Delivered · Late

Starship reaches orbit

“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

Starship reached orbital velocity on Flight 3 (Mar 14, 2024) and completed its first full 'to orbit and back' test on Flight 4 (June 6, 2024) — years after the 2020–2022 targets. NBC News — Starship reaches orbit and back (June 2024) ↗

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) ↗
2021
Timeline pushed to 2021.
Goalpost #1
2022
Timeline pushed to 2022.
Goalpost #2
Jun 6, 2024
Delivered · Late — 1.4 years late. Starship reached orbital velocity on Flight 3 (Mar 14, 2024) and completed its first full 'to orbit and back' test on Flight 4 (June 6, 2024) — years after the 2020–2022 targets. NBC News — Starship reaches orbit and back (June 2024) ↗
Today · Jun 22, 2026
Status: Delivered · Late · 1.4 years late. It happened — eventually.

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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