Goals
- Orbital Starship recovery
- Recovery of a V3 Booster
- 26 V3 Starlink satellites
- 14 orbits ~ 22 hours mission duration
The initial orbit is targeted at 275 km. Mission duration aims for 14 orbits in around 22 hours. Landing area is planned at Starbase for Booster and Ship. Starlink V3 satellites will provide 1 Tbps (~10 times the capacity of V2).
Starship Program Timeline
The following table outlines the timeline of Starship’s Integrated Flight Tests, highlighting test dates, intervals, and vehicle versions:
| Test | Date | Days Elapsed | Version Booster | Version Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFT-1 | 20.04.23 | - | V1 – B7 | V1 – S24 |
| IFT-2 | 18.11.23 | 212 | V1 – B9 | V1 – S25 |
| IFT-3 | 14.03.24 | 117 | V1 – B10 | V1 – S28 |
| IFT-4 | 06.06.24 | 84 | V1 – B11 | V1 – S29 |
| IFT-5 | 13.10.24 | 129 | V1 – B12 | V1 – S30 |
| IFT-6 | 19.11.24 | 37 | V1 – B13 | V1 – S31 |
| IFT-7 | 16.01.25 | 58 | V2 – B14(1) | V2 – S33 |
| IFT-8 | 06.03.25 | 49 | V2 – B15(1) | V2 – S34 |
| IFT-9 | 27.03.25 | 82 | V2 – B14(2) | V2 – S35 |
| IFT-10 | 24.08.25 | 150 | V2 – B16 | V2 – S37 |
| IFT-11 | 13.10.25 | 50 | V2 – B15(2) | V2 – S38 |
| IFT-12 | 22.05.26 | 221 | V3 – B19 | V3 – S39 |
| IFT-13 | 24.06.26 | 33 | V3 – B20 | V3 – S40 |
| IFT-14 | 28.09.26 | 96 | V3 – B21 | V3 – S41 |
| IFT-15 | 13.11.26 | 46 | V3 – B22 | V3 – S42 |
Only 46 days have elapsed since the last launch. Shortest turnaround so far was 33 days for IFT-13.
SpaceX produced a beautiful and informative Video about Starship: Go For Orbit
Tim Dodd explaining why two similar programs exist at the same time: SLS VS Starship: Why does SLS still exist?
Mission overview: IFT-15
Starship V3 Specifications
The Starship system, comprising the spacecraft and Super Heavy booster, is designed for full reusability and large-scale payload delivery. Key specifications are as follows:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Stack | |
| Height | 124 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
| Payload Capacity (Reusable) | 100–150 t |
| Starship Spacecraft | |
| Height | 52 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
| Super Heavy Booster | |
| Height | 72 m |
| Diameter | 9 m |
Source: SpaceX Starship Overview
Live Streams
- SpaceX
- Tim Dodd – YouTube - TBA
- NASASpaceflight - YouTube
- Ellie in Space and Joe Tegtmeyer – YouTube – TBA
Tim Dodd was lucky enough to get three guided tours around Starbase by Elon Musk:
Tour 2024:
- First Look Inside SpaceX's Starfactory w/ Elon Musk
- Join Elon Musk on a tour of Starship just before it launches! (w/ post launch interview)
Tour 2022:
- 2022 Elon Musk Explains Updates To Starship And Starbase!
- Go up SpaceX's Starship-catching robotic launch tower with Elon Musk!
- Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Merlin Engine!
- Elon Musk Explains SpaceX's Raptor Engine!
Tour 2021:
- Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 1 // Summer 2021]
- Starbase Tour with Elon Musk [PART 2 // Summer 2021] Starbase Launchpad Tour with Elon Musk [PART 3 // Summer 2021]
Tim Dodd: How SpaceX Is Upgrading Raptor To Be The Ultimate Rocket Engine!
Elon Musk: The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary
Why won’t Starship have an abort system? Should it?!
Further information
StarshipGazer.com: Useful Starship links Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia FAA: SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site FAA: Licensed Launches
Starship OFT flight plan
Lex Fridman: Starship: The most powerful rocket ever made | Tim Dodd and Lex Fridman
SpaceX Starship Explosive Potential, and Big Bang Theory
