Template:SpaceX Starship test articles
| Name | First spotted | Decommissioned | Construction site | Status | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TT1 | January 2020[1] | January 10, 2020[2] | Boca Chica, Texas | Destroyed[2] | 1 |
| TT2 | January 2020[3] | January 29, 2020[4] | Boca Chica, Texas | Destroyed[4] | 2 |
| GSE 4.1 | August 2021 | January 18, 2022 | Boca Chica, Texas | Destroyed[5] | 2 |
| EDOME | 2022 | Late October 2022 | Boca Chica, Texas | Destroyed | 2 |
| EDOME 2 | September 2023 | December 2023 | Boca Chica, Texas | Scrapped | 1 |
Test Tank 1 (TT1) was a subscale test tank consisting of two forward bulkheads connected by a small barrel section. TT1 was used to test new materials and construction methods. On January 10, 2020, TT1 was tested to failure as part of an ambient temperature test, reaching a pressure of 7.1 bar (103 psi).[2][6]
Test Tank 2 (TT2) was another subscale test tank similar to TT1. On January 27, 2020, TT2 underwent an ambient temperature pressure test where it reached a pressure of 7.5 bar (109 psi) before a leak occurred.[7] Two days later, it underwent a cryogenic proof test to destruction, bursting at 8.5 bar (123 psi).[8][4][9]
GSE 4.1 was first spotted in August 2021 and was the first ground support equipment (GSE) test tank built, made from parts of GSE 4. It underwent a cryogenic proof test on August 2023 before it was rolled to Sanchez site.[10] It was rolled back to the launch site in November 2021, where it underwent an apparent cryogenic proof test to failure on January 18, 2022, where it burst at an unknown pressure.[5]
EDOME was a test tank created to test flatter domes, possibly used on future Starship prototypes. It was moved to the launch site in July 2022, and then back to the production site the next month, after undergoing no tests.[11] It was later moved from the production site to the Massey's test site in late September 2022, where it was damaged during a cryogenic pressure test to failure.[11] After repairs, it was tested to destruction in late October 2022.[11]
EDOME 2 was a test tank which is likely designed to continue testing a flatter dome design. As of October 4, 2023, its official designation is unknown. It was tested once, before being scrapped for unknown reasons.[12]
- ^ SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship Test Tank mated – Jan 7, 2020 (YouTube). NASASpaceFlight. 2020-01-07. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
- ^ a b c Aravelo, Evelyn (2020-01-10). "SpaceX conducted a pressure test on a Starship dome tank at Boca Chica today". Tesmaian. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship Bulkhead/Dome Test Tank 2 Mated (YouTube). NASASpaceFlight. 2020-01-25. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
- ^ a b c SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship Test Tank 2 Destructive Cryo Test (YouTube). NASASpaceflight. 2020-01-29. Archived from the original on 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ a b GSE-4 Tank Fails During Testing | SpaceX Boca Chica, archived from the original on August 11, 2023, retrieved 2022-01-20
- ^ Ralph, Eric (January 12, 2020). "SpaceX just blew up a Starship tank on purpose and Elon Musk says the results are in". Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (2020-01-27). "Starship 9m test tank made 7.5 bar at room temp! Small leak at a weld double. Will be repaired & retested at cryo. https://t.co/Bz3lrwkYRU" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-08-22 – via Twitter.
- ^ Chris Bergin – NSF [@NASASpaceflight] (28 January 2020). "Farewell Test Tank 2, and we thank you. https://t.co/Je69rLmr28 https://t.co/AUpIb7kv24" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (January 29, 2020). "8.5 bar" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ GSE Test Tank Undergoes Cryogenic Proof Testing | SpaceX Boca Chica, archived from the original on April 27, 2023, retrieved 2022-01-19.
- ^ a b c Why SpaceX Could Be Forced To Abandon Starship Payloads Until 2024!, archived from the original on December 13, 2023, retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ The SpaceX Military Starship Is Real! How's This Going To End?, archived from the original on December 12, 2023, retrieved 2023-12-12.