An update on the whole program is due August 24, and flights of a full-scale Starship “prototype” soon thereafter.

SpaceX is building *multiple* flight test vehicles, both in Texas and in Florida. They are building them outside, which is pretty much by definition as far from “clean room” conditions as you can get, unless you go the extra step and build them within a malfunctioning and overflowing sewage treatment plant. The Starship prototypes are clearly not space-capable, but seem to be aimed mostly or entirely as subsonic or just maybe low-supersonic aerodynamic “flying mockups.” The skins are far, *FAR* from the smooth, featureless outer mold lines you want to have for something that will deal with hypersonic airflows. Still, if they can demonstrate a death swoop and pinpoint landing with a vehicle with the same aerodynamics as a true Starship, with the same weights, propulsion systems, center of gravity, etc. as the real deal…. they’ll be a heck of a lot closer to a truly reusable large launch system than anyone else ever.