Starship test flights — the story so far
From the pad-wrecking first flight in 2023 to the tower ‘chopstick’ catches and Flight 14's first orbit in 2026, this is how Starship, the largest rocket yet built, has learned by trial and error.
The story
On 20 April 2023 SpaceX's Starship flew for the first time with both stages together, lifting off from Boca Chica in Texas. Several of its 33 engines shut down, the rocket began to tumble, and about four minutes after launch it was ordered to destroy itself. The concrete under the launch pad was badly broken up. SpaceX described the flight less as a failure than as a test that produced useful data.
Each later flight went a step further. Flight 2 (November 2023) separated its two stages, but both were then lost in explosions. Flight 3 (March 2024) reached space and got as far as coming back into the atmosphere. On Flight 4 (June 2024) both the lower stage, the booster, and the upper stage, the ship, came down gently in the sea. On Flight 5, on 13 October 2024, the 70-metre booster was caught by the robotic arms of its launch tower.
2025 was a hard year. In January and March the new, upgraded ship (V2) blew up on the way up after engine problems, and in May a ship lost control before re-entry. But that same May a booster that had already been caught was launched again, showing that reuse can work. In August and October the ships came down accurately in the Indian Ocean.
A larger third version (V3) began flying in May 2026. Then on 28 September 2026, on Flight 14, Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time, about 275 km up, and released 26 Starlink satellites (covered in its own article). This way of learning, flying prototypes freely and accepting that some will be lost, is often called ‘hardware-rich’ development.
Mission goals
Starship is the largest rocket ever built. It stands about 120 metres tall, higher than a 30-storey building, and pushes with about 7,500 tonnes of thrust at lift-off. Both stages are also designed to be reused. If a rocket can fly many times, like an aircraft, the cost of putting things into space could fall sharply, making projects such as Moon bases or huge space telescopes easier.
Starship is also tied to NASA's Moon landings. In 2021 NASA chose a modified Starship (HLS) as a lunar lander. Before it can leave for the Moon, it has to be refuelled in Earth orbit by other Starships. After a change of plan in February 2026, Artemis III in 2027 will only test docking in Earth orbit, and the first landing moves to Artemis IV, planned for early 2028.
The hardware-rich approach is also a subject of debate in the space industry. Traditional programmes spend years designing and testing before a first flight; SpaceX flies early and learns from what breaks. Which approach turns out faster and safer will be shown by results in the years ahead.
Mission chronology and background
Starship was first announced in 2016 under the name Interplanetary Transport System. In 2019 a small stainless-steel prototype called Starhopper rose 150 metres into the air. In 2020 and 2021 upper-stage prototypes flew to about 10 km and came back down. Four of them exploded before the fifth, SN15, landed safely.
When Starship returns through the atmosphere it falls sideways with its belly facing down. About 18,000 heat-shield tiles on that side block the heat, and air resistance slows it down. Just before reaching the ground or the sea it lights its engines and swings upright. This ‘belly flop’ was first practised during the 10 km test flights.
The launch pad was wrecked on the first flight because nothing was there to protect it from the engines' blast. From Flight 2 a steel plate that sprays water to cool itself was installed. The US Federal Aviation Administration only allows the next flight after any problem has been investigated, so these investigations often set the time between flights.
Other milestones of this mission
Where to see it — sky and simulator
Starship launches from Starbase at Boca Chica, Texas, and SpaceX streams every flight live online. Up to Flight 13 the ship travelled most of the way around the Earth and splashed down in the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch. On Flight 14, the first flight to reach orbit, it came down in the Pacific north of Hawaii about three hours after launch.
Starship does not stay in orbit for more than a few hours, so it does not appear in the sky view's list of satellites. Instead, the size-ladder view lets you place Starship (about 120 m) beside the Apollo-era Saturn V (111 m) and NASA's SLS (98 m) to compare them.
FAQ
Why did Flight 1 explode?
Several engines failed and the rocket began to tumble, so it was ordered to destroy itself for safety. The pad had no protection from the blast, so its concrete was broken up too.
What is the chopstick catch?
The launch tower's two robotic arms catch the returning booster in mid-air. It first worked on Flight 5 in October 2024, and it lets the rocket be reused without landing legs.
How is it connected to Artemis?
A modified Starship (HLS) was chosen as an Artemis Moon lander. On Artemis III in 2027 it will only test docking with Orion in Earth orbit; the first landing is planned for Artemis IV.
How big is it?
About 120 m tall with about 7,500 tonnes of thrust, bigger than the Saturn V (111 m) that sent Apollo to the Moon.
Related
- Starship Flight 5 — the first chopstick catch
- Starship Flight 14
- Artemis III — docking test in Earth orbit
- The Moon — object index
- Mars — object index
Times and figures are approximate — verify with official sources when planning travel. Simulation uses J2000 mean elements.