FAQ
- When next launch? (Flight 12) NET 2026-03-08. (Elon)
- When previous launch? (Flight 11) Starship flight 11 launched on 2025-10-13 at 23:23 UTC.
- What was the result? All mission objectives fulfilled. Ship performs successful landing burn and splashdown, despite intentional missing tiles on heatshield. Second successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested a 13-5-3 engine landing profile.
Previous Flights
Click to expand
- Flight 1: S24 and B7. First full stack launch, RUD before stage separation.
- Flight 2: S25 and B9. Successful stage separation, booster RUD during boostback burn, ship RUD shortly prior to scheduled SECO.
- Flight 3: S28 and B10. Booster performs a successful boostback burn, but experiences RUD during landing burn. Ship makes it past SECO, but loses attitude control and is destroyed on reentry.
- Flight 4: S29 and B11. First successful booster water landing. Ship survives reentry despite burn-through on forward flap, and performs a successful water landing.
- Flight 5: S30 and B12. First booster catch with chopsticks. Ship performs successful water landing.
- Flight 6: S31 and B13. Booster offshore divert due to damage to catch tower during launch. Ship performs successful water landing.
- Flight 7: S33 and B14-1. First V2 Ship launch. Harmonic oscillation on ship causes RUD before SECO. Booster is caught by chopsticks.
- Flight 8: S34 and B15-1. Engine failure on ship causes RUD before SECO. Booster is caught by chopsticks.
- Flight 9: S35 and B14-2. First booster reflight. Ship makes it past SECO, but loses attitude control and is destroyed on reentry. Booster RUD upon landing burn startup prior to planned splashdown.
- Flight 10: S37 and B16. All mission objectives fulfilled. First V2 ship to make it through reentry to landing burn and splashdown. First successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested landing without one centre engine, using an engine on the middle ring to compensate.
- Flight 11: S38 and B15-2. All mission objectives fulfilled. Ship performs successful landing burn and splashdown, despite intentional missing tiles on heatshield. Second successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested a 13-5-3 engine landing profile.
Quick Links
Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live
Starship Dev February | Starship Dev January | Starship Dev December | Starship Dev November | Starship Dev October | Starship Dev September
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Road closures, road delays, and beach closures
Vehicle Status
*As of 2026-03-02
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S39 (Ship v3 SN1) | Massey’s | Fully stacked, remaining work ongoing | August 16th: Stacking started. November 15th: Aft section AX:4 moved into MB2 and stacked with the rest of S39 - this completes the stacking part of the ship construction. January 19th: First aft flap installed. January 20th: Second aft flap installed. February 26th: Rolled out to Massey’s on the old, repaired and upgraded Static Fire Test Stand (but only for a basic cryo test and other work, thrust puck testing will presumably come later on the new cryo stand). February 28th: Ambient Pressure Test and, later in the day, a Cryo Test. |
| S40 | Mega Bay 2 | Stacking | November 12th: Nosecone stacked onto Payload Bay. January 31st: Pez Dispenser (on its stand) moved into MB2. February 1st: Nosecone + Payload Bay stack moved from Starfactory and into MB2. February 4th: Forward dome section FX:4 moved into MB2 and attached to the nosecone + payload bay stack for a dual lift onto the welding turntable. February 12th: Common dome section CX:3 moved into MB2. February 17th: Section A2:3 moved into MB2. February 21st: Section A3:4 was moved into MB2. February 22nd: Transfer Tubes moved into MB2. March 2nd: Aft section AX:4 moved into MB2, once welded in place this will complete the portion of the assembly process that is the stacking of the ship. |
| S41 to S46 | Starfactory | Nosecones under construction plus tiling | January 19th: Photos of nosecones inside the Starfactory (note that S44 isn’t visible because it’s been moved elsewhere). January 28th: Latest photos of the nosecones |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B19 | Pad 2 | Preparation for static fire testing | November 25th: LOX tank stacking commenced. December 23rd: The booster is now fully stacked. February 1st: Rolled out to Massey’s Test Site for its Pressure and Cryo + Thrust Puck Testing. Later that day, B19 underwent Ambient Pressure Testing. February 2nd: partial cryo load of the LOX tank. February 4th: Full cryo load of both tanks. February 6th: More cryo testing, plenty of venting.. February 7th: Even more cryo testing. February 9th: Rolled back to MB2. |
| B20 | Mega Bay 1 | LOX Tank Stacking | February 5th: LOX tank section A2:4 moved into MB1. February 6th: Common Dome section CX:3 moved into MB1. February 9th: LOX tank section A3:4 moved into MB1. February 12th: LOX tank section A4:4 moved into MB1. |
| B21-B22 | Starfactory | Assorted sections under construction | August 12th: B19 AFT #6 spotted. Booster Status as of November 16th: https://x.com/CyberguruG8073/status/1990124100317049319. November 21st: After B18’s failure, Mark Federschmidt (one of the members of the Starship booster team) made some tweets which mentioned B19 to B22 being under construction (meaning sections inside the Starfactory). |
Resources
- LabPadre Channel | NASASpaceFlight.com Channel
- NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread
- NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation
- SpaceX: Website Starship page | Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)
- FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
- FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list
- NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)
- Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
- Production Progress Infographics by @RingWatchers
- Raptor Tracker by @SpaceRhin0
- Acronym definitions by Decronym
- Tim Dodd: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- Tim Dodd: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates | Launch Tower | Merlin Engine | Raptor Engine
- Tim Dodd 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: Starfactory tour | Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview
- Tim Dodd 2025 pre-Flight-9 Elon interview
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2026-03-15:
- Pad 2 and B19: Testing continues. (NSF full livestream, NSF timelapse, ViX timelapse)
- LOX booster quick disconnect door is closed, as are both blast doors of the ground support equipment bunker. (ViX)
- Pad is clear, detonation suppression system is tested. (Avid Space)
- Road is closed. (Avid Space 1, Avid Space 2)
- Propellant loading begins. (Avid Space 1, Avid Space 2, TrackingTheSB 1, TrackingTheSB 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, Sorensen)
- B19 performs an igniter test. (NSF, Avid Space, TrackingTheSB 1, TrackingTheSB 2, Golden)
- B19 detanking. (Avid Space)
- Beach closures remain posted for Mar 16th through 18th, from 08:00 to 20:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX, TrackingTheSB)
- Massey’s Mar 13th addendum: Six of the tension rods were added to the structure which test tank S39.1 is resting on. (ViX)
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters KSC Kennedy Space Center, Florida LC-39A Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy) LOX Liquid Oxygen NSF NasaSpaceFlight forum ~ National Science Foundation SLC-37 Space Launch Complex 37, Canaveral (ULA Delta IV) ULA United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture) Jargon Definition Raptor Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX iron waffle Compact “waffle-iron” aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large; also, “grid fin”
[Thread #0 for this comm, first seen 15th Mar 2026, 06:55] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
2026-03-13:
- Launch site: B19 is removed from the launch mount and placed on the transport stand. (NSF 1, NSF 2, Avid Space, cnunez 1, cnunez 2)
- Beach closures are posted for Mar 15th through 18th, from 08:00 to 20:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX, StarshipGazer)
- Crews are observed working in B19’s engine bay area. (TrackingTheSB)
- Build site: B20’s methane transfer tube arrives outside Megabay 1. (ViX)
- Massey’s: Road closure for “Masseys to Production” is posted for Mar 13th 23:59 to Mar 14th 04:00. (ViX)
- Florida: The final two tower sections (module 2 and module 4) for the first tower at SLC-37 are rolled out. (rocketjunkie94, NSF, Pike)
- Gigabay construction continues. (Shockwave130524)
2026-03-14:
- Launch site: B19 raptor covers are removed. (ViX)
- B19 is placed back on the Pad 2 launch mount. (NSF 1, NSF 2, Avid Space, ViX, colleenliedtke)
- Both quick disconnects attach to B19. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- The chopsticks release B19 and rise up the tower. The ship quick disconnect arm swings in towards B19. (ViX, wvmattz)
- The booster transport stand moves away from Pad 2. (ViX)
- More steel is delivered to Pad 1, presumably for the ground support equipment bunker. (ViX, sparkyinfinity)
- Build site: B20’s methane transfer tube enters Megabay 1 and is raised vertical. (ViX, TrackingTheSB)
- McGregor: R3.129 (new highest) is observed. (Rhin0)
2026-03-12:
- Pad 2 and B19: No testing on Mar 12th.
- ViX posts videos of Mar 11th testing. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Mar 12th and 13th road closures stay posted for a while, but are eventually removed. (ViX, starbase.texas.gov, archive)
- The chopsticks close around B19 and the transport stand moves back towards the pad. (ViX, ViX, Sorensen, efraser77 1, efraser77 2, Killip)
- Build site: Overnight, B20’s methane landing tank and lower transfer tube are from Starfactory to Megabay, followed by the refurbished top of test tank B18.3, and then B20’s A6:4 section. (ViX)
- McGregor: R3.128 (new highest) is observed. (Rhin0)
- Florida: Gigabay construction continues. (Bergeron)
2026-03-11:
- Build site: S40 has had an aft flap installed. (Avid Space)
- Mar 9th/10th addendum: The first cladding panel support frames were installed on the road-facing side of Gigabay. (ViX)
- Pad 2 and B19 testing: NSF full livestream.
- Ground support equipment bunker doors are closed, pad is cleared. (ViX)
- Partial road closure. (ViX)
- B19’s engines are purged individually, then simultaneously. (ViX, Avid Space, NSF 1, NSF 2)
- Crew lift departs the launch site, road is fully closed. (ViX, Avid Space, NSF)
- Tank farm venting. (TrackingTheSB, ViX, rocketjunkie94)
- Road closure is extended to 23:00. (ViX)
- Propellant loading begins. (Avid Space, TrackingTheSB)
- Grid fins are tested. (TrackingTheSB)
- Methane loading begins. (Avid Space, NSF)
- Possible spin prime. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
- Detanking. (Avid Space, TrackingTheSB)
- Road is opened. (rocketjunkie94)
- Beach closure are still listed for Mar 12th and 13th, from 08:00 to 20:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
- Brownsville Port: SpaceX seek to acquire a 50-year lease on an 83-acre plot on the south side of the Port of Brownsville for constructing a heavy duty dock. The dock would reduce the duration of Highway 4 closure during a vehicle transport to the port. (Anderson 1, Port of Brownsville, Anderson 2 (diagram), Anderson 3)
- McGregor: R3.124 (new highest) is observed. (Rhin0)
2026-03-10:
- Pad 2 B19 testing: NSF full livestream.
- The booster quick disconnect doors and the ground support equipment doors are shut, pad is cleared. (ViX)
- Tank farm conditioning begins. (ViX)
- Road is closed. (rocketjunkie94)
- Tank farm and B19 venting are observed. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- LOX load begins. (Avid Space, rocketjunkie94)
- Full load on LOX tank, partial load on methane tank. (ViX)
- The detonation suppression system is tested. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
- Venting from the new pipe on the underside of the launch mount was observed, possibly correlated with engine venting. (ViX)
- Road is opened. (Avid Space)
- A fleet of cryo tankers arrive to refill the tank farm. (ViX)
- Chopsticks rise slightly and ship quick disconnect arm swings in. (ViX)
- More venting from B19 is observed. (TrackingTheSB)
- Propellant loading flow rate comparison between B19 on Pad 2 and B16 on Pad 1. (NSF)
- Beach closures are posted for Mar 12th and 13th, from 08:00 to 20:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Avid Space, ViX, StarshipGazer)
- McGregor: R3.82 is transported away from the testing area, following testing on the vertical stand. (Rhin0)
- Florida: Unloading of another set of tanks at the KSC Turn Basin is underway. (wvmattz)
- Another tower segment (likely module 3) rolls out to SLC-37. (wvmattz)
2026-03-09:
- Launch site: Overnight, the LR11000 crane is laid down. (ViX, efraser77)
- SpaceX on B19 preflight testing: “Over the coming days, we’ll conduct a series of tests to activate Pad 2 at Starbase, exercise new propellant loading operations, and operate a vehicle with new Raptor 3 engines installed for the first time” (SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2)
- The both booster quick disconnects perform extension and retraction tests. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Venting is observed from both of B19’s tanks. (Avid Space, ViX)
- Beach closure for the day is removed. Closures are still listed for 10th and 11th, from 08:00 to 20:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Avid Space, ViX)
- Venting is observed from B19’s methane tank, and the chopsticks release the booster. (Avid Space, ViX)
- B19’s grid fins are tested. (Avid Space, Mookafish, TrackingTheSB)
- Three tests of Pad 2’s detonation suppression system are observed. (ViX)
- Closeup photos of B19 and grid fins. (Gisler / House / ViX 1, Gisler / House / ViX 2, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Killip’s comments, TrackingTheSB)
- B19’s rudder fin appears to contain slanted steel panels, possibly to improve control authority during higher angle-of-attack reentry profiles. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2, Anderson 3, Anderson 4)
- Build site: A short section of transfer tube is delivered to Megabay 1, and a ring spreader jig us delivered to the ring yard. It is possible that these are to resurrect B18.3. (ViX)
- Another section of B20’s LOX tank (A5:4) is moved from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (Avid Space, ViX)
- Massey’s: S39.1 is lifted onto the old can crusher stand, and the can crusher “hat” is placed on top. (ViX 1, ViX 2, wvmattz)
- Florida: One set of tanks are offloaded onto trucks at Port Canaveral, and another set of tanks are inbound for the KSC Turn Basin. (NSF, Cornwell)
- Gigabay construction continues. (rbalephoto)
2026-03-06:
- Florida: Overnight, tower module 7 of 9 rolls out to SLC-37. (NSF)
- Launch site: Groundwork for expansion continues. (ViX / Gisler)
- Steel is delivered for the Pad 1 ground support equipment bunker. (Killip, ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Beach closures are posted for Mar 9th, 10th, and 11th, from 08:00 to 20:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Avid Space, ViX, StarshipGazer)
- Road delay for “Production to Pad” is posted for Mar 7th 23:59 to Mar 8th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Avid Space, ViX)
- Zack Golden posts a new episode of CSI Starbase: Did SpaceX Ignore 60 Years of NASA Launch Pad Research?
- Build site: A booster transport stand moves from Sanchez to near Megabay 1. (NSF, Avid Space, colleenliedtke)
- A ship stand moves from Megabay 2 towards Sanchez. S40 is revealed to now be on the centre work stand in Megabay 2. (ViX)
- Installation of white heat shield tiles on the leeward side of the S45 nose cone in Starfactory is observed. (StarshipGazer, Killip, CeaserG33)
- Massey’s: Overnight, S39 (SN1) performs an ambient-temperature pressure test. (ViX)
- Additional photos of S39. (ViX / Marcus House / Gisler)
- Road delay for “Masseys to Production” is posted for Mar 7th 23:59 to Mar 8th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
- McGregor: R3.10x was transported towards the testing area (Mar 5th addendum). (Rhin0)
- R3.108 is transported away from the testing area. (Rhin0)
2026-03-03:
- Florida: Overnight, tower module 5 of 9 rolls out to SLC-37. (NSF)
- Massey’s: Overnight, S39 (SN1) completes its 2nd cryo test. (NSF, Avid Space, ViX, Anderson)
- Movement of the S39.1 test tank is observed, suggesting testing is completed. (ViX)
- S39 (SN1) begins its 3rd cryo test. (wvmattz, cnunez, rocketjunkie94, TrackingTheSB)
- Build site: Both the methane and the LOX raceways are lifted up to the centre work stand in Megabay 2, suggesting upcoming movement of S40. (ViX)
- Launch site: Pad 2 chopsticks and quick disconnect arm are tested. (ViX)
- RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo (closeup) of the Pad 2 launch mount and flame deflector.
- McGregor: R3.122 and R3.123 leave the testing area. (Rhin0)
- R3.119 heads towards the testing area. (Rhin0)
- R3.108, R3.114, R3.113, and an unidentified engine are delivered. (Rhin0, NSF)
2026-03-04:
- Massey’s: S39 (SN1) completes its 3rd cryo test. Movement of test tank 39.1 back towards the testing area suggests that it might have further tests upcoming. (Avid Space, ViX 1, ViX 2, StarshipGazer, Priel, CeaserG33, RoughRidersShow, Cargile 1, Cargile 2, Schlang)
- Build site: In Megabay 2, the both aft flaps for S40 (SN2) are lifted and placed beside the centre work stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Florida: Gigabay construction continues. (NSF)
2026-03-05:
- Massey’s: The whiffletree load spreader is attached to and then removed from test tank 39.1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- S39 (SN1) forward and aft flaps are tested. (Avid Space)
- Build site: Gigabay construction continues. (Bergeron / Liedtke)
- Launch site: At Pad 2, the booster quick disconnects, hold-down clamp arm covers, and the chopsticks are tested. (ViX)
- McGregor: R3.121 and R3.107 are transported away from the testing area. (Rhin0 1, Rhin0 2)
- R3.82 is transported towards the testing area. (Rhin0)
- Florida: SpaceX propose construction of a 97.5 m tall communications tower south of LC-39A. (Caton)
- Another tower module (6 of 9) is transported towards SLC-37. (wvmattz)
2026-03-01:
- RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of the Pad 2 launch mount and S39 (SN1) at Massey’s.
- Massey’s: Overnight, S39 (SN1) performs its first cryo test. (ViX, Starship Gazer, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, TrackingTheSB, CeaserG33, cnunez)
- Build site: A booster common dome with capped vents moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1, potentially to be stacked with the undamaged section of B18.3. (ViX)
- Gigabay construction continues. (cnunez)
- Launch site: A new pipe is spotted on the underside of the Pad 2 launch mount. (ViX)
2026-03-02:
- Build site: S40 (SN2) aft section arrives arrives at Megabay 2. The pipes under the aft flap aerodynamic covers are already installed. (Avid Space, ViX, TrackingTheSB)
- Massey’s: Road to the site is closed, and S39 (SN1) begins its 2nd cryo test. (rocketjunkie94, efraser77, FelixSchlang, TrackingTheSB)
- Florida: Another tower module for SLC-37 is rolling out. Once rollout is completed, there will be approximately the top half of a tower will at the launch complex, staged for stacking. (rocketjunkie94, wvmattz, Alexphysics13)
2026-03-07:
- Flight 12: “Starship V3 first flight in about 4 weeks” (Elon)
- Massey’s: SpaceX confirm successful completion of S39 cryo tests, including “squeeze tests to mimic the forces of future ship catches”. (SpaceX)
- S39 aft flaps are closed. (TrackingTheSB)
- Road delay for “Masseys to Production” is updated to Mar 7th 23:59 to Mar 8th 06:00 (previously 04:00). (starbase.texas.gov, archive, TrackingTheSB)
- Build site: Grid fins have been installed on B19. (Avid Space, StarshipGazer, TrackingTheSB)
- The booster transport stand enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
- B19 exits Megabay 1, and is positioned for rollout. (Avid Space, cnunez, mymatrixplug)
- Launch site: Pad 2 chopsticks are lowered. (ViX)
- Florida: At LC-39A, the chopsticks are rotated, and the ship quick disconnect arm extension is lifted for installation on the tower. (Priel, wvmattz 1, wvmattz 2, TrackingTheSB)
- Gigabay construction continues. (Sorensen)
2026-03-08:
- Launch site: Overnight, B19 rolls out to Pad 2. (NSF, Avid Space 1, Avid Space 2, ViX, StarshipGazer, mymatrixplug, cnunez 1, cnunez 2 (gridfin closeup), NSF full livestream)
- B19 is lifted onto the launch mount. (NSF, Avid Space 1, Avid Space 2, Avid Space 3, ViX, StarshipGazer, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gomez)
- The booster has ten engines currently installed. (NSF, Avid Space 1, Avid Space 2, StarshipGazer, Rhin0, Anderson / Gisler, Killip 1, Killip 2, BingoBoca)
- Beach closures are still listed for Mar 9th, 10th, and 11th, from 08:00 to 20:00.
- Massey’s: S39 returns from Massey’s to Megabay 2 and is transferred from the cryo stand to a work stand. (NSF 1, NSF 2, ViX 1, ViX 2, DWaggerby)

