Booster 15 (B15) is a Super Heavy booster prototype located in Mega Bay 1. First parts were spotted in October 2023.
Booster 15 flew on Starship Flight Test 8 along with Ship 34 (S34), being caught successfully afterward.
History[]
After first parts being spotted in October 2023, stacking commenced sometime between June 4th to June 8th 2024 with the stacking of B15's Common Dome Section onto its second aft tank section. This was followed from June 8th to June 13th, by B15's third aft tank section being stacked. Subsequently, on June 13th, B15's fourth aft tank section was stacked and on June 15th, B15's fifth aft tank section was stacked. Then on the 25th of July 2024, B15's final aft section was stacked.
Stacking of B15's CH4 tank started after its forward dome and second forward tank section were rolled into Mega Bay 2 on the 31st of July and 1st of August respectively. Then B15's third forward tank section was rolled in for stacking on August 3rd.
Stacking of Booster 15 was completed on the front left turntable in Mega Bay 1 on the 22nd of September 2024. Booster 15 was rolled out to the Massey Outpost for cryo testing on the 21st of December 2024, where it completed a CH4 cryo on the 27th and a complete cryo on the 28th prior to rollback on the 29th. B15 was then rolled out to the Launch Site on February 8th 2025 for engine testing, which was completed on the 9th with a full 33 engine static fire, followed by rollback to Mega Bay 1 on the 10th.
On the 19th of February 2025, B15's hot staging ring was rolled into Mega Bay 1 and stacked, shortly before being destacked and rolled back into starfactory the following day. On the 23rd of February 2025, B15's hot staging ring was once again rolled back into Mega Bay 1, stacked, destacked and rolled back into Starfactory.
Timeline[]
- 23 May 2024: B15 CX:4 staged in front of MB1
- 3 June 2024: B15 A2:4 staged in front of MB1
- 4 Jun: B15 CX:4 and A2:4 moved into MB1 for stacking
- 4-8 Jun 2024: B15 CX:4 stacked onto B15 A2:4 creating M:8
- 8 Jun 2024: B15 A3:4 staged in front of MB1 and later the same day rolled inside
- 12 Jun 2024: B15 A4:4 staged in front of MB1
- 13 Jun 2024: B15 A4:4 moved into MB1
- 8-13 Jun 2024: B15 M:8 Stacked on A3:4 creating M:12
- 13 Jun 2024: B15 M:12 stacked on A4:4 creating M:16
- 13 Jun 2024: B15 A5:4 staged in front of MB1
- 15 Jun 2024: B15 A5:4 moved into MB1
- 15 Jun 2024: B15 M:16 stacked onto A5:4 creating M:20
- 18 Jun 2024: B15 Downcomer installed
- 11 Jul 2024: B15 F2:3 staged outside Mega Bay 1
- 25 Jul 2024: B15 M:20 stacked on AX:4 creating B15 A:24
- 30 Jul 2024: B15 FX:3 staged in front of MB1
- 31 Jul 2024: B15 FX:3 moved into MB1
- 1 Aug 2024: B15 F2:3 moved into MB1
- 2 Aug 2024: B15 F3:3 staged outside Mega Bay 1
- 3 Aug 2024: B15 F3:3 moved into Mega Bay 1
- 29 Aug: B15 F4:4 staged outside MB1
- 30 Aug: B15 F4:4 moved into MB1
- 22 Sep 2024: B15 Forward and aft tanks stacked to complete stacking of B15
- 21 Dec 2024: B15 rolled out to Massey's test site
- 27 Dec 2024: B15 cryo proof test of CH4 tank
- 28 Dec 2024: B15 Cryo proof both tanks
- 29 Dec: B15 rolled back from Massey's Outpost to MB1
- 8 Feb 2025: B15 moved to Launch site
- 9 Feb: B15 Static fired
- 10 Feb: B15 moved back to Mega Bay 1
- 19 Feb: B15 HS:1 moved into MB1 and stacked
- 20 Feb: B15 HS:1 destacked and moved back to SFC
- 23 Feb: B15 HS:1 moved into MB1, stacked, destacked and rolled back to SFC
- 25 Feb: B15 HS:1 and B15 moved to the launchsite, lifted onto the OLM and stacked
- 26 Feb: B15 HS:1 removed
- 27 Feb: B15 HS:1 re-stacked upon B15
- 6 Mar 2025: B15 launched, caught and placed on the OLM
- 7 Mar: B15 removed from the olm
- 8 Mar: B15 moved back to Mega Bay 1
Testing Campaign[]
Overview, without full stack tests:
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 December 2024 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 15 conducted a successful cryogenic proof test of its CH4 tank. |
| 28 December 2024 | Cryogenic Proof | Success | Booster 15 conducted a successful cryogenic proof test of both its tanks |
| 9 February 2024 | Static Fire | Success | Booster 15 conducted a successful 33 engine static fire |
27 December 2024 - Cryo Proof Test[]
SpaceX conducted a cryogenic proof test of the CH4 tank, which was completely filled with cryogenics.[1] Timeline according to LabPadre[2]:
- 14:43 Cryo loading started
- 15:25 CH4 tank completely filled with cryogenics
- ~15:50 Detanking
28 December 2024 - Cryo Proof Test[]
c Rocket Ranch Starbase, Starship Hardware
A second cryo test was conducted. This time, both tanks were filled with cryogenics.[3]
29 December 2024 - Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 10:49 Entered hwy 4
- 13:58 Arrived at the build site
- 23:48 Lifted into back right work stand in mega bay 1
07-08 February 2025 - Roll out to Launch Site[]
Timeline according to NSF Starbase Live and LabPadre discord:
- 20:04 Lifted onto transport stand
- 21:45 Out of MB2
- 00:03 Entered hwy 4
- 01:12 Arrived at Launch Site
- 01:58 Arrived at Pad A
- 05:36 Lift started
- 06:22 Lifted onto the OLM
09 February 2025 - Static Fire Test[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 06:56 Chopsticks raised to launch position
- 07:03 Road closed
- 08:35 OLM vent
- 08:39 Pad clear
- 09:04 Cryo loading
- 09:23 Engine chill
- 09:50 Static fire
- 11:35 Road opened
10 February 2025 - Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 01:48 Lifted to catch height
- 04:11 Set down on transport stand
- 13:23 B15 back at production site.
24-25 February 2025 - Roll out to launch site[]
Timeline according to Labpadre discord:
- 03:35 Booster transport stand moved into mega bay 1
- 11:31 Booster transport stand exited mega bay 1
- 12:11 Booster transport stand reentered mega bay 1
- 15:29 B15 lifted onto the transport stand
- 17:25 Left the MB2
- 20:42 B15’s hot stage ring exited the Starfactory
- 00:22 B15 and its hot stage ring entered hwy 4
- 01:44 Both arrived a launch site
- 01:48 Both arrived at pad A
- 05:08 B15 lifted onto the OLM
- 09:41 LR11000 moved to pad A
- 14:18 Hot stage ring lifted onto B15 by LR11000X crane
- 15:00 Hot stage ring detached from LR11000X
26 February 2025: HSR removal[]
Timeline according to NSF Starbase live
- 19:11 LR11000X crane attached to hot stage ring
- 21:36 LR11000X crane began to lift the hot stage ring
- 21:49 hot stage ring placed on its transport stand at the bottom of the tower
06 March 2025 - Launch[]
07-08 March 2025 - Lift and Roll back[]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 16:34 Lift started
- 18:41 Lowered onto transport stand, chopsticks lowered from the booster
- 00:07 B15 was rolled back to the production site shortly after midnight.
Gallery[]
