This article is about the full stack only. For the individual prototypes, see Ship 28 (S28) and Booster 10 (B10). For the third integrated flight test, including updates and analysis, see Starship Flight 3.
Starship 10/28 is the fourth full Starship stack composed of Ship 28 (S28) and Booster 10 (B10). It flew on Starship Flight Test 3 with both prototypes returning to earth. B10 performed a boostback burn and a failed landing in the Gulf of Mexico, and S28 burned up during re-entry.
History[]
On February 11, S28 was stacked with B10 for the first time. Following apparent issues, it was destacked on February 12 and stacked again on February 13th. A Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) was attempted on Feb 14th, but due to an unknown issue it was aborted after only a small propellant load. Another WDR was attempted on the 16th but was also aborted. Following this, S28 was destacked on the 18th of February 2024. On the 3rd of March SpaceX completed the WDR. Shortly after that, on the 5th of March, SpaceX destacked S28 from B10 for final checkouts and prep. It successfully flew on the 14th of March 2024 at 8:25 am. For full information about the flight test, see Starship Flight 3.
Testing Campaign[]
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 February 2024 | Wet Dress Rehearsal | Aborted | Starship 10/28 attempted to conduct a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal) but was aborted after a small amount of propellant loaded into the booster and ship. |
| 16 February 2024 | Wet Dress Rehearsal | Aborted | Starship 10/28 attempted to conduct a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal) but was aborted with only a small amount of propellant loaded into the booster and ship. |
| 3 March 2024 | Wet Dress Rehearsal | Success | Starship 10/28 completed a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal) with a full propellant load |
09-11 February 2024 - S28 rollout and stacking #1[]
On the 10th of February, SpaceX rolled S28 to the launch site for a full stack ahead of a WDR. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
February 9:
- 22:08 S28 was lifted onto a transport stand.
February 10:
- 01:30 entered hwy 4
- 02:15 arrived at launch site
- 03:47 moved between chopsticks
- 09:05 S28 fowards & aft flaps opened
- 09:37 Pad clear klaxon and PA message
- 09:45 Chopsticks on lifting points
- 23:50 S28 lifted
February 11:
- 01:25 stacking completed.
- 04:16 SQD attached to S28.
12 February 2024 - Destack #1[]
On the 12th of February, S28 was destacked from B10 for potential issues with the clamping system.[1] Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 02:29 SQD retracted from S28
- 03:32 SQD arm swung away
- 03:43 Destack started
- 04:07 SQD arm swung in again
- 04:12 S28 placed onto its transport stand; destack completed
13 February 2024 - Stacking #2[]
Stacking of 10/28 in timelapse
Timeline according to NSF stream :
- 06:38 Pad clear klaxon and PA message
- 07:12 S28 lifted
- 07:33 SQD swung in
- 08:51 S28 stacked onto B10
- 11:48 SQD attached to S28
- 12:45 SQD has been retracted (test)
- 12:58 SQD attached again to S28
14 February 2024 - WDR attempt #1 (Wet Dress Rehearsal)[]
On the 14th of February 2024, SpaceX tried to conduct a WDR. The village was evacuated. At the beginning of prop load the test was aborted. Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 06:14 Pad clear
- 06:25 Pad closed
- 08:30 Road closed
- 09:16 Chopsticks moved into launch position
- 10:18 "Pope" stack venting
- 10:30 Cars going to the pad
- 10:32 Ch4 recondensor active
- 10:35 Cars returning to the road block
- 10:56 Cars going to the pad again
- 11:50 Cars returning to the road block again after working on the SQD and the road block is moving to the launch location
- 12:02 Some frost on CH4 subcoolers
- 12:19 LOX subcoolers venting
- 13:42 OLM and OLIT venting
- 14:26 OLM vent in waterfall mode
- 14:32 OLIT venting again
- 14:40 OLIT vent stopped
- 14:41 New SQD vent spotted
- 14:44 CH4 subcoolers venting a lot
- 14:47 OLM venting stopped
- 14:49 OLIT venting again
- 14:50 Frost line spotted on S28's LOX tank
- 14:52 Engine chill of S28 going
- 15:04 Road block moved to its usual location
- 15:10 Detanking of S28 started; WDR aborted
- 15:20 Depress vent of B10
- 15:42 Deflector plate test
- 15:55 Road open
16 February 2024 - WDR attempt #2 (Wet Dress Rehearsal)[]
SpaceX is attemped another WDR. Village was evacuated. Timeline according to NSF and LabPadre stream:
- 05:16 Pad clear Klaxon
- 05:22 Pad closed
- 06:16 Klaxon stopped
- 07:33 Road block at the launch location
- 07:39 Another road block at the usual location; 2 road blocks in place
- 08:03 Pad cleared
- 08:10 Beach closed
- 08:23 "Pope" stack venting
- 08:37 Fluid bunker venting
- 09:41 LOX subcoolers frosting
- 09:50 Some frost on the CH4 subcoolers and OLIT venting
- 09:52 OLM venting
- 10:55 loading started on both LOX tank
- 10:58 loading started on S28's CH4 tank
- 11:00 loading started on B10's CH4 tank
- 12:25 Chopsticks closed
- 12:28 depress started
- 12:40 Road opened
18 February 2024 - Destack #2[]
After two failed WDRs S28 was destacked. Timeline from LabPadre
- 09:45 SQD retracted from S28
- 12:30 Destack started
- 15:25 S28 placed onto its transport stand
1 March 2024 - Stacking #3[]
After B10 being lifted onto the OLM, and S28 being placed in the chopsticks, the 3rd stacking of this pair was conducted ahead of a 3rd WDR attempt. This is the first time the ship was lifted after the ship pin of the chopsticks was modified for better alignment of the ship. Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 09:20 SQD arm swung away
- 09:28 Orbital Pad clear PA
- 09:31 Chopstick stabelizers attachted to S28
- 09:58 S28 lifted off its transport stand; lifting stopped
- 10:06 Lifting continues
- 10:25 SQD arm swung in again
- 10:30 S28 started rotating towards B10
- 10:51 S28 being slowly lowered on to B10
- 12:45 S28 lowered on to B10; stacking completed
- 16:44 SQD connected to S28
- 16:57 SQD retract test
3 March 2024 - Wet Dress Rehearsal[]
SpaceX performed a WDR, this was their third attempt. The village was evacuated.[2] SpaceX on X: "Starship completed its rehearsal for launch, loading more than 10 million pounds of propellant on Starship and Super Heavy and taking the flight-like countdown to T-10 seconds."[3] Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 16:00 Pad closed
- 16:04 Chopstick stabelizers disengaged
- 16:15 Chopsticks starting to open
- 16:19 Pad clear PA
- 16:39 Chopsticks in launch position
- 16:46 Road closed
- 16:54 LOX side of tank farm starting to vent
- 16:56 FireX/DSS test
- 16:59 "Pope" stack starting to vent
- 17:03 Beach closed text
- 17;17 Road block at launch location
- 17:19 Pad clear PA stopped
- 17:21 Last cars leaving the launch site
- 17:34 LOX subcoolers starting to vent
- 17:42 CH4 recondensor starting to vent
- 18:23 Road block moved to launch location; village evacuated
- 19:00 OLIT venting
- 19:02 OLM venting
- 19:15 OLIT venting stopped
- 19:34 OLIT venting again and possibly CH4 load started on ship
- 19:45 OLIT venting stopped; LOX load started on ship
- 19:52 Frost line on S28 LOX tank and OLM vent stopped
- 19:55 Frost line on B10 LOX tank
- 19:58 Frost line on B10 CH4 tank
- 20:34 Ship prop load completed
- 20:35 Booster prop load completed
- 20:38 OLIT venting
- 20:54 DSS activation; T-20 second mark in the launch countdown
- 20:55 CH4 recondensor active again; detanking started
- 21:58 Road block moved to normal position
- 22:41 Cars returning to the pad
- 22:55 Flame deflector plate test
- 23:05 Road open
5 March 2024 - Destack #3[]
On the 5th of March, ship 28 was destacked from booster 10. This can possibly be for final checkouts of the ship and FTS install. Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 07:19 SQD arm swung out
- 7:29 Ship 28 lifted off Booster 10
- 7:56 Ship 28 touched down on Transport stand; destack complete
10 March 2024 - Stack #4[]
On the 10th of March, ship 28 was stacked on booster 10. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 06:43 Grove crane attached to S28's temporary pressurization plate
- 07:54 Temporary pressurization plate was removed from S28
- 08:02 Orbital pad clear PA message began sounding
- 08:53 SQD retracted
- 09:35 Lift started
- 12:45 Stacking complete
- 13:05 Flame deflector / deluge test
- 15:38 SQD attached to S28
- 15:54 Full speed retraction test on SQD, followed by reconnect
March 14 2024 - Flight[]
Main Article: Starship Flight Test 3
The rocket left the ground, shutting of one of its outer engines after liftoff. The rocket continued through Max Q, and hotstaged. The booster did its boostback burn with 4 engines shuting down prematurely, and deviated from its trayectory. Then it started to descent through the atmosphere and started spining slightly, relightning only 3 o its 13 engines, and the FTS was activated at 462 meters of the ground, with the vehicle still transonic. The Ship continued its ascent, and became the first to reach MECO. The Ship did some experiments, like a payload door testing, which was a success, and a Propellant Transfer Demo, which its outcome was unclear, but the NASA sid it was completed. There was also going to be a deorbit burn demo, but it was aborted due to the rocket spinning too much. The ship reentered out of control, and burned in reentry.[4]