List of Super Heavy boosters

Since April 2023, Super Heavy has been launched 6 times, with 4 successes and 2 failures. The vehicle Super Heavy composes when combined with the Starship spacecraft, Starship,[1] has been developed with the intention of lowering launch costs using economies of scale.[2] SpaceX aims to achieve this by reusing both rocket stages, increasing payload mass to orbit, increasing launch frequency, creating a mass-manufacturing pipeline and adapting it to a wide range of space missions.[3][4] Starship is the latest project in SpaceX's reusable launch system development program and plan to colonize Mars.

There are currently three planned versions of Super Heavy: Block 1 (also known as Version 1 or V1), Block 2, and Block 3. As of September 2024, Block 1 Super Heavy boosters are expected to be compatible with Block 1 and Block 2 Starships.[5] As of November 2024, only Block 1 vehicles have flown.[6] The Super Heavy booster is reusable, and is recovered via large arms on the tower capable of catching the descending vehicle.[7] As of November 2024, 0 boosters have been refurbished and subsequently flown at least a second time, though a single booster, Booster 12, has been recovered after flight.[8]

Development

S/N Type Launches Launch date Flight No.[a] Turnaround time Payload Launch
(pad) 		Landing
(location) 		Status
BN1[9] — 0 — — — — — — Scrapped[10]
B3 Block 0[b] 0 — — — — — — Scrapped[11]
B4 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Scrapped
B5 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Scrapped
B7 Block 1 1 April 20, 2023 Starship flight test 1 — — Failure (OLP-A) Precluded Destroyed
B8 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Scrapped
B9 Block 1 1 November 18, 2023 Starship flight test 2 — — Failure (OLP-A)[c] Failure (ocean) Destroyed
B10 Block 1 1 March 14, 2024 Starship flight test 3 — — Success (OLP-A) Failure (ocean) Destroyed
B11 Block 1 1 June 6, 2024 Starship flight test 4 — — Success (OLP-A) Controlled (ocean) Expended
B12 Block 1 1 October 13, 2024 Starship flight test 5 — — Success (OLP-A) Success (OLP-A) Retired
B13 Block 1 1 November 19, 2024 Starship flight test 6 — — Success (OLP-A) Controlled (ocean) Expended
B14 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Operational (awaiting final pre-flight modifications)
B15 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Operational (awaiting cryogenic testing)
B16 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Under construction
B17 Block 1 0 — — — — — — Under construction
  1. ^ Entries with mint colored background   denote flights using new boosters.
  2. ^ Block 0 is an unofficial designation for vehicles incapable of supporting orbital flight.
  3. ^ The first-stage booster performed nominally during ascent; the failure occurred on the second stage, where a planned liquid oxygen vent resulted in onboard fires and flight termination activation.

Ground testing (BN1–B6)

BN1

BN1 was the first Super-Heavy Booster prototype, a pathfinder that was not intended for flight tests.[12] Sections of the ~66 m (217 ft) tall test article were manufactured throughout autumn 2020. Section stacking began in December 2020.[13] BN1 was fully stacked inside the High Bay on March 18, 2021,[14] and was scrapped on March 30, 2021.

B3

Booster 3 completed stacking in the High Bay on June 29, 2021,[15] and moved to the test stand.[16] A cryogenic proof test was completed on July 13,[17][18] followed by a static fire test on July 19. BN3/Booster 3 was partially scrapped on August 15, while the liquid oxygen (LOX) tank remained welded to the Test Stand until January 13, 2022.[19]

B4–B5

Booster 4 in the High Bay

B4 was fully stacked on August 1, with all 29 engines installed on August 2, 2021.[20] Grid fins were added to support atmospheric reentry testing. S20 was stacked on top of Booster 4 on August 6, 2021 for a fitting test,[21] making it, for two years, the tallest rocket ever fully integrated.[22] B4 completed its first cryogenic proof test on December 17, 2021,[23] followed by a pneumatic proof test, another cryogenic proof test and a full-load cryogenic proof test. B4 and Ship 20 were then retired.[18] On March 6, 2024, B4s grid fins were removed,[24] it was moved to the Mega Bay on March 21 where it was scrapped the following day.[25][26]

Parts for B5 were observed as early as July 19, 2021. Stacking for B5 completed in November, although on December 8, B5 was retired alongside SN15 and SN16. It was later scrapped.

Orbital launches (B7–subsequent)

B7–B8

See also: Starship flight test 1

B7 was placed on the orbital launch mount on March 31, 2022, and completed two cryogenic proof tests in April, resulting in the rupturing of the downcomer.[27] After being repaired, it was returned to OLM, and completed two cryogenic tests. It was then moved to Mega Bay 1 for engine and grid fin installation.[28] On July 11, after returning to OLM A for engine testing, B7 experienced a detonation underneath the engines during an attempted 33-engine spin prime test.[29] It returned to OLM A on August 4 with only the 20 outer Raptor engines,[30] and completed its first single-engine static fire test on August 9, followed by a second two days later.[31] After receiving its thirteen inner engines,[32] B7 conducted a series of spin prime and static fire tests throughout August and September,[33][34][35][36] before again returning to the Mega Bay on September 21.[37] After receiving additional upgrades it was lifted on the launch pad on October 8.[38] Ship 24 was stacked on top B7 on October 12,[39] and was removed after completing multiple cryogenic load tests.[40][41][42] B7 then completed a spin prime test of multiple engines on November 12,[43] a 14-engine static fire test on November 14,[44] and finally an 11-engine static fire in an autogenous pressurization test on November 29.[45] In January 2023, Booster 7 and Ship 24 conducted a wet dress rehearsal,[46] before attempting a 33-engine static fire on February 9.[47] On April 20, 2023, Booster 7 was launched on Integrated Flight Test 1, being destroyed before stage separation after a fire in the aft section severed connections between its engines and flight computers, resulting in a loss of attitude control and FTS activation.[48]

B8 was fully stacked on July 8, 2022.[49] It was moved to the launch site on September 19, 2022, though it was not tested there.[36] Booster 8 was scrapped in January 2023 in favor of Booster 9. Booster 8's hydraulic power units were used to replace Booster 7's, along with several other parts, including the engine shielding.[50]

B9–B12

See also: Starship flight test 2

B9 finished stacking in late 2022, and featured upgrades, including electric thrust vector control (ETVC) gimbaling system of the raptor engines, replacing the previous hydraulic power units that were used up to Booster 8. It was moved to the OLS cryogenic station on December 15.[51] Two cryogenic proof tests were conducted on December 21 and December 29, both of which were successful.[51] After engine installation, Booster 9 was rolled to OLM A on July 20,[52] conducting a cryogenic proof test on OLM A,[51] followed by a spin prime test on August 4.[51] On August 6, Booster 9 fired 29 engines for 2.7 seconds, instead of the planned 33 engines for five seconds. It was then moved off of OLM A and rolled back to Mega Bay 1, where its vented interstage was added on August 16.[51] B9 was moved back to OLM A on August 22 and underwent another spin prime test the next day.[51] On August 25, Booster 9 underwent a static fire of all 33 engines, with two engines shutting off early, which lasted around 6 seconds.[51] Ship 25 (S25) was lifted onto B9 for the first time on September 5, and was destacked several times throughout the rest of the month and mid October.[51] On October 22, B9 underwent two partial cryogenic tests, while S25 was not tested,[51] followed by a full wet dress rehearsal (WDR) two days later.[51] On November 18, Booster 9 and Ship 25 lifted off with all 33 engines lit at 7:02 am CST.[53] Following the successful separation from S25, B9 was destroyed after several engine failures during the boost-back burn.[53]

Grid fins and stringers on Booster 10's methane tank (right, foreground), March 12, 2023

See also: Starship flight test 3

B10 was fully stacked in March 2023.[54] B10 was moved to Massey's test site for cryogenic testing on July 7, undergoing a cryogenic proof test on July 18.[54] Three additional cryogenic tests were performed in mid September.[54] B10 was moved back to Mega Bay 1 on September 19 for engine and interstage installation.[54] On December 18, B10 was moved to the orbital launch site,[54] followed by a lift onto OLM A the next day.[54] It aborted a static fire test on December 21, before completing a 33-engine static fire test on December 29, followed by its removal from OLM A on December 30.[54] On January 2, 2024, B10 was moved back to the Production Site,[54] and was transported to the Orbital Launch Site for a WDR.[54] On February 9, B10 was lifted onto OLM A,[54] and on February 10, Ship 28 (S28) was lifted onto B10,[54] with the combined vehicle aborting two wet dress rehearsal attempts.[54] The wet dress rehearsal was completed on March 3.[54] The vehicles were destacked for FTS arming on March 5,[54] which occurred on March 8,[54] followed by S28 being restacked on March 10.[54] On March 14, B10 was launched with S28 on IFT-3, completing the ascent burn with zero engine failures. Six engines failed during the boostback burn.[55] During its landing burn, only three engines started up with two failing shortly thereafter.[56]

See also: Starship flight test 4

B11 was fully stacked in June 2023.[57] On October 12, B11 was moved to Massey's test site, where it was cryo-tested on October 14 and October 18.[58] On November 19, B11 was moved back to Mega Bay 1 for engine and interstage installation.[58] B11 was moved to OLM A for static-fire testing on April 4,[58] where it conducted a 33-engine static-fire on April 5.[59] On April 7, it was removed from OLM A,[58] and rolled back to Mega Bay 1 for pre-flight modifications.[58] On May 10, B11 was rolled out of Mega Bay 1,[58] and rolled to the Orbital Launch Site.[60] It was lifted onto the OLM on May 11.[61] On May 15, Ship 29 (S29) was lifted onto B11, with the combined vehicle completing a partial cryogenic test on May 16,[62] and a full wet dress rehearsal on May 20,[63] A second wet dress rehearsal was completed on May 28.[64] On May 29, S29 was destacked for final tile work and Flight Termination System (FTS) Installation,[58] with FTS installation occurring on May 30.[58] S29 was stacked onto B11 for the final time on June 5.[58] On June 6, B11 and S29 launched on IFT-4, with a single engine failure occurring shortly after liftoff.[65] The boostback burn saw no engine failures, though a second engine failed during the landing burn.[65] B11 was destroyed after tipping over, with several components being recovered in late September.[66][67] On October 9, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability of SpaceX, Bill Gerstenmaier, claimed that B11 landed within "half a centimeter" of the target.[68]

See also: Starship flight test 5
Booster 12 coasting back to the launch site after separating from Ship 30 during IFT-5

B12 began assembly in June 2023.[57] On December 28, 2023, B12 was moved to Massey's for cryogenic testing, where it conducted two cryogenic tests on January 10 and January 12.[69] B12 was moved production site in mid-January for engine installation.[70] B12 was moved to OLM A on July 9 for static fire testing,[71] where it conducted a pressurization test on July 11,[69] followed by a 33-engine spin prime on July 12 and a 33-engine static fire on July 15.[72][73] B12 was rolled back to the production site on July 16, 2024.[74] SpaceX claimed that B12 and S30 were ready to fly on August 8.[75] On September 20, B12 was rolled to the launch site, with S30 being lifted onto B12 the next day.[76] A partial wet dress rehearsal was conducted on September 23.[77] A second partial wet dress rehearsal occurred on October 7,[78] followed by S30 being destacked for FTS installation.[79] FTS was installed on both vehicles on October 9,[80] and S30 was stacked onto B12 for Flight 5 on October 11.[69] B12 and S30 launched on October 13, with B12 successfully conducting the ascent, boostback, and landing burns with no engine failures, before being caught by the gantry chopsticks,[81] and lowered onto OLM A.[82] Musk claimed that B12 suffered damage that could be "easily addressed", including warping of the outer engine nozzles.[83] B12's FTS was removed on October 14,[84] followed by being returned to Mega Bay 1 for post-flight inspections.[85] On October 22, B12's vented interstage was recovered.[86] B12 was retired to the rocket garden on October 28.[87]

B13–B17

See also: Starship flight test 6

B13 and subsequent vehicles have upgraded liquid oxygen vents, a new raceway design, and reinforced chines.[88] B13's assembly was completed on February 3, 2024.[89] It was rolled to Massey's test site for cryogenic testing on April 25.[89] B13 completed its first cryo-test on April 26,[90] and a second cryogenic test on April 29.[91] On October 22, B13 was rolled to OLM A,[92] where a partial cryogenic test was performed two days later.[93] Following this, B13 conducted a static fire,[93] and was subsequently rolled to Mega Bay 1.[89] It returned to the launch site for IFT-6 on November 14,[94] where Ship 31 (S31) was lifted onto the booster.[95] FTS was installed on November 15,[96] followed by a partial wet dress rehearsal on November 17.[97] On November 19, B13 launched with S31, completing the ascent, boostback, and landing burns. However, the "catch" attempt was called off due to an issue with the launch tower,[98] and the booster was diverted to splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.[99]

See also: Starship flight test 7

On May 11, 2024, SpaceX released an image showing that B14 had been assembled.[100] B14 was rolled out of Mega Bay 1 on October 2, ahead of a rollout to Massey's the next day.[101] On October 4, B14 conducted its first cyrogenic test,[102] followed by a second on October 5.[103] It was then moved to Mega Bay 1 on October 7.[104] After receiving its thirty-three engines, B14 was moved to OLP A for static-fire testing on December 5.[105] It conducted a spin prime test on December 7,[106] followed by a static fire on December 9.[107] B14 then rolled back to Mega Bay 1 for final pre-flight modifications.[108]

See also: Starship flight test 8

On July 23, 2024, B15's aft section was spotted, featuring additional tanks attached to the liquid oxygen header tank.[109] On December 21, it was moved to Massey's for cryogenic testing.[110]

On October 14, 2024, the first section for B16 was spotted being moved around Starfactory.[111] Stacking began in late October.[112]

Test articles

Super Heavy-based test articles

S/N Tests Decommission Date Status
BN2.1[113] 2 June 25, 2021 Retired
B2.1 3 December 6, 2022 Retired
B6.1 1 May 2023 Destroyed
LOX LTT 1 Un­known Un­known
B7.1 6 December 2022 Scrapped
HSLH 2[114] October 2023 Scrapped
B14.1 3+[115] August 2024[116] Retired

BN2.1 was rolled out on June 3, 2021[117] for cryogenic tests. It conducted two tests, the first on June 8, 2021,[118] and the second on June 17, 2021.[119]

B2.1 (not BN2.1) conducted three cryogenic tests on December 1, 2021, December 2, 2021, and December 3, 2021.[120][121]

B6.1 was originally intended to be the third flight-worthy Super Heavy, but was repurposed as a test tank.[122] In May 2023, it was used to test the modified FTS system, after the FTS on B7 and S24 failed to destroy the vehicle.[50]

Liquid Oxygen Landing Test Tank (LOX LTT) was based on the LOX Landing tank on the Booster. It was cryo tested at Mcgregor in early 2022.[9]

B7.1 was first cryogenically proof tested on 28 June 2022,[123] and tested again on 19 July 2022.[124] During a suspected pressurize to failure test two days later, it received minor damage.[125] After repairs, it underwent a fourth cryogenic proof test on July 27, 2022, a fifth on September 1, 2022, and a sixth five days later.[126] It then rolled back to the production site on September 16, 2022.[127] B7.1 was then moved to the Massey's test site in September 2022, and then scrapped in December 2023.[128]

Hot Stage Load Head (HSLH) was a test article designed to verify the structural integrity of the interstage of Super Heavy Boosters 9+.[129] It was transported to the Massey's test site on July 30, 2023,[130] before being loaded onto the Can Crusher testing device.[131] In mid-October 2023, it was moved back to the production site,[132] where it was disassembled.[133]

B14.1 is a test article consisting of a booster common dome and a forward section.[134] After structural testing at Masseys, it was moved to the launch site on June 21, 2024,[135] and lifted onto OLM A.[136] It was tested on June 26,[115] followed by additional testing on June 27.[137] It conducted additional testing on August 15.[138] On August 17, it was returned to the production site.[116]

General test articles

S/N Tests Decommission Date Status
TT1 1 January 10, 2020[139] Destroyed
TT2 2 January 29, 2020[140] Destroyed
GSE 4.1 2 January 18, 2022 Destroyed
EDOME 2 Late October 2022 Destroyed
EDOME2 1 December 2023 Scrapped

Test Tank 1 (TT1) was a subscale test tank consisting of two forward bulkheads connected by a small barrel section. TT1 was used to test new materials and construction methods. On January 10, 2020, TT1 was tested to failure as part of an ambient temperature test, reaching a pressure of 7.1 bar (103 psi).[139][141]

Test Tank 2 (TT2) was another subscale test tank similar to TT1. On January 27, 2020, TT2 underwent an ambient temperature pressure test where it reached a pressure of 7.5 bar (109 psi) before a leak occurred.[142] Two days later, it underwent a cryogenic proof test to destruction, bursting at 8.5 bar (123 psi).[143][140][144]

GSE 4.1 was first spotted in August 2021 and was the first ground support equipment (GSE) test tank built, made from parts of GSE 4.[126] It underwent a cryogenic proof test in August 2021 before it was rolled to the Sanchez site.[145] It was rolled back to the launch site in November 2021, where it underwent an apparent cryogenic proof test to failure on January 18, 2022, where it burst at an unknown pressure.[146]

EDOME was a test tank created to test flatter domes, possibly used on future Starship prototypes. It was moved to the launch site in July 2022, and then back to the production site the next month, after undergoing no tests.[122] It was later moved from the production site to the Massey's test site in late September 2022, where it was damaged during a cryogenic pressure test to failure.[122] After repairs, it was tested to destruction in late October 2022.[122]

EDOME 2 was a test tank which is likely designed to continue testing a flatter dome design. As of October 4, 2023, its official designation is unknown. It was tested once, before being scrapped for unknown reasons.[147]

See also

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