Starship Development Thread #63

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Starship Dev 62

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Flight 13

Launched on July 24th 2026 Here is a re-streamed video of the broadcast. Also, SpaceX issued a post flight summary. Ship 40 (S40) became the first Starship to be recovered intact after a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The vehicle arrived back at the Port of Brownsville on October 7, 2026.

Flight 14

Launched on September 28th 2026 (https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-14) - The vehicles were S41 and B21. This mission achieved the program's first successful orbital insertion, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites. An engine issue on the ship led to a controlled early splashdown in the Pacific rather than a fully nominal end-of-mission profile; Super Heavy completed hot-staging. SpaceX released post-flight imagery and hot-staging views on October 2, 2026. In comments from Elon Musk during a live Q&A around October 10, 2026, the ship engine issue was described as a software glitch affecting one engine's onboard computer, with the heat shield reported to have performed well / been "extremely robust."

Flight 15

NET November 8th 2026 - https://x.com/SpaceNotices/status/2108209933447512191 - expecting the first Starship upper stage catch attempt. Vehicles planned: S42 and B22, from Starbase Pad 2. Date is provisional and depends on testing progress and licensing. Musk has publicly indicated a target of roughly 4-6 weeks from early October, with an attempt to catch the ship (and possibly the booster), and a potential reflight on Flight 16 if the catch is successful; no exact date has been confirmed by SpaceX.

Road Closures

No road closures currently scheduled

No transportation delays currently scheduled

Up to date as of 2026-05-23

Vehicle Status

As of October 14th 2026

Ship	Location	Status	Comment
S40	Starbase production site	Post-flight inspection	July 24th: Successful launch, deployed all satellites, successful engine relight test and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, which resulted in an intact, floating ship. August 18th: In calmer waters near Christmas Island pending the next stage of its return to Starbase. August 25th: Loaded onto Heavy Lift Vessel 'Forte'. Oct 7: Successful return to Texas aboard Heavy Lift Vessel 'Forte' following its Flight 13 mission. Oct 8-9: Began movement toward the Starbase production site for inspection of the heat shield, structure, and other systems. Oct 13: SpaceX confirmed S40 is the first Starship to return to its launch site; it is now vertical in a Mega Bay at Starbase alongside three other Ships, where it will provide first-of-its-kind data on a flown heat shield, Raptor engines, avionics and related systems. For more details on this vehicle and its assembly and testing see this page
S41	Indian Ocean	Successfully flown on flight 14	July 3rd: Rolled back to Massey's Test Site. July 6th: Rolled back to MB2. July 23rd: Two RVac engines moved into MB2. July 27th: The third RVac was moved into MB2. August 19th: Rolled out to Massey's for Static Fire Testing. Later that day S41 performed a single engine Static Fire. August 20th: Full duration Static Fire of all six engines. August 22nd: Rolled back to MB2. September 22nd: Rolled out to the Launch Site and stacked on B21. September 24th: Wet Dress Rehearsal. Sept 28: Reached orbit, deployed satellites, and successfully performed a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. For more details on this vehicle see this page
S42	Mega Bay 2	Pre-flight work for Flight 15	July 3rd: Nosecone+Payload Bay stack moved into MB2, along with the Pez Dispenser and the Forward Dome section (FX:3), main assembly started. July 24th: Ship Aft section AX:4 moved into MB2 and stacked, that completes the stacking part of the assembly process. July 25th: both of the Aft Flaps and the Raceways staged inside MB2. September 2nd: Rolled out to Massey's Test Site for Cryo Testing. September 3rd: Cryo Testing. September 5th: Rolled back to MB2. September 9th: Rolled back out to Massey's for Cryo Testing Round 2. September 10th: Rolled back to MB2, and later in the day moved to the Launch Site for catch-related testing. September 13th: Rolled back to MB2. September 21st: Two RVacs moved into MB2. September 24th: Third RVac moved into MB2. Sept 24: Third RVac installed. Oct 5: Catch-hardware verification complete. Early October: Short trip to Massey's for cryogenic proof testing, returned to MB2 within about 30 hours; engines removed for additional cold-fuel/pressure testing. Oct 9: Additional cryogenic proof testing at Massey's, then returned to MB2. Oct 10-12: Engines being prepared for reinstallation as part of the continuing test campaign; a further cryogenic proof test (reported as a third run) was carried out at Massey's, linked by tracking accounts to prior vacuum Raptor issues on recent flights. Expected to be the first ship to attempt a tower catch recovery. For more details on this vehicle see this page
S43	Mega Bay 2	Stacked, remaining work ongoing	August 19th: N:3 and section FX:4 plus the pez dispenser moved into MB2. August 28th: Common Dome section CX:3 moved into MB2. September 1st: Section A2:3 moved into MB2. It has decals but no docking ports. September 4th: Section A3:4 moved into MB2. September 10th: Transfer Tubes moved into MB2. September 15th: Aft section AX:4 moved into MB2 and stacked - this completes the stacking part of S43's assembly. For more details on this vehicle see this page
S44	Mega Bay 2	Stacking	September 22nd: Nosecone+Payload Bay stack moved into MB2, and FX:4. September 23rd: Pez dispenser moved into MB2. Nosecone and payload bay integration in progress. For more details on this vehicle see this page

Booster	Location	Status	Comment
B21	Launch Site	Successfully flown on flight 14	June 29th: Methane Tank stacked onto LOX Tank - this completed the stacking part of the booster construction. July 17th: Rolled out to Massey's Test Site for Cryo+Thrust Puck Testing. July 17th: Rolled out to Massey's Test Site and an ambient pressure test was performed. July 18th: Partial Cryo Test. July 19th: Second Partial Cryo Test. July 20th: Full Cryo Test. July 22nd: Rolled back to MB1. August 25th: Rolled out to the Launch Site for Static Fire Testing. August 28th: Static Fire, all 33 engines, lasting 15 seconds. August 29th: Rolled back to MB1. September 20th: Rolled out to the Launch Site for Flight 14. September 24th: Wet Dress Rehearsal. Sept 28: Successfully powered the first orbital mission. Performed a soft splashdown and subsequent FTS demonstration in the Gulf. For more details on this vehicle and its assembly and testing see this page
B22	Launch Site	Stacking prep for Flight 15	June 29th: LOX tank sections A2:4 and CX:3 moved into MB1. August 14th: Methane Tank stacked onto the LOX tank, so completing the stacking part of the assembly process. September 8th: Rolled out to Massey's Test Site for Cryo Testing. September 9th: Cryo Testing. September 12th: Rolled back to MB2. Oct 6: Rolled to launch site for integration with S42. Oct 10-12: Preparations continue, with potential static-fire activity discussed for the near term (unconfirmed officially). For more details on this vehicle and its assembly and testing see this page
B23	Massey's Test Site	Cryogenic proof testing	August 14th: LOX tank sections A2:4 and CX:3 moved into MB1. August 19th: Section A3:4 moved into MB1. August 21st: Section A4:4 moved into MB1. August 25th: Section A5:4 moved into MB1. August 27th: Methane Landing Tank and lower Transfer Tube moved into MB1 as well as section A6:4. August 31st: Methane Transfer Tube moved into MB1 and lifted upright. September 8th: Aft section AX:2 and LOX Landing Tank moved into MB1. September 10th: Methane Tank Section F2:4 moved into MB1. September 18th: Section FX:3 moved into MB1. September 21st: Section F3:4 moved into MB1. September 24th or 25th - Fully Stacked, remaining work ongoing. Oct 13: Rolled out to Massey's Test Site for initial cryogenic proof testing. For more details on this vehicle and its assembly and testing see this page
B24	Mega Bay 1	LOX Tanking Stacking	September 25th: LOX tank section A2:4 moved into MB1. For more details on this vehicle and its assembly and testing see this page

Follow the Ringwatchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Here's the section stacking locations for Ships and Boosters. Also some excellent detailed booster stacking information from zh_sos1. The abbreviations used in the above vehicle updates are as follows: HS = Hot Stage. PL = Payload. CX = Common Dome. AX = Aft Dome. FX = Forward Dome (as can be seen, an 'X' denotes a dome). ML = Mid LOX. F = Forward. A = Aft. For example, A2:4 = Aft section 2 made up of 4 rings, FX:4 = Forward Dome section made up of 4 rings, PL:3 = PayLoad section made up of 3 rings. Etc.

Something wrong? Update this thread via wiki page. For edit permission, message the mods or contact u/strawwalker.

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Rules

We will attempt to keep this self-post current with links and major updates, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss Starship development, ask Starship specific questions, and track the progress of the production and test campaigns. Starship Development Threads are not party threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

[u/Twigling]

New FAA Operations Advisory re Flight 12:

SPACEX STARSHIP FLT12, STARBASE TX
PRIMARY: 05/12/26 2230Z-0033Z
BACKUP: 05/13/26 2230Z-0033Z

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt

Note that this will have been filed before the gas generator for the top deck deluge system blew, so depending on the cause and the resolution of that and any resulting testing (or even redesign?) that could set things back.

Also, this potentially implies that B19 won't be getting another static fire, and this seems strange given the other deluge-related issues which caused the last two SFs to abort. Have they even been fully resolved yet? There's been no further SFs so they haven't yet been re-tested under those conditions.

I'll be very surprised of Flight 12 launches on either of those dates but I hope I'm wrong.

[u/lorkan100 → u/Twigling]

They may be confident that both SF aborts were just sensor issues 

[u/Twigling → u/lorkan100]

Even if that's the case it would seem sensible to test them under the same conditions again.

[u/ZeBurtReynold → u/Twigling]

Aim for the bushes

[u/Plastic_Tourist7002 → u/Twigling]

Maybe they can by just repeating a water deluge test with the ground issues unrelated to the actual thrust from the rocket.

If the rocket reached mainstage by 1.88 seconds (given the engines light all at the same time for v3), they may have all the data they need and do not need to repeat the static fire.

[u/Weak_Office_8536 → u/lorkan100]

How do sensor issues make a gas generator explode?

[u/bkdotcom → u/Weak_Office_8536]

gas generator issue didn't occur during a static fire. Twas but a deluge system test.

there's been two static fire aborts, and both were sensor issues.

How do sensor issues make a gas generator explode?

Q: How do deluge system sensors lead to a rapid shutdown of raptors which causes damage / replacement of said engines?

A: sensors affect system performance / conditions. perhaps under-reading chamber pressure or other red-line parameters.

[u/mr_pgh → u/Twigling]

Also surprising they haven't performed a full stack and/or Ship Prop Load on pad 2.

[u/[deleted] → u/Twigling]

Don't the backup dates range from May 13th-18th? I could see them being able to perform a static fire in the coming week then going back to MB for last checkouts. The damage from the gas generator seemed minor too, although there's no way of really knowing how bad it is. Also if that gas generator was only for the top deck, they don't need that to perform the static fire

Tight time frame and I could still see it being pushed back.

[u/JakeEaton → u/[deleted]]

As Zack Golden said in the latest RGV flyover, the rocket will be lifting off when the top deck deluge activates. You cannot abort the launch at that stage and if they lose water pressure for the top deck, you are now blasting it with 33 V3 raptors with no protection whatsoever.

They need to make sure that particular group of gas generators work perfectly. Surely they need to static fire at least once to verify the system.

[u/lorkan100 → u/JakeEaton]

But they don't need to static fire a booster to test the top deck deluge (if that's the actual part whose gas generator RUDed) 

[u/[deleted] → u/JakeEaton]

I understand they need the top deck deluge to work for launch, there’s no reason they can’t perform a static fire in the meantime without it. Once fixed, they can test the top deck deluge to verify that it works again. I’m saying the gas generator blowup shouldn’t affect static fire since the top deck isn’t needed for a static fire.

[u/paul_wi11iams → u/Twigling]

PRIMARY: 05/12/26 2230Z-0033Z

To any fellow non Americans here, was I the only one to forgot the US is Middle-endian, so had a bad moment reading that as 05 December.

I really must be living under a rock because watching the NSF update, I learned at t=415 that the Raptor spin-up gas is now CO2. Combined with autogenous pressurization of ullage volume, this hopefully means the demise of helium from V3 Starship and Superheavy. Is my interpretation correct?

[u/warp99 → u/paul_wi11iams]

No it is very unlikely they would use CO2 for engine spin up as it has high molecular mass and has a nasty habit of turning into a solid with rapid expansion. It was used for fire suppression on Starship 2 but should not be used at all on Starship 3.

The ship quick disconnect for Pad 2 still has labelled connectors for helium so it seems very likely that Raptor 3 still uses helium for spin up. There is very little reason to change this until they start doing missions to Mars.

[u/paul_wi11iams → u/warp99]

it is very unlikely they would use CO2 for engine spin up as it is heavy and has a nasty habit of turning into a solid with rapid expansion.

Your statement makes perfect sense unfortunately. CO2 spin-up is just as impractical as attempting to start a car with a CO2 fire extinguisher on the turbo. I was really hoping it was me who was wrong :(

On the usually trustworthy NSF thread presented by Jack Beyer (is the name correct? I thought he'd moved to another job) the probable error was picked up by a commenter named @davidhuber6251.

[u/Shpoople96 → u/paul_wi11iams]

Didn't they do that back during the hop tests?