This article is about the full stack only. For the individual prototypes, see Ship 31 (S31) and Booster 13 (B13). For the sixth starship flight test, including updates and analysis, see Starship Flight Test 6.
Starship 13/31 was the seventh starship full stack comprised of Ship 31 (S31) and Booster 13 (B13). It has flown on Starship Flight Test 6 on 19 November 2024. The first stacking occurred on 14 November 2024. It has not been destacked again before the flight.
History[]
Testing Campaign[]
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 November 2024 | Partial Tanking test | Success | Starship 13/31 completed a tanking test. Only a small amount of prop was loaded on the vehicles. |
14 November 2024 - Stacking[]
On the 14th of November 2024 SpaceX stacked Ship 31 on Booster 13. Photo's from SpaceX.[1] Timeline according to NSF Stream and LabPadre discord:
- 00:02 Entered hwy 4
- 01:01 Arrived at launch site
- 06:40 Lift started
- 07:30 B13 placed on OLM
- 09:01 Chopsticks detached from B13
- 09:38 Chopsticks have lowered back
- 10:45 Ship lifting pins deployed on the chopsticks
- 11:36 BQD connected
- 13:59 S31 moved between chopsticks
- 19:34 SQD arm retracting
- 19:54 Lifting started
- 22:10 S31 placed on B13, completing the stacking
- 00:41 SQD attached to S31
17 November 2024 - Propellant Load Test[]
SpaceX conducted a Propellant Load Test of Starship 13/31 ahead of Flight Test 6. Shana Diez, director of Starship Engineering, called it a "good tankin test"[2]. SpaceX confirmed: "Propellant load test and preflight checkouts complete ahead of Starship's sixth flight test"[3]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 07:45 Road closed
- 08:30 Pad cleared
- 08:43 Chopsticks released S31, opened into launch and catch position
- 09:44 OLM and tower venting
- ~10:20 Cryo loading
- 10:47 Propellant load stopped at partial load (approx. 1/3 full)
- 13:02 Road opened
19 November 2024 - Flight[]
Main Article: Starship Flight Test 6
The rocket left the ground at 4:00 P.M. local time, and continued through Max Q successfully. The rocket hotstaged, and both vehicles continued a nominal trayectories. Due to some damage caused to the OLIT during liftoff, the comunications with the booster were temporarily lost, and the catch was aborted, leading into a soft splashdown in front of Starbase. The Ship continued its ascent, and did its cruise phase with a banana as a mass simulator. After a few minutes, the Ship relit a Raptor Engine during 5 seconds to do a deorbit burn demo, and reentered the atmosphere, splashing down in the Indian Ocean[4]. During landing, SpaceX recorded a footage that reveals that starships were aparently getting very damaged during splashdown, and needed improvements in the heatshield.[5]
References[]
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