{
  "id": "spacex-starship",
  "title": "Starship and Super Heavy",
  "maker": "SpaceX",
  "maker_type": "Commercial",
  "kind": "mission",
  "category": "launchers",
  "page": "https://spacemushroom.com/space-products/spacex-starship/",
  "website": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
  "summary": "SpaceX's fully reusable two-stage launch system. Federal documents state it is built primarily of stainless steel with silica heat tiles; SpaceX publishes few other material details.",
  "application": "SpaceX's fully reusable launch system for Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars. Super Heavy is the first stage and Starship is the second stage, which can also act as a tanker or a lunar lander for NASA's Artemis programme.",
  "story": {
    "headline": "Starship is a two-stage rocket system from SpaceX, built mostly of stainless steel.",
    "intro": [
      "Starship is SpaceX's launch system for Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars. Super Heavy is the booster, and the ship, also called Starship, rides on top. The ship can act as a tanker, passing propellant to another ship in orbit, or as a lander for NASA's Artemis programme. Both stages are designed to be reusable.",
      "Most of the vehicle is stainless steel, and SpaceX describes the metal as non-toxic and inert. For re-entry, the ship is covered in silica tiles, a material with properties similar to glass. Early ships carried about 18,000 hexagonal tiles, rated to 1,400 degrees Celsius and held on with pins."
    ],
    "built": [
      {
        "title": "Super Heavy booster",
        "text": "Super Heavy's two tanks, liquid oxygen and liquid methane, share a dividing wall and hold 3,650 tonnes of propellant. Electric actuators swivel the inner 13 of its Raptor engines to steer. Grid fins guide it back to the launch tower, whose mechanical arms caught a booster for the first time on the fifth flight test.",
        "parts": [
          "Liquid oxygen and liquid methane tanks with a common bulkhead",
          "Raptor engines (x33)",
          "Electric-actuator thrust vector control on the inner 13 engines",
          "Grid fins (three, electrically actuated)",
          "Launch-tower catch arms (mechanical arms)"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "The ship",
        "text": "The ship's main tanks hold 1,500 tonnes of propellant. Six Raptor engines, three for sea level and three for vacuum, sit in a shielded compartment at the base. Small header tanks at the nose end of the payload bay hold propellant for re-entry and landing.",
        "parts": [
          "Main propellant tanks (liquid oxygen and liquid methane)",
          "Raptor engines (x6: three sea-level, three vacuum)",
          "Engine shielding compartment",
          "Header tanks"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Heat shield and flaps",
        "text": "Silica tiles, held to the stainless-steel skin with pins, protect the ship on re-entry. Four flaps control the descent, two forward and two aft, the aft pair mounted beside the engine bay and oxygen tank. SpaceX redesigned the forward flaps for the second version of the ship.",
        "parts": [
          "Heat tiles",
          "Heat-shield tile attachment pins",
          "Flaps (four)",
          "Forward flaps (two)",
          "Aft flaps (two)"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Payload bay",
        "text": "The payload fairing is a clamshell 9 metres across. A door folds into the payload bay to release payloads, and Starlink satellites are deployed from a slot dispenser SpaceX calls the PEZ dispenser. Other payloads separate from the ship on an adapter made for each mission.",
        "parts": [
          "Payload fairing (clamshell)",
          "Payload bay door",
          "PEZ dispenser",
          "Mission-unique payload adapter"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Moon lander version",
        "text": "The lander SpaceX is developing for NASA's Artemis III and IV missions has a crew cabin and two airlocks for moonwalks. An elevator below the cabin, about 115 feet above the ground, lowers crew and equipment to the surface. It also has landing legs and a deployable solar array.",
        "parts": [
          "Crew compartment",
          "Airlock(s)",
          "Elevator from the airlock deck to the lunar surface",
          "Landing legs",
          "Solar array (deployable)"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "materials": [
      {
        "name": "Stainless steel",
        "mid": "stainless-steel",
        "where": "The main construction material of the vehicle. SpaceX describes it as non-toxic and inert."
      },
      {
        "name": "Silica heat-shield tiles",
        "mid": "silica-heat-shield-tile",
        "where": "Heat tiles on the ship, attached to the steel with pins. SpaceX says silica has properties similar to glass."
      }
    ],
    "connections": "Super Heavy carries 33 of SpaceX's own Raptor engines and the ship six, three of them vacuum versions. NASA says the system draws on the flight heritage of Falcon and Dragon. As the Artemis lander it belongs to NASA's Human Landing System programme, and it must dock with Orion when the crew returns from the lunar surface. SpaceX also plans to deploy full-size Starlink V2 satellites with it.",
    "unknown": "SpaceX does not say which grade of stainless steel it uses. Nor does it say what the tanks, engines, flaps and grid fins are made of, or who makes the tiles. The design also changes from one version to the next, so any one description may not match every ship that has flown.",
    "facts": [
      {
        "label": "Propellants",
        "value": "liquid oxygen and liquid methane"
      },
      {
        "label": "Payload to low Earth orbit",
        "value": "100+ t (reusable baseline)"
      },
      {
        "label": "Ship propellant load",
        "value": "1,500 t (3,300,000 lb)"
      },
      {
        "label": "Booster propellant load",
        "value": "3,650 t (8,050,000 lb)"
      },
      {
        "label": "Payload fairing",
        "value": "9 m outer diameter"
      },
      {
        "label": "Ship heat-shield tiles",
        "value": "about 18,000 hexagonal tiles, rated to 1,400 C"
      }
    ]
  },
  "specifications": [
    {
      "label": "Stack height",
      "value": "about 400 ft (Starship on Super Heavy), design figure",
      "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf",
      "quote": "The fully integrated Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle is expected to be approximately 400 feet tall and 30 feet in diameter."
    },
    {
      "label": "Super Heavy engines",
      "value": "up to 37 Raptor",
      "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf",
      "quote": "Super Heavy is expected to be equipped with up to 37 Raptor engines, and Starship will employ up to six Raptor engines."
    },
    {
      "label": "Propellant",
      "value": "liquid oxygen and liquid methane",
      "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf",
      "quote": "The Raptor engine is powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid methane (LCH4)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Super Heavy lift-off thrust",
      "value": "74 MN with 37 engines",
      "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf",
      "quote": "Super Heavy, with all 37 engines, will have a maximum lift-off thrust of 74 meganewtons (MN)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Starship lander height",
      "value": "about 171 ft",
      "source_url": "https://oig.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/final-report-ig-26-004-nasas-management-of-the-human-landing-system-contracts.pdf",
      "quote": "Standing about 171 feet tall, Starship will launch from Earth on SpaceX's Super Heavy booster."
    },
    {
      "label": "Mass to LEO",
      "value": "100+ t (reusable baseline)",
      "source_url": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
      "quote": "Starship can deliver over 100 metric tons to LEO."
    },
    {
      "label": "Payload fairing diameter",
      "value": "9 m outer diameter",
      "source_url": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
      "quote": "The standard Starship payload fairing is 9 m in outer diameter"
    },
    {
      "label": "Payload envelope",
      "value": "8 m diameter, up to 22 m tall extended volume",
      "source_url": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
      "quote": "Starship's 8 m diameter payload dynamic envelope is shown in Figure 4."
    },
    {
      "label": "Super Heavy booster size (NASA)",
      "value": "9 m diameter, 70 m long",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20220013431/downloads/HLS%20IAC_Final.pdf",
      "quote": "Super Heavy Booster first stage, which is 9m in diameter, 70m long"
    },
    {
      "label": "HLS Starship size (NASA)",
      "value": "9 m diameter, 50 m long",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20220013431/downloads/HLS%20IAC_Final.pdf",
      "quote": "The 9m diameter, 50m long HLS Starship"
    },
    {
      "label": "HLS elevator height above ground",
      "value": "about 115 ft",
      "source_url": "https://oig.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/final-report-ig-26-004-nasas-management-of-the-human-landing-system-contracts.pdf",
      "quote": "approximately 115 feet above the ground"
    },
    {
      "label": "Ship propellant load",
      "value": "1,500 t (3,300,000 lb)",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
      "quote": "The vehicle's tanks hold 1,500 t (3,300,000 lb) of propellant,"
    },
    {
      "label": "Booster propellant load",
      "value": "3,650 t (8,050,000 lb)",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Super_Heavy",
      "quote": "The booster's two tanks hold a combined 3,650 t (8,050,000 lb) of propellant"
    },
    {
      "label": "Ship heat-shield tile count (Block 1 era)",
      "value": "about 18,000 hexagonal tiles, rated to 1,400 C",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
      "quote": "eighteen thousand hexagonal black tiles that can withstand temperatures of 1,400 °C (2,600 °F)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Ship dry mass (SpaceX CEO statement, 2021)",
      "value": "about 100 t (220,000 lb)",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
      "quote": "Elon Musk stated in 2021 that the vehicle had a dry mass of roughly 100 t (220,000 lb)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Ship Block 2 height",
      "value": "52.1 m (171 ft)",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
      "quote": "The now retired Block 2 version of Starship was 52.1 m (171 ft) tall, 9 m (30 ft) wide,"
    },
    {
      "label": "Block 3 booster height",
      "value": "72.3 m",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Super_Heavy",
      "quote": "Block 3 Super Heavy is 72.3 meters tall."
    },
    {
      "label": "Block 3 booster thrust (expected)",
      "value": "80.8 MN (18,200,000 lbf)",
      "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Super_Heavy",
      "quote": "expected to increase to 80.8 MN (18,200,000 lbf) for Block 3 boosters"
    },
    {
      "label": "First fully stacked orbital-class launch",
      "value": "20 April 2023",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true",
      "quote": "SpaceX began its orbital launch campaign with the fully stacked, integrated Super Heavy-Starship launch vehicle on April 20, 2023"
    },
    {
      "label": "All 33 booster engines lit for a full-duration burn",
      "value": "18 November 2023",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true",
      "quote": "This test marked the first time all 33 Raptor engines successfully ignited and completed full-duration burns."
    },
    {
      "label": "Electronic thrust vector control first flown",
      "value": "14 March 2024 (third flight test)",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true",
      "quote": "The third flight test lifted off March 14, 2024"
    },
    {
      "label": "First booster catch",
      "value": "fifth flight test",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true",
      "quote": "SpaceX’s fifth test flight of the integrated Super Heavy-Starship system featured the first stage booster returning to the launch site"
    }
  ],
  "features": [
    {
      "text": "Both stages designed to be reusable",
      "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-06/PEA_for_SpaceX_Starship_Super_Heavy_at_Boca_Chica_FINAL.pdf",
      "quote": "As designed, both stages are reusable"
    },
    {
      "text": "Crew configuration for up to 100 people to LEO, Moon and Mars",
      "source_url": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
      "quote": "the Starship crew configuration can transport up to 100 people from Earth into LEO and on to the Moon and Mars"
    },
    {
      "text": "Propellant transfer in orbit for higher payload mass",
      "source_url": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
      "quote": "Utilizing parking orbit refueling, Starship is able to deliver unprecedented payload mass"
    }
  ],
  "parts": [
    {
      "assembly": "Vehicle structure",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Starship vehicle (overall construction)",
          "material": "stainless steel (grade not stated in this source)",
          "form": "primary construction material of the vehicle",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Starship is constructed primarily of stainless steel, which is non-toxic and inert.",
          "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/20250919_Draft-Tiered-EA-for-Additional-Trajectories-and-Starship-RTLS_508.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "stainless-steel"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Thermal protection",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Heat tiles",
          "material": "silica",
          "form": "thermal heat tiles",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "thermal heat tiles composed of silica, which has similar properties to glass",
          "source_url": "https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/20250919_Draft-Tiered-EA-for-Additional-Trajectories-and-Starship-RTLS_508.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "silica-heat-shield-tile"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Payload",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Payload fairing (clamshell)",
          "material": null,
          "form": "clamshell structure, 9 m outer diameter",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The Starship payload fairing is a clamshell structure in which the payload is integrated.",
          "source_url": "https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Starship propulsion",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Raptor engines (x6: three sea-level, three vacuum)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "Supplier: SpaceX",
          "quote": "Starship, powered by six SpaceX Raptor engines",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20220013431/downloads/HLS%20IAC_Final.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "ship main engines for ascent, in-space burns and landing"
        },
        {
          "part": "Engine shielding compartment",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Starship is powered by six Raptor engines, which are housed within a dedicated shielding compartment.",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "houses the six Raptor engines"
        },
        {
          "part": "Main propellant tanks (liquid oxygen and liquid methane)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The vehicle's tanks hold 1,500 t (3,300,000 lb) of propellant,",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "carry about 1,500 t of propellant"
        },
        {
          "part": "Header tanks",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The header tanks are mounted at the tip of the payload bay.",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "small tanks at the nose end of the payload bay for landing and re-entry propellant",
          "specs": [
            {
              "label": "In-orbit transfer test",
              "value": "liquid oxygen moved between header and main tanks in orbit",
              "quote": "transferring liquid oxygen (LOX) between the header and main tanks within Starship",
              "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "part": "Thrust structure",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The oxygen tank terminates with the thrust structure of the vehicle.",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "oxygen tank terminates in the structure that carries engine thrust"
        },
        {
          "part": "Cold gas thrusters (in-orbit attitude control)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "During unpowered flight in orbit, control authority is provided by cold gas thrusters",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "control authority during unpowered flight in orbit"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Starship aerodynamic control",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Flaps (four)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Starship controls its reentry with four flaps",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "control the belly-flop re-entry"
        },
        {
          "part": "Forward flaps (two)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Beginning with Block 2, the design of these forward flaps was significantly changed,",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "upper flaps whose design changed from Block 2"
        },
        {
          "part": "Aft flaps (two)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "two aft flaps mounted to the sides of the engine bay and LOX tank",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "lower flaps beside the engine bay and LOX tank"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Starship thermal protection",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Heat-shield tile attachment pins",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The silica-based tiles are attached to Starship with pins,",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "hold the silica tiles to the stainless-steel skin"
        },
        {
          "part": "Thermal and micro-meteoroid (MMOD) protection tiles (HLS variant)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "thermal and micro-meteoroid orbital debris (MMOD) protection tiles",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "tile layer tested for the lunar lander configuration"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Starship payload",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Payload bay door",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The door opens by folding into the payload bay.",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "folds into the payload bay to release payloads"
        },
        {
          "part": "PEZ dispenser",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The PEZ dispenser is used to deploy Starlink satellites into LEO.",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "slot dispenser used to deploy Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit"
        },
        {
          "part": "Mission-unique payload adapter",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The payload is then separated using the mission-unique payload adapter.",
          "source_url": "https://spacex.relayto.com/e/starship-users-guide-37uiuuepbks0x",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "separates the payload from the ship"
        },
        {
          "part": "Payload supports along sidewalls or nose",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Starship has the ability to mount supports along the sidewalls or nose",
          "source_url": "https://spacex.relayto.com/e/starship-users-guide-37uiuuepbks0x",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "mounting options inside the payload bay"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Starship structure",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Nosecone with internal reinforcement and chopstick lifting points",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "The nosecone has substantial internal reinforcement,",
          "source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_(spacecraft)",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "reinforced nose carrying catch-arm lift points"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Human landing system variant",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Crew compartment",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Early progress on the crew compartment has included construction of a mock-up crew cabin.",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240012719/downloads/HLS%20Update%20Kent%20Chojnacki%20IEEE%20Aero%202025%20v2.pdf?attachment=true",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": null,
          "function": "cabin for the lunar-lander crew"
        },
        {
          "part": "Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)",
          "material": null,
          "form": null,
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
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      "kind": "product",
      "credit": "Steve Jurvetson | Flickr",
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      "credit": "Steve Jurvetson | Flickr",
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    "orbit": [
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  "licence": "Product data CC BY 4.0, cite Space Mushroom. Photos keep their own licences, given per photo.",
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}