Booster 10 (B10) was a Super Heavy booster prototype. First parts were spotted possibly in March 2022, but definitively in July 2022. Stacking began in October of the same year.
Booster 10 flew on Starship Flight Test 3 paired with S28.
After its roll back to the build site on January 2, 2024, two bands of new weld marks have appeared on the aft section in February, which are unlike any weld marks seen on a booster before. It was speculated, they could indicate new slosh baffles.[1] On its stream for the third test, SpaceX explained that the cause for B9's RUD was likely a filter blockage where LOX is supplied to the engines. Therefore, the hardware inside the LOX tank was upgraded to improve filtration capabilities.
Timeline[]
- 27 May 2023: B10 moved to the rocket garden
- 7 July 2023: B10 moved to Masseys for testing
- 18 July 2023: B10 performed a cryo test.
- 21–22 July 2023: B10 was rolled back to the rocket garden
- 11 September 2023: B10 moved back to Masseys
- 13 September 2023: B10 performed another cryo test.
- 15 September 2023: B10 performed a third cryo test
- 17 September 2023: B10 performed a fourth cryo test.
- 19–20 September 2023: B10 rolled back to the MB for engine installation
- 6 December 2023: B10 rolled to the rocket garden after engine installation
- 20 December 2023: Igniter test at 16:12:46
- 2 Jan 2024: B10 rolled back to the Build site.
- 15 Jan 2024: B10 HS:1 destacked from B10
- 26 Jan 2024: B10 HS:1 restacked on B10
- 8 Feb 2024: B10 rolled to Starbase Launch/Testing Site
- 9 Feb 2024: B10 lifted onto the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM)
- 19 Feb 2024: B10 lifted off the OLM
Testing Campaign[]
Overview without the full stack tests:
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2023 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 10 conducted a cryogenic proof test of both tanks. |
| 13 September 2023 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 10 conducted a cryogenic proof test at Massey's with a full load of the CH4 tank. |
| 15 September 2023 | Cryogenic Proof | Unknown | Booster 10 conducted a cryogenic proof test at Massey's with a partial LOX fill. |
| 17 September 2023 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 10 conducted a cryogenic proof test at Massey's with a full LOX and minor CH4 fill. |
| 21 December 2023 | Static Fire | Aborted | Booster 10 tried to conduct a static fire test, but was aborted with only a small amount of propellant loaded. |
| 22 December 2023 | Static Fire | Aborted | Booster 10 tried to conduct a static fire test, but was aborted without any prop load. |
| 29 December 2023 | Static Fire | Success | Booster 10 conducted a static fire test with all 33 engines for ~10 seconds. |
27 May 2023 - Roll to Rocket Garden[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 05:13 B10 moved inside mega bay 1
- 05:55 Entered Hwy 4
07-08 July 2023 - Roll out to Massey's[]
On 07-8 July 2023, Booster 10 was rolled out to Massey's test site for a first round of testing. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 22:33 B10 entered hwy 4
- 02:52 arrived at booster cryo stand at Massey's
18 July 2023 - Cryo Proof Test #1[]
B10 test on 18 July 2023
On the 18th of July SpaceX conducted the first cryogenic proof test on Booster 10. It appeared that both tanks had been partially filled with liquid nitrogen.
Timeline according to NSF Streams and LabPadre:
- 20:10 B10 filled with cryogenics
- 20:15 Detanking underway
- 20:45 Drone spotted
21 - 22 July 2023 - Roll Back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 22:10 B10 moved onto Hwy 4
- 00:12 B10 arrived at the Rocket Garden
11 September 2023 - Roll out[]
On 11 September 2023, SpaceX rolled B10 back to the Massey's test site for more testing.
13 September 2023 - Cryo Proof Test #2[]
Timeline of the test at Massey's site according to LabPadre discord:
- 17:48 Cryo load on CH4 tank has started with a clearly visible ring of frost forming at the bottom of the tank
- 19:52 CH4 tank fully loaded with cryogenics
- 01:29 Fully detanked and test concluded
15 September 2023 - Cryo Proof Test #3[]
Timeline of the test at Massey's site according to LabPadre discord:
- 16:45 LOX filling in progress
- 17:04 LOX tank filled a bit less than 1/3
- 17:40 Detank in progress
17 September 2023 - Cryo Proof Test #4[]
Timeline of the test at Massey's site according to LabPadre discord:
- 12:00 LOX tank started to fill
- 13:57 LOX tank fully filled
- 15:35 CH4 tank nearly 1 ring filled
- 23:24 Fully detanked
19 - 20 September 2023 - Roll Back[]
Booster 10 is rolled back to Mega bay 1 for engine installation.
6 December 2023 - Roll out[]
On 6 December 2023, SpaceX rolled B10 to the rocket garden after engine installation.
18 December 2023 - Roll out[]
On 18 December 2023, SpaceX rolled B10 to the launch site for engine testing. Timeline according to NSF livestream.
- 3:18 B10 started moving from the Rocket Garden
- 4:34 Entered Hwy 4
- 6:50 Arrived at the launch site
- 07:08 Moved between chopsticks
- 8:55 B10 placed between the chopsticks
- ?? Pressure hoses reattached
Rollout of B10
19 December 2023 - Lifting[]
On 19 December 2023, SpaceX lifted B10 on top of the OLM. Timeline according to NSF livestream.
- 01:43 Ship QD arm retraced
- 9:48 PA: "Attention Starbase, the Orbital Pad is now closed, please exit the Orbital Pad now."
- 11:19 Workers on transport stand
- 12:09 Small lift of B10
- 13:57 Transport clamps retracted
- 14:08 Lifting of B10 started
- 15:20 B10 placed on the OLM.
B10 being lifted onto OLM by Chopsticks.
21 December 2023 - Static Fire Attempt[]
On December 21, 2023, SpaceX attempted to conduct a Static Fire with Booster 10, but the test was aborted. The test only reached the beginning of LOX (liquid oxygen) and methane filling. An Overpressure notice was given out. Timeline according to NSF livestream:
- 6:01 PA: "Attention Starbase, the Orbital Pad is now closed, please exit the Orbital Pad now."
- 8:05 Road closed
- 8:37 FireX test
- 8:52 LOX subcoolers active
- 8:55 Pad clear
- 10:05 LOX subcoolers defrosting and cars returning to pad
- 11:03 Cars left the pad
- 11:23 OLM venting
- 12:10 OLM venting stopping and starting again
- 12:23 Chines venting indicating that CO2 is being loaded
- 13:08 OLM vent stopped
- 13:10 condensation formed on the LOX tank
- 13:14 Frost line on LOX tank spotted
- 13:17 Frost line on CH4 tank spotted
- 13:24 OLM venting again
- 14:36 Detanking started but the OLM is still venting, indicating that LOX is being dumped via the OLM.
- 15:20 OLM venting stopped
- 15:25 Depress vent
- 15:41 Road open
- 16:04 B10 fully detanked
- 16:15 Engine bay purge
22 December 2023 - Static Fire Attempt[]
On December 22, 2023, SpaceX attempted to conduct a Static Fire test with Booster 10, but the test was aborted before reaching propellant loading. An Overpressure notice was given out.[2] Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 10:00 Detonation suppression system tested at OLM
- 10:11 Road closed
- 11:07 Road opened
29 December 2023 - Static Fire Test[]
On 29 December 2023, SpaceX conducted a Static fire test with Booster 10 of all 33 engines.[3] An overpressure notice was given out. Earlier in the same testing window, Ship 28 conducted a static fire test as well. Timeline according to NSF livestream:
- 4:20 PA
- 5:05 Pad closed
- 6:10 Road closed
- 7:00 Pad clear
- 8:26 Chopsticks raised and opened
- 9:15 LOX subcoolers active
- 9:19 OLM venting
- 10:00 OLM waterfall mode
- 10:02 LOX and CH4 subcoolers active again
- 10:03 OLM venting stopped, prop load has started
- 10:06 Frost line spotted on LOX tank
- 10:15 Frost line spotted on CH4 tank
- 10:25 Engine chill started
- 10:38 T-10 minute siren
- 10:42 OLM vent returning, prop load finished
- 10:45:55 FireX activation
- 10:46:08 Deluge activation
- 10:46:11 Static Fire
- 10:46:22 Raptor shutdown
- 10:48 OLM venting again
- 10:49 Detanking started
- 12;37 Road open
Static Fire of Booster 10[4]
Static fire of Super Heavy’s (B10) 33 Raptor engines ahead of Flight 3[5]
30 December 2023 - Lifting[]
On 30 December 2023, Booster 10 was lifted off the OLM. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 08:22 SQD arm moved out ahead of chopsticks movement
- 09:33 Transport stand positioned next to OLM
- 11:01 BQD detached from B10
- 12:12 Chopsticks closed in on B10 and orbital pad clearing siren
- 14:27 Lift started
- 16:22 B10 placed on its transport stand
2 January 2024 - Roll back[]
On 2 January 2024, Booster 10 was rolled back to Mega Bay 1, for pre-launch inspections. Timeline according to NSF livestream:
- 07:46 Rope brackets have been recently installed on B10 lift points[6]
- 11:40 B10 started moving towards highway 4
- 11:57 B10 entered highway 4
- 13:03 B10 arrived at the build site
- 14:20 B10 entered Mega Bay 1
8 February 2024 - Roll out[]
- 13:40 Booster 10 lifted onto a transport stand
- 15:27 moved out of the Mega Bay 1
- 16:40 entered hwy 4
- 17:39 arrived at launch site
- 22:45 B10 placed between the chopsticks
9 February 2024 - Lift onto OLM #2[]
- 01:08 lift started
- 01:48 B10 onto the OLM
- 02:52 Chopsticks have been detached and moved away
19 February 2024 - Lift off OLM #2[]
Timeline according to LabPadre:
- 10:46 Chopsticks lowered around B10
- 16:54 Booster Quick Disconnect (BQD) retracted
- 19:11 BQD reconnected
- 21:36 B10 began lift of OLM
20 February 2024 - Roll back[]
The reason for the roll back is unknown. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 11:20 Lifting sling corner protectors installed under the main lift points
- 12:48 Entered hwy 4
- 13:30 Arrived at ring yard, approaching mega bay
- 14:52 Entered mega bay 1
- 18:23 Lifted inside mega bay
- 18:54 Set down on middle work stand at the back of mega bay
28 February 2024 - Roll out[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 22:39 Mega bay 1 door opened
- 04:27 Moved out of mega bay 1
- 05:00 Entered hwy 4
- 06:18 Arrived at OLS, moved between chopsticks
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://twitter.com/LabPadre/status/1755834038705688840
- ↑ https://vxtwitter.com/BocaChicaGal/status/1738251676627198024
- ↑ https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1740827772313128972
- ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1740792820812624030/photo/1
- ↑ https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1740827772313128972
- ↑ https://twitter.com/spmttracker/status/1742181128822202747