List of Starship upper stage flight tests

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This article is about the test flights of Starship upper stage prototypes. For a complete list of Starship launches, see List of Starship launches.
The launch of SpaceX's SN8 Starship prototype

SpaceX conducted eleven flight tests of prototype rockets for the Starship development program from 2019 to 2021. These tests only included prototypes of the ship, or upper stage, rather than the full two-stage Starship launch vehicle. The scope of these tests ranged from short tethered engine firings[1] to launches to approximately 10 km with landing attempts.[2]

SpaceX began testing with the test article Starhopper in 2019, including two short hops with the article tethered to the ground.[1] Starhopper and two early ship prototypes, SN5 and SN6, then completed untethered flights.[3][4][5] Five ships, beginning with SN8, performed flights to approximately 12.5 km (SN8 only) or 10 km.[6][7] On descent, the ships flipped into a "belly flop" maneuver, falling in the horizontal position with aerodynamic control from the four body flaps. This was to simulate the descent after atmospheric reentry on an orbital mission.[8] After falling to an altitude of about 500 m, the engines relit and flipped the ships vertical for landing on a concrete pad, with varying degrees of success.[9]

Flight History

Launch outcomes

1
2
3
4
2019
2020
2021
  •   Success (tethered)
  •   Success (untethered)

Landing outcomes

1
2
3
4
2019
2020
2021
  •   Loss before landing
  •   Loss on landing
  •   Loss after landing
  •   Success (tethered)
  •   Success (untethered)
Flight
No. 		Date and time
(UTC) 		Vehicles Launch site[a] Flight apogee Duration (mm:ss) Launch outcome Landing outcome
- 3 April 2019 Starhopper Suborbital Launch Site <0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) ~00:03 Success —
The first firing of Starhopper and the first tethered hop (according to Musk[10][11]). The burn was a few seconds in duration and the vehicle was tethered to the ground. The vehicle may have lifted off the ground, but only to a very small height, and it was not possible to see the lift off in public video recordings of the test.[11][12]
- 5 April 2019 Starhopper Suborbital Launch Site 1 m (3 ft 3 in) ~00:05 Success —
Tethered hop which hit tether limits.[13]
1 25 July 2019[3] Starhopper Suborbital Launch Site 20 m (66 ft)[14] ~00:22 Success Success
First free (untethered) flight test.
2 27 August 2019 22:00[15][16] Starhopper Suborbital Launch Site 150 m (490 ft)[15] ~01:00[17] Success Success
Starhopper was retired after this launch and used as a water tank at the production site.[15][18][19]
3 4 August 2020 23:57[20][21] Starship SN5 Suborbital Pad A 150 m (490 ft)[20] ~00:45 Success Success
Second 150-meter hop, and first hop of a full Starship prototype.[22][23]
4 3 September 2020 17:47[24] Starship SN6 Suborbital Pad A 150 m (490 ft)[25] ~00:45 Success Success
Third 150-meter hop, and second hop of a full Starship prototype.[24]
5 9 December 2020 22:45[26] Starship SN8 Suborbital Pad A 12.5 km (41,000 ft)[27] 06:42 Success Failure
First high-altitude flight test. Vehicle successfully launched, ascended, performed the skydive descent maneuver, relit the engines fueled from header tanks, and steered to the landing pad.[27][28] The flip maneuver from horizontal descent to vertical was successful, but a sudden pressure loss in the methane header tank caused by the flip maneuver reduced fuel supply and thrust, resulting in a hard landing and explosion.[27]
6 2 February 2021 20:25[7] Starship SN9 Suborbital Pad B 10 km (33,000 ft)[29][7][30] 06:26[30] Success Failure
A Raptor failing to start caused SN9 to over-rotate and hit the landing pad. The vehicle was destroyed on impact.[30][31][32][33]
7 3 March 2021 23:15[34][35] Starship SN10 Suborbital Pad A 10 km (33,000 ft)[36] 06:24[37][b] Success Partial failure
SN10 launched and ascended nominally, but experienced a hard landing with a slight lean after the landing, and a fire developed near the base of the rocket.[40] Eight minutes after landing, SN10 exploded,[41] potentially due to helium ingestion from the fuel header tank.[38]
8 30 March 2021 13:00[42] Starship SN11 Suborbital Pad B 10 km (33,000 ft)[43] 05:49[c][42] Success Failure
SN11 had engine issues during ascent (according to Elon Musk).[44] Vehicle lost before T+6:00.[45][46] Musk stated that a "relatively small" methane leak caused a fire on one of the Raptor engines during ascent, causing the engine to experience a hard start when relit.[47]
9 5 May 2021 22:24[48] Starship SN15 Suborbital Pad A 10 km (33,000 ft)[49] 05:59 Success Success
SN15 was a new iteration of prototype Starship with many upgrades over previous vehicles.[50] SN15 achieved a soft landing, with a small fire starting near the base shortly after landing. The post-flight fire was out within 20 minutes, and SN15 was retired by the end of the month and scrapped in July 2023.[51][52]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All launches are from Starbase, Texas
  2. ^ Despite making an intact landing and beginning the detanking procedures, the vehicle suffered an explosion several minutes later destroying the vehicle in the process. SpaceX called it a successful landing but later acknowledged a problem with lower-than-expected engine thrust causing a hard landing[38] exceeding maximum leg loads[39] and the vehicle exploded.[35]
  3. ^ Time until vehicle telemetry loss

References

  1. ^ a b Gebhardt, Chris (4 April 2019). "Starhopper conducts Raptor Static Fire tests". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  2. ^ Bergin, Chris (9 December 2020). "From hops to hopes - Starship SN8 advances test program into the next phase". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Berger, Eric (26 July 2019). "SpaceX's Starship prototype has taken flight for the first time". Ars Technica. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ Baylor, Michael (27 August 2019). "SpaceX's Starhopper completes 150 meter test hop". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  5. ^ Bergin, Chris (17 August 2020). "SN6 begins test campaign as future Starships hatch plans for SpaceX's next leap". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  6. ^ Cotton, Ethan (10 November 2020). "Starship SN8 | 12.5-kilometer hop". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Cotton, Ethan (24 January 2021). "Starship SN9: 10 kilometer flight". Everyday Astronaut. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  8. ^ published, Mike Wall (9 December 2020). "SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype soars on epic test launch, with explosive landing". Space.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  9. ^ DeSisto, Austin (23 April 2021). "Starship and its Belly Flop Maneuver". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  10. ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (4 April 2019). "Starhopper completed tethered hop. All systems green. https://t.co/0m5Bm5slD2" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ a b Gebhardt, Chris (3 April 2019). "Starhopper conducts Raptor Static Fire test". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  12. ^ Grush, Loren (3 April 2019). "SpaceX just fired up the engine on its test Starship vehicle for the first time". The Verge. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. ^ Baylor, Michael (2 June 2019). "SpaceX readying Starhopper for hops in Texas as Pad 39A plans materialize in Florida". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  14. ^ Burghardt, Thomas (25 July 2019). "Starhopper successfully conducts debut Boca Chica Hop". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  15. ^ a b c Baylor, Michael (27 August 2019). "SpaceX's Starhopper completes 150 meter test hop". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  16. ^ Wall, Mike (27 August 2019). "SpaceX Starhopper Rocket Prototype Aces Highest (and Final) Test Flight". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  17. ^ 150 Meter Starhopper Test. SpaceX. 27 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ Mosher, Dave (7 August 2019). "SpaceX may cannibalize its first Mars rocket-ship prototype in Elon Musk's race to launch Starship". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  19. ^ Ralph, Eric (27 August 2019). "SpaceX scrubs Starhopper's final Raptor-powered flight as Elon Musk talks finicky igniters". Teslarati. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  20. ^ a b Ralph, Eric (4 August 2020). "SpaceX Starship leaps towards Mars with picture-perfect hop debut". Teslarati. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  21. ^ Baylor, Michael (3 August 2020). "Starship SN5 conducts successful 150-meter flight test". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  22. ^ Clark, Stephen (5 August 2020). "SpaceX clears big hurdle on next-gen Starship rocket program". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  23. ^ Baylor, Michael (4 August 2020). "Starship SN5 conducts successful 150-meter flight test". NASASpaceflight. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  24. ^ a b Wall, Mike (3 September 2020). "Starship SN6 maiden hop complete - Super Heavy is coming". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  25. ^ Bergin, Chris (16 August 2020). "SN6 begins test campaign as future Starships hatch plans for SpaceX's next leap". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  26. ^ "NOTAM". Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  27. ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (9 December 2020). "From hops to hopes - Starship SN8 advances test program into the next phase". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  28. ^ Bergin, Chris (18 October 2020). "Starship SN8 pressing to Static Fire and nosecone installation firsts". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  29. ^ Berger, Eric (29 January 2021). "What's really going on with Elon Musk, the FAA, and Starship?". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  30. ^ a b c Starship | SN9 | High-Altitude Flight Test. SpaceX. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ Baylor, Michael. "Starship SN9 History". Next Spaceflight. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  32. ^ Davenport, Christian (29 January 2021). "What's holding up the next test of SpaceX's Starship? Elon Musk blames the FAA". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  33. ^ Bergin, Chris (28 January 2021). "Starship SN9 fails to gain FAA green light for Friday attempt". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  34. ^ Cotton, Ethan (22 February 2021). "When will SN10 launch? Live Updates". Everyday Astronaut. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  35. ^ a b Baylor, Michael. "Starship SN10 History". Next Spaceflight. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  36. ^ Wall, Mike (4 March 2021). "SpaceX's SN10 Starship prototype lands after epic test launch — but then explodes". Space.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  37. ^ Starship | SN10 | High-Altitude Flight Test. SpaceX. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ a b Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (9 March 2021). "@austinbarnard45 SN10 engine was low on thrust due (probably) to partial helium ingestion from fuel header tank. Impact of 10m/s crushed legs & part of skirt. Multiple fixes in work for SN11" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (6 March 2021). "@PPathole @TimSweeneyEpic This was way past leg loads. They got squashed hard" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  40. ^ Etherington, Darrell (4 March 2021). "SpaceX's Starship prototype flies to 32,000 feet and sticks the landing in third flight test". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  41. ^ Wall, Mike (4 March 2021). "SpaceX's SN10 Starship prototype lands after epic test launch — but then explodes". Space.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  42. ^ a b Starship | SN11 | High-Altitude Flight Test. SpaceX. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ Baylor, Michael [@nextspaceflight] (25 March 2021). "SpaceX is targeting March 26 for Starship SN11's static fire and flight test, per a county road and beach clsoure notice. The main county page has a typo, but this is the text from the formal notice. https://t.co/Q9GolL1o9g https://t.co/wpRka8Pa12" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (30 March 2021). "@SpaceX Looks like engine 2 had issues on ascent & didn't reach operating chamber pressure during landing burn, but, in theory, it wasn't needed. Something significant happened shortly after landing burn start. Should know what it was once we can examine the bits later today" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ Bergin, Chris [@NASASpaceflight] (30 March 2021). "Ended in a RUD. Remember, it's a test program and they've gained a lot of wins from the four flights. Stable controlled descent is one, but long-duration Raptor performance deserves a shoutout. This was the last view from SpaceX and sign off from John Insprucker: https://t.co/4KAnLEWIUG" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  46. ^ Sheetz, Michael [@thesheetztweetz] (2 April 2021). "SpaceX's Starship SN11 captured hurtling back down, with debris seen flying - sound on: https://t.co/HKyFpJLu9u" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  47. ^ Ralph, Eric (5 April 2021). "Musk blames SpaceX's latest Starship explosion on Raptor engine leak". teslarati.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  48. ^ Wall, Mike (5 May 2021). "SpaceX launches Starship SN15 rocket and sticks the landing in high-altitude test flight". Space.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Starship SN15". nextspaceflight.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  50. ^ Kettley, Sebastian (9 April 2021). "SpaceX Starship launch: Will Starship SN15 launch this weekend?". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  51. ^ Timmer, John (5 May 2021). "SpaceX successfully lands a Starship test flight". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  52. ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (5 May 2021). "Starship [SN15] landing nominal!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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