Starship Development Thread May 2026
[SpaceX Starship page](https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/)
## FAQ
1. **When next launch? (Flight 12)** Launch NET May 21st 17:30 CT (22:30 UTC). ([SpaceX](https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2056536579267588283))
1. **When previous launch? (Flight 11)** Starship flight 11 launched on 2025-10-13 at 23:23 UTC.
1. **What was the result?** 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.
---
## Previous Flights
::: spoiler 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.
:::
---
## Quick Links
[Nerdle Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c212qMUTnEs) |
[Lab Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWCh3wmKtak) |
[Sapphire Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP3m2L_hkA4) |
[Sentinel Cam](https://www.youtube.com/live/IQV0DlS1Ew0) |
[Rover Cam](https://www.youtube.com/live/Rg7kw-KLDL8) |
[Rover 2.0 Cam](https://www.youtube.com/live/tS2PHJmvJzo) |
[Rocket Ranch Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw3uaLRrYNY) |
[Plex Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiKm0TgbVdg) |
[NSF Starbase Live](https://youtu.be/mhJRzQsLZGg)
[Starship Dev April](https://sh.itjust.works/post/57830359?sort=New) | [Starship Dev March](https://sh.itjust.works/post/56199017?sort=New) | [Starship Dev February](https://sh.itjust.works/post/54568246?sort=New) | [Starship Dev January](https://sh.itjust.works/post/52723199?sort=New) | [Starship Dev December](https://sh.itjust.works/post/50847353?sort=New) | [Starship Dev November](https://sh.itjust.works/post/49040207?sort=New)
**[2026-04-27 SpaceX Starship Update Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANe_HW4X8oc)**
---
## Road closures, road delays, and beach closures
- [City of Starbase website](https://cityofstarbase-texas.com/beach-road-access)
- [Cameron County website](https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/spacex/)
- [@bocaroad Mastodon bot](https://botsin.space/@bocaroad)
### Vehicle Status
\*As of 2026-05-20
Ship | Location | Status | Comments
---|---|----|----
S39 (Ship v3 SN1) | Pad 2 | Awaiting launch | Stacking took place from Aug 16th through Nov 15th. Aft flaps installed Jan 19th and 20th. Cryo tested at Massey's Feb 26th through Mar 8th. Static fired on Apr 14th. Stacked on B19 May 9th. Wet dress rehearsal May 11th. Cryo tested at Massey's May 16th.
S39.1 (test tank) | Massey's | Testing
S40 | Massey's | Testing | Stacking took place from Nov 12th through March 2nd. Cryo testing from May 3rd through present.
S41 | Megabay 2 | Stacking | 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.
S42 to S46 | Starfactory | Nosecones under construction plus tiling | January 19th: [Photos of nosecones inside the Starfactory (note that S44 isn't visible because it's been moved elsewhere)](https://x.com/CyberguruG8073/status/2013123231817834788). January 28th: [Latest photos of the nosecones](https://x.com/CyberguruG8073/status/2016367967303245829)
Booster | Location | Status | Comment
---|---|----|----
B18.1 | Massey's | Testing |
B18.3 | Massey's | Testing |
B19 | Pad 2 | Awaiting launch | Stacking took place from Nov 25th through Dec 23rd. Cryo tested Feb 1st through Feb 9th. 10-engine static fire Mar 16th, 33-engine static fire Apr 15th. Wet dress rehearsal Apr 16th. 33-engine static fire May 7th. Wet dress rehearsal May 11th.
B20 | Mega Bay 1 | Pending cryo testing | Stacking took place from Feb 5th through Apr 30th.
B21-B22 | Starfactory | Assorted sections under construction | After B18's failure, Mark Federschmidt (one of the members of the Starship booster team) [made some tweets which mentioned B19 to B22 being under construction](https://x.com/BoosterTribe/status/1991846425768886453) (meaning sections inside the Starfactory).
---
## Resources
+ [LabPadre Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwMITSkc1Fms6PoJoh1OUQ) | [NASASpaceFlight.com Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSUu1lih2RifWkKtDOJdsBA)
+ [NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread](https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54984.10000#lastPost)
+ [NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation](https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47352.10000#lastPost)
+ [SpaceX: Website Starship page](https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/) | [Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)](https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf)
+ [FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site](https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/)
+ [FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list](https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp)
+ [NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210020835)
+ [Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures](https://www.cameroncounty.us/spacex/) (May not be available outside US)
+ [Production Progress Infographics](https://twitter.com/RingWatchers) by @RingWatchers
+ [Raptor Tracker](https://twitter.com/SpaceRhin0) by @SpaceRhin0
+ [Acronym definitions by Decronym](http://decronym.xyz/acronyms/SpaceX)
+ [Tim Dodd: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1](https://youtu.be/t705r8ICkRw) | [Part 2](https://youtu.be/SA8ZBJWo73E) | [Part 3](https://youtu.be/9Zlnbs-NBUI)
+ [Tim Dodd: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates](https://youtu.be/3Ux6B3bvO0w) | [Launch Tower](https://youtu.be/XP5k3ZzPf_0) | [Merlin Engine](https://youtu.be/hIPLmZK3C1Y) | [Raptor Engine](https://youtu.be/E7MQb9Y4FAE)
+ Tim Dodd 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: [Starfactory tour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqjoCbZ4ik) | [Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InJOlT6WdHc)
+ Tim Dodd [2025 pre-Flight-9 Elon interview](https://x.com/Erdayastronaut/status/1927466323862335651)
## FAQ
1. **When next launch? (Flight 12)** Launch NET May 21st 17:30 CT (22:30 UTC). ([SpaceX](https://x.com/SpaceX/status/2056536579267588283))
1. **When previous launch? (Flight 11)** Starship flight 11 launched on 2025-10-13 at 23:23 UTC.
1. **What was the result?** 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.
---
## Previous Flights
::: spoiler 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.
:::
---
## Quick Links
[Nerdle Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c212qMUTnEs) |
[Lab Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWCh3wmKtak) |
[Sapphire Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP3m2L_hkA4) |
[Sentinel Cam](https://www.youtube.com/live/IQV0DlS1Ew0) |
[Rover Cam](https://www.youtube.com/live/Rg7kw-KLDL8) |
[Rover 2.0 Cam](https://www.youtube.com/live/tS2PHJmvJzo) |
[Rocket Ranch Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw3uaLRrYNY) |
[Plex Cam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiKm0TgbVdg) |
[NSF Starbase Live](https://youtu.be/mhJRzQsLZGg)
[Starship Dev April](https://sh.itjust.works/post/57830359?sort=New) | [Starship Dev March](https://sh.itjust.works/post/56199017?sort=New) | [Starship Dev February](https://sh.itjust.works/post/54568246?sort=New) | [Starship Dev January](https://sh.itjust.works/post/52723199?sort=New) | [Starship Dev December](https://sh.itjust.works/post/50847353?sort=New) | [Starship Dev November](https://sh.itjust.works/post/49040207?sort=New)
**[2026-04-27 SpaceX Starship Update Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANe_HW4X8oc)**
---
## Road closures, road delays, and beach closures
- [City of Starbase website](https://cityofstarbase-texas.com/beach-road-access)
- [Cameron County website](https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/spacex/)
- [@bocaroad Mastodon bot](https://botsin.space/@bocaroad)
### Vehicle Status
\*As of 2026-05-20
Ship | Location | Status | Comments
---|---|----|----
S39 (Ship v3 SN1) | Pad 2 | Awaiting launch | Stacking took place from Aug 16th through Nov 15th. Aft flaps installed Jan 19th and 20th. Cryo tested at Massey's Feb 26th through Mar 8th. Static fired on Apr 14th. Stacked on B19 May 9th. Wet dress rehearsal May 11th. Cryo tested at Massey's May 16th.
S39.1 (test tank) | Massey's | Testing
S40 | Massey's | Testing | Stacking took place from Nov 12th through March 2nd. Cryo testing from May 3rd through present.
S41 | Megabay 2 | Stacking | 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.
S42 to S46 | Starfactory | Nosecones under construction plus tiling | January 19th: [Photos of nosecones inside the Starfactory (note that S44 isn't visible because it's been moved elsewhere)](https://x.com/CyberguruG8073/status/2013123231817834788). January 28th: [Latest photos of the nosecones](https://x.com/CyberguruG8073/status/2016367967303245829)
Booster | Location | Status | Comment
---|---|----|----
B18.1 | Massey's | Testing |
B18.3 | Massey's | Testing |
B19 | Pad 2 | Awaiting launch | Stacking took place from Nov 25th through Dec 23rd. Cryo tested Feb 1st through Feb 9th. 10-engine static fire Mar 16th, 33-engine static fire Apr 15th. Wet dress rehearsal Apr 16th. 33-engine static fire May 7th. Wet dress rehearsal May 11th.
B20 | Mega Bay 1 | Pending cryo testing | Stacking took place from Feb 5th through Apr 30th.
B21-B22 | Starfactory | Assorted sections under construction | After B18's failure, Mark Federschmidt (one of the members of the Starship booster team) [made some tweets which mentioned B19 to B22 being under construction](https://x.com/BoosterTribe/status/1991846425768886453) (meaning sections inside the Starfactory).
---
## Resources
+ [LabPadre Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwMITSkc1Fms6PoJoh1OUQ) | [NASASpaceFlight.com Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSUu1lih2RifWkKtDOJdsBA)
+ [NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread](https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54984.10000#lastPost)
+ [NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation](https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47352.10000#lastPost)
+ [SpaceX: Website Starship page](https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/) | [Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)](https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf)
+ [FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site](https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/)
+ [FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list](https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp)
+ [NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210020835)
+ [Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures](https://www.cameroncounty.us/spacex/) (May not be available outside US)
+ [Production Progress Infographics](https://twitter.com/RingWatchers) by @RingWatchers
+ [Raptor Tracker](https://twitter.com/SpaceRhin0) by @SpaceRhin0
+ [Acronym definitions by Decronym](http://decronym.xyz/acronyms/SpaceX)
+ [Tim Dodd: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1](https://youtu.be/t705r8ICkRw) | [Part 2](https://youtu.be/SA8ZBJWo73E) | [Part 3](https://youtu.be/9Zlnbs-NBUI)
+ [Tim Dodd: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates](https://youtu.be/3Ux6B3bvO0w) | [Launch Tower](https://youtu.be/XP5k3ZzPf_0) | [Merlin Engine](https://youtu.be/hIPLmZK3C1Y) | [Raptor Engine](https://youtu.be/E7MQb9Y4FAE)
+ Tim Dodd 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: [Starfactory tour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqjoCbZ4ik) | [Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InJOlT6WdHc)
+ Tim Dodd [2025 pre-Flight-9 Elon interview](https://x.com/Erdayastronaut/status/1927466323862335651)