SpaceX Starship#BFR

When stacked and fully fueled, Starship has a mass of approximately {{cvt|5000|t|lb}},{{efn|Super Heavy dry mass: {{cvt|200|t|lb}}; Starship dry mass: {{cvt|100|t|lb}}; Super Heavy propellant mass: {{cvt|3400|t|lb}}; Starship propellant mass: {{cvt|1200|t|lb}}.{{Cite news |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=29 September 2019 |title=SpaceX's plan for in-orbit Starship refueling: a second Starship |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-09-28-starship-refueling-spacex.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208013940/https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/28/starship-refueling-spacex/ |archive-date=8 December 2019 |access-date=31 December 2021 |work=Engadget}} The total of these masses is about {{cvt|5000|t|lb}}.}} a diameter of {{cvt|9|m}}{{Cite web |last=Dvorsky |first=George |date=2021-01-04 |title=SpaceX Will Try to ‘Catch’ Its Starship Boosters Instead of Landing Them |url=https://gizmodo.com/spacex-will-try-to-catch-its-starship-boosters-instea-1845983594 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}} and a height of {{cvt|121.3|m|}}.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=8 April 2024 |title=Elon Musk just gave another Mars speech—this time the vision seems tangible |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/elon-musk-just-gave-another-mars-speech-this-time-the-vision-seems-tangible/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}} The rocket has been designed with the goal of being fully reusable to reduce launch costs;{{Cite conference |last1=Inman |first1=Jennifer Ann |last2=Horvath |first2=Thomas J. |last3=Scott |first3=Carey Fulton |date=24 August 2021 |title=SCIFLI Starship Reentry Observation (SSRO) ACO (SpaceX Starship) |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210020835 |conference=Game Changing Development Annual Program Review 2021 |publisher=NASA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011134426/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210020835 |archive-date=11 October 2021 |access-date=12 October 2021 |hdl=2060/20210020835 |url-status=live}} it consists of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=6 August 2021 |title=Biggest ever rocket is assembled briefly in Texas |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58120874 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811063944/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58120874 |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=30 May 2022 |work=BBC News}} which are powered by Raptor and Raptor Vacuum engines.{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Jackson |date=21 October 2021 |title=SpaceX Starship Raptor vacuum engine fired for the first time |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/spacex-starship-raptor-vacuum-engine-fired-for-the-first-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609051830/https://www.cnet.com/science/spacex-starship-raptor-vacuum-engine-fired-for-the-first-time/ |archive-date=9 June 2022 |access-date=9 June 2022 |publisher=CNET}}

The bodies of both rocket stages are made from stainless steel{{Cite news |last=Shayotovich |first=Eli |date=23 September 2022 |title=Why SpaceX's Starship Is Made Out Of Stainless Steel According To Elon Musk |url=https://www.slashgear.com/1022924/why-spacexs-starship-is-made-out-of-stainless-steel-according-to-elon-musk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121054701/https://www.slashgear.com/1022924/why-spacexs-starship-is-made-out-of-stainless-steel-according-to-elon-musk/ |archive-date=21 November 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=SlashGear}} and are manufactured by stacking and welding stainless steel cylinders.{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=5 March 2020 |title=Inside Elon Musk's plan to build one Starship a week—and settle Mars |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/inside-elon-musks-plan-to-build-one-starship-a-week-and-settle-mars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206215109/https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/inside-elon-musks-plan-to-build-one-starship-a-week-and-settle-mars/ |archive-date=6 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |work=Ars Technica}} These cylinders have a height of {{cvt|6|ft|m|sigfig=3|order=flip}}, and a thickness of {{cvt|3.97|mm}}.{{Cite web |last=Wang |first=Brian |date=February 15, 2020 |title=SpaceX Super Heavy Starship Construction and Weight |url=https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2020/02/spacex-super-heavy-starship-construction-and-weight.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204091129/https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2020/02/spacex-super-heavy-starship-construction-and-weight.html |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=Nextbigfuture}}

Domes inside the spacecraft separate the methane and oxygen tanks. SpaceX has stated that Starship, in its "baseline reusable design", will have a payload capacity of {{cvt|100|–|150|MT|lb|sigfig=3}} to low earth orbit and {{cvt|27|MT|lb}} to geostationary transfer orbit.{{Cite web |date=March 2020 |title=Starship Users Guide |url=https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806173133/https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf |archive-date=6 August 2021 |access-date=6 October 2021 |website=SpaceX}}{{Cite web |title=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307010135/http://www.spacex.com/ |archive-date=7 March 2011 |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=SpaceX |language=en}}

{{Main|SpaceX Super Heavy}}

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{{Main|SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)}}

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{{Main|SpaceX Raptor}}

File:SpaceX sea-level Raptor at Hawthorne - 1.jpg

Raptor is a family of rocket engines developed by SpaceX for use in Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. It burns liquid oxygen and methane in an efficient and complex full-flow staged combustion power cycle. The Raptor engine uses methane as fuel rather than kerosene because methane gives higher performance and prevents the build-up of deposits in the engine from coking.{{Cite web |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jonathan |date=31 July 2019 |title=The wild physics of Elon Musk's methane-guzzling super-rocket |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/spacex-raptor-engine-starship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222232043/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/spacex-raptor-engine-starship |archive-date=22 February 2021 |access-date=9 December 2021 |language=en-GB |magazine=Wired UK}}{{Cite tech report |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19810021741 |title=Deposit formation in hydrocarbon rocket fuels |last=Roback |first=R. |last2=Szetela |first2=E. J. |last3=Spadaccini |first3=L. J. |date=1 August 1981 |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104161247/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19810021741 |url-status=live |archive-date=4 January 2024}} Methane can also be produced from carbon dioxide and water using the Sabatier reaction.{{Cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |date=28 May 2021 |title=Elon Musk reveals Starship progress ahead of first orbital flight of Mars-bound craft |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/elon-musk-starship-sn16-mars-b1855721.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823165544/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/elon-musk-starship-sn16-mars-b1855721.html |archive-date=23 August 2021 |access-date=4 December 2021 |website=The Independent |language=en}} The engines are designed to be reused many times with little maintenance.{{Cite news |title=The rockets NASA and SpaceX plan to send to the moon |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2023/nasa-sls-spacex-starship-rockets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417053038/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2023/nasa-sls-spacex-starship-rockets/ |archive-date=17 April 2023 |access-date=24 August 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Raptor operates with an oxygen-to-methane mixture ratio of about {{Nowrap|3.6:1}}, lower than the stoichiometric mixture ratio of {{Nowrap|4:1}} necessary for complete combustion, since operating at higher temperatures would melt the engine.{{Cite interview |last=Sesnic |first=Trevor |title=Starbase Tour and Interview with Elon Musk |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/starbase-tour-and-interview-with-elon-musk/ |access-date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812114027/https://everydayastronaut.com/starbase-tour-and-interview-with-elon-musk/ |archive-date=12 August 2021 |url-status=live |work=The Everyday Astronaut |date=11 August 2021 |language=en-US}} The propellants leave the pre-burners and get injected into the main combustion chamber as hot gases instead of liquid droplets, enabling a higher power density as the propellants mix rapidly via diffusion. The methane and oxygen are at high enough temperatures and pressures that they ignite on contact, eliminating the need for igniters in the main combustion chamber.{{Cite web |last=Sesnic |first=Trevor |date=14 July 2022 |title=Raptor 1 vs Raptor 2: What did SpaceX change? |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/spacex-raptor-engine-comparison/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819095907/https://everydayastronaut.com/spacex-raptor-engine-comparison/ |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=The Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}} The engine structure itself is mostly aluminum, copper, and steel; oxidizer-side turbopumps and manifolds subject to corrosive oxygen-rich flames are made of an Inconel-like SX500 superalloy. Some components are 3D printed.{{Cite web |last=Zafar |first=Ramish |date=23 March 2021 |title=SpaceX's 3D Manufacturing Systems Supplier For Raptor Engine To Go Public Through SPAC Deal |url=https://wccftech.com/spacexs-3d-manufacturing-systems-supplier-for-raptor-engine-to-go-public-through-spac-deal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105065404/https://wccftech.com/spacexs-3d-manufacturing-systems-supplier-for-raptor-engine-to-go-public-through-spac-deal/ |archive-date=5 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=Wccftech |language=en-US}}

A Raptor 2 engine produces {{Cvt|2.3|MN|lbf|lk=in}} at a specific impulse of {{convert|327|isp}} at sea level and {{convert|350|isp}} in a vacuum. Raptor vacuum, used on the Starship upper stage, is modified with a regeneratively cooled nozzle extension made of brazed steel tubes, increasing its expansion ratio to about 90 and its specific impulse in vacuum to {{convert|380|isp}}. The main combustion chamber operates at a pressure of {{cvt|350|bar|psi}} exceeding that of any prior operational rocket engine. The Raptor's gimbaling range is 15°, higher than the RS-25's 12.5° and the Merlin's 5°. SpaceX has stated they aim to achieve a per unit production cost of US$250,000 upon starting mass production.

On 4 April 2024, Elon Musk provided an update on Starship at Starbase, where two new versions of Starship were announced, Block 2 and Block 3.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LToevABm4k |title=Elon Reveals Starship Version 3; We Have Questions! |language=en |access-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418210120/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3LToevABm4k |archive-date=18 April 2024 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=6 April 2024 |title=Musk outlines plans to increase Starship launch rate and performance |url=https://spacenews.com/musk-outlines-plans-to-increase-starship-launch-rate-and-performance/ |access-date=4 May 2024 |website=SpaceNews}}

Block 1 upper stage vehicles have been retired but were used for the first 6 Flight Tests.{{Cite tweet |number=1727967723806761343 |user=elonmusk |title=Four more Starships, the last of V1 |first=Elon |last=Musk |date=24 November 2023 |access-date=16 June 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Prophet |first=Chris |date=7 June 2024 |title=Significance of Starship Flight Four |url=https://chrisprophet.substack.com/p/significance-of-starship-flight-four |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608063010/https://chrisprophet.substack.com/p/significance-of-starship-flight-four |archive-date=8 June 2024 |access-date=8 June 2024 |website=Chris's Substack}} As of January 2025, Block 1 boosters are still being used.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=9 January 2025 |title=A taller, heavier, smarter version of SpaceX's Starship is almost ready to fly |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/01/a-taller-heavier-smarter-version-of-spacexs-starship-is-almost-ready-to-fly/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}

Block 2 upper stage vehicles feature a thinner forward flap design, its flaps are positioned more leeward, a 25% increase in propellant capacity, integrated vented interstage, redesigned avionics,{{Cite web |date=3 January 2025 |title=Starship's Seventh Flight Test |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-7 |access-date=3 January 2025 |website=SpaceX.com}} two "raceways",{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYT2HM45Spo |title=Starbase Weekly, Ep.139: Starship Block 2 Testing Started! |date=3 November 2024 |last=RGV Aerial Photography |access-date=3 November 2024 |via=YouTube}} and an increase in thrust.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umdkFlNO1os |title=Starbase Weekly, Ep.112: Booster 11 Back On The Pad! |language=en |access-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406182118/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umdkFlNO1os |archive-date=6 April 2024 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} The integrated vehicle will be a total of {{cvt|3.1|m}} taller than the previous Block 1 vehicle and is planned to have a payload capacity of at least 100 tons to orbit when reused. Additionally, Block 2 vehicles will use Raptor 3, removing the need for secondary engine shielding.{{Cite web |last=Kuhr |first=Jack |date=28 November 2023 |title=SpaceX Announces a Starship Version Two is in the Works |url=https://payloadspace.com/spacex-announces-a-starship-version-two-is-in-the-works/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426151340/https://payloadspace.com/spacex-announces-a-starship-version-two-is-in-the-works/ |archive-date=26 April 2024 |access-date=26 April 2024 |website=Payload |language=en-US}} However, the first Block 2 vehicle, S33, received upgraded Raptor 2 engines,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YswFndtQsw |title=Starship Flight 6 Aftermath: Pad Work, Vehicle Updates & Flight 7 News! |date=25 November 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=26 November 2024 |via=YouTube}} with an unknown increase in thrust.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX Heads Back To The Drawing Board For Starship's Upper Stage {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/space/commercial-space/spacex-heads-back-drawing-board-starships-upper-stage |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=aviationweek.com}} Initial Block 2 upper stage vehicles will use a Block 1 booster.{{Cite web |title=Starship-Super Heavy Block 1/2 {{!}} Starship Flight 7 |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7705 |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}} The Block 2 ship first flew on the seventh flight test.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=16 January 2025 |title=SpaceX catches Super Heavy booster on Starship Flight 7 test but loses upper stage (video, photos) |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-catches-super-heavy-booster-on-starship-flight-7-test-but-loses-upper-stage-video-photos |access-date=17 January 2025 |website=Space.com |language=en-US}}

{{As of|2024|6|post=,}} the Block 3 final configuration is unknown. The most recent configuration, as described in regulatory filings submitted to the FAA, has a height of {{cvt|150|m}}.{{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title=FAA SpaceX SSH LC-39A Fact Sheets Combined |url=https://www.faa.gov/media/80626 |access-date=11 June 2024 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration}} The Starship second stage will feature nine Raptor engines, while the Super Heavy booster will have up to 35. It is planned to have a payload capacity of at least 200 tons to orbit when reused.

File:Starship Booster Return on Final Approach (54063904149).jpg on 13 October 2024]]

Payloads will be integrated into Starship at a separate facility and then rolled out to the launch site.{{Cite web |date=June 2022 |title=Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas |url=https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614081928/https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=14 June 2022 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration and SpaceX}} Super Heavy and Starship are then to be stacked onto their launch mount and loaded with fuel via the ship quick disconnect (SQD) arm and booster quick disconnect (BQD). The SQD and BQD retract, all 33 engines of Super Heavy ignite, and the rocket lifts off.

At approximately 159 seconds after launch{{Cite web |last=Moon |first=Mariella |date=11 February 2022 |title=SpaceX shows what a Starship launch would look like |url=https://www.engadget.com/spacex-shows-starship-launch-050753751.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331171415/https://www.engadget.com/spacex-shows-starship-launch-050753751.html |archive-date=31 March 2022 |access-date=31 March 2022 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} at an altitude of roughly {{Cvt|64|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}}, Super Heavy cuts off all but three of its center gimbaling rocket engines.{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=WRITTEN RE-EVALUATION OF THE 2022 FINAL PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE SPACE X STARSHIP /SUPER HEAVY LAUNCH VEHICLE PROGRAM AT THE BOCA CHICA LAUNCH SITE IN CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS |url=https://www.faa.gov/media/27236 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201063507/https://www.faa.gov/media/27236 |archive-date=1 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration}}{{rp||page=58}} Starship then ignites its engines while still attached to the booster, and separates.{{Cite magazine |last=Skibba |first=Ramin |title=Here's What's Next for SpaceX's Starship |url=https://www.wired.com/story/heres-whats-next-for-spacexs-starship/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125202033/https://www.wired.com/story/heres-whats-next-for-spacexs-starship/ |archive-date=25 November 2023 |access-date=25 November 2023 |magazine=WIRED |issn=1059-1028}} During hot-staging, the booster throttles down its engines. The booster then rotates, before igniting ten additional engines for a "boostback burn" which stops all forward velocity. After the boostback burn, the booster's engines shut off with Super Heavy on a trajectory for a controlled descent to the launch site using its grid fins for minor course corrections. Roughly six minutes after launch, shortly before landing,{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=5 January 2024 |title=Rocket Report: SpaceX's record year; Firefly's Alpha rocket falls short |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/rocket-report-spacexs-record-year-fireflys-alpha-rocket-falls-short/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105131709/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/01/rocket-report-spacexs-record-year-fireflys-alpha-rocket-falls-short/ |archive-date=5 January 2024 |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} it ignites its inner 13 engines, then shuts off all but the inner 3, to perform a landing burn which slows it sufficiently to be caught by a pair of hydraulic actuating arms attached to the launch tower.{{Cite web |title=Musk hopes "Mechazilla" will catch and assemble the Starship and Super Heavy boosters for rapid reuse |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-08-musk-mechazilla-starship-super-heavy.amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514151133/https://phys.org/news/2021-08-musk-mechazilla-starship-super-heavy.amp |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=14 May 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Cuthbertson |first=Anthony |date=30 August 2021 |title=SpaceX will use 'robot chopsticks' to catch massive rocket, Elon Musk says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/space/spacex-launch-elon-musk-starship-b1911138.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622020937/https://www.independent.co.uk/space/spacex-launch-elon-musk-starship-b1911138.html |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=The Independent |language=en}} The booster landing and catch was successfully demonstrated for the first time on 13 October 2024, with the landing of Booster 12.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=13 October 2024 |title=SpaceX's Starship rocket completes fifth test flight, lands booster in dramatic catch |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/13/spacex-starship-rocket-launch-flight-5-booster-catch-attempt.html |access-date=14 October 2024 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=13 October 2024 |title=SpaceX catches returning rocket in mid-air, turning a fanciful idea into reality |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/10/spacex-catches-returning-rocket-in-mid-air-turning-a-fanciful-idea-into-reality/ |access-date=14 October 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}

Meanwhile, the Starship spacecraft continues accelerating to orbital velocity with its six Raptor engines.{{Cite web |last=DeSisto |first=Austin |date=5 April 2023 |title=Starship/SuperHeavy {{!}} IFT-1 Starship Flight Test |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/starship-superheavy-orbital-flight-test/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209161407/https://everydayastronaut.com/starship-superheavy-orbital-flight-test/ |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}} Once in orbit, the spacecraft is planned to be able to be refueled by another Starship tanker variant.{{Cite web |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jonathan |date=7 December 2021 |title=How SpaceX's massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/07/1041420/spacex-starship-rocket-solar-system-exploration/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208133829/https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/07/1041420/spacex-starship-rocket-solar-system-exploration/ |archive-date=8 December 2021 |access-date=30 December 2021 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}} Musk has estimated that 8 launches would be needed to refuel a Starship in low Earth orbit completely.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Matt |date=18 August 2021 |title=Musk Says That Refueling Starship for Lunar Landings Will Take 8 Launches (Maybe 4) |url=https://www.universetoday.com/152220/musk-says-that-refueling-starship-for-lunar-landings-will-take-8-launches-maybe-4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826020758/https://www.universetoday.com/152220/musk-says-that-refueling-starship-for-lunar-landings-will-take-8-launches-maybe-4/ |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023}} NASA has estimated that 16 launches in short succession (due to cryogenic propellant boil-off) would be needed to refuel Starship for one lunar landing partially.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=17 November 2023 |title=Starship lunar lander missions to require nearly 20 launches, NASA says |url=https://spacenews.com/starship-lunar-lander-missions-to-require-nearly-20-launches-nasa-says/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223203347/https://spacenews.com/starship-lunar-lander-missions-to-require-nearly-20-launches-nasa-says/ |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} To land on bodies without an atmosphere, such as the Moon, Starship will fire its engines to slow down.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=6 January 2021 |title=SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics Compete to Build the Next Moon Lander |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/spacex-blue-origin-and-dynetics-compete-to-build-the-next-moon-lander |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129041255/https://spectrum.ieee.org/spacex-blue-origin-and-dynetics-compete-to-build-the-next-moon-lander |archive-date=29 November 2021 |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=IEEE Spectrum}} To land on bodies with an atmosphere, such as the Earth and Mars, Starship first slows by entering the atmosphere using a heat shield. The spacecraft would then perform a "belly-flop" maneuver by diving through the atmosphere at a 60° angle to the ground, controlling its fall using four flaps at the front and aft of the spacecraft.{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=10 December 2020 |title=Space X's Mars prototype rocket exploded yesterday. Here's what happened on the flight |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/tech/spacex-starship-sn8-test-flight-recap-scn/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210223909/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/tech/spacex-starship-sn8-test-flight-recap-scn/index.html |archive-date=10 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 |publisher=CNN}} Shortly before landing, the Raptor engines fire, using fuel from the header tanks,{{Cite web |last=Kooser |first=Amanda |date=1 October 2019 |title=Elon Musk video lets us peep inside SpaceX Starship |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/elon-musk-video-lets-us-peep-inside-spacex-starship-innards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610030123/https://www.cnet.com/science/elon-musk-video-lets-us-peep-inside-spacex-starship-innards/ |archive-date=10 June 2022 |access-date=10 June 2022 |publisher=CNET}} to perform a "landing flip" maneuver to return to a vertical orientation, with the Raptor engines' gimbaling helping to maneuver the craft. The HLS and depot cannot reenter the atmosphere, as they lack a thermal protection system.

If Starship's second stage lands on a pad, a mobile hydraulic lift will move it to a transporter vehicle. If it lands on a floating platform, it will be transported by a barge to a port and then transported by road. The recovered Starship will either be positioned on the launch mount for another launch or refurbished at a SpaceX facility.{{Rp|page=22}}

{{Main|SpaceX Starship design history}}

File:SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visits N&NC and AFSPC (190416-F-ZZ999-006) (cropped).jpg holding a model of BFR]]

In November 2005,{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=14 November 2005 |title=Big plans for SpaceX |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124153155/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1 |archive-date=24 November 2005 |access-date=16 September 2018 |website=The Space Review}} before SpaceX had launched its first rocket the Falcon 1,{{Cite web |date=24 March 2006 |title=SpaceX rocket fails first flight |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4698736.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114042636/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4698736.stm |archive-date=14 January 2015 |access-date=7 June 2022 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} CEO Elon Musk first mentioned a high-capacity rocket concept able to launch {{cvt|100|MT|lb}} to low Earth orbit, dubbed the BFR. Later in 2012, Elon Musk first publicly announced plans to develop a rocket surpassing the capabilities of Space X's existing Falcon 9.{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Zach |date=15 October 2012 |title=SpaceX aims big with massive new rocket |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/spacex-aims-big-with-massive-new-rocket-377687/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703043710/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/spacex-aims-big-with-massive-new-rocket-377687/ |archive-date=3 July 2015 |access-date=25 September 2016 |work=FlightGlobal}} SpaceX called it the Mars Colonial Transporter, as the rocket was to transport humans to Mars and back. In 2016, the descriptor was changed to Interplanetary Transport System, as the rocket was planned to travel beyond Mars as well.{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=18 September 2016 |title=Elon Musk scales up his ambitions, considering going "well beyond" Mars |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/09/spacexs-interplanetary-transport-system-will-go-well-beyond-mars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920000810/http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/09/spacexs-interplanetary-transport-system-will-go-well-beyond-mars/ |archive-date=20 September 2016 |access-date=19 September 2016 |work=Ars Technica}} The conceptual design called for a carbon fiber structure,{{Cite news |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=27 September 2016 |title=SpaceX reveals ITS Mars game changer via colonization plan |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/spacex-reveals-mars-game-changer-colonization-plan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928154300/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/spacex-reveals-mars-game-changer-colonization-plan/ |archive-date=28 September 2016 |access-date=27 September 2016 |work=NASASpaceflight}} a mass in excess of {{cvt|10000|MT|lb}} when fully fueled, a payload of {{cvt|300|MT|lb}} to low Earth orbit while being fully reusable. By 2017, the concept was again re-dubbed the BFR.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI |title=Making Life Multiplanetary |date=29 September 2017 |publisher=SpaceX |access-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819035735/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI |archive-date=19 August 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}

In December 2018, the structural material was changed from carbon composites{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Derek |date=27 September 2016 |title=Elon Musk Shows Off Interplanetary Transport System |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/elon-musk-shows-off-interplanetary-transport-system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001225649/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/elon-musk-shows-off-interplanetary-transport-system/ |archive-date=1 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016 |publisher=Spaceflight Insider}} to stainless steel,{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=24 December 2018 |title=Musk teases new details about redesigned next-generation launch system |url=https://spacenews.com/musk-teases-new-details-about-redesigned-next-generation-launch-system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20181225012035/https://spacenews.com/musk-teases-new-details-about-redesigned-next-generation-launch-system/ |archive-date=25 December 2018 |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Coldewey |first=Devin |date=26 December 2018 |title=SpaceX's Starship goes sci-fi shiny with stainless steel skin |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/26/spacexs-starship-goes-sci-fi-shiny-with-stainless-steel-skin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202031127/https://techcrunch.com/web/20230202031127/https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/26/spacexs-starship-goes-sci-fi-shiny-with-stainless-steel-skin/ |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} marking the transition from early design concepts of the Starship.{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=29 September 2019 |title=SpaceX Unveils Silvery Vision to Mars: 'It's an I.C.B.M. That Lands' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/science/elon-musk-spacex-starship.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030080406/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/science/elon-musk-spacex-starship.html |archive-date=30 October 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cotton |first=Ethan |date=2 August 2020 |title=Starship SN-5 {{!}} 150 meter hop |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/starship-sn-5-150-meter-hop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210075219/https://everydayastronaut.com/starship-sn-5-150-meter-hop/ |archive-date=10 December 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}} Musk cited numerous reasons for the change of material; low cost and ease of manufacture, increased strength of stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures, as well as its ability to withstand high heat.{{Cite web |last=D'Agostino |first=Ryan |date=22 January 2019 |title=Elon Musk: Why I'm Building the Starship out of Stainless Steel |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a25953663/elon-musk-spacex-bfr-stainless-steel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122161633/https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a25953663/elon-musk-spacex-bfr-stainless-steel/ |archive-date=22 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019 |website=popularmechanics.com |publisher=Popular Mechanics |language=en}} In 2019, SpaceX began to refer to the entire vehicle as Starship, with the second stage also being called Starship, and the booster Super Heavy.{{Cite web |title=Starship |work=SpaceX |date=27 September 2019 |url=https://www.spacex.com/starship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930163150/https://www.spacex.com/starship |archive-date=30 September 2019 |access-date=30 September 2019 |author1=Spacexcmsadmin }}{{Cite web |date=March 2020 |title=Starship Users Guide, Revision 1.0, March 2020 |url=https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402122214/https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2020 |access-date=18 May 2020 |publisher=SpaceX |quote=SpaceX's Starship system represents a fully reusable transportation system designed to service Earth orbit needs as well as missions to the Moon and Mars. This two-stage vehicle – composed of the Super Heavy rocket (booster) and Starship (spacecraft).}}{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=29 September 2019 |title=Elon Musk, Man of Steel, reveals his stainless Starship |url=https://arstechnica.com/features/2019/09/after-starship-unveiling-mars-seems-a-little-closer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228174451/https://arstechnica.com/features/2019/09/after-starship-unveiling-mars-seems-a-little-closer/ |archive-date=28 December 2019 |access-date=30 September 2019 |publisher=Ars Technica}} They also announced that Starship would use reusable heat-shield tiles similar to those of the Space Shuttle.{{Cite web |date=16 February 2023 |title=Will Starship Fail Like The Space Shuttle? |url=https://primalnebula.com/will-starship-fail-like-the-space-shuttle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307094538/https://primalnebula.com/will-starship-fail-like-the-space-shuttle/ |archive-date=7 March 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=primalnebula.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mohan |first=Aditya Krishnan |date=5 September 2021 |title=The truth about the new SpaceX 'Mini-Bakery' |url=https://adityakm24.medium.com/the-truth-about-the-new-spacex-mini-bakery-19b7dd55bc3b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426171937/https://adityakm24.medium.com/the-truth-about-the-new-spacex-mini-bakery-19b7dd55bc3b |archive-date=26 April 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=Medium |language=en}} The second-stage design had also settled on six Raptor engines by 2019: three optimized for sea-level and three optimized for vacuum.{{Cite web |date=29 September 2019 |title=Elon Musk Reveals SpaceX's New Starship, the Rocket Bound for Mars |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a29284744/elon-musk-starship-reveal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519222519/https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a29284744/elon-musk-starship-reveal/ |archive-date=19 May 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=Popular Mechanics |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Matt |date=29 September 2019 |title=Musk Presents the Orbital Starship Prototype. Flights will Begin in Six Months |url=https://www.universetoday.com/143565/musk-presents-the-orbital-starship-prototype-flights-will-begin-in-six-months/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131145130/https://www.universetoday.com/143565/musk-presents-the-orbital-starship-prototype-flights-will-begin-in-six-months/ |archive-date=31 January 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}} In 2019, SpaceX announced a change to the second stage's design, reducing the number of aft flaps from three to two to reduce weight.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=27 September 2019 |title=SpaceX to update Starship progress |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-to-update-starship-progress/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223203842/https://spacenews.com/spacex-to-update-starship-progress/ |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} In March 2020 SpaceX released a Starship Users Guide, in which they stated the payload of Starship to LEO would be over {{cvt|100|MT|lb}}, with a payload to GTO of {{cvt|21|MT|lb}}.

{{See also|List of Starship upper stage flight tests}}

{{Further information|SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)#Hops (SN3–SN6)}}

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The first tests started with the construction of the first prototype in 2018, Starhopper, which performed several static fires and two successful low-altitude flights in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Harwood |first=William |date=27 August 2019 |title=SpaceX launches "Starhopper" on dramatic test flight |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-launches-starhopper-dramatic-test-flight-today-2019-08-27/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000728/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-launches-starhopper-dramatic-test-flight-today-2019-08-27/ |archive-date=8 November 2020 |access-date=14 December 2021 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}} SpaceX began constructing the first full-size Starship MK1 and MK2 upper-stage prototypes before 2019, at the SpaceX facilities in Boca Chica, Texas, and Cocoa, Florida, respectively. Neither prototype flew: MK1 was destroyed in November 2019 during a pressure stress test and MK2's Florida facility was deconstructed throughout 2020.{{Cite web |last=Grush |first=Loren |date=20 November 2019 |title=SpaceX's prototype Starship rocket partially bursts during testing in Texas |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/20/20974884/spacex-starship-rocket-prototype-failure-test-texas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114163347/https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/20/20974884/spacex-starship-rocket-prototype-failure-test-texas |archive-date=14 November 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bergeron |first=Julia |date=6 April 2021 |title=New permits shed light on the activity at SpaceX's Cidco and Roberts Road facilities |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/new-permits-spacex-cidco-roberts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206022611/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/new-permits-spacex-cidco-roberts/ |archive-date=6 December 2021 |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}} Prototypes were built using 301 stainless steel.{{cite web |author=Wall |first=Mike |year=2020 |title=SpaceX's Starship will soon be made of different stuff |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-new-stainless-steel-alloy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605151009/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-new-stainless-steel-alloy.html |archive-date=5 June 2020 |access-date=30 May 2021 |website=space.com}} This was noted for its corrosion resistance and lower cost compared to carbon fiber but faced some challenges, particularly with interlaminar toughness at cryogenic temperatures.

SpaceX then began naming its new Starship upper-stage prototypes with the prefix "SN", short for "serial number". No prototypes between SN1 and SN4 flew either—SN1 and SN3 collapsed during pressure stress tests, and SN4 exploded after its fifth engine firing.{{Cite web |last1=Kanayama |first1=Lee |last2=Beil |first2=Adrian |date=28 August 2021 |title=SpaceX continues forward progress with Starship on Starhopper anniversary |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/08/starship-starhopper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831011318/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/08/starship-starhopper/ |archive-date=31 August 2021 |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}}

In June 2020, SpaceX started constructing a launch pad for orbital Starship flights. The first flight-capable prototype, SN5, was cylindrical as it had no flaps or nose cone: just one Raptor engine, fuel tanks, and a mass simulator.{{Cite web |date=7 August 2020 |title=How significant is the flight of Starship SN5? – NSS |url=https://nss.org/how-significant-is-the-flight-of-starship-sn5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210073049/https://nss.org/how-significant-is-the-flight-of-starship-sn5/ |archive-date=10 December 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |language=en-US}} On 5 August 2020, SN5 performed a {{cvt|150|m|adj=on|sigfig=1}} high flight and successfully landed on a nearby pad.{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Eric |date=4 August 2020 |title=SpaceX Starship prototype takes big step toward Mars with first tiny 'hop' |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-prototype-takes-big-step-toward-mars-tuesday-with-first-hop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216161830/https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-prototype-takes-big-step-toward-mars-tuesday-with-first-hop/ |archive-date=16 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en}} On 3 September 2020, the similar-looking Starship SN6 repeated the hop;{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=3 September 2020 |title=SpaceX launches and lands another Starship prototype, the second flight test in under a month |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/03/spacex-launches-and-lands-starship-sn6-prototype-in-flight-test.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216163834/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/03/spacex-launches-and-lands-starship-sn6-prototype-in-flight-test.html |archive-date=16 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} later that month, a Raptor vacuum engine underwent its first full duration firing at McGregor, Texas.{{Cite web |last=Kooser |first=Amanda |date=26 September 2020 |title=Watch SpaceX fire up Starship's furious new Raptor Vacuum engine |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/watch-spacex-fire-up-furious-new-raptor-vacuum-engine-for-starship/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303064057/https://www.cnet.com/news/watch-spacex-fire-up-furious-new-raptor-vacuum-engine-for-starship/ |archive-date=3 March 2021 |access-date=11 January 2022 |publisher=CNET |language=en}}

{{Further information|SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)#High-altitude test flights (SN8–SN15)}}

File:SpaceX Starship SN8 launch as viewed from South Padre Island (cropped).jpg

File:Starship SN8 launch render.webm

Starship SN8 was the first full-sized upper-stage prototype, though it lacked a heat shield.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErL5nvjtFGI |title=SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship SN8 nosecone mate – Raptors on the move |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118025412/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErL5nvjtFGI |archive-date=18 January 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} It underwent four preliminary static fire tests between October and November 2020. On 9 December 2020, SN8 flew, slowly turning off its three engines one by one, and reached an altitude of {{cvt|12.5|km|sp=us}}. After SN8 dove back to the ground, its engines were hampered by low methane header tank pressure during the landing attempt, which led to a hard impact on the landing pad and subsequent explosion of the vehicle. SN7 used 304L stainless steel, which is less brittle and more weldable.{{cite web |author=Ali |first=Areeb |date=28 October 2020 |title=The Test Flight of SpaceX's Starship Prototype SN 8 Is Excitement Guaranteed |url=https://science.thewire.in/spaceflight/spacex-starship-sn-8-prototype-test-flight-raptor-methalox-belly-flop-engineering/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213558/https://science.thewire.in/spaceflight/spacex-starship-sn-8-prototype-test-flight-raptor-methalox-belly-flop-engineering/ |archive-date=2 June 2021 |access-date=30 May 2021 |website=The Wire}} Later vehicles used a proprietary alloy, 30X, whose composition is proprietary that costs slightly over €3.6/kg.{{Cite web |last=Torralba |first=José Manuel |date=3 October 2024 |title=Why Elon Musk uses stainless steel for his new spacecraft |url=https://materials.imdea.org/why-elon-musk-uses-stainless-steel-for-his-new-spacecraft/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |website=materials.imdea.org}}

Because SpaceX had violated its launch license and ignored warnings of worsening shock wave damage, the Federal Aviation Administration investigated the incident for two months.{{Cite web |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=15 June 2021 |title=SpaceX ignored last-minute warnings from the FAA before December Starship launch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/15/22352366/elon-musk-spacex-faa-warnings-starship-sn8-launch-violation-texas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006042131/https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/15/22352366/elon-musk-spacex-faa-warnings-starship-sn8-launch-violation-texas |archive-date=6 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021 |website=The Verge}} During the SN8 launch, SpaceX ignored FAA warnings that the flight profile posed a risk of explosion.{{Cite web |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=29 January 2021 |title=Elon Musk's SpaceX violated its launch license in explosive Starship test, triggering an FAA probe |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/22256657/spacex-launch-violation-explosive-starship-faa-investigation-elon-musk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930204618/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/22256657/spacex-launch-violation-explosive-starship-faa-investigation-elon-musk |archive-date=30 September 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=29 March 2021 |title=Congress raises concerns about FAA's handling of Starship launch license violation |url=https://spacenews.com/congress-raises-concerns-about-faas-handling-of-starship-launch-license-violation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009133103/https://spacenews.com/congress-raises-concerns-about-faas-handling-of-starship-launch-license-violation/ |archive-date=9 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} FAA space division chief Wayne Monteith said SpaceX's violation was “inconsistent with a strong safety culture”, and criticized the company for proceeding with the launch "based on 'impressions' and 'assumptions,' rather than procedural checks and positive affirmations".

On 2 February 2021, Starship SN9 launched to {{cvt|10|km|sp=us}} in a flight path similar to SN8. The prototype crashed upon landing because one engine did not ignite properly.{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Eric |date=2 February 2021 |title=SpaceX Starship SN9 flies high, explodes on landing just like SN8 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-sn9-rocket-flies-high-explodes-on-landing-just-like-sn8/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918040913/https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-sn9-rocket-flies-high-explodes-on-landing-just-like-sn8/ |archive-date=18 September 2021 |access-date=17 December 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en}} A month later, on 3 March, Starship SN10 launched on the same flight path as SN9.{{Cite web |title=SN10 |url=http://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-sn10-flight-test/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230910220043/https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-sn10-flight-test/ |archive-date=10 September 2023 |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=SpaceX |language=en}} The vehicle landed hard and crushed its landing legs, leaning to one side. A fire was seen at the vehicle's base and it exploded less than ten minutes later, potentially due to a propellant tank rupture.{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=3 March 2021 |title=SpaceX Mars Rocket Prototype Explodes, but This Time It Lands First |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/science/spacex-starship-launch-sn10.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605013824/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/science/spacex-starship-launch-sn10.html |archive-date=5 June 2021 |access-date=19 December 2021 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}} On 30 March, Starship SN11 flew into thick fog along the same flight path. The vehicle exploded during descent,{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Eric |date=30 March 2021 |title=SpaceX Starship SN11 test flight flies high and explodes in the fog |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-sn11-test-flight-flies-high-tuesday-then-explodes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220140407/https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-sn11-test-flight-flies-high-tuesday-then-explodes/ |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=20 December 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en}} possibly due to excess propellant in a Raptor's methane turbopump.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=6 April 2021 |title=Engine explosion blamed for latest Starship crash |url=https://spacenews.com/engine-explosion-blamed-for-latest-starship-crash/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929091019/https://spacenews.com/engine-explosion-blamed-for-latest-starship-crash/ |archive-date=29 September 2021 |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

In March 2021, the company disclosed a public construction plan for two sub-orbital launch pads, two orbital launch pads, two landing pads, two test stands, and a large propellant tank farm.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=8 March 2021 |title=SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/spacex-reveals-the-grand-extent-of-its-starport-plans-in-south-texas/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020032138/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/spacex-reveals-the-grand-extent-of-its-starport-plans-in-south-texas/ |archive-date=20 October 2023 |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} The company soon proposed developing the surrounding Boca Chica Village, Texas, into a company town named Starbase. Locals raised concerns about SpaceX's authority, power, and a potential threat for eviction through eminent domain.{{Cite web |last1=Keates |first1=Nancy |last2=Maremont |first2=Mark |date=7 May 2021 |title=Elon Musk's SpaceX Is Buying Up a Texas Village. Homeowners Cry Foul. |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-spacex-rocket-boca-chica-texas-starbase-11620353687 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507174246/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-spacex-rocket-boca-chica-texas-starbase-11620353687 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |access-date=17 December 2021 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}

In early April, the orbital launch pad's fuel storage tanks began mounting. SN12 through SN14 were scrapped before completion; SN15 was selected to fly instead,{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Eric |date=7 May 2021 |title=SpaceX's Mars prototype rocket, Starship SN15, might fly again soon |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/spacexs-mars-prototype-rocket-starship-sn15-might-fly-again-soon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220140406/https://www.cnet.com/news/spacexs-mars-prototype-rocket-starship-sn15-might-fly-again-soon/ |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=20 December 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en}} due to improved avionics, structure, and engines. On 5 May 2021, SN15 launched, completed the same maneuvers as older prototypes, and landed safely. SN15 had a fire in the engine area after landing but it was extinguished. According to a later report by SpaceX, SN15 experienced several issues while landing, including the loss of tank pressure and an engine.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2023 |title=Starbase Overview |url=https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/assets/media/Starbase%20Overview.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404085552/https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/assets/media/Starbase%20Overview.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=SpaceX}}{{Rp|page=2}}

{{See also|List of Starship launches}}

In June 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that SpaceX must address more than 75 issues identified in the preliminary environmental assessment before integrated flight tests could start.{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=13 June 2022 |title=SpaceX Wins Environmental Approval for Launch of Mars Rocket |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/science/spacex-starship-faa-review.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622043757/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/science/spacex-starship-faa-review.html |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 1}}

File:StarshipLaunch (crop 2-3).jpg. Several engines failed on the first stage.]]

In July 2022, Booster 7 tested the liquid oxygen turbopumps on all 33 Raptor engines, resulting in an explosion at the vehicle's base, which destroyed a pressure pipe and caused minor damage to the launchpad.{{Cite web |last=Dvorsky |first=George |date=10 August 2022 |title=SpaceX Performs Limited Static Fire Test of Starship Booster, Avoids Explosion |url=https://gizmodo.com/spacex-avoids-explosion-in-test-of-starship-booster-1849395616 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163714/https://gizmodo.com/spacex-avoids-explosion-in-test-of-starship-booster-1849395616 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-us}} By the end of November, Ship 24 had performed 2 static test fires,{{Cite web |last1=Kshatriya |first1=Amit |last2=Kirasich |first2=Mark |date=31 October 2022 |title=Artemis I – IV Mission Overview / Status |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_october_2022_artemis_final_rev_b.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103222633/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nac_october_2022_artemis_final_rev_b.pdf |archive-date=3 November 2022 |access-date=10 December 2022 |website=NASA |publisher=Human Exploration and Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council}}{{Rp|page=20}} while Booster 7 had performed 6 static test fires{{Cite web |last=Iemole |first=Anthony |date=7 December 2022 |title=Boosters 7 and 9 in dual flow toward Starbase test milestones |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/booster-7-9-flow-milestones/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210074352/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/booster-7-9-flow-milestones/ |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=10 December 2022 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}}{{Rp|page=20}} and finally on 9 February 2023, a static fire with 31 engines at 50% throttle.{{Cite web |date=9 February 2023 |title=Starship fires (almost) all her engines |url=https://earthsky.org/human-world/starship-static-test-fire-feb-9-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013958/https://earthsky.org/human-world/starship-static-test-fire-feb-9-2023/ |archive-date=7 January 2024 |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=earthsky.org |language=en-US}} In January 2023, the whole Starship stack underwent a full wet dress rehearsal.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=24 January 2023 |title=SpaceX completes Starship wet dress rehearsal |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-completes-starship-wet-dress-rehearsal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415032641/https://spacenews.com/spacex-completes-starship-wet-dress-rehearsal/ |archive-date=15 April 2023 |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

After a launch attempt aborted on 17 April 2023,{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=17 April 2023 |title=SpaceX scrubs 1st space launch of giant Starship rocket due to fueling issue |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-scrubs-first-space-launch-starship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417165605/https://www.space.com/spacex-scrubs-first-space-launch-starship |archive-date=17 April 2023 |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en}} Booster 7 and Ship 24 lifted off on 20 April at 13:33 UTC in the first orbital flight test.{{Cite web |last1=Wattles |first1=Jackie |last2=Strickland |first2=Ashley |date=20 April 2023 |title=SpaceX's Starship rocket lifts off for inaugural test flight, but explodes midair |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/world/spacex-starship-launch-thursday-scn/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421000659/https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/world/spacex-starship-launch-thursday-scn/index.html |archive-date=21 April 2023 |access-date=20 April 2023 |publisher=CNN}} Three engines were disabled during the launch sequence and several more failed during the flight.{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=3 May 2023 |title=Elon Musk pushes for orbital goal following data gathering objectives during Starship debut |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/05/musk-orbital-goal-starship-debut/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505192700/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/05/musk-orbital-goal-starship-debut/ |archive-date=5 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}} The booster later lost thrust vectoring control of the Raptor engines, which led to the rocket spinning out of control. The vehicle reached a maximum altitude of {{Cvt|39|km|mi|order=flip}}.{{Cite web |last1=Malik |first1=Tariq |last2=Wall |first2=Mike |date=20 April 2023 |title=SpaceX's 1st Starship launches on epic test flight, explodes in 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-first-space-launch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920015150/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-first-space-launch |archive-date=20 September 2023 |access-date=16 September 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en}} Approximately 3 minutes after lift-off the rocket's autonomous flight termination system was activated, though the vehicle tumbled for another 40 seconds before disintegrating.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414172859/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=SpaceX |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Klotz |first=Irene |date=1 May 2023 |title=Engine Issue Felled SpaceX First Super Heavy {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/engine-issue-felled-spacex-first-super-heavy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223203925/https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/commercial-space/engine-issue-felled-spacex-first-super-heavy |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Aviation Week Network}}{{Cite news |last=Salinas |first=Sara |date=20 April 2023 |title=SpaceX launches towering Starship rocket but suffers mid-flight failure |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/20/spacex-starship-orbital-launch-attempt-live-updates.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420134534/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/20/spacex-starship-orbital-launch-attempt-live-updates.html |archive-date=20 April 2023 |access-date=20 April 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} The first flight test blasted large amounts of sand and soil in the air, reaching communities within a {{cvt|10.7|km|mi}} radius.{{Cite arXiv |eprint=2403.10788 |class=physics.space-ph |first1=Philip |last1=Metzger |first2=Brandon |last2=Dotson |title=A new launch pad failure mode: Analysis of fine particles from the launch of the first Starship orbital test flight |year=2024}}{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=24 April 2023 |title=SpaceX Starship explosion spread particulate matter for miles |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/24/spacex-starship-explosion-spread-particulate-matter-for-miles.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425045623/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/24/spacex-starship-explosion-spread-particulate-matter-for-miles.html |archive-date=25 April 2023 |access-date=25 April 2023 |publisher=CNBC}}{{Cite news |last=Leinfelder |first=Andrea |date=2 August 2023 |title=SpaceX Starship sprinkled South Texas with mystery material. Here's what it was. |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/spacex-starship-launch-dumped-sand-across-south-18266534.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902095233/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/spacex-starship-launch-dumped-sand-across-south-18266534.php |archive-date=2 September 2023 |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} A brushfire on nearby state parkland also occurred, burning 3.5 acres of state parkland.{{Cite news |last1=Grush |first1=Loren |last2=Hull |first2=Dana |date=26 April 2023 |title=SpaceX's Starship Launch Sparked Fire on State Park Land |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-26/spacex-launch-sparked-3-5-acre-fire-on-state-park-land-us-says-lgy2cc46?leadSource=uverify%20wall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223203920/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-26/spacex-launch-sparked-3-5-acre-fire-on-state-park-land-us-says-lgy2cc46?leadSource=uverify%20wall |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=Bloomberg News}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 2}}

File:Starship-IFT2-ascent (cropped).jpg]]

After the first test flight, SpaceX began work on the launch mount to repair the damage it sustained during the test and to prevent future issues. The foundation of the launch tower was reinforced and a water-powered flame deflector was built under the launch mount.{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=28 July 2023 |title=SpaceX hasn't obtained environmental permits for 'flame deflector' system it's testing in Texas |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/28/spacex-is-testing-a-flame-deflector-for-starship-without-permits.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007041738/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/28/spacex-is-testing-a-flame-deflector-for-starship-without-permits.html |archive-date=7 October 2023 |access-date=1 September 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} Ship 25 and Booster 9 were rolled to the suborbital and orbital launch sites in May to undergo multiple tests.{{Cite web |last=Romera |first=Alejandro Alcantarilla |date=23 August 2023 |title=Booster 9 conducts pre-flight static fire test |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/08/booster9_staticfireattempt2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825202503/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/08/booster9_staticfireattempt2/ |archive-date=25 August 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Romera |first=Alejandro Alcantarilla |date=21 June 2023 |title=Ship 25 begins engine testing as Starship launch pad work continues |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/06/ship-25-engine-testing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705115540/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/06/ship-25-engine-testing/ |archive-date=5 July 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}

On 18 November 2023, Booster 9 and Ship 25 lifted off the pad.{{Cite web |last=Harwood |first=William |title=Super Heavy-Starship climbs high but falls short on second test flight – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/11/18/super-heavy-starship-climbs-high-but-falls-short-on-second-test-flight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118165728/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/11/18/super-heavy-starship-climbs-high-but-falls-short-on-second-test-flight/ |archive-date=18 November 2023 |access-date=23 November 2023 |language=en-US}} All 33 engines continued to function until staging, where the second stage separated by pushing itself away from the first stage using a hot-staging technique.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2023 |publisher=Space X |title=SpaceX – Launches |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121034547/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-2 |archive-date=21 November 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023}} Following separation, the Super Heavy booster completed its flip maneuver and initiated the boostback burn, but then experienced multiple successive engine failures and exploded.{{Cite web |date=18 November 2023 |title=SpaceX launches its giant new rocket but a pair of explosions ends the second test flight |url=https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120020601/https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=18 November 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Skipper |first1=Joe |last2=Roulette |first2=Joey |last3=Gorman |first3=Steve |date=18 November 2023 |editor-last=Dunham |editor-first=Will |title=SpaceX Starship launch presumed failed minutes after reaching space |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/spacex-starship-launched-test-flight-texas-after-last-one-blew-up-2023-11-18/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123063309/https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/spacex-starship-launched-test-flight-texas-after-last-one-blew-up-2023-11-18/ |archive-date=23 November 2023 |access-date=18 November 2023 |work=Reuters |editor2-last=Russell |editor2-first=Ros |editor3-last=Craft |editor3-first=Diane}} Blockage in a liquid oxygen filter caused one of the engines to fail in a way that resulted in the destruction of the booster, which occurred three and a half minutes into the flight at an altitude of ~90 km over the Gulf of Mexico.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=26 February 2024 |title=SpaceX discloses cause of Starship anomalies as it clears an FAA hurdle |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/faa-closes-starship-inquiry-and-spacex-details-causes-of-november-accidents/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314180353/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/faa-closes-starship-inquiry-and-spacex-details-causes-of-november-accidents/ |archive-date=14 March 2024 |access-date=14 March 2024}}

The second stage continued until it reached an altitude of ~{{Convert|149|km|mi}}, after over eight minutes of flight; before engine cutoff, telemetry was lost on the second stage. SpaceX said that a safe command based on flight performance data triggered the flight termination system and destroyed the second stage, before achieving its planned orbit or attempting re-entry.{{Cite web |last=Dinner |first=Josh |date=18 November 2023 |title=SpaceX Starship megarocket launches on 2nd-ever test flight, explodes in 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' (video) |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-second-test-flight-launch-explodes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120125753/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-second-test-flight-launch-explodes |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en-us}} It appeared to re-enter a few hundred miles north of the Virgin Islands, according to NOAA weather radar data.{{Cite tweet |number=1725917544114974995 |user=planet4589 |title=Thanks to NOAA's Kenneth Howard for pointing me to this NOAA weather radar data showing a debris cloud exactly over my estimated Starship reentry point! |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |date=19 November 2023 |access-date=16 June 2024}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 3}}

File:Starship IFT-3 Liftoff.webm]]

Following the second flight test (which saw the loss of both stages), significant changes were implemented, including upgrading Starship's thrust vector control system to electric thrust vector control (TVC){{Cite web |date=26 February 2024 |title=SpaceX – Updates |url=https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210032044/https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |archive-date=10 February 2022 |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=SpaceX}} and measures to delay liquid oxygen (LOX) venting until after Starship engine cutoff (SECO) has taken place.

Flight 3 launched from the SpaceX Starbase facility along the South Texas coast around 8:25 a.m. CDT on 14 March 2024, coincidentally the 22nd anniversary of the founding of SpaceX.{{Cite web |date=10 January 2024 |title=SpaceX reveals anticipated date for third Starship flight |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/space/spacex-reveals-anticipated-date-for-third-starship-flight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111164954/https://www.digitaltrends.com/space/spacex-reveals-anticipated-date-for-third-starship-flight/ |archive-date=11 January 2024 |access-date=18 April 2024 |website=Digital Trends |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Ryan |date=14 December 2023 |title=SpaceX Pushes Ahead to Flight 3 with the Rollout of Ship 28 |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/12/spacex-flight-3-rollout-ship-28/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231005848/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/12/spacex-flight-3-rollout-ship-28/ |archive-date=31 December 2023 |access-date=18 April 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}} Like IFT-2, all 33 engines on the booster ignited and stage separation was successful.{{Citation |title=SpaceX Launches Third Starship Flight Test |date=14 March 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxCYzixV3s |access-date=14 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314154312/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxCYzixV3s |archive-date=14 March 2024 |url-status=live |language=en}} B10 conducted a boostback burn, however, the planned landing in the Gulf of Mexico was not successful, as it exploded at {{cvt|462|m|ft}} above the surface.{{Cite web |title=Starship's Third Flight Test |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306183144/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3 |archive-date=6 March 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=SpaceX}}

The Starship spacecraft itself, after reaching space and orbital velocity, conducted several tests after engine cutoff, including initiating a propellant transfer demo and payload dispenser test.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=7 March 2024 |title=SpaceX to push the envelope on 3rd Starship test flight |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-third-test-flight-objectives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307112417/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-third-test-flight-objectives |archive-date=7 March 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Space.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tingley |first=Brett |date=6 March 2024 |title=SpaceX eyes March 14 for 3rd Starship test flight |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-3rd-test-flight-date |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306173816/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-3rd-test-flight-date |archive-date=6 March 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Space.com}} It attempted to re-enter the atmosphere,{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=6 March 2024 |title=The next Starship mission has a tentative launch date: March 14 |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/the-next-starship-mission-has-a-tentative-launch-date-march-14/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306144340/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/the-next-starship-mission-has-a-tentative-launch-date-march-14/ |archive-date=6 March 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} and at an altitude of around {{cvt|65|km|mi}}, all telemetry from Ship 28 stopped, indicating a loss of the vehicle.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=14 March 2024 |title=SpaceX celebrates major progress on the third flight of Starship |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/after-its-third-test-flight-spacexs-starship-could-soon-carry-satellites/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316013647/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/after-its-third-test-flight-spacexs-starship-could-soon-carry-satellites/ |archive-date=16 March 2024 |access-date=16 March 2024}} This flight test demonstrated a cryogenic propellant transfer, by transferring propellant from the Ship's header tanks into its main tanks while in space, a technology which is required for Starship HLS to exit Low Earth orbit (LEO). The result of this test was declared successful by NASA and SpaceX. Additional data analysis is occurring on the fluid dynamics such as slosh and boil-off of the propellant.{{Cite web |last=Alamalhodaei |first=Aria |date=14 March 2024 |title=SpaceX makes significant progress with third Starship orbital test flight |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/spacex-makes-significant-progress-with-third-starship-orbital-test-flight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314152028/https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/spacex-makes-significant-progress-with-third-starship-orbital-test-flight/ |archive-date=14 March 2024 |access-date=14 March 2024 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last1=Wattles |first1=Jackie |last2=Strickland |first2=Ashley |date=15 March 2024 |title=SpaceX's Starship reaches new heights in monumental test flight but is now lost |url=https://abc7chicago.com/spacex-starship-3-launch-time-flight/14523436/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314182457/https://abc7chicago.com/spacex-starship-3-launch-time-flight/14523436/ |archive-date=14 March 2024 |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=ABC7 Chicago |publisher=CNN |publication-place=Chicago, Illinois}}{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=27 April 2024 |title=SpaceX making progress on Starship in-space refueling technologies |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-making-progress-on-starship-in-space-refueling-technologies/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 4}}

The fourth flight test of the full Starship configuration launched on 6 June 2024, at 7:50 a.m. CDT.{{Cite web |date=6 June 2024 |title=Live updates: SpaceX to launch its Starship megarocket on a test flight to orbit |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/live-blog/live-updates-spacex-starship-mega-rocket-launch-rcna155687 |access-date=6 June 2024 |publisher=NBC News |language=en}} The goals for the test flight were for the Super Heavy booster to land on a 'virtual tower' in the ocean, and for the Ship to survive peak heating during atmospheric reentry.{{Cite news |last=Davenport |first=Justin |date=19 April 2024 |title=As IFT-4 prepares for launch, Starship's future is coming into focus |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/ift-4-prepares-starships-future-focus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420161328/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/ift-4-prepares-starships-future-focus/ |archive-date=20 April 2024 |access-date=20 April 2024 |work=NASASpaceflight}} The flight test was successful in both regards, with Super Heavy achieving a soft splashdown and Ship surviving atmospheric reentry and a controlled splashdown.{{Cite tweet |number=1798715759193096245 |user=SpaceX |title=Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting fourth flight test of Starship! |author=SpaceX |date=6 June 2024 |access-date=16 June 2024}}

File:Starship Booster Landing on Mechzilla (54064036815).jpg is successfully caught by the launch tower during flight test 5]]

{{Main|Starship flight test 5}}

In April 2024, Musk stated one of the goals was to attempt a booster tower landing based on successful booster performance in flight 4. Vehicle testing commenced in May 2024.{{Cite tweet |number=1776144738971693245 |user=elonmusk |title=Flight 4 next month |first=Elon |last=Musk |date=5 April 2024 |access-date=16 June 2024}} SpaceX claimed that B12 and S30 were ready to launch in early August, in advance of regulatory approval.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=9 August 2024 |title=Starship is ready for its 5th test flight, SpaceX says (photos) |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-ready-fifth-test-flight |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Space.com |language=en}} SpaceX flew S30 and B12 on 13 October 2024, with B12 returning to the launch site for a successful catch for the first time, and S30 successfully splashing down in the Indian Ocean.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC87WmFN_As |title=SpaceX Launches Starship for the Fifth Time (and Tries to Catch a Booster) |date=11 October 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=13 October 2024 |via=YouTube}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 6}}

Ship 31 completed a successful cryogenic test in July 2024 and a static fire in September.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEeKU_q7x9M |title=SpaceX' Tower 2 is getting Ready for Stacking! – Ship 31 Cryo Test |date=4 July 2024 |last=WAI Plus |access-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706180424/https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=tGd_8CBw5iZ5YhbD&v=dEeKU_q7x9M |archive-date=6 July 2024 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih-RZW-jLHU |title=SpaceX Static Fires Ship 31 – Upper Stage of the Sixth Starship Flight |date=18 September 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=18 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918230654/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih-RZW-jLHU&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=18 September 2024 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} Booster 13 completed similar tests in April and October.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX Starship Booster 13 LOX fill test looks successful |url=https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxHsJcGBbjKntWmdEEUB0uVOsVE-VeMT3p |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=www.youtube.com}} Flight 6 was flown on 19 November 2024, with a water landing of the booster rather than a catch.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_50kAOJoI |title=Starship Stakeout - SpaceX Launches Starship for the Sixth Time |date=16 November 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=19 November 2024 |via=YouTube}} Flight 6 was the first to successfully conduct a Raptor engine relight in the vacuum of space, paving the way for payload deployments on future flights. A stuffed toy banana served as the zero-g indicator, becoming Starship's first payload, though it remained within the vehicle for the duration of the flight. Eric Berger claimed that due to the success of the in-space relight, Starship would likely be "cleared to travel into orbit".{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=22 November 2024 |title=Rocket Report: Next Vulcan launch slips into 2025; Starship gets a green light |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/11/rocket-report-next-vulcan-launch-slips-into-2025-starship-gets-a-green-light/ |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 7}}

Ship 33 completed a successful cryogenic test in October 2024{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHrcahMX4w |title=New Starship Block 2 Cryo Proof Tested {{!}} SpaceX Boca Chica |date=31 October 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=17 January 2025 |via=YouTube}} and a static fire in late December.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w07qpmVVYxY |title=Ship 33 Test Campaign Begins {{!}} SpaceX Boca Chica |date=14 December 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=17 January 2025 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mju3GGQjLmg |title=SpaceX's Starship Prepares for Flight 7: Testing & Expansion at Starbase Starbase Update |date=16 December 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=17 January 2025 |via=YouTube}} Its counterpart, Booster 14, also underwent cryogenic testing in October.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-_1ocNvFEo |title=Vulcan Booster Fail, yet Still Completed Mission, and SpaceX Starship Flight 5 in Only Days!? |date=5 October 2024 |last=Marcus House |access-date=17 January 2025 |via=YouTube}} Booster 14 rolled out to OLP-1 and conducted a successful spin prime test and static fire in early December.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeDzNNyftqQ |title=SpaceX Tests Booster 14 - Spin Prime {{!}} Starbase Starship |date=7 December 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=17 January 2025 |via=YouTube}} Flight 7 was flown on 16 January 2025; the mission profile for flight test 7 was expected to be similar to the previous launch, targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean after attempting an in-space engine relight. Ship 33 was also expected to deploy ten Starlink "simulators," which were also expected to reenter over the Indian Ocean.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-7 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250116190315/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-7 |archive-date=16 January 2025 |access-date=17 January 2025 |website=SpaceX |language=en-US}} Contact with Ship 33 was lost shortly before its engines were scheduled to shut down.{{Cite web |last1=Strickland |first1=Jackie |last2=Wattles |first2=Ashley |date=16 January 2025 |title=SpaceX executes second-ever 'chopsticks' booster catch but Starship spacecraft is lost |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/16/science/spacex-starship-megarocket-test-launch/index.html |access-date=17 January 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}} Subsequently, Ship 33 was seen exploding as it flew over the Turks and Caicos Islands. The booster successfully returned to the launch site and was caught by the chopsticks on OLP-A. As a result of the explosion, numerous commercial airline flights were diverted or delayed.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=16 January 2025 |title=SpaceX's Starship rocket breaks up after launch, flights divert after FAA debris warning |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/16/spacex-launch-starship-flight-seven-starlink-satellite-test.html |access-date=17 January 2025 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=16 January 2025 |title=SpaceX prototype fails in space after launch caused string of Qantas delays |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-17/spacex-launch-to-go-ahead-after-causing-string-of-qantas-delays/104825834 |access-date=17 January 2025 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

{{Main|Starship flight test 8}}

On March 3, a launch attempt was aborted after multiple holds at T−40 seconds.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAlPb6NrCVo |title=(SCRUB) SpaceX Launches Starship Flight 8 and Attempts to Catch Another Booster! |date=2025-03-03 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=2025-03-04 |via=YouTube}} Shortly before the scheduled launch at 6:45 p.m. CDT, an issue caused a hold for more than five minutes. The hold was briefly lifted, but a new hold was put in place due to issues connected to the Super Heavy booster.{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=2025-03-03 |title=SpaceX calls off Starship's first flight attempt after January explosion of flight 7 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/03/science/starship-launch-test-flight-8/index.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=CNN |language=en}} SpaceX called for a cancellation of the launch and set 6 March for the launch.{{Cite web |last=Robinson-Smith |first=Will |date=3 March 2025 |title=Launch preview: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 8 following Monday scrub – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/03/03/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-starship-flight-8-suborbital-test-mission-from-starbase/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Spaceflight Now |language=en-US}} The eighth flight test was later launched on 6 March 2025 at 23:30 hours UTC. The Super Heavy booster was successfully caught by the launch tower. During Ship 34's initial burn, four of its six engines experienced premature shutdowns that resulted in a loss of attitude control followed by a total loss of telemetry. The vehicle's breakup was observed from Florida, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacex-loses-starship-rocket-test-flight-prior-explosion-rcna194923 |title=SpaceX again loses its Starship rocket on test flight after explosion during previous attempt |last=Chow |first=Denise |date=March 6, 2025 |website=NBC News |access-date=March 6, 2025 }} According to SpaceX, communications with the spacecraft ended 9 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=2025-03-06 |title=SpaceX's Starship Rocket Disrupts Florida Airports With Unsuccessful Test Flight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/science/spacex-starship-launch.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The flight was the second of the Block 2 Ship, and attempted to repeat the previous flight's profile.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-24 |title=Starship's Eighth Flight Test |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-8 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=SpaceX.com |language=en-US}} Due to the breakup of the vehicles, the Federal Aviation Administration briefly issued ground stop orders for multiple Florida airports.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-07 |title=SpaceX's Starship explodes in second failure for Musk's Mars program |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/spacex-starship-explodes-musk |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

SpaceX develops the Starship primarily with private funding.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=26 May 2023 |title=SpaceX investment in Starship approaches $5 billion |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-investment-in-starship-approaches-5-billion/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223203839/https://spacenews.com/spacex-investment-in-starship-approaches-5-billion/ |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=21 September 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Kolodny |first1=Lora |last2=Sheetz |first2=Michael |date=22 May 2023 |title=SpaceX set to join FAA to fight environmental lawsuit that could delay Starship work |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/22/spacex-joining-faa-to-fight-environmental-lawsuit-over-starship.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523084507/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/22/spacex-joining-faa-to-fight-environmental-lawsuit-over-starship.html |archive-date=23 May 2023 |access-date=23 May 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} SpaceX Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen disclosed in court that SpaceX has invested more than $3 billion into the Starbase facility and Starship systems from July 2014 to May 2023. Elon Musk stated in April 2023 that SpaceX expected to spend about $2 billion on Starship development in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=30 April 2023 |title=SpaceX to spend about $2 billion on Starship this year, as Elon Musk pushes to reach orbit |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/29/elon-musk-spacexs-starship-costing-about-2-billion-this-year.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430115243/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/29/elon-musk-spacexs-starship-costing-about-2-billion-this-year.html |archive-date=30 April 2023 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Maidenberg |first=Micah |date=30 April 2023 |title=Elon Musk Expects SpaceX to Spend Around $2 Billion on Starship Rocket This Year |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-expects-spacex-to-spend-around-2-billion-on-starship-rocket-this-year-31f768fb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514180139/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-expects-spacex-to-spend-around-2-billion-on-starship-rocket-this-year-31f768fb |archive-date=14 May 2023 |access-date=14 May 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}} In a 2024 response to a lawsuit, SpaceX stated that the cost of the Starship program was approximately $4 million per day.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yd_cpPP4fE |title=SpaceX Launches Starship Flight 6 (and Catches a Booster) |date=16 November 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=19 November 2024 |via=YouTube}}{{Rp|page=|pages=25–26}} Adding that any day of delay to the Starship program represented a loss of $100,000.{{Rp|page=|pages=25–26}}

Musk has theorized that a Starship orbital launch might eventually cost SpaceX only $1 million to launch.{{Cite web |date=11 February 2022 |title=Elon Musk: Each Starship Launch Could Cost Just $1 Million |url=https://futurism.com/elon-musk-starship-launch-1-million |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221050958/https://futurism.com/elon-musk-starship-launch-1-million |archive-date=21 December 2023 |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Futurism}} Eurospace's director of research Pierre Lionnet stated in 2022 that Starship's launch price to customers would likely be higher because of the rocket's development cost.{{Cite journal |last=Scoles |first=Sarah |date=12 August 2022 |title=Prime mover |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/space-scientists-ready-starship-biggest-rocket-ever |url-status=live |journal=Science |language=en |volume=377 |issue=6607 |pages=702–705 |bibcode=2022Sci...377..702S |doi=10.1126/science.ade2873 |issn=0036-8075 |pmid=35951703 |s2cid=240464593 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818123709/https://www.science.org/content/article/space-scientists-ready-starship-biggest-rocket-ever |archive-date=18 August 2022 |access-date=21 August 2022}}

As part of the development of the Human Landing System for the Artemis program, SpaceX was awarded in April 2021 a $2.89 billion fixed-price contract from NASA to develop the Starship lunar lander for Artemis III.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Katherine |date=16 April 2021 |title=NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/as-artemis-moves-forward-nasa-picks-spacex-to-land-next-americans-on-moon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422144134/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/as-artemis-moves-forward-nasa-picks-spacex-to-land-next-americans-on-moon/ |archive-date=22 April 2021 |access-date=30 April 2023 |website=NASA}}{{Cite web |date=17 November 2022 |title=SpaceX Awarded $1.15 Billion Contract to Build NASA's Second Lunar Lander |url=https://news.yahoo.com/spacex-awarded-1-15-billion-222500498.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123090616/https://news.yahoo.com/spacex-awarded-1-15-billion-222500498.html |archive-date=23 November 2022 |access-date=30 April 2023 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}} Blue Origin, a bidding competitor to SpaceX, disputed the decision and began a legal case against NASA and SpaceX in August 2021, causing NASA to suspend the contract for three months until the case was dismissed in the Court of Federal Claims.{{Cite web |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=30 April 2021 |title=NASA suspends SpaceX's $2.9 billion moon lander contract after rivals protest |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/30/22412771/nasa-spacex-hls-moon-lander-blue-origin-protest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828162019/https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/30/22412771/nasa-spacex-hls-moon-lander-blue-origin-protest |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=26 December 2021 |website=The Verge |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=4 November 2021 |title=Bezos' Blue Origin loses NASA lawsuit over SpaceX $2.9 billion lunar lander contract |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/04/bezos-blue-origin-loses-lawsuit-against-nasa-over-spacex-lunar-lander.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104030923/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/04/bezos-blue-origin-loses-lawsuit-against-nasa-over-spacex-lunar-lander.html |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pruitt-Young |first=Sharon |date=17 August 2021 |title=Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Sues NASA over a Lunar Lander Contract Given to Rival SpaceX |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/17/1028480777/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-sues-nasa-spacex-lunar-lander-contract-moon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020101029/https://www.npr.org/2021/08/17/1028480777/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-sues-nasa-spacex-lunar-lander-contract-moon |archive-date=20 October 2021 |access-date=9 June 2022 |publisher=NPR |language=en}} Two years later Blue Origin was awarded a $3.4 billion fixed-price contract for its lunar lander.{{Cite web |last=O’Shea |first=Claire |date=19 May 2023 |title=NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-as-second-artemis-lunar-lander-provider |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519150415/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-as-second-artemis-lunar-lander-provider/ |archive-date=19 May 2023 |access-date=19 May 2023 |website=NASA}}

In 2022, NASA awarded SpaceX a $1.15 billion fixed-price contract for a second lunar lander for Artemis IV. The same year, SpaceX was awarded a $102 million five-year contract to develop the Rocket Cargo program for the United States Space Force.{{Cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=19 January 2022 |title=SpaceX wins $102 million Air Force contract to demonstrate technologies for point-to-point space transportation |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-102-million-air-force-contract-to-demonstrate-technologies-for-point-to-point-space-transportation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329134536/https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-102-million-air-force-contract-to-demonstrate-technologies-for-point-to-point-space-transportation/ |archive-date=29 March 2022 |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

{{transcluded section|List of Starship launches|List of Starship launches}}

{{#section-h::List of Starship launches|Past launches}}

{{transcluded section|List of Starship launches|List of Starship launches}}

{{#section-h::List of Starship launches|Future launches}}

SpaceX plans to use Starship to launch the second generation of satellites for SpaceX's Starlink system, which currently delivers high-speed internet to over 70 countries.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=19 August 2021 |title=SpaceX adding capabilities to Starlink internet satellites, plans to launch them with Starship |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/19/spacex-starlink-satellite-internet-new-capabilities-starship-launch.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107100041/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/19/spacex-starlink-satellite-internet-new-capabilities-starship-launch.html |archive-date=7 January 2022 |access-date=13 January 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} An analyst at financial services company Morgan Stanley stated development of Starship and Starlink are intertwined, with Starship's planned launch capacity enabling cheaper Starlink launches, and Starlink's profits financing Starship's development costs.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=19 October 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley says SpaceX's Starship may 'transform investor expectations' about space |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/19/morgan-stanley-spacex-starship-may-transform-investor-expectations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220140409/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/19/morgan-stanley-spacex-starship-may-transform-investor-expectations.html |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=20 December 2021 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} In deficit from its inception until the end of 2022,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Rich |date=11 December 2022 |title=Elon Musk Admits: Starlink Is Losing Money |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/12/11/elon-musk-admits-starlink-is-losing-money/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119004531/https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/12/11/elon-musk-admits-starlink-is-losing-money/ |archive-date=19 November 2023 |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}} Starlink was first reported to be cash flow positive in the first quarter of 2023,{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=13 September 2023 |title=SpaceX no longer taking losses to produce Starlink satellite antennas, a key step to improving profitability |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/spacex-no-longer-taking-losses-to-produce-starlink-satellite-antennas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915160216/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/spacex-no-longer-taking-losses-to-produce-starlink-satellite-antennas.html |archive-date=15 September 2023 |access-date=30 October 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=2 November 2023 |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX's Starlink business 'achieved breakeven cash flow' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/02/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-breakeven-cash-flow.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103164120/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/02/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-breakeven-cash-flow.html |archive-date=3 November 2023 |access-date=3 November 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} though Elon Musk said that Starlink had only reached "break-even cashflow" in 2023.{{Cite news |date=2 November 2023 |title=Starlink achieves cash-flow breakeven, says SpaceX CEO Musk |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-starlink-has-achieved-breakeven-cash-flow-2023-11-02/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103050848/https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-starlink-has-achieved-breakeven-cash-flow-2023-11-02/ |archive-date=3 November 2023 |access-date=19 November 2023 |work=Reuters |language=en}} In December 2023, the FCC issued a final denial of a $885 million Starlink RDOF subsidy because of Starlink's "continuing inability to successfully launch on the Starship rocket".{{Cite web |date=13 December 2023 |title=FCC issues final denial of $885M Starlink subsidy |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/12/fcc-issues-final-denial-of-885m-starlink-subsidy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220085704/https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/12/fcc-issues-final-denial-of-885m-starlink-subsidy/ |archive-date=20 December 2023 |access-date=18 December 2023 |language=en}}

File:Realistic Artemis 3 mission diagram labeled.png launch profile of a human landing on the Moon, involving Starship HLS, Starship tanker variants, and Orion spacecraft | upright=1.8]]

Starship HLS was initially chosen by NASA as the sole lunar Human Landing System for the planned Artemis III and Artemis IV crewed missions, as part of the Artemis program.{{Cite web |last=Burghardt |first=Thomas |date=20 April 2021 |title=After NASA taps SpaceX's Starship for first Artemis landings, the agency looks to on-ramp future vehicles |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/nasa-starship-first-landings-on-ramp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420213049/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/nasa-starship-first-landings-on-ramp/ |archive-date=20 April 2021 |access-date=13 January 2022 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dodson |first=Gerelle |date=15 November 2022 |title=NASA Awards SpaceX Second Contract Option for Artemis Moon Landing |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-spacex-second-contract-option-for-artemis-moon-landing-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913175133/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-spacex-second-contract-option-for-artemis-moon-landing-0/ |archive-date=13 September 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=NASA}} Starship HLS is to be launched into a low Earth orbit, and refueled by multiple Starship tanker spacecraft.{{Cite report |url=https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-22-003.pdf |title=NASA's management of the Artemis missions |date=15 November 2021 |publisher=NASA Office of Inspector General |access-date=22 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115213313/https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-22-003.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2021 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|pages=4,5}} Once fueled, it would perform a trans lunar injection burn and enter a near-rectilinear halo orbit{{Cite web |title=Cislunar and Gateway Overview |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cislunar-update-gerstenmaier-crusan-v5a_tagged_0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118183706/https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cislunar-update-gerstenmaier-crusan-v5a_tagged_0.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2023 |access-date=7 January 2024}} around the Moon, with a perilune of {{cvt|1500|km|mi}} occurring over the north pole and an apolune of {{cvt|70000|km|mi}} occurring over the south pole.{{Rp|pages=4,5}} The Orion spacecraft would then dock with Starship HLS and two of its four crew would transfer into Starship HLS.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2023 |title=Artemis III: NASA's First Human Mission to the Lunar South Pole |url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-iii/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107195237/https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-iii/ |archive-date=7 January 2024 |access-date=7 January 2024 |publisher=NASA |language=en-US}}{{Rp|pages=4,5}} Starship HLS would then use its engines to make a powered descent and land near the lunar south pole.{{Rp|pages=4,5}} After the crew performs the surface portion of its mission, the HLS would ascend with the crew.{{Rp|pages=4,5}} The crew would then transfer into the Orion spacecraft and return to Earth.{{Rp|pages=4,5}}

Astronomers have called to consider Starship's larger mass to orbit and wider cargo bay for proposed space telescopes such as LUVOIR, and to develop larger telescopes to take advantage of these capabilities.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=18 October 2023 |title=Astronomers say new telescopes should take advantage of 'Starship paradigm' |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/10/astronomers-say-new-telescopes-should-take-advantage-of-starship-paradigm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018150812/https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/10/astronomers-say-new-telescopes-should-take-advantage-of-starship-paradigm/ |archive-date=18 October 2023 |access-date=18 October 2023 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} Starship's {{cvt|9|m|ft}} fairing width could hold an {{cvt|8|m|ft}} wide space telescope mirror in a single piece, alleviating the need for complex unfolding such as that of the JWST's {{cvt|6.5|m|ft}} mirror, which added cost and delays.{{Cite journal |last1=Elvis |first1=Martin |last2=Lawrence |first2=Charles |last3=Seager |first3=Sara |date=2023 |title=Accelerating astrophysics with the SpaceX Starship |url=https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/76/2/40/2869438/Accelerating-astrophysics-with-the-SpaceX |url-status=live |journal=Physics Today |volume=76 |issue=2 |pages=40–45 |bibcode=2023PhT....76b..40E |doi=10.1063/PT.3.5176 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021113832/https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/76/2/40/2869438/Accelerating-astrophysics-with-the-SpaceX |archive-date=21 October 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023}} Ariane 5 imposed a ~6,500 kg limit on the telescope's weight. Starship's low launch cost could also allow probes to use heavier, more common, cheaper materials, such as glass instead of beryllium for large telescope mirrors. With a {{cvt|5|MT|lb}} mirror built using similar methods to the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror, the JWST would represent only 10% of the mass deliverable by a (refueled) Starship to the Sun–Earth L2 point, and therefore minimizing the weight of the telescope would not have been a dominant design consideration.

The National Academies of Science's 2020 survey recommended the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO); the space observatory, requiring a super heavy lift launch vehicle, will search for signs of life on exoplanets.{{Cite web |last=Kuhr |first=Jack |date=10 July 2024 |title=Habitable Worlds Observatory and the Future of Space Telescopes in the Era of Super Heavy Lift Launch |url=https://payloadspace.com/habitable-worlds-observatory-and-the-future-of-space-telescopes-in-the-era-of-heavy-lift-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711083551/https://payloadspace.com/habitable-worlds-observatory-and-the-future-of-space-telescopes-in-the-era-of-heavy-lift-launch/ |archive-date=11 July 2024 |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=payloadspace.com}} The HWO's team hopes for the success of big launchers due to their critical importance to the HWO's mission. Lee Feinberg, NASA HWO lead architect and JWST manager,{{Cite web |title=Lee Feinberg Biography Webb Telescope/NASA |url=https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/meetTheTeam/people/feinberg.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711090507/https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/meetTheTeam/people/feinberg.html |archive-date=11 July 2024 |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=jwst.nasa.gov |language=en}} stays in communication with SpaceX to track Starship's progress and has visited them in 2024 for that same purpose. The NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory will have a 6–8 meter mirror for now, but its design should be flexible to leverage launchers with potentially double the mass and volume by the time it launches in the 2040s. Former NASA JPL architect Casey Handmer believes the HWO to be far too conservative compared to what is possible with Starship. Handmer argues that Starship enables telescopes to scale up to the point of surface-level exoplanet imaging, perhaps big enough to detect seasonal migration patterns.

{{Main|Rocket Cargo}}

In January 2022, SpaceX was awarded a $102 million five-year contract to develop the Rocket Cargo program for the United States Space Force. The five-year contract is intended to "determine exactly what a rocket can achieve when used for cargo transport",{{Cite web |date=21 January 2022 |title=USAF awards SpaceX $102M to test point-to-point Starship flights |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/30020-usaf-gives-spacex-102m-to-test-starship-transport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226044456/https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/30020-usaf-gives-spacex-102m-to-test-starship-transport |archive-date=26 December 2023 |access-date=26 December 2023 |website=AeroTime |language=en-US}} and will see the Air Force Research Laboratory collect data during commercial launches of Starship. The contract includes an eventual demonstration mission with the launch and landing of a cargo-laden Starship in a point-to-point flight.

The Department of Defense has planned a test with Starship as part of its program to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy up to 100 tons of cargo and supplies, a capability it calls point-to-point delivery (P2PD). The test is envisioned to take place in FY25 or FY26.{{Cite web |last=Hitchens |first=Theresa |date=4 June 2024 |title=ROC Stars: Air Force seeks more firms for cargo delivery via rocket |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2024/06/roc-stars-air-force-seeks-more-firms-for-cargo-delivery-via-rocket/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}

In 2024, the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return project, one of NASA's highest priority flagship projects, suffered a setback when an independent review board assessing the project's feasibility concluded that the project could not be completed under its mission profile. In April 2024, the Administrator of NASA then announced that a new mission profile was needed for the project and that NASA would turn to industry for proposals, with responses due in fall 2024, and a high emphasis on lower total cost and lower risk.{{Cite web |last=Robinson-Smith |first=Will |title=NASA requests proposals to reduce cost, timeline of Mars Sample Return mission – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/04/16/nasa-requests-proposals-to-reduce-cost-timeline-of-mars-sample-return-mission/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |language=en-US}} Starship was widely seen as a leading candidate to serve as a central component of the new mission profile architecture.{{Cite web |last=Опанасенко |first=Евгений |date=24 April 2024 |title=SpaceX Starship to rescue samples from Mars |url=https://universemagazine.com/en/spacex-starship-to-save-failed-mars-sample-return-mission/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Журнал The Universemagazine Space Tech |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=20 April 2024 |title=Experts Suggest Using SpaceX's Starship to Rescue Stranded Samples on Surface of Mars |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/experts-suggest-using-spacexs-starship-111513492.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428024229/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/experts-suggest-using-spacexs-starship-111513492.html |archive-date=28 April 2024 |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jonathan |title=NASA's Rocks Are Stuck on Mars. SpaceX's Starship Could Retrieve Them |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacexs-starship-could-save-nasas-beleaguered-mars-sample-return-mission/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429212115/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacexs-starship-could-save-nasas-beleaguered-mars-sample-return-mission/ |archive-date=29 April 2024 |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}

SpaceX has proposed using Starship for point-to-point flights (called "Earth to Earth" flights by SpaceX), traveling anywhere on Earth in under an hour.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=4 June 2021 |title=The Pentagon wants to use private rockets like SpaceX's Starship to deliver cargo around the world |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/04/us-military-rocket-cargo-program-for-spacexs-starship-and-others.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901090644/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/04/us-military-rocket-cargo-program-for-spacexs-starship-and-others.html |archive-date=1 September 2021 |access-date=22 June 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} Musk stated that SpaceX would complete hundreds of cargo flights before launching with human passengers.{{Cite news |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=1 September 2020 |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX's Starship rocket will launch "hundreds of missions" before flying people |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/01/elon-musk-spacex-starship-to-fly-hundreds-of-missions-before-people.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902190003/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/01/elon-musk-spacex-starship-to-fly-hundreds-of-missions-before-people.html |archive-date=2 September 2020 |access-date=7 February 2021 |publisher=CNBC}}

{{Further|SpaceX Mars colonization program}}

According to SpaceX, the design of Starship is driven by its requirement to be able to land crews on Mars,{{Cite book |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Donald |title=The End of Astronauts: Why Robots Are the Future of Exploration |last2=Rees |first2=Martin J. |date=19 April 2022 |publisher=Belknap Press |isbn=978-0-674-25772-6 |oclc=1266218790}}{{Rp|page=120}} though SpaceX has not published technical plans or designs about Starship's life support systems, radiation protection, docking system, or in-orbit refueling system for Mars.{{Cite web |last=Grush |first=Loren |date=4 October 2019 |title=Elon Musk's future Starship updates could use more details on human health and survival |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/4/20895056/elon-musk-starship-spacex-human-health-life-support-radiation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008165907/https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/4/20895056/elon-musk-starship-spacex-human-health-life-support-radiation |archive-date=8 October 2019 |access-date=24 January 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en}} The spacecraft would be launched to low Earth orbit and refueled in orbit before heading to Mars.{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Ben |date=3 June 2019 |title=SpaceX beginning to tackle some of the big challenges for a Mars journey |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/spacex-working-on-details-of-how-to-get-people-to-mars-and-safely-back/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011210559/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/spacex-working-on-details-of-how-to-get-people-to-mars-and-safely-back/ |archive-date=11 October 2021 |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} After landing on Mars, the Sabatier reaction could be used to synthesize liquid methane and liquid oxygen, Starship's fuel, in a power-to-gas plant.{{Cite journal |last1=Zubrin |first1=Robert M. |last2=Muscatello |first2=Anthony C. |last3=Berggren |first3=Mark |date=January 2013 |title=Integrated Mars In Situ Propellant Production System |url=https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29AS.1943-5525.0000201 |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Aerospace Engineering |language=en |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=43–56 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000201 |issn=0893-1321 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223225105/https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000201 |archive-date=23 December 2023 |access-date=23 December 2023}} The plant's raw resources would be Martian water and Martian carbon dioxide. On Earth, similar technologies could be used to make carbon-neutral propellant for the rocket.{{Cite news |last=Killelea |first=Eric |date=16 December 2021 |title=Musk looks to Earth's atmosphere as source of rocket fuel |url=https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Elon-Musk-SpaceX-rocket-fuel-16707544.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220173105/https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Elon-Musk-SpaceX-rocket-fuel-16707544.php |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=31 March 2022 |work=San Antonio Express-News |language=en-US}} To date, there has been one proof of concept experiment (MOXIE) demonstrating the extraction of oxygen from Martian carbon dioxide, with George Dvorsky writing for Gizmodo commenting that we are not "remotely close" to turning this "into something practical".{{Cite web |last=Kurkowski |first=Seth |date=2 November 2023 |title=Leaked new SpaceX Starship HLS renders show a much more refined design |url=https://spaceexplored.com/2023/11/02/leaked-new-spacex-starship-hls-renders-show-a-much-more-refined-design/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205081550/https://spaceexplored.com/2023/11/02/leaked-new-spacex-starship-hls-renders-show-a-much-more-refined-design/ |archive-date=5 December 2023 |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=Space Explored |language=en-US}}

SpaceX and Musk have stated their goal of colonizing Mars to ensure the long-term survival of humanity,{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=27 September 2016 |title=Elon Musk's Plan: Get Humans to Mars, and Beyond |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/science/elon-musk-spacex-mars-exploration.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929095051/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/science/elon-musk-spacex-mars-exploration.html |archive-date=29 September 2016 |access-date=27 September 2016 |website=The New York Times}} with an ambition of having sent one million people to Mars by 2050.{{Cite web |last=Kooser |first=Amanda |date=16 January 2020 |title=Elon Musk breaks down the Starship numbers for a million-person SpaceX Mars colony |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-drops-details-for-spacexs-million-person-mars-mega-colony/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207024444/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-drops-details-for-spacexs-million-person-mars-mega-colony/ |archive-date=7 February 2022 |access-date=7 February 2022 |publisher=CNET |language=en}} In March 2022, he estimated that the first crewed Mars landing could occur in 2029.{{Cite web |last=Torchinsky |first=Rina |date=17 March 2022 |title=Elon Musk hints at a crewed mission to Mars in 2029 |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/17/1087167893/elon-musk-mars-2029 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608022151/https://www.npr.org/2022/03/17/1087167893/elon-musk-mars-2029 |archive-date=8 June 2022 |access-date=16 June 2022 |publisher=NPR |language=en}} This timeline has been criticized as unrealistic by Kevin Olsen, a physicist at the University of Oxford, England, who has said that "colony needs to become a factory" to produce air, fuel and water as it is "fundamentally impossible to create a completely closed environment in space", and that the technology to do so is "far, far behind the technology of space flight and habitation construction".{{Cite web |date=3 June 2022 |title=Elon Musk's Plan to Send a Million Colonists to Mars by 2050 Is Pure Delusion |url=https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-mars-colony-delusion-1848839584 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223223400/https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-mars-colony-delusion-1848839584 |archive-date=23 December 2023 |access-date=26 December 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}} Serkan Saydam, a mining engineering professor from the University of New South Wales, Australia, stated that humanity currently lacks the necessary technology to establish a Martian colony, and will likely lack the capacity to establish a Martian city with one million people by 2050.

One future payload is the Superbird-9 communication satellite, which was Starship's first contract for externally made commercial satellites.{{Cite web |last=Rainbow |first=Jason |date=18 August 2022 |title=Sky Perfect JSAT picks SpaceX's Starship for 2024 satellite launch |url=https://spacenews.com/sky-perfect-jsat-picks-spacexs-starship-for-2024-satellite-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819151522/https://spacenews.com/sky-perfect-jsat-picks-spacexs-starship-for-2024-satellite-launch/ |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=19 August 2022 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} Another planned payload is the Starlab space station, which Starship will launch in a single piece.{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=31 January 2024 |title=SpaceX's Starship to launch 'Starlab' private space station in late 2020s |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-launch-starlab-private-space-station |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303115750/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-launch-starlab-private-space-station |archive-date=3 March 2024 |access-date=3 March 2024 |work=Space.com}}

In the future, the spacecraft's crewed version could be used for space tourism—for example, for the third flight of the Polaris program.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=14 February 2022 |title=Billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman buys more private SpaceX flights, including one on Starship |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/14/jared-isaacman-buys-private-spacex-flights-for-polaris-program.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214154234/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/14/jared-isaacman-buys-private-spacex-flights-for-polaris-program.html |archive-date=14 February 2022 |access-date=14 February 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}

Research conducted by Project Lyra determined that with refueling in LEO, a Starship could send a spacecraft to 'Oumuamua on a journey taking 20 years.{{Citation |last=Hibberd |first=Adam |title=Project Lyra: The Way to Go and the Launcher to Get There |year=2023 |arxiv=2305.03065}} A gravity assist would be required at Jupiter.

{{Further information|SpaceX Starbase|SpaceX facilities}}

File:Bays + ships.jpg, Ship 26 and Booster 10 forward section under construction in Starbase build site, March 2023]]

Starbase consists of a manufacturing facility and launch site,{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2 July 2021 |title=Rocket Report: Super Heavy rolls to launch site, Funk will get to fly |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/rocket-report-super-heavy-rolls-to-launch-site-funk-will-get-to-fly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006203707/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/rocket-report-super-heavy-rolls-to-launch-site-funk-will-get-to-fly/ |archive-date=6 October 2021 |access-date=12 December 2021 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} and is located at Boca Chica, Texas. Both facilities operate 24 hours a day. A maximum of 450 full-time employees may be onsite.{{rp||page=28}} The site is planned to consist of two launch sites, one payload processing facility, one seven-acre solar farm, and other facilities.{{rp||pages=34–36}} The company leases Starbase's land for the STARGATE research facility, owned by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It uses part of it for Starship development.{{Cite web |title=STARGATE – Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission |url=https://www.utrgv.edu/cara/programs/stargate/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805084149/https://www.utrgv.edu/cara/programs/stargate/index.htm |archive-date=5 August 2021 |access-date=30 December 2021 |website=University of Texas Rio Grande Valley}}

Raptor engines are tested at the Rocket Development facility in McGregor, Texas. The facility has two main test stands: one horizontal stand for both engine types and one vertical stand for sea-level-optimized rocket engines. In the future, a nearby factory, which {{As of|2021|September|lc=y}} was under construction, will make the new generation of sea-level Raptors while SpaceX's headquarters in California will continue building the Raptor Vacuum and test new designs.{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |date=16 September 2021 |title=New Raptor Factory under construction at SpaceX McGregor amid continued engine testing |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/raptor-factor-testing-mcgregor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022055902/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/raptor-factor-testing-mcgregor/ |archive-date=22 October 2021 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}}

At Florida, a facility at Cocoa purifies silica for Starship heat-shield tiles, producing a slurry that is then shipped to a facility at Cape Canaveral. In the past, workers constructed the Starship MK2 prototype in competition with Starbase's crews. The Kennedy Space Center, also in Florida, is planned to host other Starship facilities, such as a Starship launch site at Launch Complex 39A and a production facility at Roberts Road. This production facility is being expanded from "Hangar X", the Falcon rocket boosters' storage and maintenance facility. It will include a {{Cvt|30000|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} building, loading dock, and a place for constructing integration tower sections.{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=22 February 2022 |title=Focus on Florida – SpaceX lays the groundwork for East Coast Starship sites |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/02/focus-florida-east-coast-starship/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304190752/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/02/focus-florida-east-coast-starship/ |archive-date=4 March 2022 |access-date=4 March 2022 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}} Adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center will be an additional launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37, likely to service missions for the complex owner, the United States Space Force.

File:Starbase OLM construction 08-2021.jpg

Starbase is planned to host two launch sites, named Pad A and Pad B.{{rp||pages=34}} A launch site at Starbase has large facilities, such as a tank farm, an orbital launch mount, and an integration tower. Smaller facilities are present at the launch site: tanks surrounding the area containing methane, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, hydraulic fluid, etc.;{{rp||page=161}} subcoolers near the tank farm cool propellant using liquid nitrogen; and various pipes are installed at large facilities. Each tank farm consists of eight tanks, enough to support one orbital launch. The current launch mount on Pad A has a water-powered flame diverter, 20 clamps holding the booster, and a quick disconnect mount providing liquid fuel and electricity to the Super Heavy booster before it lifts off.

The integration tower or launch tower consists of steel truss sections, a lightning rod on top,{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=16 April 2021 |title=Rocket Report: SpaceX to build huge launch tower, Branson sells Virgin stock |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/rocket-report-spacex-to-build-huge-launch-tower-branson-sells-virgin-stock/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111095512/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/rocket-report-spacex-to-build-huge-launch-tower-branson-sells-virgin-stock/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} and a pair of mechanical arms that can lift, catch and recover the booster. The decision to catch the booster with the arms was made to reduce the rocket's mass and mechanical complexity by removing the need for landing legs, as well as enabling more rapid reuse by placing the rocket directly back on the launchpad.{{Rp|page=2}} The mechanical arms are attached to a carriage and controlled by a pulley at the top of the tower. The pulley is linked to a winch and spool at the base of the tower using a cable. Using the winch and the carriage, the mechanical arms can move vertically, with support from bearings attached at the sides of the carriage. A linear hydraulic actuator moves the arms horizontally. On top of the arms are tracks, which are used to position the booster or spacecraft. The tower is mounted with a quick disconnect arm extending to and contracting from the Starship spacecraft; its functions are similar to the quick disconnect mount that powers the booster.

File:Axiom-3 Launch (KSC-20240118-PH-CMS01 0022) Cropped.jpg

SpaceX has been constructing a Starship launch pad at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) since 2021. The site was leased to the company in 2014 and is used to launch Falcon 9 rockets.{{Cite web |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=13 June 2022 |title=SpaceX faces NASA hurdle for Starship backup launch pad |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/spacex-faces-nasa-hurdle-starship-backup-launch-pad-2022-06-13/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622074736/https://www.reuters.com/technology/spacex-faces-nasa-hurdle-starship-backup-launch-pad-2022-06-13/ |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=Reuters |language=en}} A Finding of No Significant Impact was issued by SpaceX{{'s}} environmental impact statement (EIS), with NASA as the lead agency, earlier in September 2019 for the launch pad site.{{Cite journal |date=September 19, 2019 |title=Final Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy Launch Vehicle at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) |url=https://netspublic.grc.nasa.gov/main/20190919_Final_EA_SpaceX_Starship.pdf |journal=NASA |at=Executive summary}} In 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration began the process of preparing an EIS evaluating the potential impacts of the new infrastructure and a higher launch cadence of up to 44 per year at LC-39A.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=10 May 2024 |title=FAA to conduct new environmental review for SpaceX's Starship operations in Florida |url=https://www.space.com/faa-environmental-impact-statement-spacex-starship-ksc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511005708/https://www.space.com/faa-environmental-impact-statement-spacex-starship-ksc |archive-date=11 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

In June 2024, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance (ULA) provided comments as part of the EIS process, both objecting to the impact that Starship launch operations may have on their own activities at the site.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=5 July 2024 |title=Here's why SpaceX's competitors are crying foul over Starship launch plans |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/theres-not-enough-room-for-starship-at-cape-canaveral-spacex-rivals-claim/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711132559/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/theres-not-enough-room-for-starship-at-cape-canaveral-spacex-rivals-claim/ |archive-date=11 July 2024 |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} Blue Origin suggested several mitigations, including allowing other operators to object to a Starship launch that would conflict with one of its own, limiting Starship operations to particular times, or expanding the number of launchpads in the area to reduce the impact of conflicting launches.{{Cite web |title=Comment from Blue Origin Florida, LLC |url=https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FAA-2024-1395-0040 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716001543/https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FAA-2024-1395-0040 |archive-date=16 July 2024 |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=regulations.gov}} ULA suggested regulators prevent Starship from launching in Florida altogether because a fully fueled Starship would require an evacuation zone so large that it would prevent other operators from using their facilities, and the noise generated by repetitive launches could be injurious to those who live or work nearby.{{Cite web |title=Comment from United Launch Alliance, LLC |url=https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FAA-2024-1395-0047 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715234243/https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FAA-2024-1395-0047 |archive-date=15 July 2024 |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=regulations.gov}}{{Cite web |last=Alamalhodaei |first=Aria |date=2 July 2024 |title=SpaceX wants to launch up to 120 times a year from Florida – and competitors aren't happy about it |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/02/spacex-wants-to-launch-up-to-120-times-a-year-from-florida-and-competitors-arent-happy-about-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712025001/https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/02/spacex-wants-to-launch-up-to-120-times-a-year-from-florida-and-competitors-arent-happy-about-it/ |archive-date=12 July 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} Elon Musk suggested that the two companies' comments were disingenuous and that their true motivation was to impede SpaceX's progress by lawfare.

The company has also proposed building another Starship launch pad at the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) which became vacant in 2024 after the retirement of the Delta IV rocket. That year, the United States Space Force began the process of preparing an EIS evaluating the potential impacts of new infrastructure and a launch cadence of up to 76 times per year at SLC-37.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=17 February 2024 |title=Space Force to study Cape Canaveral launch sites for Starship |url=https://spacenews.com/space-force-to-study-cape-canaveral-launch-sites-for-starship/ |access-date=23 April 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=18 February 2024 |title=SpaceX wants to take over a Florida launch pad from rival ULA |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/spacex-wants-to-take-over-a-florida-launch-pad-from-rival-ula/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423220552/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/spacex-wants-to-take-over-a-florida-launch-pad-from-rival-ula/ |archive-date=23 April 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} SpaceX and NASA have also worked on assessing LC-49 to the north of 39A.{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=2021-12-17 |title=NASA promotes East Coast Starship option at LC-49 following SpaceX interest |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/starship-lc-49-ksc/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}} The Kennedy Space Center's Master Plan One has stated that LC-49 could avoid overflight issues with pad 39B and minimize conflict with the Canaveral National Seashore.{{Cite web |title=Future Space – Master Plan |url=https://public.ksc.nasa.gov/masterplan/future-space/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=NASA |language=en-US}} On 18 January 2024, NASA does not have activities underway at LC-49.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-01-22 |title=NASA: No Activities Underway To Build LC-49 |url=https://talkoftitusville.com/2024/01/22/nasa-no-activities-underway-to-build-lc-49/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=TalkOfTitusville.com |language=en-US}}

Both EIS processes must be complete before SpaceX will be cleared to launch Starship from Florida, which likely will not occur until late 2025. The Playalinda Beach has been closed by KSC Police and the National Park Service for many launches from 39A and 39B. The towers and mechanical arms at the sites should be similar to the ones at Starbase.

{{Further|SpaceX Starbase#Impact}}

In order to compete with SpaceX and close their technological gap with the company, the China Aerospace Science and Tech Corp and other aerospace actors in China have reportedly been working on their own equivalent of Starship—the Long March 9 super-heavy lift rocket,{{Cite web |date=6 December 2023 |title=China space authorities name Elon Musk's SpaceX 'unprecedented challenge' |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3244086/china-space-authorities-name-elon-musks-spacex-unprecedented-challenge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206143922/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3244086/china-space-authorities-name-elon-musks-spacex-unprecedented-challenge |archive-date=6 December 2023 |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} which is also designed to eventually be fully reusable.{{Cite web |last=Beil |first=Adrian |date=27 April 2023 |title=How Chang Zheng 9 arrived at the "Starship-like" design |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/04/cz-9-update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511031257/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/04/cz-9-update/ |archive-date=11 May 2023 |access-date=12 May 2023 |publisher=NASASpaceflight.com}} In 2021, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) showed a rendered video of a rocket noted to be "strikingly" similar to Starship in appearance and function.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=26 April 2021 |title=China's state rocket company unveils rendering of a Starship look-alike |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/chinas-state-rocket-company-unveils-rendering-of-a-starship-look-alike/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110224353/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/chinas-state-rocket-company-unveils-rendering-of-a-starship-look-alike/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} In a 2022 event organized by the International Astronautical Federation and the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the CALT communicated performing research on a crewed launch vehicle powered by LOX-methane propellant, with a second stage that was very similar to Starship's.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=17 February 2022 |title=Starship lookalike among China's new human spaceflight concepts |url=https://spacenews.com/starship-lookalike-among-chinas-new-human-spaceflight-concepts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223204346/https://spacenews.com/starship-lookalike-among-chinas-new-human-spaceflight-concepts/ |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

SpaceNews noted that the Chinese start-up Space Epoch and engine maker Jiuzhou Yunjian were developing a smaller Starship-like rocket with a methane-LOX engine similar to Raptor, stainless steel tanks, and an iterative design.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=19 January 2023 |title=Chinese startups conduct hot fire tests for mini version of SpaceX's Starship |url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-startups-conduct-hot-fire-tests-for-mini-version-of-spacexs-starship/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223204348/https://spacenews.com/chinese-startups-conduct-hot-fire-tests-for-mini-version-of-spacexs-starship/ |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} Starship's reusability and stainless-steel construction might also have inspired Project Jarvis, a reusable upper stage for Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle intended to replace New Glenn's expendable upper stage in the future.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (meteorologist) |date=27 July 2021 |title=Blue Origin has a secret project named "Jarvis" to compete with SpaceX |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/blue-origin-is-developing-reusable-second-stage-other-advanced-projects/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730113522/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/blue-origin-is-developing-reusable-second-stage-other-advanced-projects/ |archive-date=30 July 2021 |access-date=27 November 2021 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}

In 2021, members of Congress voiced concerns about the FAA's response to SpaceX's launch license violations following the explosion of SN8, calling on the FAA to "resist any potential undue influence on launch safety decision-making". In 2023, prior to Starship's second test flight, SpaceX's vice president and ex-NASA engineer Bill Gerstenmaier made statements at the U.S. Senate on the importance of innovation in light of "strategic competition from state actors like China".{{Cite web |date=21 October 2023 |title=Giant leap for China in moon race as US rocket fails to get off the ground |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3238607/giant-leap-china-moon-race-spacex-struggles-get-its-starship-rocket-ground |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021121353/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3238607/giant-leap-china-moon-race-spacex-struggles-get-its-starship-rocket-ground |archive-date=21 October 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Jackie |last2=Wattles |first2=Kristin |date=18 October 2023 |title=SpaceX slams regulatory 'headwinds' for holding up Starship, risking US dominance in space |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/18/world/spacex-testimony-senate-faa-regulations-scn/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112203901/https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/18/world/spacex-testimony-senate-faa-regulations-scn/index.html |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |publisher=CNN |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Einhorn |first=Bruce |date=17 November 2023 |title=China's rivalry with Musk's SpaceX moves to even lower orbit |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/11/17/tech/china-rivalry-musk-spacex/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112204839/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/11/17/tech/china-rivalry-musk-spacex/ |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}} He said SpaceX was under a contract with NASA to use Starship to land American astronauts on the moon before China does,{{Cite web |last=Bloomberg |title=China's rivalry with Musk's SpaceX moves to an even lower orbit |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/world/chinas-rivalry-with-musks-spacex-moves-to-an-even-lower-orbit-2774623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112203901/https://www.deccanherald.com/world/chinas-rivalry-with-musks-spacex-moves-to-an-even-lower-orbit-2774623 |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} and that the Starship test flights campaign was being held up by "regulatory headwinds and unnecessary bureaucracy" unrelated to public safety.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX Warns Government Regulations Slowing Starship, Could Let China Get Ahead |url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/spacex-warns-government-regulations-slowing-starship-could-let-china-get-ahead/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112204652/https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/spacex-warns-government-regulations-slowing-starship-could-let-china-get-ahead/ |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=Space Policy Online |language=en-US}}

Following the second integrated flight test of Starship, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) made recommendations to the FAA to "improve its mishap investigation process", finding that historically they have allowed the launch operator to conduct their investigation with the FAA supervising.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=14 December 2023 |title=FAA's launch mishap investigations need a rethink, government report finds |url=https://www.space.com/faa-rethink-space-launch-mishap-investigations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112055801/https://www.space.com/faa-rethink-space-launch-mishap-investigations |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=Space.com |language=en-us}} Several environmental groups have filed lawsuits against the FAA and SpaceX, claiming that environmental reviews were bypassed due to Musk's political and financial influence.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX sued by environmental groups, again, claiming rockets harm critical Texas bird habitats |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/17/spacex-environmental-impact-lawsuit-bird-habitat/71938400007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114105042/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/17/spacex-environmental-impact-lawsuit-bird-habitat/71938400007/ |archive-date=14 January 2024 |access-date=26 December 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

{{notelist}}

• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• Comparison of orbital launcher families
• SpaceX reusable launch system development program

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=21 February 2020 |title=SpaceX pushing iterative design process, accepting failure to go fast |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/elon-musk-says-spacex-driving-toward-orbital-starship-flight-in-2020/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225115453/https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/elon-musk-says-spacex-driving-toward-orbital-starship-flight-in-2020/ |archive-date=25 December 2020 |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}

{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2024-04-08 |title=Elon Musk just gave another Mars speech—this time the vision seems tangible |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/elon-musk-just-gave-another-mars-speech-this-time-the-vision-seems-tangible/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=9 October 2024 |title=Starship readying for Flight 5 amid future preparations |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/10/starship-flight-5-preps/ |access-date=9 October 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=Lunar Outpost Signs with SpaceX for Starship Moon Mission |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121492776/en/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=businesswire}}

{{Cite web |last=Fernholz |first=Tim |date=21 November 2024 |title=Starship Hired To Fly Two Lunar Rovers |url=https://payloadspace.com/starship-hired-to-fly-two-lunar-rovers/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |website=Payload |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=5 May 2021 |title=Starship survives test flight |url=https://spacenews.com/starship-survives-test-flight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622063715/https://spacenews.com/starship-survives-test-flight/ |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |last=McCrea |first=Aaron |date=31 July 2024 |title=Successful Static Fire Leads to Final Preparation Before Full Stack |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/07/starship-7-30-24/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |last=McCrea |first=Aaron |date=27 November 2024 |title=Starbase continues its rapid pace of advancement after Starship Flight 6 |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/11/starship-roundup-11-27-24/ |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan McDowell |date=14 March 2024 |title=Jonathan's Space Report No. 831 |url=https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/latest.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329001529/https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/latest.html |archive-date=29 March 2019 |access-date=14 March 2024 |website=Jonathan's Space Report}}

{{Cite web |last1=Meenaktshi |first1=Harshita |last2=Dey |first2=Mrinmay |date=22 September 2024 |title=SpaceX plans to send five uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years, Musk says |url=https://www.reuters.com/science/musk-says-spacex-plans-launch-about-five-uncrewed-starships-mars-two-years-2024-09-22/ |website=Reuters}}

{{Cite web |date=20 November 2024 |title=NASA, SpaceX Illustrate Key Moments of Artemis Lunar Lander Mission |url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/artemis-campaign-development-division/human-landing-system-program/nasa-spacex-illustrate-key-moments-of-artemis-lunar-lander-mission/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=NASA |language=en-US}}

{{Cite press release |title=OffWorld Europe and Luxembourg Space Agency Collaborate in New Lunar ISRU Exploration Program |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230418006222/en/OffWorld-Europe-and-Luxembourg-Space-Agency-Collaborate-in-New-Lunar-ISRU-Exploration-Program |access-date=26 February 2024 |website=Business Wire}}

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7mpMGVjYo |title=Starship flight test 7 on deck, Mobile Launcher-2 "rig and set," and Artemis II stacking continues |date=12 January 2025 |last=Philip Sloss |access-date=12 January 2025 |via=YouTube}}

{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Jackson |date=29 September 2019 |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX Starship rocket could reach orbit within 6 months |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-says-spacex-starship-rocket-could-reach-orbit-within-six-months/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215091103/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-says-spacex-starship-rocket-could-reach-orbit-within-six-months/ |archive-date=15 December 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en}}

{{Cite web |date=26 February 2024 |title=SpaceX Updates |url=https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |access-date=28 February 2024 |website=SpaceX |language=en}}

{{Cite web |title=Starship's Third Flight Test |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314083502/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3 |archive-date=14 March 2024 |access-date=14 March 2024 |website=SpaceX |language=en}}

{{Cite web |last=SpaceX |date=19 November 2024 |title=Watch Starship's sixth flight test |url=https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDGlydZAeOJL |website=X.com}}

{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Ryan |date=31 October 2021 |title=Major elements of Starship Orbital Launch Pad in place as launch readiness draws nearer |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/10/starship-orbital-launch-pad/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205163459/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/10/starship-orbital-launch-pad/ |archive-date=5 December 2021 |access-date=19 December 2021 |website=NASASpaceflight |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Ryan |date=12 October 2024 |title=SpaceX Catches a Super Heavy Booster During a Milestone Flight 5 |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/10/starship-flight-5-catch/ |access-date=14 October 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}

}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship Programmatic Environmental Assessment] by the Federal Aviation Administration
• {{Cite web |title=Starship of SpaceX - eoPortal |url=https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/starship-of-spacex |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240919154416/https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/starship-of-spacex |archive-date=19 September 2024 |access-date=23 December 2024 |website=www.eoportal.org |language=en}} administered by the European Space Agency
• Tim Dodd's Starship interviews with Elon Musk on YouTube:
• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIQ36Kt7UVg |title=A conversation with Elon Musk about Starship |date=1 October 2019 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}
• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ux6B3bvO0w |title=[2022] Elon Musk Explains Updates To Starship And Starbase! part 1|date=14 May 2022 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}} {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA8ZBJWo73E |title=part 2 |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}} and{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zlnbs-NBUI |title=Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk part 3|date=11 August 2021 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}
• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ux6B3bvO0w |title=Launch tower and Raptor engine tour overview|date=14 May 2022 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}, {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5k3ZzPf_0 |title=Go up SpaceX's Starship-catching robotic launch tower with Elon Musk! |date=26 May 2022 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}, {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7MQb9Y4FAE |title=Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine! |date=9 July 2022 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}
• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqjoCbZ4ik |title=First Look Inside SpaceX's Starfactory w/ Elon Musk |date=22 June 2024 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}
• {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InJOlT6WdHc |title=Join Elon Musk on a tour of Starship just before it launches! (w/ post launch interview) |date=25 June 2024 |access-date=23 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}

{{SpaceX}}

{{Crewed spacecraft}}

{{Cargo spacecraft}}

{{Orbital launch systems}}

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