posted 05-11-2026 05:24 PM               

Launch rehearsal complete.

During a flight-like countdown, more than 5,000 metric tonnes (11+ million pounds) of propellant were loaded on the fully stacked Starship and Super Heavy V3 vehicles for the first time.

posted 05-21-2026 02:08 PM               

On track for today's Starship flight test. The launch window is from 5:30 p.m. CT to 7 p.m. CT and live coverage starts about 45 minutes before launch.

posted 05-21-2026 06:42 PM               

The hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract.

If that can be fixed tonight, there will be another launch attempt tomorrow [Friday, May 22] at 5:30 CT.

posted 07-16-2026 05:48 PM               

Standing down from today's flight test attempt.

posted 07-16-2026 07:01 PM               

Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant.

Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days.

To be confident of a good flight, two Raptors will be removed and replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week.

posted 07-17-2026 09:36 PM               

A major reason that the lunar module ascent module used a hypergolic motor was to remove as many parts and points of failure from the start sequence, to reduce the chance of failure to start to get the astronauts off the moon.

How many times has SpaceX experienced an engine out or a failure to restart from the Raptor during their test flight campaign? Getting all required engines to start on demand was always going to be a steep learning curve, and something SpaceX has said that they have tried to build in some level of redundancy.

The automated shutdown was a positive display that the system is capable of performing a launch abort so late into the launch sequence.

posted 07-18-2026 09:00 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by oly:
I have yet to see any multi-engined vehicle have a 100% engine start reliability rate.

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posted 07-18-2026 11:10 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Ben:
Can you elaborate a little on what you mean here? Almost every rocket is multi-engine.

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This is a relatively simple system, one that is repeatable many times per day. Yet now and again, out-of-condition starts, such as hot starts or false starts, happen. Pilots practice and monitor for out-of-condition starts as part of their training to operate a new aircraft type.

Spend any amount of time around a busy airport, and you will see an aircraft experience a start problem. Sometimes false starts happen due to a mechanical issue, sometimes due to an environmental issue, and sometimes an engine fails to start because the igniting fuel/air tries to go the wrong way through the engine.

As you increase the number of engines in a stack, the probability of at least one engine failing to start increases. With rockets, the timescales are measured over a much smaller period, the amount of force and stress is much greater, and the results of something going wrong are much worse than a large jet engine destroying itself during a hot or hung start.

What SpaceX is doing is an impressive challenge. They have demonstrated many times that they can start or restart the Raptor engines, as well as demonstrated that their system has redundancy to cope with an engine out during critical stages of the flight profile, and that their system can recognise failures and take the appropriate measures. This launch abort was a perfect demonstration that the system errs on the side of safety.

The Raptor engines are very high-energy machines. They create enough energy to destroy the launch site if they experience a catastrophic failure. SpaceX has revolutionised the industry and appear to be on a path to success.

posted 07-19-2026 07:40 PM               

Now targeting to launch Starship's 13th flight test as early as Thursday, July 23.

posted 07-23-2026 04:56 PM            

Now targeting Friday, July 24 for Starship's thirteenth flight test, due to weather.

A key objective for the flight test is to get clear imagery from the ground of Starship's heatshield as it flies at a higher dynamic pressure during ascent, which won't be possible with today's weather conditions. Visibility is forecast to be ideal for a Friday attempt.

posted 07-24-2026 06:07 PM               

Super Heavy has splashed down in the Gulf of America!

Starship’s ascent burn is complete and is now coasting through space.

posted 07-25-2026 10:41 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Space Cadet Carl:
I just find it to be a tough watch. End of rant...

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posted 07-26-2026 05:19 AM               

I admit that I would rather listen to some technical commentary than to a crowd of people cheering over the commentators, but that is what comes when people are enthusiastic. Sometimes I just mute the TV.

I suspect much of it is staged. You see the same thing from a Blue Origin launch cast, where people gather on the roof of their building and stand in their car park, cheering, as the launch countdown ticks down. I can imagine none of them are allowed to gather like that on a standard workday, and they sometimes appear to start cheering just as the camera cuts to them.

But they do share some amazing video and technical content, and they launch almost every other day, so a space nut can get their fix.

posted 07-29-2026 09:14 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Headshot:
So what's the punchline?

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The Starship Recovery team has continued gathering imagery of the vehicle, which is still afloat in the Indian Ocean.

posted 08-04-2026 09:58 AM               

Satellite images taken Sunday and Monday [Aug. 2-3] by Vantor, a Colorado-based geospatial intelligence company, show the recovery attempt, with a small boat deployed next to Starship and a line attached to its nose. It's unclear from the images if the towing has begun yet, but ship tracking data from MarineTraffic on Monday showed Skimmer Tide and Normand Ranger moving at about one knot and broadcasting that they had restricted maneuverability. Go Australis separated from the other ships and is on its way back to Australia alone.

posted 08-07-2026 01:04 PM               

The SpaceX Recovery team is still working to recover Flight 13's Starship from the Indian Ocean. They've been overcoming challenging conditions and increasingly rough seas as they attempt to guide the 52m long spacecraft to port.

posted 08-09-2026 09:03 AM               

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.

posted 08-18-2026 08:55 AM               

After approximately 24 days at sea, the SpaceX Recovery team successfully guided Starship to a location just off the coast of Christmas Island. A team of SpaceX engineers is on their way to conduct additional analysis on the vehicle in calmer waters before attempting to return it to Starbase.