This article is about the full stack only. For the individual prototypes, see S25 and B9. For the second integrated flight test, including updates and analysis, see IFT-2.
Starship 9/25 was the full Stack that flew on the second flight of Starship, comprised of Ship 25 (S25) and Booster 9 (B9). This follows major upgrades on the launch infrastructure as well as on the individual vehicles, such as additions to prevent engine bay fires and the addition of the Hot Staging Ring.
Ship 25 was stacked on B9 on 5 September 2023, being the third fully stacked Starship after Starship 4/20 and Starship 7/24 which was flying on Starship Flight 1.
On the 18th of November, Ship 25 and Booster 9 lifted off successfully with 33 engines running. The Booster was destroyed right after ending its Boost Back Burn, and the Ship right before SECO. The Ship reached a height of 149KM.
Testing Campaign[]
| Date | Test type | Outcome | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 October 2023 | Wet Dress Rehearsal | Success | Starship 9/25 successfully conducted a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal) with a full propellant load |
05 September 2023 - S25 roll out and Stacking[]
Ship 25 was stacked on B9 on 5 September 2023, being the third fully stacked Starship after Starship 4/20 and Starship 7/24 which was flying on IFT-1.
Stacking operations[1]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 20:14 (4 September) S25 started moving from rocket garden towards hwy 4
- 22:01 (4 September) entered hwy 4
- 01:22 arrived at launch site
- 01:45 S25 arrived between chopsticks
- 06:39 Chopsticks moved up to upper lifting points
- 08:05 S25 aft flaps opened
- 11:53 pad clear PA and siren
- 12:08 Ship QD arm swung away ahead of stacking operations
- 12:42 Lifting began
- 14:16 Stacking complete
- 17:13 Ship QD attached to S25
On 15 September 2023, SpaceX released more images of the fully stacked starship:[2]
14 September 2023 - Destacking[]
On 14 September 2023, SpaceX destacked Ship 25 from booster 9. Kathy Leuders clarified, that this was for FTS work and final preparations ahead of IFT-2.[3] Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 06:48 Ship QD retracted from S25
- 08:06 Lift started
- 09:21 S25 placed onto a transport stand
27 September 2023 - Stacking #2[]
On 27 September 2023, SpaceX stacked Ship 25 on Booster 9 again after being destacked. On the day before, they lifted the hot staging ring onto B9. The FTS was not armed and another destack would be needed to do this. SpaceX posted on X: "Starship is stacked at Starbase ahead of flight, team continues to work with the FAA on a launch license".[4]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 08:02 Main launch site gate (D2) closed ahead of stacking
- 10:06 Stabilazers on the chopsticks moved in Ship 25
- 10:14 lift started
- 10:42 Ship QD arm moving back in
- 12:20 Ship 25 stacked on top of B9
- 14:22 Ship QD connected to Ship 25
- 14:27 Full speed retract test of Ship QD
5 October 2023 - Destacking #2[]
On 5 October 2023 SpaceX destacked Ship 25 off Booster 9. This is probably not for FTS arming. Timeline according to NSF livestream and RGV Discord:
- 6:57 PA: Attention Starbase, The orbital pad is now clearing. All personal, please exit the orbital pad now.
- 7:26 Ship QD retracting from Ship 25
- 8:46 Ship QD arm swung out
- 8:54 Ship 25 lifted off Booster 9
- 9:45 Ship 25 touched down on its transport stand
On 9 October 2023, the hot staging ring was removed as well.
16 October 2023 - Stacking #3[]
On 16 October 2023 SpaceX stacked Ship 25 on Booster 9 again, after the hot staging ring was reinstalled the evening before. This is likely in preperation for a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal). Timeline according to NSF livestream and RGV discord:
- 4:18 SQD swung away, chopsticks have previously rose
- 8:40 PA: Attention Starbase, The orbital pad is now clearing. All personal, please exit the orbital pad now.
- 9:02 Road closed
- 9:40 PA stopped
- 9:49 Pad clear
- 11:31 S25 lift started
- 12:39 S25 stacked on B9
- 15:05 Road opened
17 October 2023 - Destacking #3[]
On 17 October 2023 SpaceX destacked Ship 25 again from Booster 9. It is unknown why it was decided to do this. Timeline according to RGV discord:
- 12:36 SQD arm swung out
- 12:48 Destacking started
- 13:51 Destacking completed and SQD arm swung in again
20 October 2023 - Stacking #4[]
On 20 October 2023, SpaceX stacked Ship 25 on Booster 9 ahead of a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal). Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 6:01 SQD arm has swung back
- 6:26 PA: Attention Starbase, The orbital pad is now clearing. All personal, please exit the orbital pad now.
- 7:10 Chopstick Stabilizer arms attached to S25
- 7:43 Lift started
- 9:13 S25 stacked on B9
- 10:54 SQD attached to S25
22 October 2023 - Tank Test[]
On 22 October 2023, SpaceX preformed a tanking test on Booster 9 and Ship 25 ahead of a WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal). Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 8:06 Road closed
- 9:16 Pad clear
- 9:48 Orbital Tank Farm venting
- 11:12 OLM and Tower venting
- 12:06 LOX load started on B9
- 12:14 CH4 load started on B9
- 12:36 Detanking started
- 14:08 B9 fully detanked
- 14:17 LOX loading started again on B9
- 14:22 CH4 loading started on B9
- 14:25 Tower vent started
- 14:54 Detanking started
- 15:20 Ship Engine chill venting spotted, indicating that S25 was loaded with propellent
- 15:44 Flame Deflector Plate tested
- 15:47 B9 Aft purge #1
- 16:01 B9 Aft purge #2
- 17:01 B9 Aft purge #3
- 17:50 B9 Aft purge #4
- 18:11 Road open
24 October 2023 - WDR (Wet Dress Rehearsal)[]
On 24 October 2023, SpaceX conducted a WDR with Ship 25 and Booster 9 ahead of IFT-2. SpaceX said on X: "Starship and Super Heavy were loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant today in a flight-like rehearsal ahead of launch. Vehicle is ready for the second test flight of a fully integrated Starship, pending regulatory approval".[5]
Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 8:02 Road closed
- 8:05 Chopsticks detached from S25
- 8:24 Pad clear
- 8:32 Road block moved further down
- 9:30 Evacuation of Boca Chica Village
- 10:37 FireX test
- 11:30 Orbital Tank Farm started venting
- 13:00 OLM and Tower venting
- 13:30 LOX loading started on B9
- 13:36 CH4 loading started on B9
- 13:59 LOX loading started on S25
- 14:00 CH4 loading started on S25
- 14:56 Tower venting indicating that S25 is fully fueled
- 14:58 OLM venting indicating that B9 is fully fueled
- 15:23 FireX test
- 15:36 Detanking started
- 16:26 Road block moved to usual place
- 17:27 Flame Deflector Plate tested
26 October 2023 - Destacking #4[]
On 26 October 2023, S25 was destacked from B9. It is likely that this is in preperation for launch. Timeline according to RGV discord:
- 9:55 SQD retracted from S25
- 11:21 Destacking started
- 12:25 S25 placed on its transport stand
1 November 2023 - Stacking #5[]
On 1 November 2023, S25 was once again stacked on B9. The FTS has not been armed and a destack is needed to do this. Timeline according to NSF stream:
- 11:39 PA: Attention Starbase, The orbital pad is now clearing. All personal, please exit the orbital pad now.
- 12:26 S25 slightly lifted
- 12:31 Lifting started
- 12:45 SQD arm swung back in
- 13:40 S25 stacked on B9
- 16:23 SQD connected to S25
2 November 2023 - Destacking #5[]
On 2 November 2023, S25 was destacked off B9 only 1 day after being stacked. It is unknown why this stack was done. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 12:07 SQD disconnected
- 13:22 Destack started
- 14:10 S25 touched down on its transport stand
9/10 November 2023 - Stacking #6[]
On 9 November 2023, S25 was once again stacked on B9. FTS has been installed but not armed. Heat shield tiles have fallen off S25 due to the stacking.[6] Timeline according to RGV discord:
- 23:30 SQD arm swung out
- 23:48 S25 started lifting
- 23:59 Booster transport stand left launch site
- 00:31 S25 stacked on B9
- 01:45 SQD attached to S25
11 November 2023 - Destacking #6[]
On 11 November 2023, S25 was destacked from B9. This was done to remove the Hot Staging Ring from B9. Timline according to RGV discord:
- 07:21 S25 stand returned to OLM area
- 16:02 SQD retracted
- 17:08 SQD arm swung out
- 17:16 S25 being lifted off B9
- 18:06 S25 touched down on its transport stand
- 23:57 Hot staging ring lifted off B9
15 November 2023 - Stacking #7[]
Following the issuance of the launch license by the FAA, SpaceX restacked Starship 9/25 for launch, although one further destack was necessary due to a grid fin actuator issue. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 05:33 SQD scaffolding removed
- 06:43 LR11000 attached to B9 hot staging ring
- 07:53 SQD arm retracted
- 07:51 Hot staging ring lifted
- 10:51 Hot staging ring disconnected from load spreader
- 11:00 SQD arm swung back to B9, work platforms extended
- 14:34 SQD arm retracted
- 14:52 Temporary pressure plate removed from S25
- 16:05 S25 lift started
- 16:22 SQD arm swung back to B9
- 16:53 Stacking completed
- 17:44 BQD tested
- 18:46 SQD arm connected to S25
- 22:35 S25 and hot stage ring transport stands left launch site
16 November 2023 - Destacking #7[]
On 16 November 2023, SpaceX destacked S25 from B9 due to issues with the grid fin actuators which needed to be replaced. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 11:00 Ship pressurization unit arrived at launch site
- 11:17 Hot staging ring stand and load spreader rolled to the launch site
- 11:21 LR11000X raised
- 11:47 S25 transport stand started to move to the launch site
- 12:22 S25 transport stand arrived at launch site, moved into destack position
- 12:52 SQD detached from S25
- 12:56 LR11000X moved to OLS
- 13:52 QD arm swung away
- 14:00 Lift of S25 started
- 14:45 Touched down on transport stand
- 17:46 Hot staging ring lifted to be removed
- 18:24 Work on fwd dome started
- 19:18 First actuator removed
- 19:40 First new actuator installed
- 20:00 Second actuator removed
- 20:14 Second actuator lifted
- 20:40 Third grid fin actuator removed
- 21:07 Third grid fin actuator installed
- 23:56 Grid fin test
17 November 2023 - Stacking #8[]
On 17 November 2023, just one day before the launch of Starship 9/25 on integrated flight test 2, S25 was once again stacked atop B9. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:
- 00:42 LR11000X attached to B9 hot staging ring
- 01:12 Hot staging ring started to be raised
- 01:46 Hot staging ring reinstalled atop B9
- 07:55 S25's temporary pressurization plate removed
- 08:36 Lift started
- 08:52 SQD arm started to wing back to B9
- 09:25 S25 touched down on B9
- 10:31 SQD plate attached to S25
18 November 2023 - Flight[]
The rocket left the ground with all engines lightning successfully, the rocket then reached Max Q, and hotstaged successfully. The booster lit its engines for the boostback burn, which ingested bubbles, and started shutting down, after all shut down, the FTS blowed up the Super Heavy. The Ship cuntinued its trayectory normally, but with a leak, causing the FTS to blow the Ship up.[7] The booster failure was caussed by the liquids crashing into the fuel tanks' walls, releasing bubbles which the engines ingested, critically damaging the engines.[8]
References[]
- ↑ https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1699229958064005624
- ↑ https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1702774532174733387
- ↑ Jade @ LabPadre Discord https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1152176189251792927
- ↑ https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1708228710737014978
- ↑ https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1716979479845953646
- ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1172652640249856153
- ↑ https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-2
- ↑ https://www.spacex.com/updates (Check 16/02/2024 section)