Capturing Starbase From The Sky, Week By Week
Weekly aerial passes over the build and launch sites, captured from a Cessna 172 above the South Texas coast.
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We’re preparing our full library of Starbase aerial imagery for release. Organised by year and subject, it’ll be free for everyone to explore when it launches.
Orbital Launch Site · Production Site · Mega Bay · Massey's Test Site · Tank Farm · Sanchez Site
Starbase Timeline
From the first prototype parts to full-stack flight tests, follow the milestones that shaped the place we watch from the sky.
- 2018
So this is where it all started....
In 2018, the first parts for Starship prototype MK1 and Raptor testbed Starhopper were spotted near the end of the year.
See photos from 2018 - 2019
Raptors Roar
In 2019, SpaceX flew their Raptor 1 Engine testbed, Starhopper multiple times. Groundwork was laid to begin the low-altitude and high-altitude flight campaigns of 2020 and 2021.
See photos from 2019 - 2020
Hop... and flop!
In 2020, SpaceX developed prototypes of the Ship in the form of SN5 and SN6, which conducted low-altitude hops. The first high bay was constructed mid-year. SN8, the first full-sized ship, flew in its high altitude flight test to wrap up the year.
See photos from 2020 - 2021
WenHop?
2021 saw the bulk of the ship suborbital landing campaign with the launches of SN9, 10, 11, and 15 and the successful landing of SN15. In this year, the first Orbital Launch Tower and OLM was constructed at the Launch Site.
See photos from 2021 - 2022
Laying The Foundations
In 2022, SpaceX laid the groundwork for the full stack launches to come with the completion of Orbital Launch Pad 1's construction. Booster 7 and Ship 24 underwent extensive pre-launch test campaigns, with some hiccups along the way.
See photos from 2022 - 2023
Full Stack Flight Tests
2023 saw the maiden flight of Starship in April. Foundation repair work and the installation of a water-cooled steel plate delayed the second flight to November, which successfully performed a hot-stage separation maneuver. SpaceX topped out the third highbay (known as Megabay 2) and broke ground on Starfactory's expansion.
See photos from 2023 - 2024
The Orbital Age
In 2024, the third integrated flight test of Starship occurred in March, successfully reaching orbital velocity. SpaceX continues to construct its estimated 1-million square foot Starfactory for mass production of Starships, as well as broke ground at Orbital Launch Pad 2 in preparation for a second, revamped launch pad design.
See photos from 2024
Your weekly Starbase briefing
Every week we recap the latest progress, launches, and milestones with fresh aerial perspective.
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Our flyovers are funded entirely by supporters. Patreon took us from quarterly flights to weekly updates, and unlocks same-day photos, members-only streams, and full-res downloads.