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SN8–SN15 Series · 2021

Starship Prototype High-Altitude Test Flights

Validated the radical belly-flop reentry, flip maneuver, and landing burns required for full reusability on a vehicle capable of carrying humans and cargo to Mars.

Starship prototype test flights — official SpaceX

SN8–SN15 high-altitude test flights demonstrate controlled flip, bellyflop, and landing burns. The birth of the fully reusable super-heavy lift vehicle. Successor to earlier BFR/ITS concepts. Fully reusable two-stage vehicle: Super Heavy booster (33 Raptor engines) + Starship upper stage (6 Raptors, heat shield for reentry). Designed for 100+ tonnes to LEO reusable, massive payload for Mars (refueling in orbit, in-situ resource utilization).

Source: spacex.com

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