[nomilk]

The utility of test flights doesn't come from delivering a payload; but from collecting data. For example today's test involved intentionally weakening starship's heat shield to see if previous estimates of required shielding had been too conservative.

[soheil]

Well looks like you imposed a qualification on these types of flights and now by definition they cannot deliver payload.

The flights could deliver cheap payload for example.

[cwillu]

You can't deliver a payload to orbit if you're not planning on going to orbit. They have a launch licence for a particular mission plan.

The license for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy specifically says “Authorization: SpaceX is authorized to conduct flights of launch vehicles: […] (c) Transporting Dragon 2 to low Earth orbit or a payload to orbit;”

The license for Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle does not include such an authorization.

https://www.faa.gov/media/69476

https://www.faa.gov/media/75501

[AlessandroF6587]

"The payload is data." Elon The data they get from the test and they focus on getting the most and most valuable data. This is an explicit choice. A physical payload at this stage would reduce the overall value that they are able to get from a flight.