Starship SN1

Block 1 Starship Prototype

Mission Profile

Starship SN1 (Serial Number 1) was the first full-scale Starship prototype assembled by SpaceX at Boca Chica, Texas, intended to conduct cryogenic pressure testing in preparation for static fire and hop tests. The vehicle failed catastrophically on 28 February 2020 during a liquid nitrogen pressurization test when its stainless steel welded rings buckled under pressure, dramatically collapsing the tank section. SpaceX rapidly applied lessons from SN1's failure to improve welding techniques and structural design for SN2 and subsequent vehicles. SN1's destruction was entirely anticipated within SpaceX's aggressive test-to-failure development philosophy, where destroying prototypes provides invaluable structural limits data.