So, you’re looking for the starship launch today and keep refreshing your feed? I get it. We’ve all been there, sitting with a dozen browser tabs open, waiting for that silver beast in South Texas to do something spectacular.
Here is the straight talk: There is no Starship launch scheduled for today, January 16, 2026. I know, it’s a bit of a bummer. But before you close this page, there is actually a lot happening at Starbase right now that explains why the countdown hasn't hit zero yet. If you see people talking about a "SpaceX launch today," they are actually talking about the Falcon 9 NROL-105 mission, which is slated to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 8:18 PM PST. It’s a cool mission—a top-secret government spy satellite—but it’s not the 400-foot-tall mega-rocket you’re likely hunting for.
What is actually going on with Starship Flight 12?
The space community is basically vibrating with anticipation for Flight 12. As of mid-January 2026, the current status is "wet dress rehearsals and stacking."
SpaceX recently finished stacking the Super Heavy booster for this flight, and Elon Musk’s teams are currently running through the grueling gauntlet of static fires and pressure tests. Most industry insiders and launch trackers, like the folks over at NASASpaceFlight, are eyeing a launch window that opens in late February or early March 2026.
Why the wait? Well, Flight 12 isn't just another repeat.
This is the maiden flight of Starship V3.
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The "Version 3" factor
If you thought the previous ships were big, V3 is a whole different animal. It’s taller. It’s got more propellant capacity. Basically, they’ve stretched the tanks to give it the "oomph" needed to actually start carrying massive payloads, like the next generation of Starlink satellites that are too big for the Falcon 9.
"We are pushing the limits of the metallurgy here," one engineer recently noted in a Starbase update.
They aren't kidding. Stretching a rocket that's already the largest ever built is a structural nightmare. They’ve had to reinforce the "chopstick" arms on the Mechazilla tower to handle the extra weight of the V3 booster. If they launched today without those upgrades being 100% dialed in, we’d just see a very expensive fireworks display in Boca Chica.
Why the starship launch today rumor keeps spreading
It happens every time. A "Notice to Mariners" (NOTMAR) gets posted for the Gulf of Mexico, or a local road closure in Cameron County is announced, and suddenly the internet decides it's launch day.
Usually, these closures are for cryogenic proof testing.
Think of it like a stress test for a giant thermos. They fill the rocket with super-chilled liquid nitrogen to see if it pops. It’s loud, it’s cold, and it produces a lot of "venting" (that white cloud you see on the livestreams). To a casual observer, it looks exactly like a launch countdown. But it's just the homework SpaceX has to do before they can actually light the engines.
Recent milestones you might have missed:
- Booster 18 Stacking: Completed in early January.
- Ship 36 Heat Shield Upgrades: They are testing a new "ablative" material under the tiles to prevent the "burn through" issues we saw during Flight 9 and 10.
- FAA Licensing: The FAA is actually moving faster these days, but they still have to sign off on the specific environmental impact of the V3's increased thrust.
When should you actually tune in?
If you want to know the real time for the starship launch today (or whenever the big day actually arrives), you have to watch the "propellant load."
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Once you see the frost line start to climb up the side of the booster—usually about 45 minutes before T-zero—that’s when it’s getting real. SpaceX typically targets morning windows, often starting around 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM Central Time (CT), to maximize daylight for their tracking cameras.
Right now, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the Cameron County "Temporary Flight Restrictions" (TFRs). When you see a TFR that spans three consecutive days and covers "Space Launch," you’ll know we’re within 72 hours of liftoff.
Honestly, the wait is usually worth it. We’re moving toward a world where these things launch once a week. But for today, January 16, the pad is quiet, the engineers are crunching data, and the Falcon 9 is the only thing heading to the stars.
Your next steps for tracking the launch
Since the launch isn't happening this afternoon, here is how you can stay ahead of the curve so you don't miss the actual Flight 12 window:
- Check the Cameron County Road Closures: This is the most "honest" indicator of testing. If Highway 4 is open, nothing is launching.
- Watch for the Static Fire: SpaceX will fire all 33 Raptor engines on the pad about 7-10 days before the actual launch. Once that happens, the clock is ticking.
- Follow the FAA Dashboard: Look for the "Launch License" update for Starship V3. This is the final legal hurdle.
Instead of hunting for a launch time today, set your alerts for the Falcon 9 NROL-105 launch tonight at 8:18 PM PST—it’s the best show in town for the moment.