Launch Vehicle
Starship
Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Key Facts
- Developer
- SpaceX
- First Launch
- April 20, 2023
- Status
- Active
- Payload to LEO
- ~100 t (Block 3); SpaceX’s target is 100–150 t reusable
- Payload to GTO
- ~27 t (SpaceX design figure)
- Payload to Escape
- No official figure; deep-space missions require refueling in Earth orbit
- Total Launches
- 14 as of September 28, 2026
- Success Rate
- ~64%
Starship is SpaceX’s fully reusable super-heavy rocket and the tallest rocket ever built, standing about 124 meters with its Super Heavy booster. Both stages are designed to return and fly again: the booster is caught by arms on the launch tower, and the upper stage, also called Starship, is designed to land as well. It is powered by methane-fueled Raptor engines, 33 on the booster and 6 on the ship.
First launched in April 2023, Starship spent its early years in a rapid test-fail-fix cycle, losing several vehicles along the way. It reached orbit for the first time in September 2026. For missions beyond Earth orbit, Starship must be refueled in orbit by a series of tanker flights, a technique not yet demonstrated between two vehicles. NASA has chosen a lunar version of Starship to land Artemis astronauts on the Moon, and a cargo version to deliver large payloads such as JAXA’s pressurized rover.
Variants
Block 1 (retired), Block 2 (retired), Block 3/V3 (current, from May 2026); Starship HLS crewed lunar lander; HLS cargo lander; propellant tanker and depot versions (planned)
Notable Missions
First booster caught by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms (October 13, 2024). Reached orbit for the first time on Flight 14 (September 28, 2026), deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites. Super Heavy booster has 33 Raptor engines; the Ship has 6. Selected as NASA’s Artemis lunar lander, and assigned to deliver JAXA’s pressurized rover (Lunar Cruiser) and Lunar Outpost’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle to the Moon.
Beyond LEO Missions
1 mission tracked
Planned 1
Lunar Cruiser Mission: Japan and Toyota’s Drivable Home for the Moon
Starship