Booster 12 (B12) is a retired Super Heavy booster prototype. First parts were spotted in December 2022, and stacking was completed on August 28, 2023. Booster 12 completed cryogenic proof testing at Massey Outpost and a full duration static fire at the Starbase Launch/Testing Site and is retired at the Rocket Garden after undergoing primary post flight inspections in Mega Bay 1, and being placed in the Rocket Garden following a successful flight on Starship Flight Test 5 with Ship 30 (S30) on October 13th, 2024. It became the first Super Heavy Booster to be caught, but was not reused. Additionally, its hot staging ring was also recovered on October 19th, 2024, from the Gulf of Mexico.
History[]
B12 finished stacking on August 28, 2023, and underwent a series of cryogenic proof tests at the Massey Outpost in January 2024. It was subsequently moved to various sites, including the Starbase Launch/Testing Site on July 9, 2024, for static fire testing. After completing this, it was rolled back to Mega Bay 1 later that month before being mounted onto the Orbital Launch Mount again on September 20, 2024, and stacked with S30 on September 21, 2024.
B12 successfully completed its flight on October 13, 2024, where it was caught mid-air using SpaceX's chopstick system. Following the flight, B12 was lowered onto the OLM and fully detanked. The following day, the Flight Termination System (FTS) charges were removed. On October 15th, it was lifted off the OLM and transported back to Mega Bay 1. On October 19th, its Hot Staging Ring was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico. On October 28th, 2024, B12 was moved to the Rocket Garden for storage. On the 9th of January 2025, B12 was moved from the rocket garden to MB1 to swap its stand to an older one not required for operations. Booster 12 rolled back to the rocket garden on the 15th
Timeline[]
- 28 August 2023: Stacking complete.
- 29 December 2023: Moved to Massey Outpost.
- 10/11 January 2024: 1st cryogenic proof test at Massey's.
- 12/13 January 2024: Another cryo test at Massey's.
- 18 January 2024: Moved to the Rocket Garden.
- 23 January 2024: Moved to Mega Bay 1.
- 9 July 2024: Moved to Starbase Launch/Testing Site.
- 16 Jul 2024: B12 moved to Mega Bay 1.
- 29 Jul - 1 Aug 2024: B12 HS:1 stacked on B12.
- 17 Sep 2024: B12 HS:1 removed.
- 20 Sep 2024: B12 and its destacked HS:1 are moved to the launch site.
- 20 Sep 2024: B12 mounted onto the OLM.
- 21 Sep 2024: B12 HS:1 stacked on B12.
- 13 Oct 2024: B12 successfully flies Flight 5 and is caught.
- 13 Oct 2024: B12 lowered onto the Orbital Launch Mount and fully detanked.
- 14 Oct 2024: Flight Termination System (FTS) charges removed.
- 15 Oct: B12 lifted off the OLM post flight and transported to Mega Bay 1.
- 19 Oct: B12 HS:1 fished out of the Gulf of Mexico.
- 28 Oct: B12 moved to the rocket garden.
- 9 Jan 2025: B12 moved from rocket garden to MB1
- 15 Jan: B12 moved back to the Rocket Garden on an older transport stand
- 6 Aug: B12 moved to MB1
Testing Campaign[]
Overview, without full stack tests:
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/11 January 2024 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 12 conducted a cryogenic proof test of its methane tank with a full fill of its methane tank. |
| 12/13 January 2024 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 12 conducted a cryogenic proof test of both tanks with a full fill of its LoX tank and a partial fill of its methane tank. |
| 10 July 2024 | Unknown test | Unknown | The road was closed, some venting was spotted on B12. |
| 11 July 2024 | Partial Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 12 conducted a partial cryogenic proof test of both tanks likely to test the tank farm. |
| 12 July 2024 | Spin Prime | Success | Booster 12 conducted a spin prime of what appears to be all 33 engines. |
| 15 July 2024 | Static Fire | Success | Booster 12 conducted a "Full duration static fire" test of what appears to be all 33 engines. |
29 December 2023 - Roll out to Massey's Outpost[]
On 29 December 2023, Booster 12 was rolled out to Massey's test site to begin the test campaign. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 01:16 Moved out of Mega Bay 1.
- 01:37 Entered Highway 4.
- 04:35 Arrived at Massey's Outpost.
19 January 2024 - Roll back to Build Site[]
After a short testing campaign at Massey's, B12 was moved back to the build site on 19 January 2024, where it arrived at around 2:58 am.
9 July 2024 - Roll out to launch site, lift on OLM[]
After B12's engines were installed, it was rolled to the launch site for the static fire campaign. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 03:15 B12 lifted onto transport stand inside Mega Bay 1.
- 07:17 Moved out of Mega Bay 1.
- 09:06 Entered Highway 4.
- 10:09 Arrived at launch site.
- 11:12 Chopsticks closed on B12.
- 11:39 PA: "The orbital pad is now clear."
- 16:48 QD arm retracted ahead of B12 lift.
- 21:18 B12 lifted on OLM.
10 July 2024 - Unknown test[]
SpaceX conducted an unknown test. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 19:57 Road closed.
- 20:08 BQD reattached to B12.
- 20:35 Orbital pad clearing.
- 21:56 Venting from B12, no frost.
- 22:02 Road opened.
11 July 2024 - Partial Cryo test[]
Some frost on both tanks of B12 was seen, though no subcooling-related tank farm activity could be observed. Timeline according to Labpadre Discord.
- 8:09 Road Closed.
- 9:34 Pad Clear.
- 11:26 Tank Farm Venting.
- 12:01 Frost on both tanks.
- 14:01 Road open.
12 July 2024 - Spin Prime[]
Timeline according to Labpadre livestream and Discord.
- 8:10 Road Closed.
- 9:45 Pad Clear.
- 10:28 Venting from OLM.
- 11:07 Tank Farm Venting.
- 11:14 Cryo loading of both tanks started.
- 11:36 Spin Prime.
- 11:37 Tanks depressed.
- 12:26 Road open.
15 July 2024 - Static fire[]
Timeline according to Labpadre livestream
- 6:05 Road Closed.
- 6:48 Pad Clear.
- 9:05 OLM Venting.
- 9:35 Prop Load.
- 9:55 Engine Chill.
- 10:13:45 Static Fire.
- 11:53 Road open.
SpaceX also released some videos of the full duration static fire test[1]:
16 July 2024 - Roll back to Build Site[]
- 12:53 Roll back starts.
- 13:10 Booster enters Highway 4 (following tower module 2 feet down the road).
- 14:11 Booster Exits Highway 4.
- 14:50 Return to Mega Bay 1.
20 September 2024 - Roll out to the Launch Site[]
On September 20th, 2024, SpaceX rolled B12 and its HSR separately to the launch site for full stack testing. Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 00:00 B12 enters Highway 4.
- 00:53 B12 arrives at the Launch Site.
- 01:46 B12 placed between the chopsticks.
20 September 2024 - Rollout, Lifting on the OLM / Catch testing[]
After having arrived at the launch site, B12 was lifted from its Transport Stand and was lifted to the catch position.[2] Later it was lowered on to the OLM. Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 00:03 Roll out started.
- 01:07 Arrived at launch site, moving towards chopsticks, which were moving upwards.
- 01:45 B12 moved between chopsticks.
- 04:54 Chopsticks attached to B12.
- 07:12 Lifting started.
- 07:50 B12 lifted to the top of the tower (catch position).
- 08:17 Lowering to the OLM started.
- 11:01 B12 placed on the OLM.
13 October 2024 - Flight and Catch[]
->Main article: Starship Flight Test 5
On October 13, 2024, 7:00 AM CDT, SpaceX launched Starship 12/30 and did the first booster catch attempt, which was successful. After the catch, the chopsticks lifted B12 back onto the OLM and the booster QD was reconnected.
15 October 2024 - Destacking and Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 23:26 (14 Oct) B12 transport stand moved towards OLM.
- 04:54 Booster QD on OLM disconnected.
- 07:30 Stabilizer pins closed in on B12.
- 09:20 Lift started.
- 11:09 Being lowered onto transport stand.
- 13:00 Lift completed.
- 13:28 Started to move away from chopsticks.
- 13:46 Entered Highway 4.
- 14:39 Arrived back at build site.
- 16:14 After tilting the gridfins, B12 started to move back into Mega Bay 1.
- 16:24 Moving into MB1.
[Add date] - Moved to Mega Bay 1[]
B12 was moved to the Mega Bay, apparently for a stand change to the one that was previously occupied by B14.1.
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[Add date - Rolled back to the Rocket Garden[]
[add timeline if possible]
Gallery[]
