The evolution of SpaceX's Starship (with explosions!)

Elon Musk's rocket company first began developing working prototypes of the Starship rocket in early 2019 at Boca Chica, Texas. The goal is to build a fully functional reusable rocket that can one day journey to the Moon and Mars. Check out our supercut of the many iterations of Starship up to the latest successful launch and landing of SN15.
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0:00 Starhopper
1:00 Starship SN5
1:58 Starship SN6
2:51 Starship SN8
4:49 Starship SN9
6:23 Starship SN10
8:02 Starship SN11
8:21 Starship SN15
#starship #spacex #elonmusk

[@anshunayyar2391]

To anyone watching this in 2050. Yess, this is where it all began. We lived in the Elon Musk era.

[@daniell.6463]

I like that, Elon era

[@BunnyCentauri]

hello future kidssssss HELLOooOoOOOOOOOOOooo Keep being good, it's worth it

[@thaminduKavinda]

Hello Future we watched this live 💪

[@wojecire]

@@daniell.6463 or the "Elon epoch"

[@jonz23m]

The cult is real

[@dawsonl]

Hard to believe they went from the flying silo of SN5 in August to only 9 months later landing SN15.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

I really can't get my head around that. It's breathtaking.

[@capistranojoeyp1517]

progress

[@robertwatkin2777]

Goes to show how how well a software development approach can reduce development time! Go Agile Development :D

[@MichaelNNY]

When your sole purpose isnt to fill pork barrels for various states, its amazing what you can get done.

[@joer8854]

@@MichaelNNY It's also people clinging to the idea that blowing up rockets is more of a waste and more expensive than simulations. It's not. It's cheaper, faster and more informative to blow them up. We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery. Samuel smiles 1859

[@thorium222]

Amazing how fast they developed the starship.

[@jeffjeff4477]

Totally,it went from scifi movie to reality crazy fast

[@MrPlatin]

Imagine the next 10 years...actualy, I can't, too many great accomplishments, can't even believe it.

[@spittle97]

Whilst everyone was doubting them.

[@Robin-Visser]

Fast? We are waiting so many days between testflights. I cant count the days on two hands anymore

[@user-zl5cv6vw2m]

@@Robin-Visser Are you serious?

[@timelord1137]

Starship proved to be capable of landing. The next milestone is to land the Super Heavy. There will be many more failures and explosions, but SpaceX has consistently achieved its goal. And it is inspiring.

[@muddro420]

I think Starship needs to prove itself at least a dozen times in a row before we can trust it to safely carry people to Mars. And even after that we better be damn sure we have a solid plan for landing it on Mars, which will be very different than landing it on Earth.

[@TheNuclearBolton]

@@muddro420 We will send equipment to Mars prior to sending humans. In all honesty, the landing platform needs to be self-leveling and give cushion with the support of air pistons so that we can aid other craft that may potentially visit.

[@BradiKal61]

@@muddro420 Falcon is a proven system that had its own early failures . There is zero doubt that eventually Space X will be able to do anything it wants to

[@caveman4659]

@@BradiKal61 For people who proclaim to be sciency and futuristic, you guys sure lack scientific reasoning. Absolutely? No doubt? Will achieve ANYTHING it wants to? Lmao.

[@dik56]

@@caveman4659 what does sciency and futuristic mean ? They're just talking facts. And yes it is possible with enough time. Don't be so pessimistic

[@buckedupbuckeye]

I can't wait for that day when I can hear the just the sound of the wind rushing by as the vehicle slows in it's descent before hearing those Raptors relight with the landing flip. I just can't wait for that day... I'm ready.

[@messyties]

They might just try land starship using towers now. No landing flip

[@TheBetterGame]

@@messyties no, the current model still includes the flip and a vertical landing, it just uses a tower to absorb the landing shock. The horizontal catch you've seen illustrated was only "in an ideal world", basically him just thinking out loud on Twitter one day.

[@palehorse1511]

I have been following their progress from the beginning with so much awe. It was incredible to watch SN15 touch down with a soft landing in real time. I am seriously thinking about switching fields and applying for a job at Boca Chica. To be a part of history would be amazing. To be a part of SpaceX would be even more so.

[@andrewpascal6096]

same

[@michaeljmobley]

I'm in IT and at this point I wouldn't even mind being a janitor at Starbase or even GigaTexas. So many talented minds working for SpaceX and Tesla. I'd love to have conversations with so many folks and share the same passions as I do with them. It's probably some high stress level work but in the end, we measure who we are as humans to what we accomplish in our lives and the other lives around us that we affect and inspire. I can't think of 2 organizations that inspire more than them right now.

[@palehorse1511]

@@michaeljmobley Exactly. I currently work in a building/tech field for a global manufacturer. While I love my job, I would love to be a part of human history, and this is the grass roots of how it happens.

[@palehorse1511]

@@michaeljmobley Granted, I already work for a company that has created and innovated machines for construction and agriculture. I would love nothing more than to be a small part of a company whose vision is farther than just here.

[@ainaras108]

so Musk decided to go to Mars with his own rocket ?? Question, how he will make rocket that goes in light speed ??

[@thejesuschrist]

Go SpaceX! Humanity's best hope for survival!

[@mandoy2080]

Hi jesus! This got on my timeline just now too!

[@WillFaustCuber]

Ayyy we got Jesus's approval!!!

[@hieroglyph321]

If that's true, then we really are fooked

[@fineidos151]

Thanks Jesus.

[@thejesuschrist]

@@OccupyMarsJune no, don’t hide that bong! Change that water, pack that bowl with some fresh bud, and pass it here!

[@HarrisonAdAstra]

Thank you for making this and not just spreading more FUD about this test program.

[@Juno101]

FUD?

[@sonicpokemaster1]

@@Juno101 Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt

[@Juno101]

@@sonicpokemaster1 Ah Thx

[@moltenlavaguy9334]

@peter I’m guessing you are talking about SN10 and SN11

[@paullangford8179]

@@moltenlavaguy9334 SN10 landed, but caught fire and blew up. SN11 landed piece by piece...

[@AFrendlyStarbaseWorker-gc6pv]

Wow, it is amazing to see that almost 3years after SN15 we are getting ready for the third full stack flight of starship

[@slopedarmor]

you just missed spacex's supercut of SN15 : p

[@loucatozzi7656]

While watching Starhopper's flight it is crazy how much has changed to the launch area since then!

[@bajablaster1]

Starhopper to a full stacked starship is insane

[@thickboi7570]

For anyone watching this in the future, yes this was the beginning of everything.

[@RuhjedVentula]

this shows how quickly humans learn from mistakes to improve and meet the goal

[@cameronh3260]

Except if your Blue Origin, Boeing, ULA, etc

[@alexbenzler5327]

@@cameronh3260 i mean they dont wantt to make mistakkes they want it just perfect and for that to be even remotely possible they take ages lol

[@cameronh3260]

@@alexbenzler5327 "They want to perfect it" but they can't even properly set the clock on the statliner making it miss the ISS and like 90 other software issues that NASA found and that delayed them for almost 2 years

[@alexbenzler5327]

@@cameronh3260 yeh, didn't say it's the best approach haha

[@TayoEXE]

The way it flips over vertical and then slowly lands with those rockets is like something I've only seen in a sci-fi movie.

[@111danish111]

Which science fiction movie are you talking about ?

[@iamcarbonandotherbits.8039]

Can't imagine how soul destroying it must have been for the spaceX crew to watch each attempt crash and burn. Then to pick themselves up and to come as far as they have with the programme is a testament to their grit and determination to get the job done. You have and you are making history people, and I'm just glad to be here to see it happen in my lifetime, thank you.

[@bhbluebird]

What I can't imagine is the partying they did after a successful landing:-)

[@JerseyMcgee81]

They actually would prefer them to explode.

[@happytrailsgaming]

@@JerseyMcgee81 was about to say the data they collected I'm sure was super helpful. Also I'm sure they expected explosions lol

[@CoffeeMonster12]

They definetly expected explosions, thats a part of the development process

[@daex4756]

That’s so amazing engineering ! Bravo to all SpaceX teams !

[@audio7887]

This piece was really well done! The background music selection / composition is on point! So much progress in a mere two years for SpaceX. Especially when also considering the incredible amount of build site, production factory infrastructure they've added and all the orbital launch pad construction. Just wonder were they'll be at in two more years!

[@brettpresta-valachovic3631]

My bet is SpaceX will have the beginnings of a "spaceport" on the Moon or in orbit around the Sun within five years. This will entice individuals to invest in space business while SpaceX works on the challenge of creating a permanent colony on Mars.

[@crealidad]

what is the name of the soundtrack?

[@Coyote27981]

The music reminds me eve online music.

[@venturestar]

@@Coyote27981 Mass Effect Too

[@micharutkowski6029]

@@crealidad Also it sounds like WARNO soundtrack.

[@kthewhite7453]

I remember watching the first successful landing live. Goosebumps!

[@BradiKal61]

@4:35 This shot always amazes me because you get a sense of the scale of the ahip and how its falling right toward the complex

[@Windeycastle]

It's amazing seeing how gentle those rockets are jumping from launch pad to landing pad.

[@magnamic5614]

Music is on point.

[@DiegoGomez-pk5tg]

Yeah it honestly reminds me of the Interstellar music

[@Just_Dan44]

This is it boys, this is where it all begin, through hard work, testing, and failing we successfully put human on mars. Amazing, truly amazing era to be lived on.

[@user-gp2sh3li4l]

I always forget about sn11. May you rest in pieces.

[@I_am_refrigerator]

And today, the very first starship orbital test flight, witht the starship and the booster as well. Today, 4th april 2023. So cool to see where we came from, but even more cool to see where we are headed.

[@KBURfan]

We will perfect this landing in our era !!!!!

[@SCARFACE69247]

It's a 17 story apartment building falling out of the sky, spinning around and landing.

[@jasonkelley5961]

Hotel room reserved for this Sunday night, fingers crossed for a launch within the two day window of me being there!!!

[@denisealexander559]

That’s so amazing engineering ! Bravo to all SpaceX teams

[@Kresnov]

Designers and Engineers pushing the envelope, the fact they even thought this was feasible is a testament to Human Ingenuity.

[@WaaDoku]

In less than 4 years they went from Starhopper to fully stacked Starship Superheavy launch?? Wow!

[@wachox]

Today plans for firs orbital attempt were published in FCC site , it's crazy

[@johndododoe1411]

And last week they stacked the full size rocket system just to test the stacking system, then unstacked to continue the finishing touches.

[@dmeemd7787]

Incredible job with this video! Does a wonderful job of allowing everyone to relive these moments and all the other great stuff that goes along with that :-)

[@SEA-U2]

That's nuts how fast this is evolving

[@patmahomesisthegoat1622]

And now we’re here, just after they launched the biggest rocket ever. Granted, it did explode, but it flew for 4 minutes. Big achievement for SpaceX

[@maxbrazil3712]

Musk saying Bezos "can't get it up" made me love Elon even more.

[@MLennholm]

The music is way too loud, I can't even hear Everyday Astronaut's screaming and cheering in the distance!

[@JB17521or]

Nooo way!! Noooooooo waayy!!! THATSS UNREEAL

[@TiborDevenyi-wd2ep]

Eszmeletlen Tömegű Értékű Űripari es Mas Űripari Tények Tanulmany de, MilesTonna &MilesTonnen Voros-Vasercet és egyebek ez és és nem ,,,,, ,,,,,,,†*****$$$$**""; Voros-Vasercet @@✓✓✓£¢€¥¥€¢£√√AstroAsvanyercek az

[@stevescouch2897]

GO SPACEX!!! ❤❤❤

[@nicholaslupo4231]

cant believe its been 3 years since hopper. i was mind blown back then.

[@ceerstar851]

I can't believe how close they were testing to the building in the beginning.

[@kittygiatanidon4980]

His way of thinking, his genius, is the reason why we are going to mars in 10 years.

[@Pikachu-xz9gb]

Mark my word you never will

[@kittygiatanidon4980]

Maybe i will, maybe i wont…

[@CombraStudios]

Sometimes when things seem too impossible it's just a call for a different approach

[@PianomanKY]

SpaceX is literally the real life version of Kerbal Space Program.

[@T--kq3pj]

no

[@apollyon7x]

NASA would never even consider blowing up 14 ships to get one that works. Love SpaceX.

[@joysun339]

That engine re-light part is a killer

[@adamwhitehouse9232]

The footage at 7:36 is insane, I still can't believe that's real footage! Mental

[@glenchapman3899]

I was thinking the same thing. Life is good when a real world spaceship looks better than CGI lol

[@BradiKal61]

You kids imagine what it was like back in the 1960s during the Apollo missions when you might have to wait YEARS between seeing launches !

[@a7t0r98]

This is the definition of practice makes perfect.

[@SEPK09]

That's some amazing engineering.

[@nocknock4832]

crazy how fast the development stages went by

[@brettpresta-valachovic3631]

I know. Funny how fast things get done when you aren't dependent on the whims of Congress for funding.

[@StanHowse]

Watching these, explosions and all, made me think of the movie The Aviator, with Leo. All the crazy/ground-breaking/revolutionary things Howard Huges pulls off, pretty much each one of them things, he had multiple people telling him "You can't do that!", or "That's never gunna happen!". And yet he did each one of them. Elon Musk seems like the Howard Huges of my generation. (maybe a little less eccentric lol)

[@Stallnig]

What a time to be alive.

[@Arkuza55]

I hope people in the future keep progressing with the technology. I really want to see humanity go interstellar in my life time.

[@ajax818]

When you see it skydive you almost forget that its almost 400 feet and weighs several tons. Can’t wait for it to be an official starship for missions and not a prototype. Imagine when it gets proper landing legs, windows, full heat tiles, updated internals fuel systems, and life support equipment for astronauts. But with time and hard work it will happen.

[@AlexMoreno-zj7po]

I don't think it's almost 400 feet

[@dominickwest7558]

@@AlexMoreno-zj7po 390 ft

[@jmyers0341]

@@AlexMoreno-zj7po dur dur dur

[@AlexMoreno-zj7po]

@@dominickwest7558 Isn't that full stack though?

[@maxklinger1494]

That is the sizs of the full stack (Starship + Super Heavy)

[@beatricebok3822]

SpaceX did more within a year than nasa could’ve done in a decade. Amazing

[@rnichol22]

Not exactly especially in the 60s

[@thefortnitecuh4900]

@@rnichol22 yea nasas rockets kinda sucked after that

[@tubaeseries5705]

@@rnichol22 yeah when they had wernher, who saved their plans to go into space

[@ahmedo7875]

Spacex have reached the iss nasa reached the moon try again

[@space0015]

@@ahmedo7875 Today's NASA/Roscosmos is different from 60s Nasa, 60s USSR

[@bstrickly]

SpaceX is so far ahead of everyone else, Elon is a genius, he definitely has the Midas touch. Everything he touches turn to gold!

[@user-xl4xp5bx8m]

He is far ahead of everyone in the race he invented to distract the attention of fools who poorly taught science in school.

[@one_step_sideways]

SpaceX is literally only using what the USSR and NASA have developed, and is doing a bad job at it - particularly as a """private""" company.

[@beardedsawyer6322]

@@one_step_sideways They built the raptor engine with full closed cycle tech, that wasn't invented by NASA or the USSR.

[@AlbertWillHelmWestings2618]

@@beardedsawyer6322 the guy has problems using a switch i dont think he's someone worth arguing with over this kinda stuff.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

Well not everything. His solar program was horrible and it went bust. And I'm not so sure about his autos...we'll see. But in space he's pretty good.

[@aloevera4809]

Waching this a year later still blows my mind , starships orbital test flight in t- 26h 🤯

[@mikaelbiilmann6826]

SN8 There's something very satisfying with that landing. 🤣

[@user-uw1wq9rj8g]

"Failures are the big keys into success" - Elon Musk

[@johndododoe1411]

"If they don't blow up, we have to store them somewhere" - also Elon Musk.

[@eskanderx1027]

Great choice of the soundtrack!

[@mrfrosty3]

This is a beautiful video, I particularly like the cosmic music. Since SpaceX people don't ask if humans will go to Mars, they ask when it will happen and expect it to happen soon, like their flight is delayed.

[@00ta]

Just beautiful. Congrats on your success!

[@electricsnut]

A fantastic compilation, thankyou!

[@goose300183]

8:13 - "Rapid unscheduled disassembly" - lol I like that!

[@esbi7688]

0:00 Oh That's My Birthday August 27. Nice

[@theuksubs]

Today, only four years later the first lift off, the whole SuperHeavyStarship-Rocket reached the Sky! Forward to moon and mars :)

[@biggrizzlybear6774]

Dear humanity in whatever future sees this, thank you. Thank you for allowing us to get so far. For getting past any differences. Much love, -Someone from Friday, March 17th, 2023, at approximately 2:07 AM.

[@Robin-Visser]

Some landing burns are awesome😍

[@ticklemejunk650]

God I can't wait to start seeing flights again. I was always rushing home to make sure I could watch these live.

[@DaForlonDegree]

❤ I have hearted your comment

[@jardozouille1677]

The evolution of the launch site is so amazing, so many things have been built in just 6 months !

[@sherrysyed]

Oh my God the ending!!!!!!!!!!!! And it’s so perfectly cut off too that is such ,just wow honestly what

[@lowsonoma941]

Ive been watching all these tests since the start. I can not wait to see StarShip and the Booster finally launch.

[@prof_hu]

I was anticipating a caption "explosion" with a line connecting to the fireball. :)

[@zefsam2517]

Don’t understand the hate on Elon. He’s a person doing everything that most people are afraid to. He’s a perfect example of the magnitude of things u can do when you follow your dreams

[@cryptopolice6202]

Do you know how these Kickstarter scams work? Where they make some prototypes, promis you the world and then turn out to deliver 5% of what they said or nothing at all. This is pretty much how Musk operates and how he runs his businesses, but instead of not delivering, he uses money from the future (new promises) to fund the old a bit more. The experts he hires with money he obtained by lying and misleading, are doing amazing things and deserve the credit. Musk on the other hand, who acts like he is the mastermind behind all the tech, is just a conman with the mindset of a child. He uses B to fund A, C to fund A&B and D to fund A&B&C. The promises for the future need to get bigger and bigger to keep this bubble in tact. (something we are clearly seeing) 90+% of his/his companies capital is money that people invested for future products (or in anticipation for future products). Most of this money however, is being used to keep those first projects from dying (since non of Musk his projects are really economically viable). Ofcourse they can deliver some amazing products to keep people believing in this Musk-scheme, when companies like Tesla are extremely overvalued (due to empty promises for the future) and Musk keeps borrowing money against those assets to fund new projects.

[@BagrielMusic]

7:36 The video is so perfect that looks like a video game. Incredible!

[@sergioflores1352]

Mr. Torgue: EXPLOSIONS!!??

[@mpconceptsono649]

Love the choice of ambiant music here. Well done!!! And GO SPACEX !!!

[@ffrreeddyy123456]

This is epic, lots of brilliant emotions while watching these rockets get better and better. Truly amazing how we learn and improve so much. Like the physics here are very impressive

[@ARobotIsMe]

Props to SpaceX for not calling SN10, SNX

[@derekfuqua1254]

SN15 needs to be a monument in Star City.

[@razibbaraljoy9978]

Do you know SpaceX made their water tank from 2nd rocket prototype? 😆 They make penny pinching an art, absolute genius.

[@FuriousImp]

Well done CNET, please give my heartfelt thanks to the editorial team. You've done a great job capturing and summarizing the incredibly quick development and the beautiful technical achievements of the SpaceX team!

[@RtB68]

I can't begin to tell you how much I want this to work.

[@blackterminal]

Full speed ahead. Great video. Thank you

[@disrespecc9678]

The greatest rocket. The greatest booster. The greatest launchpad. The greatest operation - the greatest plan.

[@saintmichael1911]

Watching this never gets old so awesome

[@bob_thebuilder]

Rapid unscheduled disassembly… love it!!

[@jamesflolid1394]

I went from reading syfy as a kid to spaceX to the Gateway project in my lifetime 72 years, WOW!

[@rayturner5186]

Great stuff, if SN15 sticks it second landing, it will be amazing. No let's tweak that landing profile so it lands closer to center pad. Great job to everyone.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

One engine didn't light so it didn't push it as far and it landed short. It's unclear if there was a problem or if it was never started because they had two good engines.

[@squdardt.9719]

@@user-lv7ph7hs7l they don’t need to light 3 engines to land. They only need 2, I think.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

@@squdardt.9719 The new plan is to light three and keep the best two. John twice said they will light three Raptors during the webcast and Elon recently said the plan was light three and land on two at low throttle to allow some margibän with one engine throttling up to 110% if necessary, should one fail right at the end.

[@andricode]

@@user-lv7ph7hs7l At the end he said everything was nominal, there wasn't the usual mention of engine relight failure so maybe they changed the plan due to the new starship design

[@XxDramaticBatu]

İt did

[@estebengrifo8160]

Incredible achievements! Can‘t wait to see things progress.

[@subhashbarhbarh9702]

Awesome landing

[@22VB22]

I can Watch This for hours! Amazing 🤩

[@Epsilon_Rue]

I still remember watching the first Starhopper 150m jump. I was in the parking lot of a buffalo wild wings connected to a JCPenney's, sitting in my dad's car watching on his phone mounted on his windshield. It was breathtaking.

[@Freedom2x462]

Loved the music !

[@vascoribeiro69]

Testing on the Moon surface will be a challenge.

[@dylanpritchard4981]

I’ve had a video idea for awhile now where it’s Starship from Starhopper’s perspective. Every launch shots of starship with star hopper in it with increasingly intense orchestral music and googly eyes on Starhopper lol It’s gets increasing more and more concerned as Starship grows lol

[@davidedisanto2630]

Amazing, I love spacex ❤

[@AndreyLuizDev]

8:22 The song reminds me of Mindustry. BTW, excellent work, SpaceX. I truly believe we're going to reach Mars on my life time.

[@butterandjamtoast]

When I read SpaceX was considering launching the SN15 again after the first successful soft landing I got choked up a bit. I can tell everyone at SpaceX is passionate.

[@13_cmi]

Rapid unscheduled disassembly is still so good. That should be the official term

[@lkstew6915]

Thank you for including the part where Elon Musk explains his steps that he and his engineers are to follow when developing new or innovative changes to existing rocket development. A new way of thinking that works like crazy.