SN20/Ship 20

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Starship 20 (SN20 or S20) is a decommissioned starship second stage prototype currently located in the rocket garden. Originally intended to be the first ship to fly on an orbital attempt alongside B4, it was spotted on 7 March 2021 and underwent assembly until reaching its final stacking phase in July 2021. However, plans changed when Elon Musk announced the use of Raptor 2 engines and new prototypes for the first orbital flight, retiring S20 and B4.

Elon Musk confirmed on 30 March 2021 that SN20 would have significant improvements, including orbital capability with a heat shield and stage separation system. However, multiple flight attempts would be needed for SN20+ vehicles to survive Mach 25 entry heating and land intact. SN20 represents the first prototype of the third batch of fully stacked Starships, following SN8-11 and SN15-16.

History[]

The first part of Ship 20, the leg skirt, was spotted on 7 March 2021, followed by the forward dome a month later. Most parts have been spotted by May and assembly in June/July. On 5 August 2021 the Ship rolled out to the launch site. S20 was stacked on B4 for a fit check on 6 August 2021 befor being removed again on the same day and returned to the Highbay for final construction. Soon, work on the TPS head shield tiles began: they were marked and some had to be replaced, a work that lasted more than a month. On 13 August 2021, S20 moved back to the launch site and was installed on Pad B on 17 August 2021.

Work on the TPS tiles continued for one month since then. On 27 September 2021, Ship 20 underwent a pneumatic (ambient) proof test and was cryo proof tested for a first time. Some TPS tiles were lost during a header tank went. A more rigorous cryo proof test was conducted on 29 September 2021. After that, Rvac5 (a vacuum Raptor engine with reduced bell size for sea level testing) and a SL Raptor have been installed for the Preburner test (Rvac5) on 18 October 2021 and the two static fires on 21 October 2021.

According to FCC documents, SpaceX planned to use SN20 for a first orbital flight attempt in summer 2021. NSF author Chris Bergin, citing undisclosed sources, added that their goal was to use BN3 for this attempt. The date was posponed several times and plans were updated to use Starship 4/20 for a first flight. In 2022 however, SpaceX decided to focus their work on upgrading the launch infrastructure. This resulted in them using the upgraded Starship 7/24 instead for OFT-1 in April 2023.

Timeline[]

7 March 2021: Leg skirt spotted
07 Apr 2021: Fwd dome spotted
11 Apr 2021: Leg skirt spotted (again)
15 Apr 2021: Fwd dome spotted (again)
15 Apr 2021: Comn dome barrel? section spotted (3-ring)
27 Apr 2021: Aft dome being constructed
7 May 2021: Mid LOX section (4-ring stack) spotted
16 May 2021: MID-LOX and Leg skirt spotted (again)
17 May 2021: SN20 fwd dome outside tents (not stacked yet)
19 May 2021: Nosecones in tent 3 [SN17?, SN20?]
21 May 2021: Marcus House: Combinations SN20-BN3, SN21-BN4, SN22-BN5, SN23-BN6, then major upgrades for SN24-BN7
21 May 2021: GSE aft section (3-ring) with reinforcement and lead ins next to SN20 cmn dome [GSE5?]
21 May 2021: Common dome spotted (3-ring), covered in TPS tile attachment pegs, with lead ins, CH4 header visible
23 May 2021: Aft dome near high bay
23 May 2021: New Starship [5-?] ring section with a lot of TPS tiles in a new arrangement and lead-ins moved out of mid bay [SN20?]
24 May 2021: Common dome with CH4 header tank still outside tents
27 May 2021: Starship 3-ring common dome full with TPS mounting pins [SN20?]
27 May 2021: Starship 3-ring common dome full with TPS mounting pins [SN20?]
29 May 2021: Starship fwd dome (stacked and flipped) hooked to crane [SN20??]
4 June 2021: [SN20?] nosecone and barrel section still outside tent three
5 June 2021: "aft" dome spotted
11 June 2021: Thrust/aft dome sleeved (with 3-ring stack)
16 June 2021: Aft dome moved around
19 June 2021: Aft section in tent 1 [vid20]
24 June 2021: SN20/S20 aft dome in tent
3 July 2021: Common dome (3-ring stack) with lead-ins and TPS-tile cover spotted (passive pressure relief valve on it); hooked to crane and lifted into mid bay for stacking it onto Mid-LOX section (header tank visible)
4 July 2021: Mid LOX section with tiles spotted on July 2 during lift into mid bay [Maria Pointer]
6 July 2021: Single ring section stacked onto 2-ring section in front of tents [SN20/S21 aft section used on June 30??]
7 July 2021: GSE3 (fully stacked) and SN20 (two sections) now in mid bay
12 July 2021: Ring section likely for TPS tiles testing spotted [NSF: possibly for SN20/S20]
12 July 2021: Booster section attached to flipping jig inside high bay [B4?]; later flipped [vid 13] [why booster; could it be SN20?]
13 July 2021: Leg skirt with lead-ins (fewer than with old sections)(2-ring stack) moved; covered TPS tiles attachment pins; lifted onto a mount
13 July 2021: Thrust section outside tent 1 (3-ring stack, with access hole)
13 July 2021: Thrust section stacked onto leg skirt
14 July 2021: 07.2021 Aft flap delivered [SN20?]
14 July 2021: Nosecone spotted: new forward flap mounting jig design; lots of TPS pin attachments; four port RCS thruster (vs 3 on previous SNs); superman logo near top of flap mounting jig
14 July 2021: Work in mid bay continued
16 July 2021: S20? aft flap with TPS tiles spotted; the first time with curved tiles like this [!]
22 July 2021: Thrust section (5-ring section) moved into mid bay, connection point for GSE fuelling arm visible for the first time
23 July 2021: S20? nosecone with TPS mount points in tent 3
23 July 2021: SN20/S20 under construction in mid bay (at least 16 rings tall)
23 July 2021: Tank section now fully stacked
25 July 2021: Work in mid bay continued with several man lifts up
25 July 2021: Nosecone barrel section prepared for TPS tiles, with lead ins, possibly for SN20/S20
26 July 2021: Nosecone barrel section with TPS base layer (for SN20/S20?) lifted into windbreak
27 July 2021: WAI internal SpaceX info: B4/S20 [SN20] ready on OLM by August 5 as internal goal!
29 July 2021: Nosecone with blankets and TPS tiles rolled outside tent (likely for SN20/S20)
29 July 2021: Aft flap installation rig moved inside mid bay and affixed to the ship for flap installation
29 July 2021: Fwd flap delivered to build site (SN20?)
30 July 2021: Nosecone: TPS tiles being installed; aft flaps moved near tents
30 July 2021: Ship aerocover unloaded (SN20?)
31 July 2021: Nosecone stacked onto barrel section at wind break; quadratic TPS heat shield tiles spotted near the flap attachment rig; lead-ins removed after the two parts have been welded together
31 July 2021: Tank section work in mid bay continued
31 July 2021: First aft flap installed in mid bay
01 Aug 2021: First forward flap attached to nosecone; smaller sice visible; work on the TPS tiles installation continued
02 Aug 2021: Nosecone: TPS tiles installation continued
02 Aug 2021: Rolled out of mid bay, nearly fully covered with TPS tiles on one site (still some needed near the section welds)
02 Aug 2021: Aft flap installed (with TPS tiles)
02 Aug 2021: Second fwd flap installed, second aft flap installed
03 Aug 2021: Work continued outside high bay
03 Aug 2021: Moved into high bay ahead of nosceone stacking
03 Aug 2021: RV5 and another RVac engine moved towards Starship SN20/S20 for a fit check. They were installed that day.
03 Aug 2021: Nosecone moved and stopped just outside lowbay, more TPS tiles added; later moved to high bay for stacking as well
03 Aug 2021: All six Raptor engines (3SL, 3Rvac) have been installed [Musk]
04 Aug 2021: Nosecone lifted into high bay; stacked at 4:11 am
04 Aug 2021: Unhooked from bridge crane, now fully assembled!
05 Aug 2021: SN20/S20 and GSE6 [NSF]/GSE3 [LP] rolled out to OLS [apparently it was GSE3, vid 07]
05 Aug 2021: Attached to LR11350
05 Aug 2021: Lift scrubbed due to high winds
06 Aug 2021: More TPS tiles installed
06 Aug 2021: Stacked onto B4 by LR11350, fully assembled rocket for the first time ever!!
06 Aug 2021: Removed from B4 by LR11350 after first fit check for final construction, touch-down at 9:45 am
06 Aug 2021: Moved back to build site; into high bay; hooked to bridge crane
07 Aug 2021: Rvac engines removed and moved around
07 Aug 2021: Sea level raptor engines removed
08 Aug 2021: Colored labels attached to TPS tiles, likely to indicate damage that needs repairs
09 Aug 2021: More TPS tiles marked
10 Aug 2021: More colored labels attached to TPS tiles
11 Aug 2021: Moved out of the high bay to prepare it for B4; positioned outside mid bay
11 Aug 2021: Work on TPS tiles continued (labels)
12 Aug 2021: TPS tiles inspection/repair work continued; blue markings "E1", "E2" seen
12 Aug 2021: TPS tile replacement began
13 Aug 2021: Prepared for roll out
13 Aug 2021: A lot of TPS tiles removed from nosecone barrel section
13 Aug 2021: SN20/S20 moved back to launch site; arrived at 11:57am
15 Aug 2021: TPS tiles work continued; also some work on external wiring
15 Aug 2021: Work continued during the night [vid 16]
16 Aug 2021: Work on raceway (electrical wiring) continued
17 Aug 2021: Prepared for move to SoLS pad B for testing (ambient and cryo proof/pressure testings expected); work through access hole
17 Aug 2021: Moved towards pad B; lifted onto the pad by LR11000 (6:13pm)
18 Aug 2021: At least two Rvac engines that were installed on SN20/S20 left Boca Chica
18 Aug 2021: Still hooked to LR11000
19 Aug 2021: Still attached to LR11000, still a lot of green and red labels on TPS tiles
19 Aug 2021: Disconnected from LR11000 at 3.08 pm
22 Aug 2021: SN20/S20 still with a lot of labels on TPS tiles
23 Aug 2021: TPS tiles work continued
25 Aug 2021: TPS tiles work continued, still a lot of red labels; new red labels added near aft flap
26 Aug 2021: Work continued
27 Aug 2021: Work continued
28 Aug 2021: Work on TPS tiles continued
29 Aug 2021: Work continued
31 Aug 2021: Still awaiting testing on Pad A; work on TPS tiles continued
02 Sep 2021: SN20/S20 prepared for upcoming cryo tests
02 Sep 2021: TPS tiles work continued
03 Sep 2021: Work continued
04 Sep 2021: Work on aft section (manlifts going up under skirt) continued as well as on TPS tiles; more work through the access port
05 Sep 2021: Work under skirt ahead of Raptor installation
05 Sep 2021: TPS tiles replacement continued
06 Sep 2021: Raptor engines being installed (RSL); work on TPS tiles continued, now blue and turquoise markings appeared
06 Sep 2021: Work near/through access hatch
06 Sep 2021: Work on Raptor engine at launch site ahead of installation on SN20/S20
07 Sep 2021: Work on TPS tiles continued; coloured labels slowly getting less
08 Sep 2021: Work continued in several areas
08 Sep 2021: Damaged TPS tiles replacement continued, most marked tiles have been replaced or repaired; work in the engine bay
10 Sep 2021: Rvac engine arrived at launch site at 1:36 am; fitted on SN20/S20 at 4:22 am
11 Sep 2021: Work on TPS tiles seems quite complete by now, a few missing on the top of the nosecone, especially around the crane attachment points
12 Sep 2021: TPS tiles work continued; hatch was closed
14 Sep 2021: Hatch opened for work; TPS tiles looking nearly fully repaired
15 Sep 2021: Work continued; manlifts up at access hatch; TPS work continued as well, some markings and missing tiles in the aft area; Raptor engine installation
16 Sep 2021: Work inside the aft section
17 Sep 2021: Work continued (access hatch open, work inside)
19 Sep 2021: Work under aft section
23 Sep 2021: Cryo pipes installed to test stand [?]
24 Sep 2021: RVac puck shucking equipment for SN20/S20 returned to launch site, installed under Ship on test stand B, with center engine thrust pucker
26 Sep 2021: Worked on
27 Sep 2021: Prepared for testing; thrust simulator has been installed earlier; work around the quick disconnect fitting
27 Sep 2021: Pneumatic (ambient) proof test (some TPS tiles lost) and cryo proof test
28 Sep 2021: Testing scrubbed
29 Sep 2021: Work continued ahead of testing
29 Sep 2021: SN20/S20 cryo proof test
01 Oct 2021: Venting
01 Oct 2021: Thrust ram removed from engine section/pad B
03 Oct 2021: Work in aft section
03 Oct 2021: Aft flaps opened during flap test [vid 04]
11 Oct 2021: Rvac5 engine installed on SN20/S20
12 Oct 2021: Work continued on aft section, Rvac5 installation completed
13 Oct 2021: Overpressure notice for today's SN20/S20 static fire attempt issued
13 Oct 2021: Work in the aft skirt area ahead of potential static fire
13 Oct 2021: RC for today cancelled, SN20/S20 static fire NET Thursday
13 Oct 2021: NOTMAR posted for October 14 for potential SN20/S20 static fire; Alert notice issued
14 Oct 2021: Work inside aft skirt continued
14 Oct 2021: Scrubbed static fire attempt
15 Oct 2021: Work under aft skirt continued, as well as through top hatch
17 Oct 2021: Work in skirt area
17 Oct 2021: Work through upper hatch
18 Oct 2021: Alert notice issued to Boca Chica residents for possible SN20/S20 static fire today between 4pm-1am (later corrected to 5pm-midnight); NOTMAR issued
18 Oct 2021: Preburner test of Rvac5, vents around nosecone! [vid 19]
18 Oct 2021: No big apparent damage to TPS, most tiles missing were missing before test [vid19]
19 Oct 2021: Evaporator at SoLS tank farm in action after SN20/S20 test
19 Oct 2021: Work around/in aft section
21 Oct 2021: Work continued
21 Oct 2021: Static fire #1 (Rvac5) and #2 (Rvac5 and SL raptor)[65], at least 8 tiles lost during fires [see vid 22]
22 Oct 2021: Three RC installed late in the eventing/early next morning
23 Oct 2021: B4 and SN20/S20 worked on
24 Oct 2021: Work continued, aft section and in engine area
25 Oct 2021: Work in engine area continued
26 Oct 2021: SN20/S20 has now 3 SL and one Rvac engine installed
28 Oct 2021: Work at engine section continued
28 Oct 2021: Rvac6 (label: "SN6")and Rvac7 (label: RV7") moved form production site to SN20/S20 at the launch site; Rvac6 lifted into aft section for first fit check, lowered again
29 Oct 2021: Rvac6 installed, Rvac7 waiting for installation; later Rvac7 installed as well
30 Oct 2021: Work around engines continued; all engines have been installed (RVac5, RVac6, RVac7, RC81, RC?, RC?)
31 Oct 2021: Work continued, especially in engine area
03 Nov 2021: Work on TPS tiles near aft flap
05 Nov 2021: Equalized pressure by venting ambient air; work on it continued
06 Nov 2021: Aft section work continued
09 Nov 2021: Work at aft section
09 Nov 2021: NOTMAR posted for November 10, Alert notice issued for potential SN20/S20 static fire
11 Nov 2021: Alert notice delivered to residence for possible SN20/S20 static fire on 12 November
12 Nov 2021: Perburner test and Static Fire #3 (first one with all six engines, more tiles lost)
13 Nov 2021: Work in engine area
15 Nov 2021: Aft flaps tested
17 Nov 2021: Work at engine area
18 Nov 2021: Aft section work continued
19 Nov 2021: Fwd and aft flaps tested
20 Nov 2021: SN20/S20 and B4 (inspection) work
21 Nov 2021: Work on engine section continue
22 Nov 2021: Work on cables leading to raceway continued as well as on engine section
27 Nov 2021: Work continued through access hatch and on engine section
28 Nov 2021: Work near aft flaps
30 Nov 2021: Work on TPS tiles; all tiles have been replaced or repaired except those near the header tank vent; work on the engine section
30 Nov 2021: Aft section work continued
30 Nov 2021: Alert notice for SN20/S20 static fire attempt isssued to residents; as well as NOTMAR posted
01 Dec 2021: Aborted static fire attempt
01 Dec 2021: Header tank test
02 Dec 2021: Fwd and aft flaps tested and opened at 12:40
03 Dec 2021: Fwd and aft flaps have been opened (Starship Gazer)
04 Dec 2021: Work on extended flaps; fuelling adapter closeup; engine section worked on
06 Dec 2021: Work on engine section
07 Dec 2021: Work through access hole
08 Dec 2021: Flaps still remained open
09 Dec 2021: Work on engine section and through access hole
11 Dec 2021: Work on a cover above QD; nosecone hatch closed
13 Dec 2021: Two red/orange boxes installed [later two more added]
14 Dec 2021: Some tiles are brown; cable attached on lower section onto TPS tiles; attach points being removed!; work at engine section
15 Dec 2021: Work at the ex attach points
16 Dec 2021: Work on engine section, parts added
17 Dec 2021: Work in engine section
18 Dec 2021: Work at engine section
23 Dec 2021: TPS tiles placed over the crane attach points "this could be for a full up test of the heat shield during a static fire" [NSF]
27 Dec 2021: Alert notice and NOTMAR issued for static fire attempt
28 Dec 2021: Scrubbed static fire attempt
28 Dec 2021: Alert notice issued for S20 static fire attempt
29 Dec 2021: Venting early morning
29 Dec 2021: Flaps tested
29 Dec 2021: Static fire #4 and scrubbed attempt
03 Jan 2022: Tiles being removed again at the nosecone lift points after the static fire
03 Jan 2022: Liftting points reinstalled
06 Jan 2022: Work on fwd flaps
09 Jan 2022: Worked on
11 Jan 2022: Work continued
17 Jan 2022: LR11000X moved towards SN20/S20
17 Jan 2022: Lifting squid attached; work on QD area on Pad B (disconnected from GSE connections); connected to LR11000X
19 Jan 2022: Ship QD transport stand positioned next to S20/SN20 at 9:37am
20 Jan 2022: Still hooked to LR11000X on Pad B; transport stand next to it
22 Jan 2022: Crane rigging from LR11000X detached and reattached from/to SN20/S20
22 Jan 2022: SN20/S20 disconnected (8:19am) and reconnected to LR11000X at 10:31am, lifted from pad B on to transport stand with QD at 11:42-57am
23 Jan 2022: S20 rigging and LR11000X disconnected; moved next to OLM
26 Jan 2022: Work around and on quick disconnect
27 Jan 2022: OLS: Excavators work around SN20/S20 base
28 Jan 2022: OLS tank farm venting: both subcooler areas, near SN20/S20 stand, south berm; OLM vented for a long time (vent below QD lines); subcoolers frosted up after testing
08 Feb 2022: Work on QD; took them very long to disconnect the ship from the stand QD
08 Feb 2022: Moved into position for stacking
09 Feb 2022: Has moved between the chopsticks; chopsticks moved up to lifting points, later lowered again; S20 opened aft flaps (fwd flaps already opened)
09 Feb 2022: SN20/S20 stacking operations by chopsticks [vid 10]
10 Feb 2022: SN20/S20 stacking operations by chopsticks; second full starship stack
10 Feb 2022: Ship QD extended and attached to SN20/S20
10 Feb 2022: Work around S20/B4 interface; chopsticks stabilization arms removed from S20
10 Feb 2022: Chopsticks disconnected from SN20/S20 and opened up [seen in vid 11]
11 Feb 2022: Chopsticks closed and lifted towards SN20/S20 lifting points; not yet attached
14 Feb 2022: Starship 4/22: SN20/S20 destacked from B4 by chopsticks during road closure (RC 10:27am, pad cleared 10:52am, road opened 2:01pm, QD arm back into position at 2:15 8:09pm detached from chopsticks); some OLS tank farm ventig ahead of destacking and ship transport stand moved into position; ship QD arm retracted for operation
15 Feb 2022: Moved away from chopsticks to its cryo stand at south of the OLS tank farm
16 Feb 2022: Transport stand QD connected to S20; cryo proof test on OLS cryo pad, frost on both tanks, engine chill vents inside flaps; possibly testing the full OLS tank farm system including LCH4 side
17 Feb 2022: SN20/S20 cryo proof test at OLS cryo pad; full frost on LOX tank; venting from engine chill vents
22 Feb 2022: SN20/S20 and OLS tank farm cryo proof test, CH4 heat exchangers frosty, as well as LOX and partly CH4 tanks on Ship
3 March 2022: SN20/S20 cryo proof test, LOX tank fully filled, followed by CH4 tank (likely fully as well)
4 March 2022: Work through access hole
10 March 2022: Work through access hole, fan used
13 March 2022: Moved away from cryo pad and OLIT
13 March 2022: Moved to chopsticks [vid 14]
14 March 2022: Now at chopsticks, chopsticks closed in later
14 March 2022: Ship QD extended (although SN20/S20 not yet stacked)
15 March 2022: Prepared for lifting between chopsticks
15 March 2022: SN20/S20 lifted by chopsticks onto B4 for second time, much faster than previously; third full stack; Ship QD arm extended to S20 [cont. vid 16]
16 March 2022: Ship QD/SN20/S20 work on QD arm
16 March 2022: Starship 4/20 [B4, S20] cryo test [with liquid nitrogen], much venting from OLS tank farm (all areas), OLIT vent indicating cryo flow through OLIT, OLM vent, frost on B4 tanks and S20 condensation, first time ship QD active with cryo [vid 17]
18 March 2022: Starship 4/20 [B4/S20] propellant load testing; OLS tank fram active; unlike a cryo proof test, wher only LN2 is used, here the tanks got filled with propellant (CH4/LOX); B4 LOX and CH4 tanks got frosty, followed by S20 tanks, only partially filled (0.5-2 rings); drone observed the test
19 March 2022: QD arm: ship QD retracted from SN20/S20, then arm retracted away from ship ahead of destacking
19 March 2022: Starship 4/20: S20 destacked from B4 by chopsticks, road remained open for the first time
20 March 2022: Moved away from chopsticks
31 March 2022: S20 (first complete heat shield) is functionally out of date as it can only be launched on B4 and possibly B5

Gallery[]

Construction[]

B4 being rolled out to OLS by two SPMTs; launch site visible in the background; S20 in front of mid bay

All 6 raptor engines installed on S20 in high bay; 3 gimbling Sea Level engines and 3 Rvac engines

First picture: Rollout for assigned booster B4 with S20 in the background.

Stacking

S20 lifted by LR11350 crane for stacking it onto B4 for a short fit check

S20 being lifted onto B4 by LR11350 crane

S20 attached to LR11350 ahead of stacking it onto B4

S20 and B4 ahead of stacking for fit check

S20 lifted by LR11350 crane for stacking it onto B4 for a short fit check

S20 being lifted onto B4 by LR11350 crane

First picture: Ship 20 attached to a crane for stacking.

Stacking on B4[]

Ship 20 being stacked on top of B4.

First full stack on OLM[]

S20 stacked on B4 for short fit check befor removing it again

S20 being stacked onto B4 for a first, short fit check at the orbital launch site

S20 stacked onto B4 by LR11350 crane for a short fit check

S20 stacked onto B4 for a short fit check

S20 stacked on B4 for short fit check befor removing it again

S20 being stacked onto B4 for a first, short fit check at the orbital launch site

S20 stacked onto B4 by LR11350 crane for a short fit check

S20 stacked onto B4 for a short fit check

Fly me to the moon (fully stacked orbital Starship)

FCC[]

13 May 2021[]

On May 13, 2021, the FCC released information about "Starship Orbital First Flight", describing the plans for the first orbital flight. This flight is planned NET June 20 (No earlier than), the requested period of operation is June 20 to December 20 of 2021.

Flight profile:

Start from Boca Chica, TX
Booster stage separation approximately 170 seconds into flight
Booster performing a partial return and "land" in the Gulf of Mexico, approx. 20 miles from the shore
Starship to continue flying between Florida Straits and achieve orbit
Targeted landing of Starship (upper stage) approx. 100 km off the northwest coast of Kauai (Hawaii), soft ocean landing [as known with early Falcon testing], thus some 3/4 around the earth

Detailed flight profile:

+00s Liftoff
+169s MECO
+171s Stage separation
+176s SES
+495s Booster touchdown
+521s SECO
+5420s Ship splashdown (90m, 20s)

More info:

Booster apogee: 380160 feet, 115.9 km
"We need to make sure ship won't break up on reentry, hence deorbit over Pacific" (Elon Musk^[1])

FAA[]

On May 14, the FAA added a FAQ page for the ongoing environmental review of the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy project in Boca Chica, Texas. "SpaceX must meet all licensing requirements before Starship/Super Heavy can launch." (Chris B^[2]) [FAQ: [1]]

Design Changes[]

First prototype with full TPS tile cover
Rvac mounts
QD system [?]
Black LOX tank hatch with different material
Covered up FTS
Lines more tidy

27 September 2021 - Pneumatic (ambient) test; Cryo Proof Testing[]

Testing timeline according to different streams (LabPadre and NSF):

14:45 or earlier: Road closed
15:00 Tankers at OLS tank farm; bigger of the two small vertical tanks venting (the one with the speakers); hatch closing at S20
15:40 Man lift down
15:40 Some venting started at the SoLS tank farm
15:43 Man lift up again
15:59 Second tanker truck left
16:03 Man lift down
16:52:29 (Nerdle cam): TPS tiles above left fwd flap (looking towards east) blew away, due to LOX header tank vent^[3]
16:54 S20 dent disappeared
17:52 Six additional cars arrived at pad
18:56 Pad cleared
19:41, 19:43 Ship LOX? venting
19:46 More small vents (small CH4?)
20:08 Venting from stand lines/around skirt began
20:15 Lots of venting around the skirt/thrust pucker; condensation on LOX tank
20:25 Fast venting frum thrust pucker area
20:35 Venting slowed down
20:40 Venting nearly fully stopped; LOX depress vent; some CH4 venting
20:45 Short LOX vent
20:49 Tank farm venting
20:56 Satellite dish lifted
21:16 Road opened; huge vent audible
SoLS tank farm venting continued for a long time

28 September 2021 - Scrubbed Testing[]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

15:42 Sheriff at road block
17:30 Soft road closure (barrier)
17:54 Road closed
18:44 Road opened

29 September 2021 - Cryo proof test[]

According to Elon Musk, the "Proof was good!"^[4]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

14:58 Soft closure
15:44 Road closed
17:05 Man lift with workers for hatch closing down
17:25 Dog spotted
17:41 Lightning alert at pad
17:46 Pad cleared
17:58 Satellite dish down
18:00 Several ventings
18:10, 18:14 LOX/CH4 venting
18:15 Storm rolled in with heavy rain and lightning
19:21 Announcement: Lightning now passed, it is safe to return
19:37 Venting again
19:38 Skirt venting began (around QD)
19:45 Condensation at LOX tank
19:50 LOX vent short; CH4 vent; skirt vent decreased
20:00 LOX frost beginning to form [is it higher?]
20:13 Vent from stand/thrust pucker increased four a short period
20:15 Condensation at CH4 tank
20:30 Lot condensation on LOX tank, several short vents from CH4 tank
20:35 CH4 tank vents continued
20:36 LOX frost increasing; CH4 frost beginning to appear (right at the hight of TPS)
20:43 CH4 tank vents continued; loud vent later
20:50 LOX tank some top frost "Santaclause"
21:00 Frost decreased
21:08 New vent from the side (right to the FTS) spotted
21:12 Unusual vent/condensation from bottom hatch area
21:20 LOX tank nearly fully frosty now
21:53 Several huge LOX vents; CH4 vents
21:54 SoLS tank farm activity started
21:55 Side LOX vent
22:03 More frost on CH4 tank; drone?; no more vent from hatch
22:10 Frost falling off from LOX tank
22:43 Satellite dish moving northwards
23:00 CH4 tank frost increased slightly
23:07 Huge LOX and CH4 vents
23:38 Big depress vents from LOX and CH4 tanks; frost decreasing
00:44 Road opened

14 October 2021 - Scrubbed Static Fire Attempt[]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

16:16 Sheriff arrived
16:18 Road closed
19:20 Pad cleared
20:57 Road opened

18 October 2021 - Preburner Test[]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams (the indicated times in the stream timelines are found to be a few minutes off):

17:00 Road closed
20:30? Ground or some continuous SoLS tank farm venting
21:41 Pad clear
21:49 Drone spotted going up
21:58 Drone spotted coming down
22:26 Drone spotted again
22:27 Recondenser puffs began
22:53 Drone spotted again
22:58 More venting from recondenser, ground venting around S20
23:01 Farm venting spooling up
23:13 Recondenser, fuel loading
23:18 Clear venting from SN20 under skirt, single tri-vent?, but not very constant
23:30 Siren
23:39:02 Preburner test of Rvac5, some small fires left over
23:42 Huge vent heard
00:13 Depress vent
00:27 Road opened

21 October 2021 - Static Fire #1 and #2[]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre^[5] and NSF^[6] streams:

16:51 Sheriff at road block
17:37 Pad cleared [nerdle cam]
17:51 or earlier [on sentinel cam]: Road closed
18:31 Recondenser
18:36 Tank farm venting (CH4?)
18:37 Ground vent
18:47:57 Puffs from S20 skirt - propellant load began
18:48 Tank farm venting increased a lot
18:49 QD vent
18:56 Skirt vent increased, some venting from the ground around the pad
19:00:50 Engine chill (single)
19:05 Dog spotted at road block
19:06 Siren
16:15:45 Water deluge!!!
19:16:15 Rvac5 static fire (clearly on south side of S20 on rover cam), without spurt; no visible condensation, much plume ahead of fire; some things fell of from middle of hull (possibly TPS?, rover cam)
19:16 Engine chill continued, no huge depress
19:23 Huge skirt venting
19:48:28 Second static fire aborted, planned for both engines (plumes visible for Rvac first, followed by SL 0.5 secs later); followed by fast venting from skirt vent
19:56 Skirt venting/chill began to increase again
20:18:24 Second static fire, Rvac5 and SL Raptor (some fire until 18:40, again something falling off)
20:21 Depress vent, vents from skirt; continuous small venting
20:29 Condensation beginning to form on LOX tank
21:23 Road opened

A video of the first static fire of Rvac5 can be found on SpaceX's twitter: https://twitter.com/i/status/1451350259729420288.

12 November 2021 - Preburner Test and Static Fire #3[]

Since the last static fire, the four missing engines have been installed. All six engines have been fired during this test for the first time ever.

Static Fire of Ship 20 with all six Raptor engines (3 RC and 3 RVac)

Timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

06:23 Sheriff at road block
08:00 Announcement "Pad clear in 30 minutes"
08:11 Road closed
08:45 Pad clear (no more care seen later)
08:47 LOX? tank venting; as well as OLS tank farm GSE1/S5 (LN2)
08:51 Ground vent (only short) (LOX overpressure vent)
08:54 More venting around LOX tank
09:15 Grass venting again for short
09:50 B2.1 and GSE4 on the move
10:04 Recondenser
10:07 Tank farm activity (LOX tank)
10:09 Lot ground vent
10:21:30 Skirt puffs (condensation) - prop load
10:38 "Prop load" according to LP timeline
10:42 Condensation on LOX tank starting to form
10:49 Short CH4 vent
11:02:13 (:30 on Rover) Engine chill (Bi-Vent)
11:07 Siren
11:15 Constant puffs
11:18 1.5 rings now frosty frost
11:20:59 (Nerdle, NSF; 21:12 on Rover) Preburner test with huge fireball
11:22:52 Bi-vent increased again, no depress yet
11:30 Bi vent pulsing again
11:41:15 (21 on rover) Possibly aborted static fire/preburner attempt (at least 4 plumes seen)
11:43 Whole LOX tank now with condensation (still 1.5 rings frost)
12:03 Vent from upper right aft flap
12:06 Siren
12:07 LOX tank now full frost
12:13:31/32 (Rover) Deluge system
12:13:41 (54 on Rover) 6 engine Static Fire, some tiles lost (at least 9)
12:16 Recondenser started again
12:17:57 Depress vent; LOX frost beginning to disappear
12:24 Vent stack venting
12:30 Atlas dog spotted
13:24 Road opened for roll out GSE4 and B2.1
13:48 Road opened

Elon Musk wrote, responding to Chris Bergin - NSF: "Good static fire with all six engines!".^[7] Thus he confirmed the full 6 engine static fire.

45-50 mins Recondenser; constant white cloud from right side of the three black tanks

01 December 2021 - Scrubbed Static Fire; Nosecone Vent; B2.1 Test[]

A quite new fuelling procedure was observable with very early "tri"/bi-vent and a new, upwards facing, vent near the lower access hole. After detank, SpaceX startet testing the B2.1 test tank on the booster test stand, followed by something that could have been a nosecone header tank test on the Ship. It was the first time, both tank farms were simultaneously active for a testing purpose.

Timeline according to LabPadre (LabCam time ahead of time) and NSF livestreams:

Before 09:32 Sheriff at road block, one dish down
10:26 Pad clear?
10:39 Short vent, some venting from SoLS tank farm LOX tank
10:49 Short LOX vent again; continued to vent sporadically
11:33 Ground vent
11:34 Long CH4 tank vent on S20 (2–3 minutes)
10:37 Ground vent; continued in short intervals
11:39 Again some S20 venting in shorter intervals
11:50 Recondenser
11:52 Tank farm activity
11:53 Ground vent
12:03 Aft flap vents (two, look like small tri-vent)
12:12? Skirt vent
12:24 Huge bi-vent by now
12:26 Frost/condensation appearing on lower LOX tank
12:30 Much vent
12:47 Venting noise
12;51 Frost above hatch
12:51:49 Pulsing started
12:55 Vapor dump at skirt
12:56 Siren announced
13:00 Frost at least 1.5 rings on LOX tank
13:02:50 unusual upwards facing vent (near the right bi-vent)
13:18:50 Abort: LOX 18:55 and CH4 19:04 depress vents until 19:27
13:24 Full condensation (typical for detank); Tank farm activity looking like spooling down (CH4 vent, flair stack vent!)
13:42 Methane flair stack vent again; detanking
13:47 One sheriff car left
14:01 Sheriff car returned, the other one left
14:36 Frost nearly fully disappeared
14:59 Frost fully disappeared; Long double depress vent (3 minutes); followed by some more tests
15:17 B2.1 "can crusher" slowly getting frosty; top venting started soon after
15:25 Venting from ground around B2.1 started
15:29 OLS tank farm activity spotted (likely active earlier) at the 2 CH4 heat exchangers/horizontal CH4 tanks [but no CH4 at the farm yet]
15:34 Tank farm activity increased
15:39 Second dish went down
15:44 S20 aft flap vent began again (bi-vent)
15:48 Nosecone header tank vent spotted
15:49:40 Header tank vent spooled up a lot
15:52:23 Double depress vent (short); nosecone vents stopped
16:27 Double depress vent on S20 (about two minutes); CH4 and LOX tanks continued
16:35 First dish vent up
16:38 Depress vent continued
16:41:12 B2.1 Top vent closed; commentator spotted debris falling off the bottom, indicating thrust pucking test
16:43 S20 Depress vents
16:55 More depress vents
17:21 Frost on B2.1 slowly beginning to disappear; OLS tank farm "ground vent" (south of south berm) spotted (LOX or LN2 overpressurization vent)

28 December 2021 - Scrubbed Static Fire Attempt[]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

10:43 Road closed
11:33 SoLS tank farm venting picked up (some minor venting spotted earlier)
11:57 Loud venting (likely from vertical LN2 tank near GSE bunker at OLS tank farm)
13:23 Road opened

29 December 2021 - Static Fire #4; aborted test[]

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

09:19 or earlier: Road closed
10:34 Pad cleared
10:52 Recondenser; decreased to few puffs after some minutes
10:54 S20 pressure vent
10:55 Tank farm activity; minor venting near GSE bunker at OLS tank farm
10:56 Ground vent
11:12 Venting from SoLS pad B
11:14 Small puffs from engine section
11:20 Minor pressure venting on LOX tank; engine area venting increased
11:23 Recondenser puffs increased to a continuous vent
11:28 LOX tank frost ring started
11:50:08 Engine chill vent; a lot of venting from frost ring that reached the top of the hatch
11:54 Chill vent pulsing began; Siren
12:05:11 Deluge system
12:05:34 Static fire 1-2 secs, could be all 6 engines (first center plume, at least two rvac plumes seen); some tiles fell off (at least 2–4); tank farm activity spooled down
12:08 Drone spotted
12:17 Robotic dog Apollo spotted (rover 2.0), pulling a cart with some measurement equipment (gas monitor, honeywell bw rig rat)
12:23 Short double vent
12:24 Engine chill vent started a bit; LOX tank condensation increased on one side
12:25 Tank farm activity started again
12:31 Flair stack vent started
12:40 Flair stack stopped
13:57 Depress vents for a few minutes
14:45 Recondenser puffs started again
14:52 Ground vent; tank farm activity
15:01 S20 venting
15:05 venting again; Puffs from engine section started
15:20 Recondenser started again
15:25 Frost ring started
15:47 Engine chill
15:52 Siren
16:02:26 Deluge system
16:02:50 Aborted static fire (looked like all 6 engines plume)
16:09:26 Engine chill started again
16:30 Condensation covering full LOX tank (indicates some depress?)
16:52 Double depress vent
xxx Closure extended until 8pm
17:04 Flair stack venting started
18:27 Depress vent
19:27 Road opened

08-10 February 2022 - Stacking[]

Timeline according to LabPadre, NSF, Stargazer and Ocean Cam (for audio) streams:

8 February

07:04 bumpers on ship QD arm removed by LR11000X
New starship lifting pins installed on chopsticks
12:15 S20 disconnected from presurization system (stand QD)
15:00 Stabilization claws holding onto B4
17:42 S20 slightly moved away from cryo mount
20:13 Chopsticks arms opened slightly, S20 SPMT raised for transport
20:14-20:36 S20 moved towards chopstics and into position between chopsticks
21:38 Chopsticks moved upwards to the lifting points of S20

9 February

03:51 Pad announcement: "We are 15 minutes from clearing the orbital pad for ship proof"
05:08 Intermittent RC (Starship Gazer remained on beach site)
Venting noised, from SoLS and from OLS tank farm
06:43? Road opened
09:15 Lift up to top of booster
9:32 Sheriff closing beach and area; Stargazer has to leave
9:35 Work on QD clamps (retracted from booster), with welding/cutting; as well as on ship QD
10:31 PA: "Attention orbital pad: 30 minutes till pad clear, 30 minutes till pad clear" (Road block not active!)
10:36 Road closure? Somewhere on hwy 4 (further down the road than usual)
10:45 PA "Attention orbital pad: 15 minutes till pad clear, 15 minutes till pad clear"
10:48 Lift down from the top of booster
10:54:55 PA: "Attention orbital pad: Pad clear in 5 minutes, pad clear in 5 minutes"
10:57 SpaceX car to pad
11:05 Sheriff cars to pad
11:05 One satellite dish went down
11:07 PA "Attention orbital pad: The orbital pad has ????"
11:54 Delivery to launch site, turned back
12:12 Still a lot of activity around the pad; pad itself might be clear
13:00 LN2/LOX delivery
13:01 Left chopstick arm slighly opened (from road)
13:04 Sheriff cars left entrance
13:06 Cars and many people entered pad; box trucks arrived (possibly to set up presentation); Elon Musk as well?
13:08 Chopsticks moved down
13:14 People on QD arm
13:15 Beach opened
14:55 sheriff cars to beach
14:57 Beach cleared (Ocean cam, SpaceX IMAX cam operator)
14:59 PA: "Attention on the pad: Please clear the area directly under the chopsticks; chopsticks ??? will occur in roughly 30 [seconds/mins]"
15:02 Lift from B4 top lowered
15:10? Left chopstick arm slightly closed again
15:12 Sheriff closed road again (a bit above pad entrance)
15:15 Right arm closed a bit
15:20 Right arm opened slightly
15:27 Crew left QD arm
15:30 SpaceX police car arrived pad
15:31 PA: "Attention orbital pad: We will be stepping into a software deploy, there will be venting from booster, there will be venting from booster!"
15:35 Crews back at ship QD arm
16:00 OLM scaffolding has been removed
16:12 OLM cleared
16:25-29 QD stabilization arms retracted
16:38 PA "Attention orbital pad: Pressing up booster 4, pressing up booster 4"
16:40 Ship QD arm claws moved into storage position, fully retracted
16:42 Lift again at top of B4
16:47 Lift moved down again
18:18 Elon Musk on pad
18:56-57 Chopsticks rose, drone flying
18:59-19:00 Chopsticks began to close (spotlight pointed on stabilization extension pins)
19:03 Closed slightly more
20:40-43 Ship QD arm retracted
20:55 Pad cleared?
21:22:22 S20 slightly lifted (a few centimeters)
21:32:28 Right stabilization pin moving in quite fast
21:38:30 Moved in
21:40:19 Moved in more; then moved down to lock in
22:00-05? Left stabilization pin moved in as well
22:06:23-43 S20 lifted a few feet to clear the transport stand
22:27:30 S20 final lift started; drone accompanied
22:38:31 Lift paused
22:43 Lift continued
22:44:52 Reached top
23:02:45 Swing started / translating S20 over towards B4; stopped and started again
23:07:28 Swing continued
23:20 S20 arrived over B4, swing stopped
23:21-23:50 QD armd swung towards stack
23:24:50 Stabilisation claws starded to extend; continued at 27:52
23:36 Claws attached to booster, B4 slightly moved during it
23:40 S20 very slowly lowering to B4; at some point an interna light has been turned on

10 February

00:44 S20 and B4 stacked [exact time not clear]
Stabilisation pins have retracted at some point
01:31 Road opened
02:09-23 Ship QD extended towards S20 with own power
02:00 cont: New entrance hut delivered and installed