Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, turning the Starship Flight 12 webcast into a sudden pop-culture moment.

The rapper appeared during Thursday’s live broadcast as SpaceX prepared to launch its redesigned Starship V3 rocket. During the stream, Minaj gave Elon Musk a short message of praise that quickly started circulating online.

“Elon, thank you for everything you are doing for humanity,” Minaj said, while also encouraging her Barbz fanbase to watch a SpaceX launch.

The moment caught viewers by surprise, with many reacting to the unlikely crossover between one of rap’s biggest fanbases and Musk’s space program. Some users welcomed Minaj to Starbase, while others joked about the sudden collision of pop culture and interplanetary ambition.

However, the launch itself did not go as planned. SpaceX called off Starship Flight 12 in the final minute before liftoff because of a technical issue, with reports identifying a hydraulic pin problem involving the launch tower. The company later aimed for another attempt on Friday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

“New rocket, new pad, we’re learning a lot about these new systems as we execute them for the first time,” SpaceX commentator Dan Huot said during the broadcast, adding that the team expected to make another attempt the next day.

The test flight was meant to mark the debut of SpaceX’s third-generation Starship vehicle, a larger and more powerful version of the rocket system the company hopes will eventually support missions to the Moon and Mars. The V3 Starship is central to SpaceX’s long-term plans, including full reusability, in-space refueling, Starlink satellite deployment and future crewed missions beyond Earth orbit.

Minaj’s appearance also comes as her public comments continue to draw attention outside music. In recent months, the rapper has been increasingly vocal online about political and social issues, leading to wider debate among fans over her public alignment with figures like Musk and Donald Trump.