ground, the mission itself followed the standard Falcon 9 flight profile. The first stage of the rocket, Booster 1080, completed its 25th flight during this mission. After separating from the upper stage, the booster returned to Earth and landed on the drone ship, a shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. According to SpaceX, the landing marked the 580th successful rocket landing in the company's history. The mission delivered 29 additional Starlink satellites into orbit. These spacecraft will join the growing Starlink Constellation, a network designed to provide broadband internet service globally. The launch also reflects SpaceX's high flight cadence. The March 4 mission was the company's 28th launch of the year, with 23 of those flights dedicated to Starlink deployments. Across its history, SpaceX has now conducted more than 600 launches as it continues expanding its launch operations and satellite network. And that brings us to the end of today's episode. Thank you so much for tuning in. As always, this has been Kevin from GreatSpaceX. Until next time, keep looking up!