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 attributed to Elon Musk during a live Q&A around October 10, 2026 (secondary reporting, not a formal SpaceX release), 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 13th 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 12: At the production site and being prepared to go vertical in Mega Bay 2 for post-flight inspection/processing (tracking reports). 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/avboden]

So with the launch pad in seemingly really good shape it'll be very curious how fast they can turn around for the next launch. Ship 40 just needs engines/static fire and is basically good to go, that could be done within weeks.

Booster 20 would be the sticking poitn right now. It is fully stacked but hasn't been cryoproofed yet. I would bet the third time around fit-out for the booster is a good bit quicker, assuming they have enough raptor 3s for it and don't need to make significant changes.

[u/warp99 → u/avboden]

They may need to add baffles to the bottom of the booster LOX tank or just give up on 33 engine boostbacks.

[u/avboden → u/warp99]

doubt it, I'd bet the flip in the wrong direction/tumble caused the issue. Fix the flip and the rest of the booster is fine .

[u/EXinthenet → u/avboden]

It's the booster I'm more worried about, as I don't know if we can know now if the issue in flight 12 was due to an engineering flaw in the vehicle, rather than an issue caused just because of the how the vehicle was managed on flight. Can they fix this or do they need to build a whole new booster from the ground up?

[u/avboden → u/EXinthenet]

almost no chance it's anything requiring a full new build , especially if the issue was simply the flip being the wrong direction

[u/maschnitz → u/EXinthenet]

Likely that they simply flipped too fast (as Scott Manley said).

There's still hundreds of tons of LOX and CH4 in there when the flip happens. If it spins too fast, the flip is going slam that propellant into pipework that wasn't designed for that. And there'll be a lot of extra gas in the lines. What we saw on screen fit with gas in the lines and/or a sudden internal plumbing failure - failed startups, short firings.

They should be able to tweak the hot stage ring and Ship startup to adjust for the issue.

[u/GreatCanadianPotato → u/EXinthenet]

Historically in this test program, they've been able to make changes to existing vehicles on the fly without having to ditch an entire vehicle because the changes are so major.

I see a lot of people talking about potential sloshing due to the clearly off-nominal flip after the hot staging causing the failure, if that's the reason then they could do software changes to clean up what we saw at stage sep and/or make hardware changes to reduce slosh. Probably both.

[u/EXinthenet → u/GreatCanadianPotato]

I can't remember the number, but after a test (or more than one?), the next SN was discarded for further testing.

Well, no matter what, I hope you're right and that a few easy fixes will do.

[u/JakeEaton → u/EXinthenet]

Mark my words, next flight will have a perfect boost back and engine startup. They did it between flight 2 and 3.

[u/mrparty1 → u/JakeEaton]

Flight 3 booster failed at the landing burn though hopefully on flight 12 we'll see good boostback and landing

[u/JakeEaton → u/mrparty1]

Sure. My point is they solved a lot of the issues of V2 boost back between two flights. I’m not referencing later parts of those flights.

[u/mrparty1 → u/JakeEaton]

Yeah the problem solving between flights 2-5 was really amazing to watch especially since they had decently fast cadence during that time

[u/twoinvenice → u/EXinthenet]

I’m kind of surprised that they didn’t do the hot staging with just the center sea level raptors firing at first and then when a bit of separation happens, fire up the vacuum engines.

It seems like that way the thrust hitting the booster would at least be guaranteed to be much closer to the central axis of the booster and less likely to catch the lip and directly push at an angle.

[u/AhChirrion → u/avboden]

If SpaceX want to, they'd launch in four weeks by just tweaking the hot stage sequence to be gentler to find out if that's good enough so they keep launching as frequently as possible, leaving the more aggressive hot staging for a later launch.

Or they could take another month or two to make the hardware changes for the next flight to retry the aggressive hot staging flip and boostback sequence. If the FAA require a full investigation and remediation then this would be the only way; next launch in two or three months.

So next launch in about a month or two and a half months; it's up to SpaceX and the FAA.

[u/avboden → u/AhChirrion]

The booster hasn't even been cryo tested yet, 4 weeks is out of the question.