SpaceX has pushed its Starship V3 launch to May 21 evening, delaying the highly anticipated test flight amid an OSHA investigation into a contractor's death at Starbase. The incident occurred the same day the launch was originally scheduled, raising questions about safety protocols at the Texas facility.

The upcoming flight marks the 12th Starship test and the first for the V3 variant, which stands 407 feet tall and aims to carry over 100 metric tons to orbit. Most previous tests ended in explosions, though recent flights showed improved reliability. This suborbital demonstration will validate new hardware before attempting orbital missions.

NASA plans to use Starship for lunar landings as early as 2028, making this test critical for the agency's moon mission timeline. A federal watchdog report warned the program lags behind schedule, with SpaceX yet to prove safe astronaut lunar returns. The launch outcome also impacts SpaceX's rumored IPO, potentially valued at $1.75 trillion, which would become the largest public offering ever.

The delay reflects broader concerns about balancing rapid development with worker safety as SpaceX scales operations for its ambitious Mars colonization goals.