Starship SN2

Block 1 Starship Prototype

Mission Profile

Starship SN2 (Serial Number 2) was a SpaceX Starship propellant tank test article, specifically constructed for cryogenic pressure testing at Boca Chica, Texas in early March 2020 to validate the structural integrity of the 304L stainless steel ring-welded tank design after lessons from SN1's failure. SN2 successfully passed its pressure test without rupturing, validating key structural improvements made after SN1 buckled. The test article was short — just a few ring sections rather than a full-height Starship — and was immediately retired after the successful test as SpaceX moved to full-scale prototypes. SN2's success cleared the path for SN3, the next full-height prototype attempt.