Booster 14.1 (B14.1) was a Super Heavy booster test tank that underwent load testing of its chopstick lift/catch points at the Massey Outpost and static catch testing at the launch site on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) twice.
The tank consisted of a forward dome section originally intended for Booster 14 (B14); a common dome section originally intended for Booster 13 (B13), which was originally designated B13.1 and a 4 ring section (quad). The sections were stacked together in Mega Bay 1.
History[]
The common dome section that would later be reassigned from Booster 13 to B13.1 was first spotted on the 17th of February 2023 and spent some time moving around the old ring yard and tents before being moved behind the High Bay for storage on January 8th 2024 and then brought to the new ring yard by Starfactory on April 27th 2024 where it was observed that the common dome section had been reassigned to Booster 14.1 Common Dome Section (B14.1 CMN).
Meanwhile on the 28th of March 2024, a cap was placed on B14.1 (FWD). Eventually both sections were brought out the Mega Bay 1 with the addition of a new 4 ring barrel section and stacked together. On the 30th of May B14.1 was then rolled to the Massey Outpost for chopstick lift/catch point testing before being rolled to the Launch Site on June 21st for further testing.
After completing a few rounds of catch testing on the OLM, B14.1 was lifted off and subsequently rolled back to the Rocket Garden on June 29th 2024. Then on the night of the 6/7th of August 2024, it was rolled to the Launch Site again and lifted back onto the OLM.
B14.1 was scrapped in High Bay on January 11th 2025 and the sections were moved out of the following day
Timeline[]
- 17 Feb 2023 - B13 Common Dome Section Spotted
- 31 July 2023 - First spotted in old ring yard beside old production tents
- 6 October 2023 - Moved into Starfactory
- 8 Jan 2024 - B13.1 moved behind High Bay
- 18 January 2024 - B14.1 Moved behind High Bay
- 28 March 2024 - Cap placed on B14.1
- 27 April 2024 - B13.1 moved to new Starfactory ring yard and re-assigned to B14.1 CMN
- 29 April 2024 - B14.1 CMN moved inside Starfactory
- 23 April 2024 - B14.1 FWD Moved inside Starfactory
- 14 May 2024 - B14.1 FWD moved outside Mega Bay 1
- 15 May 2024 - B14.1 CMN and 4 ring section moved outside Mega Bay 1
- 15 May 2024 - B14.1 FWD and 4 ring moved into Mega Bay 1
- 16 May 2024 - B14.1 CMN moved into Mega Bay 1
- 30 May 2024: B14.1 moved to Massey's Outpost
- 21 June 2024: B14.1 moved to the Launch Site
- 22 June 2024 : B14.1 lifted on the OLM
- 29 June 2024: B14.1 moved to the Rocket Garden
- 6-7 August 2024: B14.1 moved to the Launch Site and lifted onto the OLM
- 17 August 2024: B14.1 rolled back from launch site to its parking spot in the rocket garden
- 11 Jan: B14.1 scrapped inside HB
- 11 Jan: B14.1 CX:4 moved to the scrapyard
- 12 Jan: B14.1 FX:3 moved to scrapyard
- 11-12 Jan: B14.1 M:4 was snuck out for final scrapping
Testing Campaign[]
B14.1 first conducted load testing of its chopstick lift/catch points at the Massey Outpost.
21-22 June 2024 - Roll out and Lift on OLM[]
B14.1 was lifted onto OLM by the GMK7550 crane for chopsticks testing. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 11:57 Entered hwy4
- 13:32 Passed ring yard
- 14:19 Arrived at the chopsticks
- ---
- 00:53 GMK7550 (Grover) crane attached to B14.1
- 03:10 Lift started
- 04:31 Touched down on OLM
- 08:23 GMK7550 detached
26 June 2024 - Chopstick Test[]
B14.1 Conducted Chopsticks Slaps Test, of about 4 "slaps". This was for testing chopstick procedures during a possible catch attempt. Timeline according LabPadre discord. Videos of the tests can be found on discord here[1] and here[2].
- 08:07 Road closed for testing
- 10:02 Chopsticks closed in on B14.1
- 11:00 "Slap" test
- 11:34 "Slap" test
- 11:50 "Slap" test
- 16:01 "Slap" test
- 16:29 "Slap" test
- 16:49 "Slap" test
- 19:49 "Slap" test
- 19:59 "Slap" test
- 20:26 Road opened
27 June 2024 - Chopstick Test[]
The chopsticks were extensively tested with the help of Booster test tank B14.1. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 8:51 First "slap" test of chopsticks on B14.1
- 9:11 Second "slap" test
- 9:17 Third "slap" test
- 12:00 Road partially closed at Orbital Pad area
- 12:22 B14.1 "slap" testing re-started
- 13:05 First ever chopsticks rail dampening test, left stick pushed against B14.1 lifting pin
- 13:22 Full speed rail dampening test simulating a booster catch
- 14:58 Road opened
c SpaceX
07 August 2024 - Roll out and lift[]
SpaceX rolled out B14.1 and lifted it onto OLM with the LR11000-X crane for chopsticks testing. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 22:02 [06 August] B14.1 moved from rocket garden towards hwy4
- 00:15 B14.1 entered hwy4 for roll out to the launch site
- 01:11 Arrived at launch site, first vehicle to use the new D2 gate near Starhopper
- 09:05 LR11000X picked up a booster section load spreader
- 11:31 Lift started
- 11:49 Touched down on OLM
15-16 August 2024 - Chopstick Tests[]
On 15 and 16 August 2024, the Chopsticks on OLIT-1 conducted catch testing which included B14.1 as a test object. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 06:56 One chopstick arm moved away from B14.1
- 12:33 After being raised, right chopstick (as viewed from tower) underwent quick movement tests for the first time since its actuator got upgraded
- 14:55 Full speed close of both chopsticks at the same time
c LabPadre
- 17:24 Chopsticks now open around B14.1 with landing rails extended
- 22:20 Compression testing of landing rails of both chopsticks with B14.1
c LabPadre
- 09:27 Rapid close-and-slap of both chopsticks on B14.1 for the first time
c LabPadre
17 August 2024 - Roll Back[]
B14.1 was rolled back from the Launch Site to the Rocket Garden. On the previous day, LR11000X was attached to B14.1 (17:36) and lifted off the OLM (22:24) as testing with the chopsticks appeared to be completed. Also, 2 SPMTs arrived at 15:53 for the roll back. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 00:14 Roll out started
- 02:43 Entered Hwy4
- 04:09 Arrived at ring yard
- 10:02 Entered Hwy4 from the production site
- 11:03 Arrived at Rocket Garden
Gallery[]
B14.1 Chopsticks Slap Test (4 Slaps), The Footage at Real time. (c NSF)