SpaceX’s Starship plans at Kennedy Space Center can move forward after the FAA released its final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.

The launch date had been up in the air after the rocket's booster stage suffered an explosion during testing in November.

SpaceX's Starship, the world's largest rocket, has inspired several Chinese companies to develop similar spacecraft designs.

The first Starship test flight of 2026 is scheduled for as soon as early March as SpaceX enters a critical year in the vehicle’s development.

SpaceX is making steady progress toward building out the pad at NASA’s Cape Canaveral site in Florida for the first Starship launch from the Space Coast. On Tuesday, SpaceX installed the Ship Quick Disconnect (QD) arm on the launch tower at Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A).

SpaceX is set to push the boundaries of space exploration with the upcoming debut of its most ambitious version of Starship yet. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), CEO Elon Musk revealed that the company plans to conduct the 12th test flight of the Starship rocket as soon as early March 2026.

SpaceX is considering a potential merger with Tesla Inc., as well as an alternative combination with artificial intelligence firm xAI, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign billionaire Elon Musk is weighing how to consolidate his empire.

Flight 12 will try to extend that run of success while also breaking in the new "Version 3" of Starship. Among other modifications, this variant is a bit taller than its predecessors and will also be the first to employ SpaceX's new Raptor 3 engine.

Watch how a SpaceX Starship and its Super Heavy booster launches in slow motion and the flight in real-time. Also the Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly in slow motion. Footage courtesy SpaceX | mash mix by Space.