Starship Development Thread June 2026

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Starship Development Thread June 2026

SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

When next launch? (Flight 13) Unknown, likely NET July.
When previous launch? (Flight 12) Starship flight 12 launched on 2026-05-22 at 22:30:24 UTC.
What was the result? 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.

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.
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. :::

Quick Links

2026-04-27 SpaceX Starship Update Video

Road closures, road delays, and beach closures

Vehicle Status

*As of 2026-05-25

Ship	Location	Status	Comments
S39 (Ship v3 SN1)	Indian Ocean	Destroyed	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. Partial WDR May 20th. Launched May 22nd.
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 May 6th. Engine testing Jun 24th through [date]
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). January 28th: Latest photos of the nosecones

Booster	Location	Status	Comment
B18.1	Massey's	Testing
B18.3	Massey's	Testing
B19	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	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. Partial WDR May 20th. Launched May 22nd.
B20	Megabay 1	Pending static fire	Stacking took place from Feb 5th through Apr 30th. Cryo tested Jun 6th through Jun 8th.
B21	Megabay 1	Stacking	Stacking began Jun 4th.
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 (meaning sections inside the Starfactory).

Resources

View original on sh.itjust.works

Comments25

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-24:

Massey's: Overnight, S40 rolls out to Massey's. (NSF, Avid Space, ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Gomez)
S40 performs its first engine test. Full LOX load, partial methane load, igniter test, and detank. (Avid Space, ViX, StarshipGazer)
Tank farm spools up. (TrackingTheSB)
LOX loading. (TrackingTheSB)
Methane loading. (TrackingTheSB)
Igniter test. (efraser77, wvmattz)
Detanking. (J_A_Rees_94)
NSF full livestream.
Road delay for "Masseys to Production" is still scheduled for Jun 24th 23:59 to Jun 25th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
Florida: A chopstick arm 1 of 2 is transported from Roberts Road towards SLC-37. (NSF, Avid Space, Evans, J_A_Rees_94, ABernNYC)
The roof of the Florida Gigabay is nearing completion. (Anderson / Copernicus)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-23:

Build site: Overnight, B21's forward section (FX:3, the hotstaging section) moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX, TrackingTheSB, Flight2Starship)
The ship static fire stand moves from Sanchez to Megabay 2. (ViX)
S40 is transferred to the static fire stand. (ViX)
S40 rollout is delayed until between Jun 23rd 22:00 to Jun 24th 02:00. (ViX)
S40 exits Megabay 2. (TrackingTheSB, NSF, cnunezimages)
S40 rollout begins. (TrackingTheSB, NSF, CeaserG33 1, CeaserG33 2)
The nosecone with a hole in it has had a pipe with a flange attached to the hole. Likely to pressurise the nosecone during testing. (StarshipGazer, RyanHansenSpace)
Massey's: Road delay for "Masseys to Production" is posted for Jun 24th 23:59 to Jun 25th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
Launch site: Pipes are delivered to the cryo offload area. (ViX)
Pad 1 reconstruction continues. (cnunezimages 1, cnunezimages 2)
Florida: Launch tower construction at SLC-37 continues. (Anderson)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-22:

Build site: Overnight, the tall yellow crane and the cladding trailer move towards Gigabay. The lift of one cladding panel is observed. (ViX)
Construction of the 7th level of Gigabay continues. (Liedtke)
Launch site: Pad 2 deluge tests continue. (ViX)
Construction of the natural gas pipeline from Brownsville Port is scheduled to start Jul 7th, and be operational by Jan 26th. (SERobinsonJr / SergioChapa)
Massey's: Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is posted for Jun 23rd 10:00 to Jun 23rd 14:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX 1, ViX 2)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-21:

Quiet Sunday. No significant activity reported.

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-20:

Jun 19th addendum: B21's first methane tank section (F2:4) was moved from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
Build site: The first of four tower cranes is raised by three modules, likely as tall as is needed to finish the final level of Gigabay. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
Additional analysis of the nosecone with a hole in the side. Banana for scale and explanation of labels. The hole is likely for assisting with structural testing, not a docking port. (RyanHansenSpace, mcrs987)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-19:

Jun 18th addendum: Pad 1 left chopstick was manually hauled open. (ViX)
Launch site: Pad 2 deluge tests continue. (Avid Space, ViX 1, ViX 2, Priel)
Deliveries of trench wall sections for Pad 1 continue. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
Two argon tanks are delivered to Pad 1. (ViX)
Reinforcements for the Pad 1 chopsticks or ship quick disconnect arm are delivered. (ViX)
The yellow Buckner LR11000 crane is briefly attached to the Pad 1 ship quick disconnect arm. (ViX, TrackingTheSB, J_A_Rees_94 1, J_A_Rees_94 2)
Construction of the air separation unit continues. (ViX / Gisler)
Build site: Gigabay construction continues. The tower cranes may soon need to be raised again to complete the final sections. (ViX)
Gigabay doors may be nearly the full height of the building. (Gisler)
In Starfactory, a nosecone with a hole in the side. (Starship Gazer)
McGregor: Having arrived Jun 17th, R3.145 leaves the testing area. (Rex_MKR)
Florida: Tower cranes have been removed from the Gigabay, and roof installation is underway. (Bergeron)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-18

Jun 17th addendum: The "Ibeproofin" clamp arm test structure was lifted into the LC-39A launch mount. (Blobifie)
Launch site: Two large horizontal tanks are delivered and positioned at the tank farm. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
Pad 2 performs three deluge tests. (ViX)
McGregor: R3.149 arrives at the testing area. (Rex_MKR)
R3.80 returns for more testing. (Rex_MKR)
Florida: The load spreader of the LR13000 crane has been attached to the second tower module at SLC-37. Marmac 31 You'll Thank Me Later exits the Canaveral Lock. (Anderson, Bergeron, aaronburnett)
Possible launch tower roof frame is observed in transport by Beyel, heading northbound on US-1 near Port St. John, likely destined for The Cape. (Bergeron, T_De_La_Rosa)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-06:

Launch site: The skate which was removed from the Pad 2 chopsticks is reinstalled. (ViX)
Massey's: Overnight, B20 completes its first pressure test. Venting observed, no cryo load. (ViX)
In the evening, B20 undergoes its first cryo test. (StarshipGazer, Liedtke, NSF, RGV Aerial, Gomez)

Decronym

lemmy.decronym.xyz

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters	More Letters
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
~	(Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure
HLS	Human Landing System (Artemis)
KSC	Kennedy Space Center, Florida
LC-39A	Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy)
LOX	Liquid Oxygen
MECO	Main Engine Cut-Off
~	MainEngineCutOff podcast
NET	No Earlier Than
NSF	NasaSpaceFlight forum
~	National Science Foundation
RTLS	Return to Launch Site
SLC-37	Space Launch Complex 37, Canaveral (ULA Delta IV)
SPMT	Self-Propelled Mobile Transporter
ULA	United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture)

Jargon	Definition
Raptor	Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX
Starlink	SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation

[Thread #4 for this comm, first seen 15th Jun 2026, 06:35] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-08:

Massey's: B20 performs its 3rd cryo test. (NSF)
Launch site: Road delay for "Port of Brownsville to Pad" is posted for Jun 8th 23:59 to Jun 9th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
Florida: You'll Thank Me Later passes through Port Canaveral and arrives at the KSC Turn Basin to deliver two or three transport stands from Starbase. (NSF 1, NSF 2, TrackingTheSB 1, TrackingTheSB 2, Pike, wvmattz)
Flight 12: New camera angle of hotstaging. (megagoose11, SpaceX (9:16))

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-04:

Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is pushed to Jun 4th 23:59 to Jun 5th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
Build site: The booster thrust simulation stand enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
B20 emerges from Megabay 1. (Avid Space, ViX 1, ViX 2, StarshipGazer, wvmattz, efraser77, colleenadastra, interstellargw)
Two sea level and one vacuum raptor enter Megabay 2, presumably for installation on S40. (ViX, SpaceRhin0)
B21's LOX landing tank enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
Launch site: Replacement of catch rails on the Pad 2 chopsticks begins. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
Reinstallation of ball mounts on the Pad 2 launch mount begins. (ViX)
Deliveries of flame trench wall sections for Pad 1 continue. Arrival of sloped sections is observed. (ViX)
New flyover photo of Pad 1. (RGV Aerial)
Construction of the air separation unit continues. (Gisler)
McGregor: R3.169 (new highest) leaves the testing area. (Rex_MKR)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-14:

Massey's: Road delay for "Production to Masseys" still scheduled for Jun 14th 23:59 to Jun 15th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-05:

Massey's: B20 rolls out to Massey's. Rollout takes longer than usual, due to issues with the SPMTs. (NSF 1, NSF 2, Avid Space, TrackingTheSB, ViX, StarshipGazer)
B20 venting is observed. (Avid Space)
Build site: One sea level and two vacuum Raptor engines enter Megabay 2, completing the set of six for S40. (ViX, Rhin0)
Launch site: One of the skates is removed from the Pad 2 chopsticks. (ViX)
B21's LOX (landing) tank is visible in Megabay 1, likely awaiting the aft section. (ViX)
McGregor: R3.170 and R3.172 (new highest), leaves the testing area. (Rhin0, Rex_MKR 1, Rex_MKR 2)
R3.160 returns to the testing area. (Rhin0)
Florida: Gigabay construction continues. (Bergeron)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-13:

Massey's: Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is posted for Jun 14th 23:59 to Jun 15th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
Launch site: Work on the Pad 2 chopsticks continues. (Nerdplysgames / NSF)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-07:

Build site: B21's aft section (AX:2) enters Megabay 1. (ViX, TrackingTheSB)
Recent flyover photo of Megabay 1. (RGV Aerial)
Massey's: Overnight, B20 completes its first cryo test. (NSF, ViX)
During the day, B20 performs its 2nd cryo test, seemingly aborting with an early depress vent. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
Launch site: Recent flyover photo of Pad 2. (RGV Aerial)
Construction of a single 16" natural gas pipeline from Brownsville Port is planned. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2, Anderson 3, Anderson 4, Port of Brownsville TX (37:30))
Florida: Construction of the Gigabay roof is underway. (Anderson)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-10:

Build site: Overnight, B20 returns from Massey's. (TrackingTheSB, Liedtke)
Launch site: Chopsticks inspections continue. (NSF)
McGregor: R3.153, R3.174, and R3.177 (new highest) leave the testing area. (Rex_MKR, Rhin0)
Florida: Booster and ship transport stands move from the Turn Basin towards LC-39A. (wvmattz)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-02:

Massey's: Overnight, the LOX landing test tank performs its 2nd round of cryo testing, and B18.3 performs its 20th. (ViX)
Brownsville Port: Overnight, a ship transport stand moves from the build site to Brownsville Port. (StarshipGazer photo, Starship Gazer video)
Launch site: Crews begin removing the catch rail dampers and springs from the Pad 2 chopsticks. (ViX)
Re-replacement of ball mounts on the Pad 2 launch mount begins. (ViX)
First major testing of the Pad 2 chopsticks since flight 12 is observed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, TrackingTheSB)
Concrete is poured at Pad 1. (ViX)
Deliveries of flame trench wall sections for Pad 1 begin. (ViX, Killip)
McGregor: R3.123, R3.160, and R3.162 are observed. (Rhin0)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-12:

Build site: Construction of the final level of the Starbase Gigabay begins. (StarshipGazer, RGV Aerial)
Launch site: RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Pad 1 and Pad 2.

Upcoming flights:

Flight 13: NET "one month" (July).
Flight 14: Orbital injection planned. (Anderson, Gwynne / CNBC)
Flight 15: Could be from The Cape (presumably LC-39A). (Anderson / Gwynne / CNBC, Gwynne / CNBC)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-03:

Launch site: Removal of catch rail dampers and springs from the Pad 2 chopsticks continues. (ViX)
Deliveries of flame trench wall sections for Pad 1 continue. (ViX)
Removal of ball mounts from the Pad 2 launch mount continues. (ViX)
Pad 2 chopstick testing continues. (ViX)
Massey's: Road delay for "Production to Masseys" is posted for Jun 4th 12:00 to 16:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, TrackingTheSB)
Temporary flight restriction for "booster testing" is posted for between Jun 4th and Jun 16th. (FAA, archive, ViX)
McGregor: R3.161 and R3.168 leave the testing area. (Rhin0 1, Rhin0 2)
Updated raptor tracking diagram is posted. (Ringwatchers)
Florida: An LR13000 crane is erected at SLC-37, suggesting that construction of the next Starship launch tower could begin soon. (Bergeron)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-09:

Road delay for "Masseys to Production" is posted for Jun 9th 22:00 to Jun 10th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
Build site: B21's LOX tank exits Megabay 1. (TrackingTheSB)
Massey's: B20 departs the cryo station ahead of rollback. (TrackingTheSB)
McGregor: R3.173 leaves the testing area (Rex_MKR)
Florida: One booster transport stand and two ship transport stands are unloaded from You'll Thank Me Later. (Evans, NSF)

Starship highlights from NASA's Artemis III crew announcement:

Ship-to-ship propellant transfer still scheduled for 2026.
Artemis III will use a Starship V3 with a docking adapter, not Starship HLS. (megagoose11)
Artemis IV translunar injection will be performed by Starship. (Foust)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-01:

McGregor: New buildings are under construction near the front entrance. (AdamCuker)
Brownsville Port: Overnight, a booster transport ring BTR2 moves from Sanchez to Brownsville Port. (Avid Space, ViX, StarshipGazer photo, Starship Gazer video, TrackingTheSB)
The transport was conducted using K25 Modular Trailers, different from the previous SPMTs in that they can be towed by a truck. (Killip)
Road delay for "Production to Port" is posted for Jun 1st 23:59 to Jun 2nd 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
Build site: Recent (May 31st) 4k video of Starfactory and Megabay 2. (Starship Gazer)
Launch site: Pad 2 clean up and repairs continue. A telehandler and an excavator are observed installing new sheet piling. (ViX)
Construction of the air separation unit continues. (Gisler)
Comparison diagram of lighter chopstick landing rails. (Killip)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-15:

Massey's: Overnight, a booster cryo stand moves from the Build Site to Massey's. (Gisler)
Launch site: Pad 2 flame trench deluge system is tested for the first time since Flight 12. (efraser77)
McGregor: R3.80, R3.1-5 (175?), and R3.118 are observed. R3.80 was previously installed on B19 during its initial round of testing. (Rhin0)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-11:

Jun 10th addendum: Video of B20 rollback. (Gisler)
McGregor: R3.178 (new highest) and an unidentified R-vac leave the testing area, and R3.118 and R3.134 arrive. (Rex_MKR, Rhin0, NSF)
Florida: The LR13000 at SLC-37A lifts the first of nine launch tower segments. (Bergeron 1, TurkeyBeaver, Bergeron 2)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-16:

Launch site: Delivery of trench wall sections for Pad 1 continues. (ViX)
Pad 2 deluge system is tested. (ViX)
Chimney or vent pieces are delivered for the air separation unit. (ViX)
The electricity bunker at the east end of the launch site has been removed, and the concrete pad is in the process of being broken up. (ViX)
Road delay for "Port of Brownsville to Pad" is posted for Jun 17th 23:59 to Jun 18th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
Build site: Gigabay construction continues. (ViX / Gisler, Killip / Gisler 1, Killip / Gisler 2, RaptorRoostTX)
Massey's: B18.1 and B18.3 are still in the test structures. (ViX / Gisler)
The S39.1 test tank begins its 16th cryo test. (J_A_Rees_94)
McGregor: R3.80 leaves the testing area, only 23 hours after it arrived. (Rex_MKR)
A somewhat damaged R3.123 leaves the testing area. (Rex_MKR)
Flight 14 or later: Ship RTLS is NET July 29th, per new FCC licence. (ViX, Anderson, FCC)

threelonmusketeers

sh.itjust.works

2026-06-17:

Massey's: Overnight, S39.1 performs its 16th cryo test. (ViX)
Launch site: Pad 2 performs deluge tests in the early morning and in the afternoon. (ViX 1, ViX 2, J_A_Rees_94, colleenadastra)
Pad 2 chopsticks testing. (ViX)
A kaleidoscope of butterflies is observed, both in the visible and by radar. (ViX, Golden 1, Golden 2)
Lifting frames are delivered to Pad 1. (ViX)
Road delay for "Port of Brownsville to Pad" is still scheduled for Jun 17th 23:59 to Jun 18th 04:00. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
Florida: The LR13000 crane prepares to lift the second tower segment at SLC-37. (Bergeron)
LC-39A chopsticks have been reeved. (Anderson / LRjackjack8730
Gigabay cladding installation is more than half done. (Anderson / LRjackjack8730)