Ship 29 (S29)

Ship 29 (S29) is a Starship second stage prototype. It is currently one of the 6 operating ships, which include Ships 26, 28, 30, 31 and 32 at the Boca Chica Test Facility. It is likely to fly on either IFT-4 or IFT-5 with booster 11 or 12, although this assignment is still unclear.

## History

Ship 29 was first spotted around July of 2022. It began stacking in May 2023, being the 5th full-scale Starship to be built for orbital flight after Ship 28. It became the first ship to use the improved two point lifting jig on the 21st of September 2023 while being prepared for transport in the High bay. It was subsequently rolled out to Massey's in the late hours of the same day into the early morning hours of the 22nd of September 2023 for its Cryo test campaign. It performed its 1st Cryo Proof test a few days later on the 26th of September. The following day, Ship 29 underwent its second Cryo test uneventfully, detanking after the test was complete. Another Cryo test was conducted on the 4th of October being shorter than usual, which could indicate an abort. On the 13th of October 2023, Ship 29 was returned to the Rocket Garden ahead of its engine installlation. On the 20th of November 2023, S29 was moved back to the High Bay.

## Timeline

Click to view the timeline:

* 08 August 2022: S29 AS:4 moved from ring yard to dome yard.
* 06 September 2022: S29 AD in dome yard.
* 14 October 2022: NC31 'na9' for S29 spotted in Tent 3, S29 P:5 moved to Tent 3.
* 06 December 2022: S29 nosecone attached to crane in windbreak.
* 09 December 2022: S29 NC 'nc31' has hinge hardware.
* 14 January 2023: S29 or S30 PEZ dispenser installed outside tent 3.
* 21 January 2023: Nosecones worked on near and in tent 3; likely S29 TPS tiles being added.
* 06 February 2023: S29 CX:4 seen assembled, with TPS pins. Then presumably moves to T2. (We hadn't even seen the sleeve prior to this). S29 FX:3 seen assembled.
* 28 February 2023: PEZ door installed in S29 PL 'Quinton X'.
* 08 March 2023: Port Fwd flap Confirmed to be installed on NC32 (S29).
* 21 March 2023: S29 PL:5 peeks out of T3.
* 22 March 2023: Starb fwd flap confirmed on S29 NC. 22 Mar: S29 PL:5 in T2.
* 27 March 2023: S29? nosecone in tent 3 TPS installation, one flap installed at least.
* 28 March 2023: S29 NC leaves Tent 3.
* 07 April 2023: S29 and S30 AX:4's fully tiled.
* 25 April 2023: S29 nosecone moved from in front of windbreak to ring yard at 09:55.
* 27 April 2023: S29 nosecone moved into high bay for stacking.
* 28 April 2023: S29 payload bay section moved into high bay for stacking.
* 01 May 2023: S29 nosecone stacked onto payload bay section; this marked the first operational stacking on the new turntable on the left side of high bay.
* 04 May 2023: S29 fwd dome moved into High bay for stacking.
* 05 May 2023: S29 stacked onto its fwd dome section.
* 11 May 2023: S29 CX:4 rolls into the high bay.
* 16 May 2023: S29 N:8 stacked on CX:4 to create S29 N:12.
* 18 May 2023: S29 ML:4 moved into High Bay for stacking.
* 19 May 2023: S29 N:12 stacked on ML:4 to create S29 N:16. Lift point covers confirmed installed on 4 windward lifting points on S29. (Will have happened a few days ago).
* 30 May 2023: S29 N:16 lifted back to Highbay turntable.
* 02 June 2023: S29 AX:4 moved to High Bay.
* 06 June 2023: S29 fully stacked.
* 15 August 2023: S29 moved out of the high bay.
* 18 August 2023: S29 first aft flap installed, S29 payload bay door removed at around 22:00, S29 new payload bay door installed at 22:30.
* 21 September 2023: S29 lifted onto the ship puck shucker.
* 22 September 2023: S29 transported to Masseys whilst sitting on the Ship puck shucker.
* 13 October 2023: S29 moved back to the build site.
* 20 November 2023: S29 rolled back to the high bay.

## Testing Overview

 27 September 2023
 04 October 2023

### 21/22 September 2023 - Roll out

On 21/22 September 2023, S29 was moved from high bay to Massey's Outpost to start the testing program. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* 22:23 Left High Bay
* 01:22 Arrived at Massey's

### 26 September 2023 - Cryo Proof Test

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* 19:16 Cryo loading has started with frost lines clearly visible
* 19:46 LOX tank completely filled, CH4 partially
* 22:02 Detanking underway

### 27 September 2023 - Cryo Proof Text

Both tanks were partially filled with LN2. Timeline according LabPadre discord:

* 18:10 Cryo loading of LOX tank has started
* 18:15 Cryo loading of CH4 tank has recently started
* 19:49 Both tanks were partially filled with LN2, now detanking

### 04 October 2023 - Cryo Proof Test

Ship 29 conducted its 3rd cryogenic proof test of both tanks. However, this test was considerably shorter than the previous ones, which may indicate an abort may have occured.

### 13 October 2023 - Roll back

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* ?? Roll back started at Massey's Outpost
* 03:22 Arrived at Sanchez site
* 05:17 2-point lifter and LR1750 attached to S29
* 10:02 Lifted off Ship thrust simulator
* 10:25 Set down onto a transport stand
* 16:12 Moved to the rocket garden

## Gallery

Ship 29 close - up.Ship 29 awaiting testing at Massey's.
## References

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM6gHFHe83Q

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/VickiCocks15/status/1709710267968340178