AI illustration: Starship orbital by March 2020
SpaceXSpace
Missed

Starship orbital by March 2020

“This is going to sound totally nuts, but I think we want to try to reach orbit in less than six months.”
— Elon Musk · Sep 28, 2019 · SpaceX official 'Starship Update' (Starship Mk1 presentation, Boca Chica) ↗
Video: SpaceX official 'Starship Update' (Starship Mk1 presentation, Boca Chica)
▶ WATCH HIM SAY IT — SPACEX OFFICIAL 'STARSHIP UPDATE' (STARSHIP MK1 PRESENTATION, BOCA CHICA)
What actually happened

At the Sept 28, 2019 Starship Update, Musk said SpaceX wanted to try to reach orbit 'in less than six months.' That implied roughly March 2020; no orbital attempt occurred. The first integrated orbital-class flight test flew April 20, 2023 and was destroyed ~4 minutes after liftoff. Wikipedia: Starship flight test 1 (first integrated flight, Apr 20 2023) ↗

The Progression

Sep 28, 2019
The promise: “This is going to sound totally nuts, but I think we want to try to reach orbit in less than six months.” · SpaceX official 'Starship Update' (Starship Mk1 presentation, Boca Chica) ↗
Mar 31, 2020
Deadline passed. At the Sept 28, 2019 Starship Update, Musk said SpaceX wanted to try to reach orbit 'in less than six months.' That implied roughly March 2020; no orbital attempt occurred. The first integrated orbital-class flight test flew April 20, 2023 and was destroyed ~4 minutes after liftoff. Wikipedia: Starship flight test 1 (first integrated flight, Apr 20 2023) ↗
Today · Jun 18, 2026
Status: Missed · 2,270 days past due. Never happened.

Starship orbital by March 2020 was unveiled in September 2019 with Musk estimating Starship could reach orbit by March 2020. Millions of space enthusiasts and stakeholders involved in SpaceX's Mars ambitions are waiting. This follows SpaceX's pattern of similar predictions. However, the timeline has shifted, with the first orbital flight test now expected in 2021.

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LAST CHECKED 2026-06-17

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