Starhopper is a retired low-altitude Starship prototype, and was the first prototype of the Starship program to be built. Although bearing a full 9-meter diameter, Starhopper was not a full-height rocket as it didn't include header tanks. The nosecone first intended for the vehicle was destroyed due to high winds and was replaced by a smaller dome. Testing began in March 2019 and the craft completed two successful low-altitude "hops" using its single Raptor engine. It completed two hops, at 50m and 150m.
Following flight tests, Starhopper was retired and repurposed as water tank and equipment mount near the entrance of the launch site. Equipment installed on it included cameras, lights, loudspeakers and radar.
In April 20 2023, Starhopper was lightly damaged by debris launched by Starship 7/24 during Flight 1.
Starhopper has been moved from the launch site to the SpaceX parking lot on the 3rd of September 2024.
History[]
[Placeholder for operational history]
On the 3rd of September 2024, Starhopper was raised by SPMTs and maneuvered around at the Launch Site following a few days preperation for relocation. Later in the day it was moved from the launch site to the SpaceX parking lot across from the launch site.
Timeline[]
[Placeholder for operational history]
- Sep 3rd 2024: Starhopper moved to the SpaceX parking lot
Testing Campaign[]
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 March 2019 | Tanking test "kettle" | Success | Starhopper conducted a Tanking test. |
| 21 March 2019 | Test (WDR) attempt | Aborted | Starhopper experiences an abort during a WDR test attempt. |
| 22 March 2019 | Tanking/WDR test | Success | Starhopper conducted a tanking (or a possible WDR) test. |
| 25 March 2019 | Spin Prime | Success | Starhopper conducted a spin prime. |
| 27 March 2019 | Possible Spin Prime | Success | Starhopper conducted another spin prime. |
| 30 March 2019 | Spin Prime | Success | Starhopper conducted a spin prime. |
| 03 April 2019 | Static fire | Success | Starhopper conducted its first static fire. |
| 05 April 2019 | Static fire | Success | Starhopper conducted a static fire. |
| 27 August 2019 | 150m hop | Success | Starhopper conducted a 150m hop test. |
18 March 2019 - Tanking test "kettle"[]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsDipripJJY
21 March 2019 - Test (WDR) attempt[]
Timeline according to SPadre and others:
- 10:00 road closed
- 10:18 farm venting
- 14:17 man lift going up
- 15:00 venting on LOX tank
- 15:20 still people on SH
- 15:33 no test today, road closed until 8pm for inspection
22 March 2019 - Testing[]
Probably a tanking, or WDR, test, including some venting of SH at 15:47. Venting occurring in long intervals. After detanking at 17:06, methane was burnt off from the flair stack.
25 March 2019 - Testing, Spin Prime[]
Timeline according to different sources ([2] [3]LabPadre, Everyday Astronaut, NSF)
- 09:30 road closed
- 14:17 Fueling began
- 15:05 Big top vent, more venting
- 15:59 Flair stack burning off methane
- 16:11 Ground vent
- 16:14:48 Spin Prime as white clouds appear under the skirt of SH
- 16:18:33 Depress vents starting at the top of SH
- 16:24:50 Vents stopped
- 16:27 more venting
- 16:32 venting
27 March 2019 - Testing, Spin Prime?[]
Timeline according to different sources (NSF, Mary, LabPadre):
- 10:34 road closed
- 13:46 LOX vent
- 14:38:54 Vent from the skirt
- 15:57 Vehicles towards pad
- 16:09 Road open
28 March 2019 - Testing[]
Timeline according to different sources: NSF, [4]
- 18:51 Venting from the top of SH
- 19:38 Flair stack burning
- 19:41 Venting from skirt, near the legs
- 19:58 Much methane burnt
30 March 2019 - Testing. Spin Prime[]
Timeline according to different sources: LabPadre on NSF, [5]:
- 12:07 Road closed
- 14:57 Some venting from SH
- 15:41 Flare stack and large top and aft venting
- 17:50 Venting from the aft and flare stack still going on
- 17:51:26 Spin Prime test as white cloud appears under the skirt of SH
- 19:39 Detank vents from top of SH, flare stack burning
01 April 2019 - Testing[]
Timeline according to different sources: LabPadre, NSF:
- 14:11 Road closed
- 15:42 Pad cleared
- 16:31 SH venting
- 18:10 Flare stack
- 18:15 Preburner and massive fuel dump, massive flame
- 18:37 Massive flame/fireball from the farm area
02 April 2019 - Testing[]
Timeline according to different sources: LabPadre, NSF, SPadre:
- 14:06 Road closed
- 21:07 Flare stack, detank of SH
- not known....
[Please add info]
03 April 2019 - Static Fire #1[]
Timeline according to different sources: LabPadre, NSF [6] [7], SPadre:
- 14:09 Road closed
- 15:58 Pad cleared
- 16:12 Venting SH
- 16:54 Flare stack
- 19:56:25 Raptor ignition, duration approx. 3 seconds, followed by depress vent on the side
Elon Musk called this test a "tethered hop"[8].
04 April 2019 - Information Brownsville Herald[]
The Brownsville Herald has published an article about the test and some information about future testing:
"Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. characterized any inconvenience to residents from road and beach closures during testing as “growing pains,” and said it’s his understanding that SpaceX may pause testing at the site for up to 60 days after the current round is complete."
"SpaceX’s original plans called for up to 12 commercial launches a year from Boca Chica, accompanied by closures of S.H. 4 and Boca Chica. The new focus on testing and prototype construction, however, has entailed several consecutive days of testing and more frequent closures than initially anticipated.
Trevino said it’s still within the terms that allow Cameron County, the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas General Land Office to authorize the closures of S.H. 4 and Boca Chica Beach during SpaceX operations in order to protect public health and safety.
“It’s still within the parameters,” he said. “We’re in contact with GLO and SpaceX to see if anything needs to be updated.”
Trevino said he regrets that the situation is causing inconvenience for some residents, but begs the public’s patience and understanding, saying there’s ultimately a bigger benefit to Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas.
“Now they’re building and assembling and testing,” he said. “Their mission has expanded and I think that’s great. ... We’re just trying to get through this leg of testing.”
Considering the complexity and cutting-edge nature of what SpaceX is doing at Boca Chica, it shouldn’t be a surprise if testing takes longer than anticipated, Trevino said, adding that in the interest of safety such things can’t be rushed.
“They’re testing all kinds of parts,” he said. “This is rocket science.”"
05 April 2019 - Static Fire #2[]
Timeline according to different sources: LabPadre, NSF:
- Road closed
- Pad cleared
- Cars to pad
- Pad cleared
- 22:10 Flare
- 22:12 Venting
- 22:37:37 Static fire, just about 1-2 seconds, resulting in a small hop within the tether limits
Elon Musk posted a video, where the small hop can be seen, as Starhopper was still tethered down.
Early May 2019[]
In order for a future test flight, new hardware had to be installed on Starhopper. On 6 to 8 May 2019, ACS pods have been installed. These attitude control system thrusters have been "proven over nearly two dozen successful Falcon 9 and Heavy booster landings, as well as every Falcon upper stage that has ever flown. SpaceX’s ACS is based on powerful nitrogen gas thrusters, known for their white puffs during Falcon 9 booster recovery and landing operations."[1]
Teslarati continues to write:
"Based on the asymmetric location of the first two pod groups, Starhopper’s ACS will probably use a tripod layout. Additionally, the reason for the thruster pairs – versus Falcon 9’s single pods – is likely simple: Starhopper is far heavier than a Falcon booster. To get the same level of control authority, SpaceX is thus pairing pods together to double the functional strength of Starhopper’s ACS."[1]
On 8 May 2019, new red COPVs have been installed on the dome of Starhopper:
"This leads smoothly to the installation of two (likely soon to be three) new composite-overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). Starhopper already has two COPVs installed on the outside of its upper tank dome, now effectively confirmed to be helium containers needed to pressurize the vehicle’s methane and oxygen tanks. Based on the fact that Starhopper’s new ACS pods appear to have come straight from Falcon boosters, it’s safe to say that the 2 (or 3) new COPVs will supply the hopper’s thrusters with gaseous nitrogen."[1]
This means that Starhopper will not be autogenously pressurized as it was expected.
02 September 2024 - Move[]
After preparations, SpaceX moved Starhopper from its location withing the launch site to the parking lot outside the launch site in order to make room for the OLS pad B construction. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 20:44 Move towards launch site exit started
- 20:51 Entered hwy4
- 21:28 Arrived at parking lot and being unchained from SPMTs
Gallery[]
