First of a new iteration of Starship prototypes with a new thrust puck design, a Starlink terminal, and tidy wiring the most obvious of the hundreds of changes described by Elon. On 5 May 2021 it became the first prototype to land successfully on its legs after a 10km flight from Pad A. SpaceX's coverage is here. A week later it was lifted onto Pad B for further examination and/or testing; Elon mooted the possibility of reflying it.
Manufacturing notes to be completed below.
Sections
Common dome section
The common dome and sleeve were seen together on 18 November 2020 (NSF Mary) and mated that evening (NSF Nomadd). The section was flipped on 26 November (NSF Mary)
Mid LOX section
The mid LOX section was seen moving into tent 1 on 30 November (NSF Mary). A mid LOX section thought to be SN12's entered the midbay on 31 December (NSF Nomadd), but it was later apparent to be SN15's.
Thrust / aft dome section
The thrust dome sleeve was seen on 18 December in the dome yard (NSF Mary), but the addition of the dome may not have been seen.
Nose section
A plain quad labelled "SN-15 NOSE CONE" was seen on 5 January 2021 (NSF Mary). The nose quad was spotted labelled next to the next nosecone by the low bay on 25 March (NSF).
The next nosecone in work after NC12, labelled NC13 (cn), was eventually confirmed to be for SN15 - seen 4 March (LabPadre/NSF) and 5 March (NSF Mary). It had received its aerocovers and right flap in Tent 3 by 19 March 2021 (NSF 📹) and was rolled out to the low bay on 23 March (cn). The left flap was installed the next day and the nosecone shuffled in and out of the low bay (NSF).
The nosecone was lifted onto the nose quad on 31 March outside the Lowbay (NSF) and the new nose section was moved to the Highbay on 2 April (NSF) for final stacking.
Leg / aft skirt
The leg skirt appears not to have been spotted until the thrust dome was stacked on it on 26 January.
Forward dome section
The forward dome section seems not to have been seen before it was stacked on the mid 7 on 2 February.
Stacks
Aft 5-ring stack
A thrust dome section was stacked on a leg skirt on 26 January (NSF), and mark inspection in later photos confirms the resulting aft 5 to be SN15's.
Mid 7-ring stack
The common dome section was lifted onto the mid LOX in the mid bay on 7 January, creating the mid 7-stack (NSF Mary).
Mid 11-ring stack
The forward dome section was added to the mid 7 on 2 February, as seen on Mars Cam (NSF).
Aft 16-ring stack / main stack / tank stack
The mid 11 stack was stacked on the aft 5 stack on 5 March (NSF Nomadd). Aft flap actuators and main aerocovers were attached to the tank stack in March, which eventually moved out of the Midbay on 31 March revealing an asymmetrical pattern of heat shielding on its common dome section (NSF). Both aft flaps were then attached (NSF, NSF) before the stack was rolled into the Highbay.
Finishing touches
SN15's stacking was completed on 2 April with the nose section being lifted onto the tank stack (NSF Mary). The aft 'shoulder' aerocovers were attached by 6 April, completing the skin of the vehicle (NSF), and the vehicle rolled out to the pad on 8 April (NSF).
