Booster 14 (or Booster 14-2) was a Super Heavy Booster prototype located at the Starbase Launch/Testing Site, lifted on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM). It was the first booster to fly a second time. Its first flight was on Starship Flight Test 7 with Ship 33 (S33). On Flight 7, Booster 14 reused one Raptor engine, SN314 (the pi engine), that has previously flown on Booster 12 on Starship Flight Test 5[1][2]. That engine also likely flew again on Flight 9 for a third time as one of B14-2's 29 flight proven engines, though this remains to be seen.[3]
On Jan 16, 2025, it was launched and caught successfully as part of Flight Test 7, becoming the second booster to be caught overall after Booster 12, and the first to come back without damage to either the chines or the outer engines.
B14 was flown again on Starship Flight Test 9[4] alongside Ship 35 (S35). This was confirmed by SpaceX on 3 April 2025, with a post stating that 29 of the 33 Raptor engines on Booster 14 are now flight proven.[5]
It is unclear if the 29 flight proven engines are from Booster 14 only, or a mix of flight proven engines from the other two recovered boosters at that time, Booster 12 and Booster 15.
B14 didn't try a catch and instead tried to splashdown in front of Starbase, likely because the introduction of Block 3 Boosters caused Block 2 Boosters to be expended, similar to how it was done before with Falcon 9. There was also the possibility of expending it, as was used to test several new experiments including a different descent and a simulated engine failure. However, B14 sucessfully relighted 12 of its 13 engines, but they all shut down shortly after. Contact was lost during the flight, leading to the assumption that it was destroyed because the engine shut down.
History[]
The first parts of B14 were spotted in March 2023, but its Forward Dome Section was re-assigned to become Booster 14.1 (B14.1).
On February 15, 2024, Booster 14 began stacking in Mega Bay 1 with its common dome section (CX:4) stacked onto its first aft tank section (A2:4), creating B14 M:8. On February 20, B14 M:8 was stacked on B14 A3:4, forming M:12. On February 23–26, B14 M:12 was stacked on A4:4, resulting in M:16. Finally, on February 28, M:16 was stacked on A5:4, creating M:20. On the 12th of March 2024, M:20 was stacked on AX:4 to create A:24.
On April 25, B14's CH4 tank was lifted off of the front right turntable in Mega Bay 1 and placed in the front center of the bay ahead of final stacking of the two tanks. On April 26, B14 was likely fully stacked as a telehandler retrieved the ring stand from MB1 that B14's CH4 tank had been placed on the previous day. On May 13th, B14 was lifted off the turntable and onto the back right work stand. On October 2nd, B14 was rolled out of the Mega Bay for cryogenic proof testing at Massey's, where it completed a cryo proof test of its CH4 tank on October 4th and a full cryo on October 5th before rolling back to the build site on October 7th for engine installation.
On December 5th 2024, B14 rolled out to the launch site for engine testing, which it conducted on the 9th. Booster 14 then rolled back to Mega Bay 2 on the 10th and received its hot staging ring on December 23rd. B14 was then rolled to the launch site again ahead of launch on December 30th. However, on the 6th of January 2025, its hot staging ring was removed and then re-installed the next day. On the 8th of January it was observed that B14's cowbell vent diverters had been removed.
B14 receiving its hot staging ring in April 2025. c Starship Gazer
On 16 April 2025, in preparation for Flight Test 9, B14 received the hot staging ring.[6] It featured sections of vents that have been welded shut. On May 12th to 13th, Booster 14 was rolled out to the launch site ahead of flight but was rolled back after its flight was delayed on May 17th.
Timeline[]
- 09 Feb 2024: B14 aft tank #2 spotted near High Bay
- 13 Feb 2024: B14 A2:4 moved into Mega Bay 1 for stacking
- 15 Feb 2024: B14 CX:4 moved into Mega Bay for stacking, and B14 A3:4 staged outside Mega Bay
- 15 Feb 2024: B14 CX:4 stacked onto B14 A2:4 creating B14 M:8
- 20 Feb 2024: B14 A3:4 moved into Mega bay 1
- 20 Feb 2024: B14 M:8 stacked on A3:4 making M:12
- 23 Feb 2024: B14 A4:4 moved into Mega Bay
- 23-26 Feb 2024: B14 M:12 stacked on A4:4 creating M:16
- 28 Feb 2024: B14 M:16 stacked on A5:4 creating M:20
- 12 March 2024: B14 M:20 stacked on AX:4 creating B14 A:24
- 12-13 Mar 2024: B14 F2:3 and FX:3 moved into Mega Bay 1
- 13 Mar 2024: B14 FX:3 stacked on F2:3 creating F:6
- 27 Mar: B14 F:6 stacked onto F3:3 creating F:9
- 25 April 2024: B14 CH4 tank lifted into the center front of MB1
- 26 April 2024: Telehandler retrieves the ring stand from MB1 indicating that B14 final stacking is completed
- 13 May 2024: B14 lifted off of front left turntable and place on back right work stand
- 2 Oct 2024: B14 rolled out MB1 to the old ring yard.
- 3 Oct 2024: B14 rolled to Massey's test site
- 4 Oct 2024: B14 Methane Cryo
- 5 Oct 2024: B14 Full Cryo
- 7 Oct 2024: B14 rolled back to build site
- 3 Dec 2024: The booster transport stand has arrived at the production site.
- 5 Dec 2024: The booster transport stand entered in MB1
- 5 Dec 2024: B14 rolled out to Launch site
- 10 Dec 2024: B14 rolled back to MB1
- 22 Dec 2024: B14 HS:1 staged outside MB1
- 23 Dec 2024: B14 HS:1 stacked on B14
- 30 Dec 2024: B14 rolled out to the launch site
- 31 Dec 2024: B14 lifted onto OLM (OLIT-1) between 00:39 and 01:18
- 6 Jan 2025: B14 HS:1 destacked from B14
- 7 Jan 2025: B14 HS:1 stacked on B14
- 8 Jan 2025: Cowbell vent diverters removed
- 16 Jan 2025: B14 placed back onto the OLM
- Apr 1: B14 rolled to Launch Site
- 3 Apr 2025: B14 Static Fire #2
- 8 Apr: B14 rolls back to MB1
- 16 Apr: B14 HSR entered MB1
- 12-13 May: B14 lifted onto BTR-2 and moved to the Launchsite
- 17 May: B14 rolled back to MB1
Testing Campaign[]
B14-1[]
Overview, without full stack tests:
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 October 2024 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 14 conducted a successful cryogenic proof test of its CH4 tank. |
| 5 October 2024 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 14 conducted a successful full volume cryogenic proof test of both tanks. |
| 7 December 2024 | Spin Prime | Success | Booster 14 conducted a successful spin prime |
| 9 December 2024 | Static Fire | Success | Booster 14 conducted a successful static fire |
B14-2[]
Overview, without full stack tests:
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 April 2025 | Static Fire | Success | Booster 14 conducted a successful static fire |
05 October 2024 - Cryo Proof Test[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 16:55 Cryo loading started on both tanks
- 22:50 Both tanks now being depressurized and emptied
06-07 October 2024 - Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 23:35 B14 moved towards Hwy 4 at Massey's test site
- 00:33 Entered Hwy 4
- 02:30 Entered Mega Bay 1
05-06 December 2024 - Roll out and lift[]
B14 lifted onto OLM at OLIT-1 for testing. c SpaceX
Timeline according to LabPadre:
- 17:40 B14 lifted onto a transport stand in mega bay 1
- 20:50 B14 exited mega bay 1
- 21:57 Entered hwy 4
- 23:05 Arrived at launch site, moving in between chopsticks
- 06:08 Lift underway
07 December 2024 - Spin Prime test[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 08:20 Road closed
- 09:01 Pad cleared
- 09:22 Chopsticks raised
- 10:43 OLM venting
- ~11:15 Cryo loading underway with visible frost lines on both tanks
- 11:30 Engine chill
- 11:46 Propellant loading closed out, with LOX tank fully filled, CH4 tank approx. 1/4 filled
- 11:48 Spin prime test
- 13:26 Road opened
09 December 2024 - 1st Static Fire[]
Video of the static fire test. c SpaceX
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 08:03 Road closed
- 08:55 Pad cleared
- 09:15 OLM venting started
- 09:41 Cryo loading of LOX and CH4
- 09:59 Engine chill
- 10:19:01 Static Fire
- 10:20 Detanking
- 12:21 Road open
30 December 2024 - Roll out[]
A road closure was set in place from 4pm onwards. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 13:20 Lifted off back left work stand onto booster transport stand
- 17:40 Entered hwy 4
- 19:17 Rolled between chopsticks
02 January 2025 - Lift[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 22:08 Crew lift spotted going up to the box, completing the 6.5 hour install process[7]
- 22:46 FTS system worked on
18 January 2025 - Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 00:25 Entered hwy 4
- 01:30 Arrived at build site
- 03:56 Entering mega bay
01 April 2025 - Roll out and lift[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 15:50 (31 March) Transport stand moved into mega bay 1
- 22:55 (31 March) B14 lifted onto the booster transport stand inside mega bay 1
- 03:33 Moved out of mega bay 1
- 04:10 Roll out started
- 05:20 Arrived at launch site
- 10:48 Lift started
03 April 2025 - 2nd Static Fire[]
SpaceX conducted the first ever post launch static fire test of a booster. Prior to the test, an overpressure notice / alert was issued to local residents.[8] Timeline according to LabPadre:
- 07:45 Road closed
- 07:51 Pad cleared
- 09:00 OLM vent stopped - cryo loading started
- 09:07 Frost started to appear on both tanks
- 9:22 Engine chill
- 09:36 Prop loading closed out
- ~9:38 OLM vent
- ~9:40:26 Static Fire
- 11:26 Road opened
According to SpaceX, "The first Super Heavy reuse will be a step towards our goal of zero-touch reflight"[9]. With this test, SpaceX also confirmed that B14 will be used on Starship Flight Test 9: "Static fire of the Super Heavy preparing to launch Starship's ninth flight test. This booster previously launched and returned on Flight 7 and 29 of its 33 Raptor engines are flight proven"[5].
STATIC FIRE! Starship SuperHeavy Booster 14 To Fly Again - Dune Cam
Video of the static fire. c The Launch Pad
08 April 2025 - Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 11:09 B14 started to roll away from Launch Pad A
- 12:21 Rolled out from launch site onto hwy 4
- 13:24 Arrived at build site
- 17:27 B14 lifted onto back left workstand of mega bay 1
12 May 2025 - Roll out[]
B14 was rolled out, likely in preparation for it's flight.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-7
- ↑ https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1874974714680287531
- ↑ https://x.com/spacesudoer/status/1860679421625336170
- ↑ https://fixupx.com/spacex/status/1907876664274473132
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://x.com/spacex/status/1907876664274473132
- ↑ https://x.com/StarshipGazer/status/1912538810790949000
- ↑ https://x.com/VickiCocks15/status/1875131976354865390
- ↑ https://x.com/bocachicagal/status/1907747108918047215
- ↑ https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1907876819476349364