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Following analysis of the flight test data from the first booster-controlled descent in September 2013, SpaceX announced it had successfully tested a large amount of new technology on the flight, and that coupled with the technology advancements made on the Grasshopper low-altitude landing demonstrator, they were ready to test a full recovery of the booster stage. The first flight test was successful; SpaceX said it was "able to successfully transition from vacuum through [[hypersonic]], through [[supersonic]], through [[transonic]] speeds, and light the engines all the way and control the stage all the way through [the atmosphere]".<ref name=pm20130930>{{cite news |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/rockets/musk-spacex-now-has-all-the-pieces-for-reusable-rockets-15985616 |title=Musk: SpaceX Now Has "All the Pieces" For Truly Reusable Rockets |work=Popular Mechanics |last=Belfiore |first=Michael |date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012044151/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/rockets/musk-spacex-now-has-all-the-pieces-for-reusable-rockets-15985616 |url-status=live }}</ref> Musk said, "the next attempt to recovery [sic] the Falcon 9 first stage will be on the fourth flight of the upgraded rocket. This would be [the] third commercial Dragon cargo flight to ISS. [International Space Station]"<ref name="pa20130930">{{cite news |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/29/falcon-9-launch-payloads-orbit-vandenberg/ |title=Falcon 9 Launches Payloads into Orbit From Vandenberg |work=Parabolic Arc |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930094429/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/29/falcon-9-launch-payloads-orbit-vandenberg/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
This second flight test took place during the April 2014 Dragon flight to the ISS. SpaceX attached [[Launch vehicle landing gear|landing legs]] to the first stage, decelerated it over the ocean and attempted a simulated landing over the water, following the ignition of the second stage on the [[SpaceX CRS-3|third cargo resupply mission]] contracted to NASA. The first stage was successfully slowed enough for a soft landing over the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="ut20140419" /> SpaceX announced in February 2014 the intent to continue the tests to land the first-stage booster in the ocean until precision control from hypersonic through subsonic regimes had been proven.<ref name=dn20140224>{{cite news |last=Klotz |first=Irene |title=SpaceX Falcon Rocket to Test Landing Legs |url=http://news.discovery.com/space/private-spaceflight/spacex-falcon-rocket-to-test-precision-landing-legs-140224.htm |access-date=February 25, 2014 |newspaper=Discovery News |date=February 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302123926/http://news.discovery.com/space/private-spaceflight/spacex-falcon-rocket-to-test-precision-landing-legs-140224.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Five additional controlled-descent tests were conducted in the remainder of 2014 through April 2015, including two attempts to land on a [[floating landing platform]]—a SpaceX-built [[Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship]]—on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] east of the launch site, both of which brought the vehicle to the landing platform, but neither of which resulted in a successful landing.
==== First landing on ground pad ====
[[File:ORBCOMM-2_First-Stage_Landing_(23271687254).jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Falcon 9 Flight 20's first stage landing viewed from a helicopter, December 22, 2015]]
During the [[SpaceX CRS-7|2015 launch hiatus]], SpaceX requested regulatory approval from the [[FAA]] to attempt returning their [[Falcon 9 Flight 20|next flight]] to [[CCAFS|Cape Canaveral]] instead of targeting a floating platform in the ocean. The goal was to [[VTVL|land the booster vertically]] at the leased ''[[Landing Zone 1]]'' facility—the former [[Launch Complex 13]] where SpaceX had recently built a large rocket landing pad.<ref name=ft201511201>{{cite news |last1=Dean |first1=James |title=SpacexSpaceX wants to land next booster at Cape Canaveral |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/spacex/2015/12/01/spacex-wants-land-next-booster-cape-canaveral/76576142/ |access-date=December 2, 2015 |work=Florida Today |date=December 1, 2015 |archive-date=December 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210054303/http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/spacex/2015/12/01/spacex-wants-land-next-booster-cape-canaveral/76576142/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The FAA approved the safety plan for the ground landing on December 18, 2015.<ref name="os20151220">{{cite news |date=December 20, 2015 |title=SpaceX aims for Sunday launch and ground landing |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/go-for-launch/os-spacex-engine-testing-sunday-launch-20151218-post.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221215241/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/go-for-launch/os-spacex-engine-testing-sunday-launch-20151218-post.html |archive-date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=December 20, 2015 |work=Orlando Sentinel |___location=Orlando, Florida}}</ref> The first stage landed successfully on target at 20:38 local time on December 21 (01:38 UTC on December 22).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10640306/spacex-elon-musk-rocket-landing-success |title=SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket after launching it to space |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Loren |last=Grush |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-date=June 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628014841/https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10640306/spacex-elon-musk-rocket-landing-success |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nsf20151231/>
First stage booster ''[[B1019]]'' never flew again after the flight.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10642028/spacex-falcon-9-landing-elon-musk-wont-fly |title=SpaceX's 'reusable' Falcon 9 rocket won't fly again, Elon Musk says |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Sean |last=O'Kane |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223012030/http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10642028/spacex-falcon-9-landing-elon-musk-wont-fly |url-status=live }}</ref> Rather, the rocket was moved a few miles north to the SpaceX hangar facilities at [[Launch pad 39A]], was refurbished by SpaceX at the adjacent [[Kennedy Space Center]], where it was inspected before being used on January 15, 2016, to conduct a [[static fire]] test on its original launchpad, [[Launch Complex 40]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2016 |title=SpaceX Test Fires Recovered Falcon 9 Booster in Major Step To Reusable Rockets |url=http://www.universetoday.com/126837/spacex-test-fires-recovered-falcon-9-booster-major-step-reusable-rockets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202083025/http://www.universetoday.com/126837/spacex-test-fires-recovered-falcon-9-booster-major-step-reusable-rockets/ |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |newspaper=Universe Today |language=en-US}}</ref> This test aimed to assess the health of the recovered booster and the capability of this rocket design to fly repeatedly in the future.<ref name=f20-static-fire>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflight101.com/returned-falcon-9-booster-fires-up-for-static-fire-test/ |work=Spaceflight 101 |title=Returned falcon 9 booster fires up for static fire test |date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422191153/http://spaceflight101.com/returned-falcon-9-booster-fires-up-for-static-fire-test/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nsf20151231/> The tests delivered good overall results except for one of the outer engines experiencing thrust fluctuations.<ref name=f20-static-fire /> Elon Musk reported that this may have been due to debris ingestion.<ref>{{cite news |title=SpaceX Tests Recovered Falcon 9 Stage and Prepares for Next Launch |url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-tests-recovered-falcon-9-stage-and-prepares-for-next-launch/ |date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> The booster was then retired to the SpaceX facility in Hawthorne, California.
==== Landing attempts on drone ships ====
[[File:First stage of Jason-3 rocket (24423604506).jpg|thumb|First stage of [[Falcon 9 Flight 21]] descending over the floating landing platform, January 17, 2016, immediately prior to a soft touchdown followed by [[deflagration]] of the rocket after a landing leg failed to latch, causing the rocket to tip over.]][[Falcon 9 Flight 21]] launched the [[Jason-3]] satellite on January 17, 2016, and attempted to land on the [[autonomous spaceport drone ship|floating platform]] ''Just Read the Instructions'',<ref name=nbc20160107>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/spacex-plans-drone-ship-rocket-landing-jan-17-launch-n492471 |title=SpaceX Plans Drone Ship Rocket Landing for Jan. 17 Launch |publisher=[[NBC News]] |first=Devin |last=Coldewey |date=January 7, 2016 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201134820/http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/spacex-plans-drone-ship-rocket-landing-jan-17-launch-n492471 |url-status=live }}</ref> located for the first time about {{convert|200|mi|km}} out in the [[Pacific Ocean]].<!-- press conference, Hans Koenigsmann speaking for SpaceX: they are not attempting the landing on the land landing site at VAFB SLC4W because they have not yet received approval from the regulatory authorities; will find a secondary source before adding to the article prose... --><!-- HK: they may try to give video coverage of the landing, but unsure they can do it from over the horizon, satellite links, etc. -->Approximately 9 minutes into the flight, the live video feed from the drone ship went down due to the loss of its lock on the uplink satellite. The vehicle landed smoothly onto the vessel but one of the four landing legs failed to lock properly, reportedly due to ice from the heavy pre-launch [[fog]] preventing a lockout [[collet]] from latching.<ref name=sfn20160118>{{cite web |title=SpaceX narrowly misses booster landing at sea |work=Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/01/18/spacex-narrowly-misses-booster-landing-at-sea/ |date=January 18, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |first=Stephen |last=Clark |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122203126/http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/01/18/spacex-narrowly-misses-booster-landing-at-sea/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Consequently the booster fell over shortly after touchdown and was destroyed in a [[deflagration]] upon impact with the pad.<ref name=gw20160117>{{cite news |last=Boyle |first=Alan |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/spacex-launches-jason-3-satellite-then-tries-landing-falcon-9-rocket-at-sea/ |title=SpaceX rocket launches satellite, but tips over during sea landing attempt |work=GeekWire |date=January 17, 2016 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130022126/http://www.geekwire.com/2016/spacex-launches-jason-3-satellite-then-tries-landing-falcon-9-rocket-at-sea/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=rud>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BAqirNbwEc0/ |title=Flight 21 landing and breaking a leg |work=Instagram |first=Elon |last=Musk |author-link=Elon Musk |date=January 17, 2016 |access-date=June 5, 2016 |archive-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211231212/https://www.instagram.com/p/BAqirNbwEc0/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Falcon 9 Flight 22|Flight 22]] was carrying a heavy payload of {{convert|5271|kg|sigfig=2}} to [[geostationary transfer orbit]] (GTO). This was heavier than the previously advertised maximum lift capacity to GTO being made possible by going slightly [[subsynchronous orbit|subsynchronous]]. Following delays caused by failure of [[Falcon 9 Flight 19|Flight 19]], SpaceX agreed to provide extra thrust to the [[SES-9]] satellite to take it [[supersynchronous orbit|supersynchronous]].<ref name="sfn20160224">{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=February 24, 2016 |title=Falcon 9 rocket to give SES 9 telecom satellite an extra boost |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/24/falcon-9-rocket-to-give-ses-9-telecom-satellite-an-extra-boost/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104120/http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/24/falcon-9-rocket-to-give-ses-9-telecom-satellite-an-extra-boost/ |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=March 7, 2016 |work=Spaceflight Now |quote=''SES’s contract with SpaceX called for the rocket to deploy SES 9 into a "sub-synchronous" transfer orbit with an apogee around 16,155 miles (26,000 kilometers) in altitude. Such an orbit would require SES 9 to consume its own fuel to reach a circular 22,300-mile-high perch, a trek that Halliwell said was supposed to last 93 days. The change [SpaceX offered] in the Falcon 9’s launch profile will put SES 9 into an initial orbit with an apogee approximately 24,419 miles (39,300 kilometers) above Earth, a low point 180 miles (290 kilometers) up, and a track tilted about 28 degrees to the equator.''}}</ref> As a result of these factors, there was little propellant left to execute a full reentry and landing test with normal margins. Consequently the Falcon 9 first stage followed a [[ballistic trajectory]] after separation and re-entered the atmosphere at high velocity, making it less likely to land successfully.<ref name=sxPressKit20160223>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/spacex_ses9_press_kit_final.pdf |title=SES-9 Mission |work=Press Kit |publisher=SpaceX |date=February 23, 2016 |access-date=February 24, 2016 |quote=This mission is going to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Following stage separation, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship. Given this mission’s unique GTO profile, a successful landing is not expected. |archive-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727151524/https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/spacex_ses9_press_kit_final.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=sfn20160224/> The [[atmospheric re-entry]] and controlled descent were successful despite the higher aerodynamical constraints on the first stage due to extra speed. However the rocket was moving too fast and was destroyed when it collided with the drone ship. SpaceX collected valuable data on the extended flight envelope required to recover boosters from GTO missions.
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=== Reuse of Dragon capsules ===
SpaceX's [[Dragon capsule]]s have been gradually improved for reuse. Structural elements and internal components are being refurbished between flights, while the heat shield is replaced for each new mission. The last newly built Dragon cargo capsule first flew in July 2017; all subsequent ISS resupply missions were conducted with refurbished capsules,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/tdrs-priority-crs-12-dragon-launch-dates-realign/ |title=TDRS-M given priority over CRS-12 Dragon as launch dates realign |work=[[NASASpaceFlight]] |first=Chris |last=Gebhardt |date=26 July 2017 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=August 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818032624/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/tdrs-priority-crs-12-dragon-launch-dates-realign/ |url-status=live }}</ref> some capsules made a third flight.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1152361282982465536|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously visited the @space_station in April 2015 and December 2017|date=July 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1199463905258590208|user=SpaceX|title=The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew in support of our fourth and eleventh commercial resupply missions|date=27 November 2019}}</ref> Dragon's trunk section cannot be reused, as it is designed to burn up in the atmosphere after completing its mission.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/12/falcon-9-launch-crs-19-dragon-iss/ |title=CRS-19 Dragon completes journey to the ISS |work=[[NASASpaceFlight]] |first=William |last=Graham |date=5 December 2019 |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221225539/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/12/falcon-9-launch-crs-19-dragon-iss/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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=== Design history ===
[[File:BFR_in_flight_(cropped)-2018_version.png|alt=Artist's depiction of a white rocket, consisting of the booster firing its engines and the spacecraft at the top with its fins|thumb|upright=0.8|Artist depiction by SpaceX of Big Falcon Rocket in flight]]
The first reference by SpaceX of a rocket concept with Starship lifting capabilities was in 2005. In a student conference, Musk briefly mentioned a theoretical [[Heavy-lift launch vehicle|heavy‑lift launch vehicle]] code-named BFR, later known as the Falcon XX.<ref>{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=14 November 2005|title=Big plans for SpaceX|publisher=The Space Review|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1|url-status=live|access-date=16 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124153155/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1|archive-date=24 November 2005}}</ref> It would be powered by a larger version of the [[SpaceX Merlin|Merlin]] engine, called Merlin 2, and feature a lifting capability of {{Cvt|140|metric ton|lb}} to low Earth orbit.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|last=Markusic|first=Tom|date=28 July 2010|title=Series of presentation of SpaceX in July 2010|url=https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22395.msg623684#msg623684;attach=241178;sess=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030193349/http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22395.msg623684#msg623684;attach=241178;sess=0|archive-date=30 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2021|publisher=[[SpaceX]]|page=4|type=pdf}}</ref> In 2012, in a public discussion about a conceptual Mars colonization program, Musk described the Mars Colonial Transporter. He envisioned it as a reusable [[super heavy-lift launch vehicle]] that could deliver approximately {{cvt|150|to|200|metric ton|lb}} to [[low Earth orbit]]. The Mars Colonial Transporter might be powered by
In September 2016, at the 67th [[International Astronautical Congress]], Musk announced the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS), a conceptual reusable rocket conceived to launch humans to Mars and other destinations in the [[Solar System]]. The ITS was to be {{cvt|122|m}} tall, {{cvt|12|m}} wide, and capable of lifting {{cvt|300|metric ton|lb}} to low Earth orbit.<ref name="nsf20160927a">{{cite news|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=27 September 2016|title=SpaceX reveals ITS Mars game changer via colonization plan|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/spacex-reveals-mars-game-changer-colonization-plan/|url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928154300/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/spacex-reveals-mars-game-changer-colonization-plan/|archive-date=28 September 2016}}</ref> Both stages were to be made from [[Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers|carbon composites]]. The first stage or booster was to be powered by 42 Raptors, and the second stage by nine Raptors.<ref name="nsf20161003">{{cite news|last=Belluscio|first=Alejandro G.|date=3 October 2016|title=ITS Propulsion – The evolution of the SpaceX Raptor engine|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/its-propulsion-evolution-raptor-engine/|url-status=live|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122165306/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/its-propulsion-evolution-raptor-engine/|archive-date=22 November 2018}}</ref> Once refueled while in Earth orbit, the spacecraft [[Delta-v|could accelerate]] to Mars.<ref name="sfi20160927">{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Derek|date=27 September 2016|title=Elon Musk Shows Off Interplanetary Transport System|publisher=Spaceflight Insider|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/elon-musk-shows-off-interplanetary-transport-system/|url-status=live|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001225649/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/elon-musk-shows-off-interplanetary-transport-system/|archive-date=1 October 2016}}</ref> When an Interplanetary Spaceship enters the atmosphere, it cools itself via [[Transpiration cooling|transpiration]] and controls the spacecraft's descent by moving its [[delta wing]]s and [[Flap (aeronautics)#Split_flap|split flap]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mosher|first=Dave|date=16 February 2019|title=Elon Musk says SpaceX is developing a 'bleeding' heavy-metal rocket ship. Making it work may be 100 times as hard as NASA's most difficult Mars mission, one expert says.|publisher=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starship-bleeding-transpirational-atmospheric-reentry-system-challenges-2019-2|url-status=live|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712132123/https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starship-bleeding-transpirational-atmospheric-reentry-system-challenges-2019-2|archive-date=12 July 2021}}</ref> At the following Congress, Musk announced a replacement rocket called the Big Falcon Rocket or informally Big Fucking Rocket. The Big Falcon Rocket is {{cvt|106|m}} tall and {{cvt|9|m}} wide.<ref>{{cite news|last=Malik|first=Tariq|date=14 September 2018|title=SpaceX Has Apparently Tweaked Its Giant BFR Rocket Design. And It Looks Awesome!|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/41825-spacex-giant-bfr-rocket-moon-flight-design-art.html|url-status=live|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825155706/https://www.space.com/41825-spacex-giant-bfr-rocket-moon-flight-design-art.html|archive-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> In that conference, he talked about a possible [[Sub-orbital spaceflight#Sub-orbital transportation|suborbital transportation]] feature and termed it Earth to Earth.<ref name="nsf202101192">{{cite news|last=Burghardt|first=Thomas|date=19 January 2021|title=SpaceX acquires former oil rigs to serve as floating Starship spaceports|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/spacex-rigs-starship-spaceports/|url-status=live|access-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120001114/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/01/spacex-rigs-starship-spaceports/|archive-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>
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=== Testing ===
[[File:SpaceX_Starship_SN8_launch_as_viewed_from_South_Padre_Island.jpg|alt=A picture of flying rocket, with large plume at the ground|thumb|upright=1.4|SN8 launch at the Boca Chica launch site, firing three Raptors]]
On 27 August 2019, a simplified test article named ''Starhopper'' hopped {{cvt|150|m}} high.<ref name="spacenews20190827">{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=27 August 2019|title=SpaceX's Starhopper completes test flight|publisher=SpaceNews|url=https://spacenews.com/spacexs-starhopper-completes-test-flight/|access-date=28 August 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Unveiled in a SpaceX event in September 2019, Starship Mk1 (Mark 1) was the first full‑scale Starship test article to be built. The Mk2 in Florida was constructed five months later.<ref name=":6">{{cite news|date=5 October 2019|title=SpaceX's Starship is a new kind of rocket, in every sense|publisher=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/10/05/spacexs-starship-is-a-new-kind-of-rocket-in-every-sense|url-status=live|access-date=23 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111225747/https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/10/05/spacexs-starship-is-a-new-kind-of-rocket-in-every-sense|archive-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> Neither flew: Mk1 was destroyed during a cryogenic proof test and Mk2 was scrapped.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marley|first=Ronnie|date=20 November 2019|title=SpaceX moving to MK3 vehicle following incident at Boca Chica Facility|work=CBS News|url=https://valleycentral.com/news/local/spacex-starship-mk1-explodes-at-boca-chica-facility|url-status=live|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217150935/https://valleycentral.com/news/local/spacex-starship-mk1-explodes-at-boca-chica-facility|archive-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> In early 2020, SpaceX changed Mk3's name to SN1 (serial number 1).<ref>{{cite news|last=Torbet|first=Georgina|date=27 April 2020|title=SpaceX Starship Successfully Passes Pressure Testing|publisher=Digital Trends|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/spacex-starship-sn4-pass-pressure-test/|url-status=live|access-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301073531/https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/spacex-starship-sn4-pass-pressure-test/|archive-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> During a cryogenic proof test on 28 February 2021, a fault in SN1's bottom tank caused it to crumble. On 8 March 2020, SN2's stripped-down test tank completed its only cryogenic proof test.<ref name="space-20200310">{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=10 March 2020|title=SpaceX's latest Starship prototype passes big tank pressure test|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn2-prototype-pressure-test.html|url-status=live|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311202449/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn2-prototype-pressure-test.html|archive-date=11 March 2020}}</ref> On 3 April 2020, during SN3's cryogenic proof test, a valve leaked the liquid nitrogen inside its lower tank, causing the vessel to depressurize and collapse.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bartels|first=Meghan|date=3 April 2020|title=SpaceX's Starship SN3 prototype collapses in pressure tank test|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn3-pressure-test-failure.html|url-status=live|access-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918053840/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn3-pressure-test-failure.html|archive-date=18 September 2021}}</ref> After SN4's fifth successful static fire test on 29 May 2020, the [[Quick connect fitting|quick disconnect fuel line]] caused it to explode.<ref name="sn20200529">{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=29 May 2020|title=SpaceX Starship prototype destroyed after static-fire test|publisher=SpaceNews|url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-starship-prototype-destroyed-after-static-fire-test/|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> On 15 June 2020, Musk tweeted that new prototypes would be made from [[SAE 304 stainless steel|SAE 304L]] instead of 301 stainless steel.<ref name=":72"/> On 4 August 2020, SN5 completed a {{cvt|150|m}} hop using a single Raptor, the first full-scale test article to complete a flight test intact.<ref name="techcrunch-20200804">{{cite news|last=Etherington|first=Darrell|date=5 August 2020|title=SpaceX Successfully Flies its Starship Prototype to a Height of Around 500 Feet|publisher=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/04/spacex-successfully-flies-its-starship-prototype-to-a-height-of-around-500-feet/|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519235715/https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/04/spacex-successfully-flies-its-starship-prototype-to-a-height-of-around-500-feet/|archive-date=19 May 2021}}</ref> On 24 August 2020, SN6 replicated SN5's flight path successfully.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=9 September 2020|title=Watch SpaceX's SN6 Starship prototype soar on test flight (video)|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn6-prototype-test-flight-video.html|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829122256/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn6-prototype-test-flight-video.html|archive-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> SN7 was not completed, but as of October 2021, its tanks were salvaged for various experiments.<ref>{{cite news|last=Malik|first=Tariq|date=23 June 2020|title=Boom! SpaceX pops huge Starship SN7 test tank on purpose in pressure test (videos)|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn7-test-tank-destroyed-videos.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719130934/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn7-test-tank-destroyed-videos.html|archive-date=19 July 2020}}</ref>
SN8 was the first complete test article.<ref name="20201210cnn-tech">{{cite news|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|date=10 December 2020|title=Space X's Mars prototype rocket exploded yesterday. Here's what happened on the flight|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/tech/spacex-starship-sn8-test-flight-recap-scn/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210223909/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/tech/spacex-starship-sn8-test-flight-recap-scn/index.html|archive-date=10 December 2020}}</ref> In October and November 2020, SN8 underwent four static fire tests; the first, second, and fourth were successful, but the third caused an engine shutdown. According to Musk, the force from the engine destroyed parts of the launch pad sending some pieces of it into the engine.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=24 November 2020|title=SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype fires engines ahead of major test flight|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn8-fourth-static-fire|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123055557/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn8-fourth-static-fire|archive-date=23 January 2021|access-date=5 October 2021|website=[[Space.com]]}}</ref> On 9 December 2020, SN8 performed the first flight by a Starship, reaching an altitude of {{cvt|12.5|km}}. During landing, its methane header tank did not provide sufficient fuel to the Raptors, reducing thrust from one engine. The test article exploded on impact.<ref name=":10">{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=10 December 2020|title=SpaceX's Starship SN8 Prototype Soars on Epic Test Launch, with Explosive Landing|publisher=Scientific American|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacexs-starship-sn8-prototype-soars-on-epic-test-launch-with-explosive-landing/|url-status=live|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123020133/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacexs-starship-sn8-prototype-soars-on-epic-test-launch-with-explosive-landing/|archive-date=23 January 2021}}</ref> On 2 February 2021, SN9 flew {{cvt|10|km}} high.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mack|first=Eric|date=7 January 2021|title=SpaceX Starship SN9 flies high, explodes on landing just like SN8|publisher=CNET|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-sn9-rocket-flies-high-explodes-on-landing-just-like-sn8/|url-status=live|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918040913/https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-sn9-rocket-flies-high-explodes-on-landing-just-like-sn8/|archive-date=18 September 2021}}</ref> While descending, one of its engines did not function and burst on landing at an angle.<ref name=":12">{{cite news|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=2 February 2021|title=SpaceX's Starship prototype again explodes on landing attempt after successful launch|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/spacex-starship-sn9-explodes-on-attempted-landing.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202204159/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/spacex-starship-sn9-explodes-on-attempted-landing.html|archive-date=2 February 2021}}</ref> On 3 March 2021, SN10 repeated SN9's flight path, then [[Hard landing|hard landed]] and destroyed itself in an explosion 8 minutes later.<ref name=":13">{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=3 March 2021|title=SpaceX Mars Rocket Prototype Explodes, but This Time It Lands First|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/science/spacex-starship-launch-sn10.html|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605013824/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/science/spacex-starship-launch-sn10.html|archive-date=5 June 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
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The first Super Heavy booster named BN1 (booster number 1) finished construction on 8 March 2021, but it had not received engines.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=29 March 2021|title=Starship SN11 lands in bits as SpaceX refine forward plan|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/starship-sn11-returns-super-heavy-bn1-rollout-follow/|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814004802/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/starship-sn11-returns-super-heavy-bn1-rollout-follow/|archive-date=14 August 2021}}</ref> On 30 March 2021, SN11 exploded in midair without a confirmed explanation because of the dense fog at the launch site.<ref>{{cite news|last=Griffin|first=Andrew|date=1 April 2021|title=Elon Musk confirms SpaceX Starship exploded in 'crater'|newspaper=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/spacex-launch-elon-musk-starship-sn11-twitter-b1824437.html|url-status=dead|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401083208/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/spacex-launch-elon-musk-starship-sn11-twitter-b1824437.html|archive-date=1 April 2021}}</ref> A possible explanation is that an engine might have burned the test article's [[avionics]] and could have caused a [[hard start]] on the engine's turbopump.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=5 April 2021|title=SpaceX identifies cause of Starship SN11 prototype's crash|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn11-crash-cause|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507050858/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn11-crash-cause|archive-date=7 May 2021}}</ref> After the launch, SpaceX skipped SN12, SN13, SN14, and BN2, and incorporated obsolete test articles' improvements to SN15 instead.<ref name=":8">{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=13 April 2021|title=SpaceX's SN15 Starship prototype rolls out to launch pad|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn15-launch-pad|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424192858/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn15-launch-pad|archive-date=24 April 2021}}</ref> On 5 May 2021, the test article flew the same flight path as previous test articles and [[Soft landing (aeronautics)|soft landed]] successfully.<ref name=":18">{{cite news|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=5 May 2021|title=SpaceX Starship prototype makes clean landing|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57004604|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506070737/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57004604|archive-date=6 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gorman|first=Steve|date=6 May 2021|title=Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship completes successful launch and landing after several fiery failures|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/spacex-starship-rocket-prototype-achieves-first-safe-landing-2021-05-06/|url-status=live|access-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506040354/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/spacex-starship-rocket-prototype-achieves-first-safe-landing-2021-05-06/|archive-date=6 May 2021}}</ref> On 20 July 2021, BN3 fired its engines for the only time.<ref name=":15">{{cite news|last=Tariq|first=Malik|date=20 July 2021|title=SpaceX test fires massive Super Heavy booster for Starship for 1st time (video)|publisher=Space.com|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-rocket-booster-engine-test|url-status=live|access-date=11 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803210509/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-rocket-booster-engine-test|archive-date=3 August 2021}}</ref> As of October 2021, SN15, SN16, and BN3 had been retired and displayed.<ref name=":18" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=3 July 2021|title=Booster 3 opens Super Heavy test campaign as orbital vehicles prepare to stack|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/07/booster-3-super-heavy-test-campaign/|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711105222/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/07/booster-3-super-heavy-test-campaign/|archive-date=11 July 2021}}</ref>
After the flight of SN15 SpaceX ended the suborbital flight campaign and tested prototypes on the ground for almost two years. [[SpaceX Super Heavy#BN3/B3|Booster 3]] performed a first static fire test in July 2021, later boosters
Booster 7 and Ship 24 launched for a first integrated flight test on 20 April 2023, planned to fly 3/4 of an orbit and reenter over the ocean near Hawaii. The rocket cleared the launch pad and flew for three minutes but several booster engines failed during the flight and the rocket eventually lost control before stage separation, reaching a maximum altitude of {{Cvt|39|km|mi}}. The [[flight termination system]] was triggered and a subsequent explosion destroyed the vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Malik |first1=Tariq |last2=Wall |first2=Mike |date=2023-04-20 |title=SpaceX's 1st Starship launches on epic test flight, explodes in 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-first-space-launch |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> The launch broke the concrete pad under the launch mount, resulting in SpaceX replacing it with a water-cooled steel plate for subsequent launches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why did SpaceX Starship's debut launch cause so much damage to the pad?|website=[[Space.com]] |date=April 24, 2023 |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-damage-starbase-launch-pad|access-date=2023-11-15}}</ref>
Booster 9 and Ship 25 launched on the second integrated flight test on 18 November 2023, which had an identical planned trajectory to the first flight.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2023-11-18 |title=Starship brought the thunder as it climbed into space for the first time |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/spacex-can-celebrate-three-big-wins-after-second-starship-test-flight/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> Unlike Booster 7, Booster 9 had no engine failures until the beginning of the boostback burn, when it exploded for currently unknown reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2023-12-15 |title=Rocket Report: Signs of life from Blue Origin; SpaceX preps next Starship |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/12/rocket-report-next-starship-to-fly-in-early-2024-ulas-vulcan-delayed/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> Ship 25 reached a final velocity of over 15000 mph before being destroyed by its flight termination system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=
Booster 10 and Ship 28 were flown on [[SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 3|Integrated Flight Test 3]], on March 14, 2024.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=STARSHIP'S THIRD FLIGHT TEST |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=SpaceX |language=en}}</ref> It had a different trajectory than the previous two launches, targeting a hard splashdown of the ship in the Indian Ocean.<ref name=":0" /> During ascent and boostback, there were no engine failures, though during the landing burn, all but one of B10s center engines failed.<ref name=":0" /> S28 had an aborted raptor relight attempt, and burned up during reentry.<ref name=":0" />
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File:Tanksn7.1.jpg|alt=Photograph of a steel tank|Starship SN7's tank
File:Starship SN9 Open Rear Flap.jpg|alt=Photograph of a spacecraft with a pair of steel flaps on top and bottom|Starship SN9 on the launchpad
File:Starship SN20 getting a tile inspection.jpg|alt=Photograph of a worker on an aerial work platform repairing a spacecraft's black heatshield|A worker
File:StarshipLaunch (crop 2-3).jpg|Booster 7 and Ship 24 in flight
File:Starship-IFT2-ascent.jpg|Ship 25 and Booster 9
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