SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When next launch? (Flight 15) NET Nov 8th.
  2. When previous launch? (Flight 14) Starship Flight 14 (Starlink Group 31-1) launched on 2026-09-28.
  3. What was the result? B21 soft splashdown on target. S41 becomes the first ship to perform an orbital insertion burn. 26 Starlink v3 satellites are deployed. S41 performs a deorbit burn, followed by nominal ship reentry, landing burn, and splashdown.

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.
  • Flight 12: First V3 launch. Successful liftoff. Booster boostback burn is incomplete, and landing burn fails. Ship experiences an R-vac out shortly after stage separation, but limps to orbit on 5/6 engines. In-space raptor relight is cancelled, but payload deployment is nominal. Ship reentry, landing burn, and splashdown are nominal.
  • Fight 13: Successful liftoff and staging. B20 had a good boostback burn, but landing burn had insufficient engines. S40 performs perfectly, with nominal payload deploy and in-space raptor relight. Ship reentry, landing burn, are nominal, and S40 remains intact after splashdown.
  • Flight 14: B21 soft splashdown on target. S41 becomes the first ship to perform an orbital insertion burn. 26 Starlink v3 satellites are deployed. S41 performs a deorbit burn, followed by nominal ship reentry, landing burn, and splashdown.

Quick Links

Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live | afarTV Florida Gigabay Live

Starlink 31-1 (flight 14) | Starship Dev September | Starship Dev August | Flight 13 | Starship Dev July | Starship Dev June | Starship Dev May

2026-04-27 SpaceX Starship Update Video

Road closures, road delays, and beach closures

Vehicle Status

*As of 2026-10-13

Ship Location Status Comments
S39.1 (test tank) Massey’s Testing Returns from Massey’s Jul 26th. (NSF, ViX, TrackingTheSB) Rolls back out to Massey’s Oct 5th.
S40 Megabay 2 Post-flight inspections Stacking took place from Nov 12th through March 2nd. Cryo testing from May 3rd through May 6th. Engine testing Jun 24th through 26th. Launched Jul 24th. Returns to Megabay 2 Oct 12th.
S41 Pacific Ocean Destroyed April 17th: Pez Dispenser moved into MB2. April 20th: Nosecone+Payload Bay stack N:3 moved into MB2 and later that day lifted over the Pez Dispenser. Later that day the Pez Dispenser was installed. April 21st: Forward Dome section FX:4 moved into MB2. April 28th: Common Dome Section CX:3 moved into MB2. May 2nd: Section A2:3 moved into MB2. Cryo testing Jun 28th to Jul 6th. Static fired Aug 19th and 20th. FTS installed Sep 3rd. WDR Sep 24. Launched Sep 28th.
S42 Megabay 2 Pending engine installation Stacking began Jul 11th. Cryo tested Sep 3rd and 4th. Chopsticks testing Sep 11th and 12th.
S43 Megabay 2 Stacking Stacking began around Aug 19th.
S43.1 (test tank) Massey’s Testing
S44 Megabay 2 Stacking Stacking began Oct 2.
S45
Booster Location Status Comment
B18.1 Massey’s Testing
B18.3 Massey’s Testing
B20 Gulf of Mexico Destroyed Stacking took place from Feb 5th through Apr 30th. Cryo tested Jun 6th through Jun 8th. Launched July 24th.
B21 Gulf of Mexico Destroyed Stacking began Jun 4th, completed Jun 28th. Cryo testing Jul 17th through Jul 22nd. Static fired Aug 28th. FTS installed Sep 3rd. WDR Sep 24. Launched Sep 28th.
B22 Megabay 1 Pending engine installation Stacking started Jun 29th. Cryo tested Sep 9th.
B23 Megabay 1 Pending engine install or transport to Florida Stacking started around Aug 14th. Cryo testing Oct 13th through Oct 18th.
B24

Resources

  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    1·
    3 hours ago

    2026-10-23:

    • Production site: S45’s nosecone moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2 and is sleeved over the Pez dispenser mechanism. (Avid Space, ViX)
    • Gigabay (TX) flyover photo. (RGV Aerial)
    • The ship static fire stand has been moved back to the production site, and the booster lifting jig is raised in Megabay 1. The booster transport stand has arrived at Megabay 1. (RGV Aerial)
    • Pad 1: Installation of flame trench wall sections continues. (ViX, NSF, RGV Aerial)
    • The SpaceX LR11000 crane is lowered. (TrackingTheSB)
    • Pad 2: Road delay for “Production to Pad” is posted for Oct 24th from 02:00 to 06:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX 1, ViX 2)
    • Massey’s: S43 conducts its first cryo test. (TrackingTheSB, RGV Aerial, Blobifie)
    • Land clearing and road construction progress. (RGV Aerial)
    • Road delay for “Production to Masseys” is posted for Oct 24th 23:59 to Oct 25th 04:00.
    • Test tank S43.1 is still in the testing structure. (cnunez)
    • 444-acre data centre site: Flyover photos of construction progress. (RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2)
    • NASA Artemis Acceleration: (NASA full webcast)
    • Upgraded Raptor engines will be used for Starship Flight 15. (NSF)
    • Video of “Cabin 1” (test article for the Artemis III Starship) under construction in Starfactory. (NSF / NASA, interstellargw)
    • Artemis IV mission profile infographic. (NSF / NASA)
    • Overview of SpaceX Artemis development milestones. Booster catch, ship catch, Cabin 1 construction, and the first Starship launch from 39A are all scheduled for completion before the end of the year. (NSF / NASA)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    2026-10-22:

    • Massey’s: Overnight, S43 moves from Megabay 2 to Massey’s. (NSF, Avid Space, ViX, TrackingTheSB, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2, Blobifie 1, Blobifie 2)
    • Test tank 43.1 undergoes its 10th cryo test. (ViX)
    • Temporary flight restriction is posted for Oct 23rd through Nov 5th, likely for S42 static fire. (FAA, Avid Space, ViX)
    • S43 flap testing is observed. (ViX)
    • Test tank 39.1 undergoes its 17th test. S43 may have performed an ambient-temperature pressure test. (ViX)
    • Production site: The raceways and the aft flaps for S44 are lifted into position. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Blobifie)
    • Two bridge crane trolleys are delivered. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
    • The LR11000 that had previously been installing cladding on the exterior of the Gigabay (TX) has now relocated to the interior of the building. (ViX)
    • S45’s nosecone moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX, efraser77)
    • Pad 1: Launch mount leg 4 of 4 is lifted into place. (ViX)
    • Pad 2: Temporary flight restriction is posted for Oct 23rd through Nov 5th, likely for B22 static fire. (FAA, Avid Space, ViX)
    • The booster quick disconnects are tested. (ViX)
    • The hold-down clamps are tested. (ViX)
    • The deluge system is tested. (ViX, Blobifie)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    2026-10-21:

    • Pad 1: Launch mount leg 3 of 4 is lifted into place. (ViX)
    • Pad 2: Deluge system is tested. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2, RGV Aerial)
    • One of the booster quick disconnects is purged. (NSF, cnunez)
    • Production site: Recent flyover photo of the Gigabay (TX). (RGV Aerial)
    • Photo of the recently-installed bridge crane in the Gigabay (TX). (cnunez)
    • It appears that a piece of Pad 1’s original launch mount top deck will be put on display. (RGV Aerial)
    • S43 emerges from Megabay 2. (efraser77, Blobifie)
    • Massey’s: Road delay for “Production to Masseys” is posted for Oct 21st 23:59 to Oct 22nd 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
    • S43.1 begins another round of cryo testing. (efraser77)
    • McGregor: R3.273 headed towards the testing area the previous day. (raptors.ringwatchers)
    • R3.265 (R-vac) heads towards the testing area. Unlike other R-vac transports, this engine is oriented vertically. (raptors.ringwatchers)
    • R3.106 (R-vac) heads towards the testing area. (raptors.ringwatchers)
    • R3.274 returns from the testing area. (raptors.ringwatchers)
    • mcrs987 discovers two gasifier tests which occurred in October 2025. (mcrs987)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    2026-10-20:

    • Launch site: Overnight road delay for “Production to Pad” is cancelled. (NSF, ViX)
    • Pad 2 chopsticks testing is observed. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
    • Pad 2 deluge system is tested twice. (ViX 1, ViX 2, RoughRidersShow, NSF, Blobifie)
    • Production site: B24’s A2:4 section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
    • The ship transport stand leaves the ring yard and its place is taken by the thrust simulator stand. (ViX)
    • S44’s AX:4 section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX, Blobifie)
    • Flight 15: Confirmation that a ship catch attempt is planned. (Gomez, ViX, SpaceX)
    • Florida: Draft PEA has been submitted for the expansion Starship facilities at Roberts Road. Expansion would include the new Starship test stand area, payload processing facilities, manufacturing, and power systems. SpaceX also proposes to build a four-lane road directly from NASA Parkway to Roberts Road. (netspublic.grc.nasa.gov (PDF warning), Alexphysics13 1, Alexphysics13 2, Alexphysics13 3, Alexphysics13 4, Alexphysics13 5)
    • Newish Raptor thrust numbers are included. (mcrs987)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    4 days ago

    2026-10-19:

    • Launch site: The launch mount service structure is removed from the Pad 2 launch mount and stored near the D1 gate. (ViX)
    • Road delay for “Production to Pad” is updated, first for Oct 19th 23:59 to Oct 20th 04:00, then extended to 05:30. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
    • Production site: A Mammoet Megajack 800 is observed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, mammoet mega-jack-800)
    • McGregor: Demolition of the Roadster 2 testing facility (no longer “mystery tent”) begins. Future repurposing for Starship HLS testing seems unlikely. (Anderson, wvmattz, mcrs987)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    2026-10-18:

    • 444-acre data centre site: Recent flyover photo of construction progress. (RGV Aerial)
    • Massey’s: Overnight, B23 moves from Massey’s to Megabay 1. (ViX, RGV Aerial, Blobifie 1, Blobifie 2)
    • Recent flyover photo of land clearing and road construction progress. (RGV Aerial)
    • Production site: S44 is moved from the transfer tube installation jig to a work stand, and the jig is returned to Starfactory. (ViX)
    • A Raptor engine exits Starfactory and heads either into Megabay 1 or behind it. (ViX)
    • The horizontal transport frame is briefly observed in the ring yard. (ViX)
    • The pre-assembly skids used for assembling the pump farm are being adapted for the Pad 1 ground support equipment bunker. (Killip)
    • Pad 1: The yellow rented LR11000 crane is raised. (ViX)
    • Launch mount leg two of four is lifted into position. (ViX)
    • Pad 2: The launch mount service structure is removed from the Pad 2 launch mount. (NSF, efraser77, Blobifie)
    • Road delay for “Production to Pad” is posted for Oct 19th from 10:00 to 14:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
    • Starship HLS: “Cabin 1” test article to be completed in 2026 Q4, with aperations testing in 2027 Q1, and airlock demonstrations in Q2. First tanker launch in Q3, with the uncrewed lunar landing demo mission in Q4. (lewisknaggs42, ntrs.nasa.gov (PDF warning))
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    2026-10-17:

    • Production site: Decals have been applied to S44, and the ship has been transferred to the transfer tube installation jig. (ViX, Blobifie)
    • Massey’s: Land clearing and road construction progress is visible on recent Copernicus imagery. (Anderson)
    • Additional photos of S43.1’s crumpled nosecone. (Gisler / Anderson)
    • Road delay for “Masseys to Production” is listed for Oct 17th 23:59 to Oct 18th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    4·
    22 days ago

    2026-10-01:

    • Flight 15 and 16: “What boxes still need to be checked before Starship starts flying in Florida?” “We, uh, intend to do, um, at least one more launch from Starbase before our next launch out of the Cape.” (Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science and Dragon Programs, SpaceX)
    • “What is the status of 39A to support Starship?” “We’re through the main construction, beginning to step into acceptance testing and operational testing prior to activation.” (Julianna Scheiman)
    • Artemis III: “[What] is the plan to launch Starship from Florida for Artemis III? Would [Pad 39A] be preferred or might it go out of Texas?” “The primary mission with that you’re thinking of is Artemis III is from 39A, and we’ll be supporting propellant refilling flights from both [Texas and Florida], to my understanding.” (Julianna Scheiman)
    • Starbase/McGregor/Florida/Louisiana: No Starship development activities reported.

    Were all the cameras trained on the Falcon triple-header today?

  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    4·
    21 days ago

    2026-10-02:

    • Flight 14: Hotstaging videos are posted. (SpaceX)
    • Starlink deployment and ship engine bay photos. (SpaceX)
    • Flight 15: The FCC licence (not FAA) has been granted as of Sep 30th. (Thanks, Straumli_Blight)
    • Production site: Two more sea level engines were removed from Megabay 2, bringing the total number of engines in the building to… negative one? There must have been a delivery which went unnoticed. (Avid Space, SpaceRhin0)
    • S43 is visible in Megabay 2. (NSF)
    • S44’s nosecone, forward dome, and common dome sections are moved into Megabay 2 and have been stacked. (Blobifie)
    • Massey’s: Road delay for “Production to Masseys” is posted for Oct 2nd 23:59 to Oct 3rd 03:59. (Avid Space)
  • ptfrd@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    21 days ago

    So, how much is known about the upcoming ship serial numbers, with regards to what variants they will be?

    I’m assuming S42 will definintely be the pez dispenser variant? (And I’m very tempted to assume it’ll be loaded with 42 Starlink sats!)

    But what about 43? 44? At some point they need to start their propellant transfer tests.

    • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
      3·
      20 days ago

      Interesting questions. I don’t think we’ve yet seen any hardware that would suggest they have started building dedicated tanker ships yet. S42 (Flight 15) is definitely the pez dispenser variant (door slot is visible), and S43 must be as well, as Flight 16 has been referred to as “Starlink 30-1” in some documents.

      They should be able to perform propellant transfer tests with the current ships simply by loading fewer (or no) Starlink satellites, leaving more residual propellant.

      I think the limiting factors for starting propellant transfer tests will be how quickly they can launch two ships back-to-back, and how long a ship can remain in orbit. I recall that they mentioned that the batteries on ships limit their operational life time to a few hours, and that this was one of the factors which led to their decision to bring S41 back after two orbits rather than six. They need to either extend this (solar panels seem the obvious solution) to exceed the turnaround time of Pad 2 at Starbase Texas, or wait until LC-39A in Florida comes online, which seems like it could be imminent.

      Which do you think is more likely for propellant transfer tests? Back-to-back launches from the same pad, or one launch from each?

      • ptfrd@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        4·
        20 days ago

        They should be able to perform propellant transfer tests with the current ships

        Interesting, thanks. Now that you mention it, I do think I’ve seen some potential refilling hardware (probe-and-drogue?) on recent Starships. Presumably that’s just for the sake of testing and would not form part of an ongoing pez dispenser variant in the long term?

        Back-to-back launches from the same pad, or one launch from each?

        Well it does seem like they want LC-39A to be ready soon (potentially soon enough to launch Flight 16), so my guess is that they might as well go with the two-state solution (Texas & Florida).

  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    3·
    20 days ago

    2026-10-03:

    • Pad 2: Flyover photo of the launch mount. (RGV Aerial)
    • Production site: Flyover photo of B22, B23, and B24 in Megabay 1. (RGV Aerial)
    • Massey’s: A photo of S43.1 in the structural test cage is posted, with annotations of which elements mimic forces from the chopsticks, flaps, and payload. (Killip)
    • Road delay for “Masseys to Production” is posted for Oct 3rd 23:59 to Oct 4th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Avid Space)
    • Brownsville Port: Road delay for “Production to Port” is posted for Oct 3rd from 23:59 to Oct 4th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Avid Space)
    • S40 recovery: Forte is passing Jamaica. Arrival at Brownsville Port is scheduled for Oct 7th. (Killip)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    9 days ago

    2026-10-14:

    • Massey’s: Overnight, testing of S43.1 is observed. B23 may have undergone ambient-temperature pressure testing. (ViX)
    • Recent flyover photo of land clearing and road construction progress. (RGV Aerial)
    • Pad 2: A damper is removed from the right chopstick. (ViX)
    • The chopsticks are raised and lowered. (ViX, RGV Aerial)
    • Cladding is added to the balcony at the base of the tower. (ViX)
    • Pad 1: Recent flyover photo of flame trench construction progress. (RGV Aerial)
    • Production site: B24’s LOX landing tank moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX, TrackingTheSB, RGV Aerial)
    • The four-point ship lifting jig is moved from Sanchez to Megabay 2, and is hoisted. (ViX)
    • A rainbow sheen is visible on S40’s heatshield. (Anderson / Gisler, Anderson)
    • Recent a recent flyover photo of the Gigabay (TX). (RGV Aerial)
    • McGregor: Some sort of hybrid of R3.78 and R3.137 leaves the testing area. (SpaceRhin0 1)
    • Some sort of hybrid of R3.76 and R3.137 is delivered to the testing area. (SpaceRhin0 1, SpaceRhin0 2)
    • Florida: You’ll Thank Me Later arrives in Port Canaveral. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3)
    • FCC (not FAA) licence for Starlink 31-3 (NET Flight 16) is posted. (FCC)
  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    8 days ago

    2026-10-15:

  • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOPMEnglish
    2·
    7 days ago

    2026-10-16:

    • Production site: Timelapse of the previous day’s bridge crane lift is posted. (Avid Space, ViX)
    • S44’s transfer tubes move from Starfactory into Megabay 2. (ViX)
    • Massey’s: Overnight, B23 completes its first cryo test. (NSF, ViX, Blobifie)
    • Road delay for “Masseys to Production” is posted for Oct 17th 23:59 to Oct 18th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX 1, ViX 2)
    • Launch site: The new cryo offload points are operational. (ViX)
    • The Pad 1 flame diverter apex support beam is lowered into the flame trench, and a new piece of drawworks balcony wall is set in place. (ViX)
    • The yellow rented LR11000 crane is lowered. (ViX)
    • Pad 2 chopsticks testing is observed. (ViX)
    • McGregor: R3.260 is delivered to the testing area and R3.137 returns from the testing area. (SpaceRhin0)
  • DecronymBEnglish
    2·
    3 hours ago

    Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:

    Fewer Letters More Letters
    FAA Federal Aviation Administration
    FCC Federal Communications Commission
    ~ (Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure
    HLS Human Landing System (Artemis)
    KSC Kennedy Space Center, Florida
    LC-39A Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy)
    LOX Liquid Oxygen
    NET No Earlier Than
    NSF NasaSpaceFlight forum
    ~ National Science Foundation
    SPMT Self-Propelled Mobile Transporter
    Jargon Definition
    Raptor Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX
    Starlink SpaceX’s world-wide satellite broadband constellation

    [Thread #10 for this comm, first seen 4th Oct 2026, 15:05] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]