Ship 24 (S24)

For the full stack of S24 and Booster 7 see: Starship 7/24

For the first integrated, orbital test flight see: OFT-1

Ship 24 (S24) was a Starship second stage prototype that was flown on Starship Flight Test 1 with Booster 7 (B7). First parts were spotted in November/December 2021. After completion of stacking in May, it was destroyed after a stage separation failure on Booster 7, with the ground teams activating the FTS (Flight Termination System) to destroy it. The FTS was too weak, and it exploded 40 seconds after the self-destruct command was given.

Notable differences[]

Ship 24 has several notable differences to previous Starship prototypes.

Most significantly, the ring layout has changed. The total number of rings, as well as the size of each tanks have, however, rested the same. Previous ships had the following layout:

4-ring nosecone barrel
4-ring fwd dome section (dome weld on ring 2)
3-ring cmn dome section (dome weld on ring 2)
4-ring ship LOX section
5-ring aft dome section and leg skirt

The new layout is:

5-ring nosecone barrel
3-ring fwd dome section (dome weld on ring 2)
4-ring cmn dome section (dome weld on ring 3)
4-ring LOX section
4-ring aft dome section and leg skirt

Other updates that have been observed on Ship 22 and Ship 24^[1] include:

Aft: ship QD moved from second to third ring, possibly for shorter plumbing or more space for 3 additional Rvac engines; nobs and holes for booster/ship integration reversed: since S22 and B7, holes are on booster (negative side) and nobs on ship (positive side); new aft domes with redesigned thrust puck for Raptor Block 2
Common dome section: Methane header tank removed (to nosecone); new main LOX tank vents to be the same as ullage thruster vents on booster, possibly also for attitude control and possibly nosecone RCS thruster
Nc barrel: now quint, possibly to facilitate cargo door manufacturing, first one seen on S24, including dispenser mechanism
Nosecone: 4 to 2 rows of panels [not yet?]; methane header tank to be included; S24 nosecone under construction has two header tank vents and no RCS thrusters

History[]

As of mid-February 2022, more parts have been spotted for Ship 24 than for Ship 23.

S24, being worked on in High Bay in June 2022:^[2]

On October 31, the following scheme was published, showing the remaining path to an orbital flight test:^[3]

Timeline[]

Open or close the timeline here:

24 Nov 2021: Common dome sleeve? spotted [Nic Ansuini]
14 Dec 2021: S24 common dome spotted (4-ring! instead of 3-ring!!)
20 Dec 2021: Ship nosecone barrel section (5-rings!!) [S22/S23/S24?] [add: likely S22]
30 Dec 2021: Common dome spotted
03 Jan 2022: Common dome sleeve waiting to be sleeved; load spreader attached to S24 common dome, lifted onto sleeving stand; no header tank installed, Elon Musk confirmed that CH4 header tank would be moved to nosecone [!]; load spreader connected to common dome sleeve, sleeved on dome
06 Jan 2022: Mid LOX section has tiles attached
09 Jan 2022: Common dome (4-ring, with new types of lead-ins) spotted
29 Jan 2022: Ship aft barrel [S22, S24? [likely S24]] spotted outside tents, ship QD panel has moved upwards by one ring
31 Jan 2022: S24? nosecone (smooth) spotted in tent 3; fwd flap mounting jig attached
13 Feb 2022: Ship common dome [S24?] flipped (4-ring, access hole at top ring), moved into tent 1
15 Feb 2022: Mid LOX section (4-rings with tiles) and common dome section (with tiles) and an unknown 4-ring sleeve (untiled) seen in front tents
16 Feb 2022: Thrust section hooked to crane inside tent 3
17 Feb 2022: Ship section (4-ring) test fit with a booster fwd section, possibly B8 and S24; then removed again; another fit check followed
17 Feb 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles installation continued in tent 3 [nosecone shown previous vids also S24!]
21 Feb 2022: Nosecone work continued, especially on TPS tiles
21 Feb 2022: Nosecone in tent 3 TPS tile work continued; a ship thrust section next to it
22 Feb 2022: Nosecone TPS tile work continued in tent 3
23 Feb 2022: S24? nosecone TPS tiles work continued in tent 3
25 Feb 2022: Common dome section stacked and welded on LOX section in High Bay
28 Feb 2022: Tank section [complete?] in High Bay; moved to Mid Bay early morning [add: not complete, thrust section missing]
2 March 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles work continued
6 March 2022: S24 nosecone, fwd dome section, thrust section in tent; S25 common dome section/segment and another nosecone spotted in same tent
7 March 2022: Potential payload dispenser installed in nosecone barrel section believed to be S24
10 March 2022: Payload bay pathfinder (not same as S24 nosecone barrel section?!) [add: same]
10 March 2022: Nosecone barrel section: TPS tile blankets added; another 5-ring section behind it
11 March 2022: S24 still in Mid Bay
11 March 2022: Nosecone barrel with payload dispenser: work continued on TPS blanket
12 March 2022: Nosecone tent 3: TPS tiles installation nearly complete
14 March 2022: S24 nosecone now outside tent!
16 March 2022: Cargo door prototype and S24 nosecone still outside tent 3
19 March 2022: S24? nosecone barrel section with payload dispenser: white thermal blankets being installed
21 March 2022: S24 in Mid Bay
22 March 2022: Nosecone barrel: TPS blankets and its black net covering being worked on, first TPS tiles being added
23 March 2022: Nosecone barrel section TPS work continued, as well as on nosecone in tent 3
24 March 2022: Nc barrel TPS installation progress shown including cut out for potential cargo door, lifted by a crane and moved; work on nosecone
26 March 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles got tape around flap
28 March 2022: Tank section waiting in Mid Bay; nc barrel section TPS tile installation continued
29 March 2022: Payload bay section / nc barrel section near the entrance of tent 3
29 March 2022: Nosecone work continued on TPS tiles
31 March 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles work continued
1 April 2022: Nosecone TPS tile installation nearing completion
3 April 2022: Nosecone moved out of tent 3; two-three nosecone barrel sections being worked on in tent 3 with TPS tiles being installed [S25, S26... ?]
4 April 2022: S24 aft section moved to High Bay, and stacked onto B8 fwd section [fit check]
5 April 2022: Aft section removed from B8 aft section after fit check of stage separation system
5 April 2022; Fwd dome section spotted in tent 3, likely for S24 [??]
5 April 2022: LOX tank section moved from Mid Bay to High Bay, attached to crane
6 April 2022: Sections stacked and welded together in High Bay [which?]
6 April 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles work continued
6 April 2022: Tent 3 S24 fwd dome section
7 April 2022: Nosecone work continued
8 April 2022: Lifted in High Bay by bridge crane [stacking?], later tank section left High Bay
8 April 2022: Nosecone detached from crane in front of ten 3, later moved to High Bay
8 April 2022: Worked on in Mid Bay; payload section [nosecone barrel section] moved to High Bay via hwy 4
9 April 2022: Nosecone attached to High Bay bridge crane, stacked onto payload section [nc barrel section]
12 April 2022: Nosecone still attached to crane in High Bay
14 April 2022: Tank section worked on in Mid Bay
22 April 2022: Tank section worked on in Mid Bay
22 April 2022: Load spreader disconnected from S24 nosecone
9 May 2022: Fully stacked in the High Bay
[to be updated from General Timeline]

Testing campaign[]

Date	Test	Outcome	Details
27 May 2022	Ambient Pressure	Failure	Ship 24 conducted an ambient proof test. During the test, Ship 24 suffered some damage.
2 June 2022	Cryogenic Proof	Success	Ship 24 conducted a cryogenic proof test
6 June 2022	Cryogenic Proof	Success	Ship 24 conducted a cryogenic proof test
7 June 2022	Cryogenic Proof	Success	Ship 24 conducted a cryogenic proof test
18 July 2022	Spin Prime	Success	Ship 24 conducted a spin prime test of all six Raptor engines
20 July 2022	Spin Prime	Success	Ship 24 conducted two spin prime tests, both of all six Raptor engines
21 July 2022	Spin Prime	Success	Ship 24 conducted two spin prime tests, with one Raptor engine and then two Raptor engines.
8 August 2022	Spin Prime	Success	Ship 24 conducted two spin prime tests, both of all six Raptor engines
9 August 2022	Static Fire	Success	Ship 24 conducted a dual-engine static fire.
24 August 2022	Unknown	Variable	Ship 24 conducted a test involving cryogenic propellants. The water deluge system was activated, but there was no engine activity. If the test was an abort test, then it was successful, but if it was an engine test, it was aborted.
25 August 2022	Spin Prime	Success	Ship 24 conducted a spin prime test of all six Raptor engines
31 August 2022	Unknown	Variable	Ship 24 conducted a test involving cryogenic propellants. During engine chill, the vehicle depressurized and detanked. If the test was an abort test, then it was successful, but if it was an engine test, it was aborted.
8 September 2022	Static Fire	Success	Ship 24 conducted a six-engine static fire. However, this caused a large fire that burned into the night.
15 December 2022	Static Fire	Success	Ship 24 conducted a single-engine static fire.

Timelines are according to LabPadre and/or NASASpaceflight

26 May 2022 - Roll out[]

06:35: Started moving towards exit of High Bay
07:00: Entered Hwy 4
08:11: Arrived at launch site

27 May 2022 - Ambient Proof Test[]

On 27 May 2022, SpaceX conducted an ambient proof test and possibly also planned to conduct a cryo proof test at the cryo station. However the test resulted in some damage as a loud bang was heard, followed by TPS tiles flying away from the nc barrel area. After the test, workers were seen removing a damaged pipe.

05:40: Road closed
07:57: OLS tank farm and S24 venting
09:37: Pad cleared
10:09:50: TPS tiles fell off after a loud bang and some vapor
10:34: Depress vent
11:08: Cars to SOTF
11:41: Road opened

2 June 2022 - Cryo Proof Test[]

Following repair works after the damage caused during the previous ambient proof test, SpaceX cryo proof tested ship 24 at the cryo site at the OLS. During the test, both tanks frosted up completely. According to Elon Musk, this test was successful, as he tweeted "Cryogenic proof test passed".^[4]

11:30: Road closed
12:10: Beach closed SMS
12:39: Pad cleared
13:37: Farm venting
14:57: OLIT and OLM venting
15:06: Cryo load
15:08: Frost appearing on CH4 tank
15:22: Frost started to rise on LOX tank
16:09: Both tanks fully frosted
17:30: Detank started
20:31: Road opened

6 June 2022 - Cryo proof test[]

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

09:13: PA: "Entire pad closed in 45 minutes for Ship 24 cryo testing"
09:40: Road closed
11:50: Pad cleared
15:08: or earlier Frost formed on LOX tank
16:29: Header tank vented
17:13: Frost ring on CH4 tank started to form
18:11: Detanking started
18:25: Detanking continued
21:30: Road opened

During this test, the LOX tank fully frosted up, and the CH4 tank was partially frosty (several rings).

7 June 2022 - Cryo proof test[]

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

09:45: Road closed
11:29: Pad cleared
11:47: Cars to pad
11:50: Pad cleared again
12:15: SoLS tank farm venting started
12:52: Frost ring appeared on LOX tank
16:59: Detank started
19:45: Road opened

During this test, the LOX tank fully frosted up, and the CH4 tank was partially frosty (several rings).

9 June 2022 - Roll back[]

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

07:01: Lift started
07:24: Touched down on transport stand
09:13: LR11000X partially detached from S24
13:47: Last 2 straps of lifting squid detached after break
15:47: Started to move
16:04: Entered hwy 4
17:09: Arrived at production site
19:28: Moved into High Bay

5 July 2022 - Roll out[]

Visual upgrades: S24 and SpaceX Logo painted on the nosecone, 6 hexagonal tiles (communication?) below the logo. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

05:30: S24 left High Bay
05:47: Entered hwy 4
07:06: LR11350 picked up load spreader
07:22: Arrived at launch site
08:10: Attached to crane

Picture by Elon Musk on July 4, ahead of its roll out on 2 SPMTs:^[5]

18 July 2022 - Spin prime Test #1[]

According to NSF, "SP (Spin Prime) means that the engine's turbopumps were brought up to speed but there was no ignition". This is a step before a preburner test and doesn't require SpaceX to issue a notice to the residences as a sonic boom is not expected.

09:36:40: PA: "Attention Starbase Personnel, Pad closure in 30 minutes, please remove all vehicles from Highway 4"
10:01: Road closed
11:07: Pad cleared
13:43: LOX subcoolers have become active
Around 13:50: Propellant load has started
14:15: Frost on S24 LOX tank begins to appear
15:18:33: Engine chill has started
15:31:17: Venting from QD
15:34:41.5-48: Spin prime test (6 engines)
15:45: Engine chill venting increased again; frost still increasing on LOX section
15:49:27: A vent can be seen, likely to regulate pressure
16:06:50: Long depress vent
16:11: Detank has started
20:01: Road reopened

20 July 2022 - Igniter + Spin prime tests #2 and #3[]

Testing Timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

09:49: PA: "Pad clear in 10 minutes"
10:01: Road closed
10:54: Pad cleared
11:27:25: Igniter test
12:37: LOX subcoolers have become active
12:43: Propellant load has started
13:09:03: Engine chill has started
13:20:37-40: Spin prime test, (likely with all 6 engines)
14:26:54-57: Spin prime test (likely all 6 engines)
14:39:01-41: Depress vents from both tanks, followed by decreasing frost on LOX tank. Condensation increased
14:42: Detank has started
15:38-41: Several large and continuous depress vents
15:42: Further depress vents
16:06: Pad is no longer cleared
16:28: Road reopened

During the spin prime test, much less frost was visible on the tanks than during the previous test. LabPadre Rover Cam 2 showed a sequenced spin up with the center engines starting up first. Furthermore, it shows first vents appearing already at 13:20:30.

21 July 2022 - Spin prime tests #4 and #5[]

During today's test window, SpaceX also tested the booster test tank B7.1. See the B7.1 article for the complete timeline. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

10:01: Road closed
10:18: PA: "Attention on the pad, all personnel should leave the launch site"
10:43: Pad cleared
14:21: LOX subcooler activity (SoLS)
14:30: Propellant load has begun
14:55:10: Engine chill has started, LOX tank frost appearing
15:09:32: S24 Spin prime test, likely only with one engine
15:31:14: Spin prime test, likely two engines
15:35:06: S24 Depress vent
16:13: S24 detanking
20:28: Road opened

8 August 2022 - Spin prime test #6 and #7[]

11:46: Road Closed
12:42: Road closed again
14:14: Pad clear
16:08: LOX subcoolers have become active
16:32: CH4 subcoolers active
???: Propellant load
16:50: Engine chill has begun
17:09:50: "Upward vent"
17:10:17: Spin prime test
17:59:44: Upward vent has started again
18:00:11: Spin prime test
18:04:52: Depress vent, then later detank
22:22: Pad reopened
22:40: Road reopened

9 August 2022 - Static Fire test on S24 (#1)[]

SpaceX conducted a single engine static fire on B7, a first both for the booster and the orbital launch mount (See for complete timeline). They also static fired two engines on S24 later that day.

10:45: Road closed
13:49:30 and 13:49:57: water deluge test on SoLS pad B for S24 testing
14:32: Pad cleared
B7 test
19:19: The LOX subcoolers have become active (SoLS)
19:25?: Propellant load has started
19:44: Chopsticks lowered
20:07:06: Engine chill vent started
20:08: Siren reported
20:18:25: Water deluge, upward vent a second later
20:18:53: STATIC FIRE (2 engines) for about 3 seconds
20:22:54: Depress vent, detank later
21:52: Pad opened
22:05: Road opened

Elon Musk posted a picture of the B7 static fire here. A SpaceX video can be found here.

24 August 2022 - Unknown Testing[]

14:02: Road closed
15:02: Pad cleared
15:07: OLS tank farm activity
15:46: OLM ground vent
16:28: SoLS ground vent and minor tank farm activity
17:06: SoLS tank farm spooling up
17:22: SoLS recondenser starting up
17:28: Slight condensation started indicating cryo load
17:42: Frost ring forming on LOX tank
17:43:11: S24 engine chill
17:53:28-50: Water suppression system; engine chill vent spooled down and nearly fully stopped afterwards
17:54:41: Ignitor test on S24/Static fire abort [Rover 2 cam]
17:58:32-59:06: Depress vent on S24
18:04: Vent stack venting
18:05: OLS tank farm spooling up for 1–2 minutes
19:11: Cars to pad
19:33: Road opened

25 August 2022 - Spin prime test #6[]

Testing timeline according to NSF and LabPadre streams (for the complete timeline including B7 spin prime test, see the Booster 7 (B7) article):

Overpressure notice delivered to residents of Boca Chica
10:12: Road closed
12:17: Pad clear; B7 testing
15:36: The recondenser is active
16:51: LOX tank farm is active
17:06: Recondenser started at SoLS
17:12: LOX load has started
17:27:53: Engine chill vent on S24
17:42:46: Water deluge system on pad B turned on
17:42:53: S24 Spin prime test
17:46: OLM vent active again; as well as OLS tank farm street vent
17:54: Depress vent
19:05: Cars to pad
19:22: Road opened

31 August 2022 - Unknown testing[]

During this test window, SpaceX static fired B7 with multiple engines for 5–6 seconds with a staggered start-up (For complete timeline see Booster 7 (B7) article). Likely, more tests were intended with S24, but they didn't reach any point further in the timeline than engine chill. A few days later, on September 2, SpaceX replaced a Raptor Vacuum engine which likely didn't reach expected performance.

06:55 PA: "Pad clear in one hour"
08:02: Road closed
09:22: Pad clear
14:10: Tank farm ground vent; tank farm spooled up
14:22: Small recondenser puffs
14:29: Propellant load has begun
15:38: Recondenser spooling up
16:08:49: Engine chill vent started on S24
16.15: Drone spotted at SoLS
16:15:02: Header tank vent
16:18: Engine chill pulses began
16:27: Depress vent on S24
16:38: Detank has started
19:13: Road opened

08 September 2022 - B7 spin prime and S24 static fire #2[]

A full 6-engine static fire with ship 24 for about 6–7 seconds which lead to a grass fire to develop. Zack Golden counted about 30 TPS tiles that fell off during the static fire,^[6] to which Elon Musk responded: "Yup, there’s a reason we do static fires! Much better to break things on the ground than en route to orbit."^[7]

On the same day, SpaceX also conducted several tests with B7, see the Booster 7 (B7) article for the complete timeline.

Overpressure notice issued to resident
07:59: Road closes
14:27: The LOX recondenser is active
14:53: Propellant load has started
15:53: CH4 recondenser is active
15:58:48: Engine chill has started
16:30:23: Water deluge
16:30:40: STATIC FIRE (6 engines)
16:32:12: Depress vent
20:37: Cars to pad
21:37: Firemen working to contain the fire; backfires set to prevent the blaze from spreading beyond the backfire line

NSF video of the static fire here. SpaceX tweet with picture of the static fire here.

30 September 2022 - Lift and moved to OLS[]

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

06:47: Two SPMTs with ship transport stand moved to SoLS Pad B
07:50: Ship QD on Pad B disconnected from S24
08:37: Lift started
08:55: Touched down on transport stand
13:53: Disconnected from LR11000X
14:07: Started to move
14:35: Parked at OLS cryo station

Ship 24 (S24)

Notable differences[]

History[]

Timeline[]

Testing campaign[]

26 May 2022 - Roll out[]

27 May 2022 - Ambient Proof Test[]

2 June 2022 - Cryo Proof Test[]

6 June 2022 - Cryo proof test[]

7 June 2022 - Cryo proof test[]

9 June 2022 - Roll back[]

5 July 2022 - Roll out[]

18 July 2022 - Spin prime Test #1[]

20 July 2022 - Igniter + Spin prime tests #2 and #3[]

21 July 2022 - Spin prime tests #4 and #5[]

8 August 2022 - Spin prime test #6 and #7[]

9 August 2022 - Static Fire test on S24 (#1)[]

24 August 2022 - Unknown Testing[]

25 August 2022 - Spin prime test #6[]

31 August 2022 - Unknown testing[]

08 September 2022 - B7 spin prime and S24 static fire #2[]

30 September 2022 - Lift and moved to OLS[]

Full Stack and Testing I[]

11 October 2022 - Stacking[]

S24 being stacked on B7

S24 being stacked on B7

S24 being stacked on B7

S24 being stacked on B7

12 October 2022 - Realignment and checks[]

13 October 2022 - Testing[]

16 October 2022 - Destacking[]

20 October 2022 - Full stack for second time[]

24 October 2022 - Cryo proof test[]

26 October 2022 - Cryo Proof Test[]

31 October 2022 - Cryo Proof and SQD Test[]

03 November 2022 - Cryo Proof Test[]

07 November 2022 - Cryo Proof Test[]

08 November 2022 - Destack[]

15 December 2022 - Static Fire #3[]

S24 static fire test #3

S24 static fire test #3

Full Stack and Testing II[]

09 January 2023 - Stacking[]

12 January 2023 - GSE Testing[]

13 January 2023 - Propellant Load Test[]

18 January 2023 - Propellant Load Test[]

25 January 2023 - Destack[]

26 January 2023 - Roll Back[]

31 March - 01 April 2023 - Roll Out[]

Full Stack III and IV[]

05 April 2023 - Stacking[]

11–12 April 2023 - Destacking[]

15 April 2023 - Stacking[]

20 April 2023 - Launch[]

References[]