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Starship Development Thread August 2026 (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works
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SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When next launch? (Flight 14) NET August.
  2. When previous launch? (Flight 13) Starship flight 13 launched on 2026-07-24.
  3. What was the result? Successful liftoff and staging. B20 had a good boostback burn, but landing burn had insufficient engines. S40 performs perfectly, with nominal payload deploy and in-space raptor relight. Ship reentry, landing burn, are nominal, and S40 remains intact after splashdown.

Previous Flights

Click to expand

  • Flight 1: S24 and B7. First full stack launch, RUD before stage separation.
  • Flight 2: S25 and B9. Successful stage separation, booster RUD during boostback burn, ship RUD shortly prior to scheduled SECO.
  • Flight 3: S28 and B10. Booster performs a successful boostback burn, but experiences RUD during landing burn. Ship makes it past SECO, but loses attitude control and is destroyed on reentry.
  • Flight 4: S29 and B11. First successful booster water landing. Ship survives reentry despite burn-through on forward flap, and performs a successful water landing.
  • Flight 5: S30 and B12. First booster catch with chopsticks. Ship performs successful water landing.
  • Flight 6: S31 and B13. Booster offshore divert due to damage to catch tower during launch. Ship performs successful water landing.
  • Flight 7: S33 and B14-1. First V2 Ship launch. Harmonic oscillation on ship causes RUD before SECO. Booster is caught by chopsticks.
  • Flight 8: S34 and B15-1. Engine failure on ship causes RUD before SECO. Booster is caught by chopsticks.
  • Flight 9: S35 and B14-2. First booster reflight. Ship makes it past SECO, but loses attitude control and is destroyed on reentry. Booster RUD upon landing burn startup prior to planned splashdown.
  • Flight 10: S37 and B16. All mission objectives fulfilled. First V2 ship to make it through reentry to landing burn and splashdown. First successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested landing without one centre engine, using an engine on the middle ring to compensate.
  • Flight 11: S38 and B15-2. All mission objectives fulfilled. Ship performs successful landing burn and splashdown, despite intentional missing tiles on heatshield. Second successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested a 13-5-3 engine landing profile.
  • Flight 12: First V3 launch. Successful liftoff. Booster boostback burn is incomplete, and landing burn fails. Ship experiences an R-vac out shortly after stage separation, but limps to orbit on 5/6 engines. In-space raptor relight is cancelled, but payload deployment is nominal. Ship reentry, landing burn, and splashdown are nominal.
  • Fight 13: Successful liftoff and staging. B20 had a good boostback burn, but landing burn had insufficient engines. S40 performs perfectly, with nominal payload deploy and in-space raptor relight. Ship reentry, landing burn, are nominal, and S40 remains intact after splashdown.

Quick Links

Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live | afarTV Florida Gigabay Live

Starship Dev July | Starship Dev June | Starship Dev May | Flight 12 | Starship Dev April | Starship Dev March

2026-04-27 SpaceX Starship Update Video

Road closures, road delays, and beach closures

Vehicle Status

*As of 2026-08-01

Ship Location Status Comments
S39.1 (test tank) Production site (NSF, ViX, TrackingTheSB)
S40 Indian Ocean Destroyed Stacking took place from Nov 12th through March 2nd. Cryo testing from May 3rd through May 6th. Engine testing Jun 24th through 26th. Launched Jul 24th.
S41 Megabay 2 Pending engine install April 17th: Pez Dispenser moved into MB2. April 20th: Nosecone+Payload Bay stack N:3 moved into MB2 and later that day lifted over the Pez Dispenser. Later that day the Pez Dispenser was installed. April 21st: Forward Dome section FX:4 moved into MB2. April 28th: Common Dome Section CX:3 moved into MB2. May 2nd: Section A2:3 moved into MB2. Cryo testing Jun 28th to Jul 6th.
S42 Starfactory Stacking Stacking began Jul 11th.
S43.1 (test tank) Massey's Testing
Booster Location Status Comment
B18.1 Massey's Testing
B18.3 Massey's Testing
B20 Gulf of Mexico Destroyed Stacking took place from Feb 5th through Apr 30th. Cryo tested Jun 6th through Jun 8th. Launched July 24th.
B21 Megabay 1 Pending engine installation Stacking began Jun 4th, completed Jun 28th. Cryo testing Jul 17th through Jul 22nd.
B22 Megabay 2 Stacking Stacking started Jun 29th.

Resources

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

2026-08-12:

  • Aug 11th addenda: A 12th section of deluge pipe is delivered to Pad 1. (ViX)
  • The Pad 2 hold-down clamps are individually retracted. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: Three segments of deluge pipe are delivered. (ViX)
  • Further sections of steel have ben removed from the ends of the Pad 1 chopsticks. (Anderson)
  • Production site: Closeup of which heatshield tiles were removed from S42. (StarshipGazer, cnunez)
  • McGregor: R3.225 (new highest) leaves the testing site. (SpaceRhin0)
  • Florida: An application for Special Temporary Authority is posted for on-ground testing of Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at the SpaceX test facilities in Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. (apps.fcc.gov) (Thanks u/Straumli_Blight)
  • Flight 13: Normand Ranger and Go Australis are still alongside S40, but currently not towing it. (interstellargw)
  • S40 may have rolled over. (mcrs987 1, mcrs987 2)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

2026-08-11:

  • Production site: Overnight, the launch mount maintenance platform is moved from Brownsville Port to the production site. (StarshipGazer, Starship Gazer (YouTube), Priel, RC_horseman)
  • Some heatshield tiles are removed from S42 in Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • Assembly of the new Pad 1 launch mount is underway. (Gisler)
  • Gigabay construction continues. (Gisler)
  • Pad 1: Eleven large pipe sections are delivered and offloaded. (ViX)
  • Flame trench construction continues. (Gisler)
  • Massey's: The S43.1 test tank is still in the test structure. (Gisler)
  • Flight 13: Go Australis makes a 1.5 km approach to Normand Ranger and S40. Sea conditions are still poor, but weather might be improving soon. (interstellargw 1, interstellargw 2, interstellargw 3, mcrs987)
  • Other: Elon delivers a company update to employees. No new Starship info. Not worth watching if that your main interest. (SpaceX)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

2026-08-10:

  • Brownsville Port: A launch mount maintenance platform is identified. (Golden, Killip 1, Killip 2)
  • Launch site: Another tank is moved from Brownsville Port to the launch site. (ViX)
  • The tank which was delivered the previous day is moved into place at the tank farm. (ViX)
  • The tank which was delivered in the morning is also moved into place. (ViX)
  • Pipes for the deluge system are pending installation. (House / Gisler)
  • Production site: The 4-point lifter enters Megabay 2, and is moved to the right side, likely in preparation to receive the nosecone for S43. (ViX)
  • Road delay for "Port to Production" is posted for Aug 10th 23:59 to Aug 11th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • McGregor: Vacuum engine R3.186 heads towards the testing area. (SpaceRhin0)
  • Past week’s Raptor tracking summary. (SpaceRhin0)
  • **Flight 13: Go Australis returns to the position of Normand Ranger and S40. Weather is still poor, possibly improving Wednesday. (interstellargw 1, interstellargw 2, interstellargw 3, mcrs987, mcrs987)
  • Flight 14: Booster catch might be attempted. (XanderSky, apps.fcc.gov)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago

2026-08-09:

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

2026-08-08:

  • Aug 7th addendum: The Pad 2 ship quick disconnect was tested. (ViX)
  • Massey's: Overnight, a tank is moved from Brownsville Port to Massey's, likely the first of several arrived recently. (ViX, jrxcket, RGV Aerial)
  • Production site: Gigabay construction continues. (RGV Aerial)
  • Pad 1: Another section of drawworks shielding is being installed on the base of the tower. (ViX)
  • Beams are lifted up to the top of the drawworks balcony. (ViX)
  • Pad 2: Another section of pipe is lifted to the top deck the launch mount and moved to the booster methane quick disconnect. (ViX)
  • Road delay for "Port of Brownsville to Pad" is posted for Aug 8th 23:59 to Aug 9th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • Flight 13: Normand Ranger is now in sustained 31.1 mph (49.8 km / h) winds, but is still attached to S40. (interstellargw, mcrs987)
  • Other: SpaceX have not entirely abandoned the possibility of offshore launch and catch facilities, per their reply to a recent Request for Information published by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (xdNiBoR)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

2026-08-07:

  • Aug 6th addendum: More trench wall sections are delivered to Pad 1. (ViX)
  • Massey's: Overnight, The S43.1 test article moves from the production site to Massey's. (NSF, Avid Space, StarshipGazer, Starship Gazer YouTube, efraser77, Gisler)
  • S43.1 is been lifted into, out of, and back into the "Supercrusher" test structure. (ViX, StarshipGazer)
  • Road delay for "Port of Brownsville to Masseys" is posted for Aug 7th 23:59 to Aug 8th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • Production site: Gigabay construction continues. (Gisler)
  • Pad 2: A replacement pipe section is lifted to the booster LOX quick disconnect. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • The torsion bar is removed from the right chopstick a new torsion bar is installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Another pipe section has been lifted to the top deck of the launch mount and moved to the booster methane quick disconnect access door. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: Delivery of trench wall sections continue. (ViX)
  • Florida: Pad 39A chopstick load testing is underway. (NSF, SpaceflightNow, wvmattz)
  • Flight 13: The SpaceX Recovery team are still working to recover S40, but are encountering increasingly rough seas. (SpaceX, Killip, mcrs987)
  • "Unfortunately, ship recovery is not looking good right now. Nonetheless, we were able to obtain close-up photos of critical regions of the heat shield and engines for future upgrades." (Elon)
  • Go Australis has left Dampier and is heading back towards S40 and Norman Ranger. (interstellargw 1, interstellargw 2, interstellargw 3, mcrs987)
  • Weather and ocean conditions are not great. (interstellargw 1, interstellargw 2)

Aug 7th addendum: The Pad 2 ship quick disconnect was tested. (ViX)

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

2026-08-04:

  • Aug 3rd addendum: The second V3 Starlink satellite loader moves from Starfactory to Sanchez, while the first loader moves from Sanchez back to Starfactory. (ViX)
  • Production site: Overnight, B22's forward section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • Another Gigabay roof truss is lifted into position. (ViX)
  • Booster transport stand is being painted white. (RaptorRoostTX)
  • Massey's: Two of the thin tanks are lifted onto transports and removed from the site. (ViX)
  • Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is still listed for Aug 5th 23:59 to Aug 6th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Pad 1: Shielding is added to the base of the tower. (ViX)
  • Pad 2: Internal modifications to the booster quick disconnects appear to be underway. (ViX)
  • The SpaceX-owned LR11000 crane is re-erected. (ViX)
  • Brownsville Port: A shipment of tanks and a shipment of "Project Cargo" arrive. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • McGregor: R3.148 heads towards the testing area. This will be its 4th round of testing since early May. (SpaceRhin0)
  • Past week's Raptor tracking summary. (SpaceRhin0)
  • Florida: Gigabay cladding nearly complete. (PaddyPatrone)
  • Flight 13: Normand Ranger is likely performing slow test pulls. (Killip, interstellargw, mercoglianos)
  • Skimmer Tide leaves the area. (Blobifie)
  • Flight 14: Starlink V3 satellites to be deployed to operational orbits. (Foust / Elon, SpaceX)
  • Ship catch planned for the end of the month, pending regulatory approval. Aiming for daily launch cadence a year from now. (Foust / Elon, SpaceX)
  • Elon: "I don't want to jinx it or anything, but I think I would call the heat shield problem solved at this point. We want to take a close look at the ship currently floating in the ocean. All indications from data and visual inspection suggest we have solved the heat shield problem, which is arguably the single biggest problem." (Killip / Elon, SawyerMerritt, SpaceX)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

2026-08-01:

  • Production site: B22's F2:4 section enters Megabay 1. (Blobifie)
  • Flight 13: S40 recovery efforts are ongoing. (mcrs987 1, mcrs987 2, joeyigw 1, joeyigw 2)
  • Skimmer Tide joins Norman Ranger and Go Australis in the vicinity of S40. Between 02:00 and 03:00 UTC, a pilot tow line was attached to the aft end of S40, originating from Ranger, confirmed visually at 03:15 via satellite imaging. (mcrs987, scotchdrunked, kennerado, Blobifie)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

2026-08-06:

  • Production site: Overnight, S43.1 exits Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • B22's F3:4 section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • Gigabay construction continues. (ViX)
  • An aft flap is installed on S42 in Megabay 2. Ten different nosecones are visible in Starfactory. (StarshipGazer, YouTube, cnunez)
  • Massey's: Overnight, the booster cryo stand moves to Massey's. (ViX, StarshipGazer)
  • Tension rods are added to the structure which is currently occupied by the LOX landing test tank. (ViX)
  • Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is posted for Aug 6th 23:59 to Aug 7th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
  • A new temporary flight restriction has been posted for Aug 6th through 20th, potentially for an S41 static fire at Massey's. (Avid Space, ViX)
  • Launch site: It appears that a new gate is being constructed between gates D2 and D3. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Construction of the cooling tower for the air separation unit begins. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • McGregor: Vacuum engine R3.181 heads towards the testing area. (SpaceRhin0)
  • Flight 13: Skimmer Tide made its way to shore. Norman Ranger is still with S40, ~1300km from Australia. They have still not begun their return journey. (mcrs987)
  • Flight 14: NET Aug 28th, per compass.atfm.aero. (StarshipGazer, Caton)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

2026-08-05:

  • Massey's: Both of the chopstick simulators are lifted back into the "Supercrusher" test structure. (ViX)
  • Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is still listed for Aug 5th 23:59 to Aug 6th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • Pad 1: Two concrete pours are underway. One pump is pouring one of the flame trench ramps, and the other is pouring the floor of the ground support equipment bunker. Also, a second level of shielding is installed on the base of the tower. (ViX)
  • More deliveries arrive for the walls of the flame trench. (ViX)
  • A beam for the drawworks balcony is lifted into position. (ViX)
  • Production site: The S43.1 nosecone test article exits Megabay 2. (efraser77, AshleyKillip)
  • McGregor: R3.176 heads towards the testing area. (SpaceRhin0)
  • Flight 13: Normand Ranger appears to be actively towing S40 towards Australia at a rate of ~2.5 - 3 kn. At this speed, the ETA for arrival at Onslow Port would be ~13 days. (Blobifie)
  • Normand Ranger currently drifting once more and experiencing 17mph (27 km/h) winds, with up to 45mph (72 km/h) winds steadily moving in from the south. (interstellargw)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

2026-08-03:

  • Massey's: Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is posted for Aug 5th 23:59 to Aug 6th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • Production site: Gigabay roof truss installation is underway. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: The ridge cap support for the flame deflector is delivered. (ViX, JohnRand0061, Killip diagram)
  • Pad 2: A sled or pallet is lifted onto the top deck of the launch mount, and something, perhaps a ball mount, is offloaded and lowered into the ring of the launch mount. (ViX)
  • Reassembly and servicing of the SpaceX-owned LR11000 crane continues. The main boom is straightened out. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • McGregor: R3.181 heads towards the testing area, and returns shortly after. (SpaceRhin0, SpaceRhin0 2)
  • Flight 13: Go Australis is headed to Dampier, likely for fuel and supplies. Normand Ranger and Skimmer Tide still near S40. (mercoglianos 1, mcrs987, Blobifie)
  • New satellite images of S40. Normand Ranger is attached aft end of S40. An inflatable skirt is visible fitted under the bottom of the ship. (Vantor / CNN, jackiewattles, Blobifie, Ellhulto, mercoglianos 2)
[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

2026-08-02:

  • Starbase: RGV Aerial post flyover photos of Pad 2, Gigabay, and Pad 1.
  • Louisiana: The final stages of a deal are reportedly in place for SpaceX to build a spaceport on Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Governor Jeff Landry is expected to make an announcement this month. (SERobinsonJr)
  • California: NASA Ames are conducting transonic and supersonic wind tunnel tests on a 1.2% scale model of the Super Heavy Version 3. (NASA)
  • Flight 13: Normand Ranger has changed its navigational status to "Restricted Manoeuvrability", likely indicating that the vessel is affixed to Ship 40. Return to Western Australia could be imminent. (mercoglianos, joeyigw)