The Daily Broadcast: Starship's Big Comeback Looms as Congress Debates Space Budgets

The Daily Broadcast: Starship’s Big Comeback Looms as Congress Debates Space Budgets

A Crucial Week for SpaceX, NASA, and U.S. Space Ambitions

This week promises to be a pivotal one for American space policy. SpaceX is preparing for its next major Starship test flight, Congress is preparing to debate the Trump Administration’s dramatically expanded defence and space budgets, and NASA’s funding prospects remain uncertain amid the broader budget battles.

Starship V3 Steps Into the Spotlight

The most anticipated event is SpaceX’s 12th Integrated Flight Test (IFT-12) of Starship, which could launch as soon as Friday, May 15. This will be the first flight of the redesigned Version 3 (V3) Super Heavy booster and Starship with upgraded Raptor engines and other significant modifications. On May 9, SpaceX posted photos on social media showing the V3 Super Heavy booster and Starship together at the Starbase launch pad for the first time—a milestone that underscores the company’s progress.

However, timing remains uncertain. The article notes that yesterday’s Wet Dress Rehearsal was aborted, which may delay Friday’s planned launch window. Whenever IFT-12 does lift off, it carries enormous pressure. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is determined to land American astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028—before the current presidential term ends and before China reaches the Moon. Starship’s Human Landing System (HLS) version is crucial to Artemis III, which is scheduled to perform docking tests in Earth orbit with both SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK2 next year. According to a recent Bloomberg podcast, Isaacman expressed confidence that both systems will be ready by 2027.

Cargo Missions and Congressional Action

Routine operations continue alongside the Starship excitement. SpaceX is scheduled to launch a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station tomorrow evening, May 12, at 7:16 pm ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This is the company’s 34th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-34) mission, with a pre-launch media teleconference today at 11:00 am ET. If launch proceeds on schedule, the Cargo Dragon will dock with the ISS on Thursday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Congress returns from recess this week with major budget hearings on the agenda. On Tuesday, both the House and Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittees will hold hearings on the Department of Defense’s FY2027 budget request—a record $1.5 trillion, up from the previous record of $1 trillion in FY2026. The Trump Administration is requesting $71 billion for the U.S. Space Force in FY2027, more than a 75% increase from the $40 billion allocated for FY2026.

NASA’s funding picture is less robust. The House Appropriations Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee—which funds NASA—has proposed $6 billion for NASA science in FY2027, down from the $7.3 billion the agency received in FY2026. Although this is higher than the Administration’s requested $3.9 billion, it still represents a significant cut. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to markup the bill on Wednesday, May 13, at 11:00 am ET. Democrats on the subcommittee opposed the cuts to science funding at NASA and other agencies, though the subcommittee’s approval came on party lines.

The budget dynamics are complicated by the Administration’s plan to use reconciliation—a legislative process requiring only a simple majority in the Senate—to fund portions of defence spending. The concern among some Republicans is that a third reconciliation bill in one Congress is unprecedented and may face internal resistance, particularly as appropriators navigate other competing priorities and potential supplemental spending for ongoing military operations.

It’s a week where rocket science and budget politics collide, and both outcomes will shape the trajectory of American space exploration for years to come.

Citations

“What’s Happening in Space Policy May 9-16, 2026” – https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-happening-in-space-policy-may-9-16-2026/

NROL-172

Provider: SpaceX
Date: May 12, 2026
Time: 2:13 AM UTC
Vehicle: Falcon 9

Thirteenth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office to provide imaging and other reconnaissance capabilities.

Unknown Payload

Provider: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Date: May 12, 2026
Time: 11:55 AM UTC
Vehicle: Long March 6A

Details TBD.

Dragon CRS-2 SpX-34

Provider: SpaceX
Date: May 12, 2026
Time: 11:16 PM UTC
Vehicle: Falcon 9

34th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. The flight will be conducted under the second Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.

Cargo Dragon 2 brings supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations that occur onboard the orbiting laboratory.