# Ship 28

> Starship spacecraft, lost during a reentry attempt

**Wikidata**: [Q124879962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124879962)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_SN28)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ship-28

## Summary
Ship 28 (SN28) was a Starship spacecraft operated by SpaceX that was lost during a reentry attempt on March 14, 2024, after a successful launch from Orbital Launch Pad 1. The spacecraft lost signal over the Indian Ocean at an altitude of 65 km.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Starship spacecraft, a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX.
- **Operator/Manufacturer**: SpaceX (United States).
- **Serial Number**: 28 (designated as SN28 or S28).
- **Launch Date**: March 14, 2024, at 13:25 UTC (Starship Flight Test 3).
- **Launch Vehicle**: Super Heavy Booster 10.
- **Launch Site**: Orbital Launch Pad 1.
- **Loss of Signal**: Occurred over the Indian Ocean at 14:14 UTC on March 14, 2024, at an altitude of 65 km.
- **Followed By**: Ship 29, which successfully landed in the ocean during Starship Flight 4.
- **Aliases**: Starship 28, Starship SN28, S28, SN28.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Starship SN28.
- **Commons Category**: SpaceX Starship S28.

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to Ship 28?
A: Ship 28 was lost during a reentry attempt on March 14, 2024, after a successful launch. The spacecraft lost signal over the Indian Ocean at an altitude of 65 km.

### Q: What was the purpose of Ship 28?
A: Ship 28 was part of SpaceX's Starship program, designed to test the spacecraft's reentry capabilities and support future missions to Mars and beyond.

### Q: How did Ship 28 compare to Ship 29?
A: Ship 28 was lost during reentry, while Ship 29 successfully completed a water landing during Starship Flight 4, demonstrating improved reentry performance.

### Q: Where was Ship 28 launched from?
A: Ship 28 was launched from Orbital Launch Pad 1 at 13:25 UTC on March 14, 2024, aboard Super Heavy Booster 10.

### Q: What was the significance of Ship 28's loss?
A: The loss of Ship 28 highlighted challenges in controlled reentry, contributing to SpaceX's iterative development of the Starship system.

## Why It Matters
Ship 28 was a critical test vehicle in SpaceX's Starship program, designed to validate the spacecraft's reentry systems. Its loss provided valuable data for improving future iterations, particularly in thermal protection and guidance systems. As part of SpaceX's ambitious goals for interplanetary travel, each Starship mission—successful or not—contributes to refining the technology for Mars colonization and beyond. The spacecraft's journey, from launch to loss, underscores the high-stakes nature of space exploration and the iterative process of developing next-generation rockets.

## Notable For
- **First Loss in Reentry**: One of the first Starship spacecraft to be lost during a reentry attempt, providing critical data for future missions.
- **Super Heavy Integration**: Successfully launched aboard Super Heavy Booster 10, demonstrating the booster's performance.
- **Preceded Ship 29**: Its loss directly influenced the design improvements seen in Ship 29, which achieved a successful water landing.
- **Mars Mission Precursor**: Part of SpaceX's long-term strategy for interplanetary travel, contributing to the development of reusable spacecraft.
- **Data Collection**: Despite its loss, Ship 28 provided telemetry and flight data that informed SpaceX's engineering decisions.

## Body
### Overview
Ship 28 (SN28) was a Starship prototype manufactured by SpaceX, designed to test the spacecraft's reentry capabilities. It launched on March 14, 2024, at 13:25 UTC from Orbital Launch Pad 1 aboard Super Heavy Booster 10. The mission, part of Starship Flight Test 3, aimed to validate the spacecraft's performance during reentry.

### Launch and Flight
- **Launch**: The spacecraft successfully separated from Booster 10 and entered orbit.
- **Reentry Attempt**: During reentry, Ship 28 lost signal over the Indian Ocean at 14:14 UTC, at an altitude of 65 km.
- **Post-Flight Analysis**: The loss provided insights into reentry challenges, contributing to improvements in subsequent missions.

### Legacy
- **Follow-On Mission**: Ship 29, launched in June 2024, successfully landed in the ocean, demonstrating progress in reentry technology.
- **Program Impact**: The loss of Ship 28 was a setback but provided critical data for SpaceX's iterative development of the Starship system.

### Technical Specifications
- **Serial Number**: 28 (designated SN28).
- **Launch Vehicle**: Super Heavy Booster 10.
- **Manufacturer**: SpaceX.
- **Country of Origin**: United States.

### Related Entities
- **Starship Class**: A reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX for deep-space missions.
- **Ship 29**: The next Starship prototype, which successfully completed a water landing in June 2024.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report