SpaceX is about to launch tallest and most powerful rocket in history
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- SpaceX plans to launch the 12th Starship test flight as early as 19 May, using version 3 models of both Super Heavy and Starship.
- Starship will stand 124 m tall, exceeding the 98 m SLS and 111 m Saturn V, making it the tallest launch vehicle ever.
- Super Heavy will have three grid fins, each 50 % larger than the previous four‑fin configuration.
- Starship adds a larger propellant tank, in‑orbit refuelling equipment, and upgraded heat‑shield tiles for atmospheric re‑entry.
- NASA has selected SpaceX’s Starship as one of two commercial lunar landers for Artemis, alongside Blue Origin’s design.
Why it matters: SpaceX's 124 m Starship, slated for a 19 May launch, will give NASA a heavier‑lift lunar lander for Artemis, reinforcing the agency’s 2028 moon‑return goal and expanding SpaceX’s role in deep‑space launch markets.
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