Ship 24 (S24)

For the full stack of S24 and Booster 7 see: Starship 7/24

For the first integrated, orbital test flight see: OFT-1

Ship 24 (S24) was a Starship prototype and has used in the orbital flight test with booster 7 (B7). First parts were spotted in November/December 2021. After completion of stacking in May, it was destroyed after a stage separation failure on Booster 7, with the ground teams activating the FTS (Flight Termination System) to destroy it.

## Notable differences

Ship 24 has several notable differences to previous Starship prototypes.

Most significantly, the ring layout has changed. The total number of rings, as well as the size of each tanks have, however, rested the same. Previous ships had the following layout:

* 4-ring nosecone barrel
* 4-ring fwd dome section (dome weld on ring 2)
* 3-ring cmn dome section (dome weld on ring 2)
* 4-ring ship LOX section
* 5-ring aft dome section and leg skirt

The new layout is:

* 5-ring nosecone barrel
* 3-ring fwd dome section (dome weld on ring 2)
* 4-ring cmn dome section (dome weld on ring 3)
* 4-ring LOX section
* 4-ring aft dome section and leg skirt

Other updates that have been observed on Ship 22 and Ship 24 include:

* Aft: ship QD moved from second to third ring, possibly for shorter plumbing or more space for 3 additional Rvac engines; nobs and holes for booster/ship integration reversed: since S22 and B7, holes are on booster (negative side) and nobs on ship (positive side); new aft domes with redesigned thrust puck for Raptor V2
* Common dome section: Methane header tank removed (to nosecone); new main LOX tank vents to be the same as ullage thruster vents on booster, possibly also for attitude control and possibly nosecone RCS thruster
* Nc barrel: now quint, possibly to facilitate cargo door manufacturing, first one seen on S24, including dispenser mechanism
* Nosecone: 4 to 2 rows of panels [not yet?]; methane header tank to be included; S24 nosecone under construction has two header tank vents and no RCS thrusters

## History

As of mid-February 2022, more parts have been spotted for Ship 24 than for Ship 23.

S24, being worked on in high bay in June 2022:

On October 31st, the following scheme was published, showing the remaining path to an orbital flight test:

## Timeline

Open or close the timeline here:

* 24 Nov 2021: Common dome sleeve? spotted [Nic Ansuini]
* 14 Dec 2021: **S24 common dome spotted (4-ring! instead of 3-ring!!)**
* *20 Dec 2021: Ship nosecone barrel section (5-rings!!) [S22/S23/S24?] [add: likely S22]*
* 30 Dec 2021: Common dome spotted
* 03 Jan 2022: Common dome sleeve waiting to be sleeved; load spreader attached to S24 common dome, lifted onto sleeving stand; no header tank installed, Elon Musk confirmed that CH4 header tank would be moved to nosecone [!]; load spreader connected to common dome sleeve, sleeved on dome
* 06 Jan 2022: Mid LOX section has tiles attached
* 09 Jan 2022: Common dome (4-ring, with **new types of lead-ins**) spotted
* 29 Jan 2022: Ship aft barrel [S22, S24? [likely S24]] spotted outside tents, **ship QD panel has moved upwards by one ring**
* 31 Jan 2022: S24? noseceone (smooth) spotted in tent 3; fwd flap mounting jig attached
* 13 Feb 2022: Ship common dome [S24?] flipped (4-ring, access hole at top ring), moved into tent 1
* 15 Feb 2022: Mid LOX section (4-rings with tiles) and common dome section (with tiles) and an unknown 4-ring sleeve (untiled) seen infront tents
* 16 Feb 2022: Thrust section hooked to crane inside tent 3
* 17 Feb 2022: Ship section (4-ring) test fit with a booster fwd section, possibly B8 and S24; then removed again; another **fit check** followed
* 17 Feb 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles installation continued in tent 3 [nosecone shown previous vids also S24!]
* 21 Feb 2022: Nosecone work continued, especially on TPS tiles
* 21 Feb 2022: Nosecone in tent 3 TPS tile work continued; a ship thrust section next to it
* 22 Feb 2022: Nosecone TPS tile work continued in tent 3
* 23 Feb 2022: S24? nosecone TPS tiles work continued in tent 3
* 25 Feb 2022: Common dome section stacked and welded on LOX section in high bay
* 28 Feb 2022: Tank section [complete?] in high bay; moved to mid bay early morning [add: not complete, thrust section missing]
* 02 March 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles work continued
* 06 March 2022: S24 noseceone, fwd dome section, thrust section in tent; S25 common dome section/segment and another nosecone spotted in same tent
* 07 March 2022: Potential **payload dispenser installed** in nosecone barrel section believed to be S24
* 10 March 2022: Payload bay pathfinder (not same as S24 nosecone barrel section?!) [add: same]
* 10 March 2022: Nosecone barrel section: TPS tile blankets added; another 5-ring section behind it
* 11 March 2022: S24 still in mid bay
* 11 March 2022: Nosecone barrel with payload dispenser: work continued on TPS blanket
* 12 March 2022: Nosecone tent 3: TPS tiles installation nearly complete
* 14 March 2022: S24 nosecone now outside tent!
* 16 March 2022: Cargo door prototype and S24 nosecone still outside tent 3
* 19 March 2022: S24? nosecone barrel section with payload dispenser: white thermal blankets being installed
* 21 March 2022: S24 in mid bay
* 22 March 2022: Nosecone barrel: TPS blankets and its black net covering being workded on, first TPS tiles being added
* 23 March 2022: Nosecone barrel section TPS work contineud, as well as on nosecone in tent 3
* 24 March 2022: Nc barrel TPS installation progress shown including cut out for potential cargo door, lifted by a crane and moved; work on nosecone
* 26 March 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles got tape around flap
* 28 March 2022: Tank section waiting in mid bay; nc barrel section TPS tile installation continued
* 29 March 2022: Payload bay section / nc barrel section near the entrance of tent 3
* 29 March 2022: Nosecone work continued on TPS tiles
* 31 March 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles work continued
* 01 April 2022: Nosecone TPS tile installation nearing completion
* 03 April 2022: Nosecone moved out of tent 3; two-three nosecone barrel sections being worked on in tent 3 with TPS tiles being installed [S25, S26... ?]
* 04 April 2022: **S24 aft section moved to high bay, and stacked onto B8 fwd section [fit check]**
* 05 April 2022: Aft section removed from B8 aft section after fit check of stage separation system
* 05 April 2022; Fwd dome section spotted in tent 3, likely for S24 [??]
* 05 April 2022: LOX tank section moved from mid bay to high bay, attached to crane
* 06 April 2022: Sections stacked and welded together in high bay [which?]
* 06 April 2022: Nosecone TPS tiles work continued
* 06 April 2022: Tent 3 S24 fwd dome section
* 07 April 2022: Nosecone work continued
* 08 April 2022: Lifted in high bay by bridge crane [stacking?], later tank section left high bay
* 08 April 2022: Nosecone detached from crane in front of ten 3, later moved to high bay
* 08 April 2022: Worked on in mid bay; payload section [nosecone barrel section] moved to high bay via hwy 4
* 09 April 2022: Nosecone attached to high bay bridge crane, stacked onto payload section [nc barrel section]
* 12 April 2022: Nosecone still attached to crane in high bay
* 14 April 2022: Tank section worked on in mid bay
* 22 April 2022: Tank section worked on in mid bay
* 22 April 2022: Load spreader disconnected from S24 nosecone
* 09 May 2022: Fully stacked in the High Bay
* [to be updated from General Timeline]

## Testing

Timelines are according to LabPadre and/or NASASpaceflight

### 26 May 2022 - Roll out

* **06:35:** Started moving towards exit of high bay
* **07:00:** Entered Hwy 4
* **08:11:** Arrived at launch site

### 27 May 2022 - Ambient Proof Test

On 27 May 2022, SpaceX conducted an ambient proof test and possibly also planned to conduct a cryo proof test at the cryo station. However the test resulted in some damage as a loud bang was heard, followed by TPS tiles flying away from the nc barrel area. After the test, workers were seen removing a damaged pipe.

* **05:40:** Road closed
* **07:57:** OLS tank farm and S24 venting
* **09:37:** Pad cleared
* **10:09:50:** TPS tiles fell off after a loud bang and some vapour
* **10:34:** Depress vent
* **11:08:** Cars to SOTF
* **11:41:** Road opened

### 2 June 2022 - Cryo Proof Test

Following repair works after the damage caused during the previous ambient proof test, SpaceX cryo proof tested ship 24 at the cryo site at the OLS. During the test, both tanks frosted up completely. According to Elon Musk, this test was successful, as he tweeted "Cryogenic proof test passed".

* **11:30:** Road closed
* **12:10:** Beach closed SMS
* **12:39:** Pad cleared
* **13:37:** Farm venting
* **14:57:** OLIT and OLM venting
* **15:06:** Cryo load
* **15:08:** Frost appearing on CH4 tank
* **15:22:** Frost started to rise on LOX tank
* **16:09:** Both tanks fully frosted
* **17:30:** Detank started
* **20:31:** Road opened

### 6 June 2022 - Cryo proof test

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **09:13:** PA: "Entire pad closed in 45 minutes for Ship 24 cryo testing"
* **09:40:** Road closed
* **11:50:** Pad cleared
* **15:08:** or earlyer Frost formed on LOX tank
* **16:29:** Header tank vented
* **17:13:** Frost ring on CH4 tank started to form
* **18:11:** Detanking started
* **18:25:** Detanking continued
* **21:30:** Road opened

During this test, the LOX tank fully frosted up, and the CH4 tank was partially frosty (several rings).

### 7 June 2022 - Cryo proof test

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **09:45:** Road closed
* **11:29:** Pad cleared
* **11:47:** Cars to pad
* **11:50:** Pad cleared again
* **12:15:** SoLS tank farm venting started
* **12:52:** Frost ring appeared on LOX tank
* **16:59:** Detank started
* **19:45:** Road opened

During this test, the LOX tank fully frosted up, and the CH4 tank was partially frosty (several rings).

### 9 June 2022 - Roll back

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **07:01:** Lift started
* **07:24:** Touched down on transport stand
* **09:13:** LR11000X partially detached from S24
* **13:47:** Last 2 straps of lifting squid detached after break
* **15:47:** Started to move
* **16:04:** Entered hwy 4
* **17:09:** Arrived at production site
* **19:28:** Moved into high bay

### 5 July 2022 - Roll out

Visual upgrades: S24 and SpaceX Logo painted on the nosecone, 6 hexagonal tiles (communication?) below the logo. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **05:30:** S24 left high bay
* **05:47:** Entered hwy 4
* **07:06:** LR11350 picked up load spreader
* **07:22:** Arrived at launch site
* **08:10:** Attached to crane

Picture by Elon Musk on July 4th, ahead of its roll out on 2 SPMTs:

### 18 July 2022 - Spin prime Test #1

According to NSF, "SP (Spin Prime) means that the engine's turbopumps were brought up to speed but there was no ignition". This is a step before a preburner test and doesn't require SpaceX to issue a notice to the residences as a sonic boom is not expected.

* **09:36:40:** PA: "Attention Starbase Personel, Pad closure in 30 minutes, please remove all vehicles from Highway 4"
* **10:01:** Road closed
* **11:07:** Pad cleared
* **13:43:** LOX subcoolers have become active
* **Around 13:50:** Propellant load has started
* **14:15:** Frost on S24 LOX tank begins to appear
* **15:18:33:** Engine chill has started
* **15:31:17:** Venting from QD
* **15:34:41.5-48:** Spin prime test (6 engines)
* **15:45:** Engine chill venting increased again; frost still increasing on LOX section
* **15:49:27:** A vent can be seen, likely to regulate pressure
* **16:06:50:** Long depress vent
* **16:11:** Detank has started
* **20:01:** Road reopened

### 20 July 2022 - Igniter + Spin prime tests #2 and #3

Testing Timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* **09:49:** PA: "Pad clear in 10 minutes"
* **10:01:** Road closed
* **10:54:** Pad cleared
* **11:27:25:** Igniter test
* **12:37:** LOX subcoolers have become active
* **12:43:** Propellant load has started
* **13:09:03:** Engine chill has started
* **13:20:37-40:** Spin prime test, (likely with all 6 engines)
* **14:26:54-57:** Spin prime test (likely all 6 engines)
* **14:39:01-41:** Depress vents from both tanks, followed by decreasing frost on LOX tank. Condensation increased
* **14:42:** Detank has started
* **15:38-41:** Several large and continuous depress vents
* **15:42:** Further depress vents
* **16:06:** Pad is no longer cleared
* **16:28:** Road reopened

During the spin prime test, much less frost was visible on the tanks than during the previous test. LabPadre Rover Cam 2 showed a sequenced spin up with the center engines starting up first. Furthermore, it shows first vents appearing already at 13:20:30.

### 21 July 2022 - Spin prime tests #4 and #5

During today's test window, SpaceX also tested the booster test tank B7.1. See the B7.1 article for the complete timeline. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **10:01:** Road closed
* **10:18:** PA: "Attention on the pad, all personnel should leave the launch site"
* **10:43:** Pad cleared
* **14:21:** LOX subcooler activity (SoLS)
* **14:30:** Propellant load has begun
* **14:55:10:** Engine chill has started, LOX tank frost appearing
* **15:09:32:** S24 Spin prime test, likely only with one engine
* **15:31:14:** Spin prime test, likely two engines
* **15:35:06:** S24 Depress vent
* **16:13:** S24 detanking
* **20:28:** Road opened

### 8 August 2022 - Spin prime test #6 and #7

* **11:46:** Road Closed
* **12:42:** Road closed again
* **14:14:** Pad clear
* **16:08:** LOX subcoolers have become active
* **16:32:** CH4 subcoolers active
* **???:** Propellant load
* **16:50:** Engine chill has begun
* **17:09:50:** "Upward vent"
* **17:10:17:** Spin prime test
* **17:59:44:** Upward vent has started again
* **18:00:11:** Spin prime test
* **18:04:52:** Depress vent, then later detank
* **22:22:** Pad reopened
* **22:40:** Road reopened

### 9 August 2022 - Static Fire test on S24 (#1)

SpaceX conducted a single engine static fire on B7, a first both for the booster and the orbital launch mount (See for complete timeline). They also static fired two engines on S24 later that day.

* **10:45:** Road closed
* **13:49:30 and 13:49:57:** water deluge test on SoLS pad B for S24 testing
* **14:32:** Pad cleared
* B7 test
* **19:19:** The LOX subcoolers have become active (SoLS)
* **19:25?:** Propellant load has started
* **19:44:** Chopsticks lowered
* **20:07:06:** Engine chill vent started
* **20:08:** Siren reported
* **20:18:25:** Water deluge, upward vent a second later
* **20:18:53:** **STATIC FIRE (2 engines) for about 3 seconds**
* **20:22:54:** Depress vent, detank later
* **21:52:** Pad opened
* **22:05:** Road opened

Elon Musk posted a picture of the B7 static fire here. A SpaceX video can be found here.

### 24 August 2022 - Unknown Testing

* **14:02:** Road closed
* **15:02:** Pad cleared
* **15:07:** OLS tank farm activity
* **15:46:** OLM ground vent
* **16:28:** SoLS ground vent and minor tank farm activity
* **17:06:** SoLS tank farm spooling up
* **17:22:** SoLS recondenser starting up
* **17:28:** Slight condensation started indicating cryo load
* **17:42:** Frost ring forming on LOX tank
* **17:43:11:** S24 engine chill
* **17:53:28-50:** Water supression system; engine chill vent spooled down and nearly fully stopped afterwards
* **17:54:41:** **Ingnitor test on S24/Static fire abort** [Rover 2 cam]
* **17:58:32-59:06:** Depress vent on S24
* **18:04:** Vent stack venting
* **18:05:** OLS tank farm spooling up for 1-2 minutes
* **19:11:** Cars to pad
* **19:33:** Road opened

### 25 August 2022 - Spin prime test #6

Testing timeline according to NSF and LabPadre streams (for the complete timeline including B7 spin prime test, see the Booster 7 (B7) article):

* Overpressure notice delivered to residents of Boca Chica
* **10:12:** Road closed
* **12:17:** Pad clear; B7 testing
* **15:36:** The recondenser is active
* **16:51:** LOX tank farm is active
* **17:06:** Recondenser started at SoLS
* **17:12:** LOX load has started
* **17:27:53:** Engine chill vent on S24
* **17:42:46:** Water deluge system on pad B turned on
* **17:42:53:** **S24 Spin prime test**
* **17:46:** OLM vent active again; as well as OLS tank farm street vent
* **17:54:** Depress vent
* **19:05:** Cars to pad
* **19:22:** Road opened

### 31 August 2022 - Unknown testing

During this test window, SpaceX static fired B7 with multiple engines for 5-6 seconds with a staggered start-up (For complete timeline see Booster 7 (B7) article). Likely, more tests were intended with S24, but they didn't reach any point further in the timeline than engine chill. A few days later, on September 02, SpaceX replaced a Raptor Vacuum engine which likely didn't reach expected performance.

* **06:55 PA:** "Pad clear in one hour"
* **08:02:** Road closed
* **09:22:** Pad clear
* **14:10:** Tank farm ground vent; tank farm spooled up
* **14:22:** Small recondenser puffs
* **14:29:** Propellant load has begun
* **15:38:** Recondenser spooling up
* **16:08:49:** Engine chill vent started on S24
* **16.15:** Drone spotted at SoLS
* **16:15:02:** Header tank vent
* **16:18:** Engine chill pulses began
* **16:27:** Depress vent on S24
* **16:38:** Detank has started
* **19:13:** Road opened

### 08 September 2022 - B7 spin prime and S24 static fire #2

A full 6-engine static fire with ship 24 for about 6-7 seconds which lead to a grass fire to develop. Zack Golden counted about 30 TPS tiles that fell off during the static fire, to which Elon Musk responded: "Yup, there’s a reason we do static fires! Much better to break things on the ground than en route to orbit."

On the same day, SpaceX also conducted several tests with B7, see the Booster 7 (B7) article for the complete timeline.

* Overpressure notice issued to resident
* **07:59:** Road closes
* **14:27:** The LOX recondenser is active
* **14:53:** Propellant load has started
* **15:53:** CH4 recondenser is active
* **15:58:48:** Engine chill has started
* **16:30:23:** Water deluge
* **16:30:40: STATIC FIRE** (6 engines)
* **16:32:12:** Depress vent
* **20:37:** Cars to pad
* **21:37:** Firemen working to contain the fire; backfires set to prevent the blaze from spreading beyond the backfire line

NSF video of the static fire here. SpaceX tweet with picture of the static fire here.

### 30 September 2022 - Lift and moved to OLS

Timeline accordint to LabPadre discord:

* **06:47:** Two SPMTs with ship transport stand moved to SoLS Pad B
* **07:50:** Ship QD on Pad B disconnected from S24
* **08:37:** Lift started
* **08:55:** Touched down on transport stand
* **13:53:** Disconnected from LR11000X
* **14:07:** Started to move
* **14:35:** Parked at OLS cryo station

### Full Stack and Testing I

#### 11 October 2022 - Stacking

See Starship 7/24 article

On 11 October 2022, Ship 24 was stacked onto B7 after a failed attempt the night before that also damaged several tiles on Ship 24. The issue likely was linked to the previously installed felt that should soften the impact of a booster on the chopsicks during a catch attempt. Before lifting, SpaceX made some short term fixes on the chopsticks.

### 15 December 2022 - Static Fire #3

After over a month of repair works, including an engine swap, SpaceX conducted a single engine static fire. Several TPS tiles fell off near a aft weld line. At the end of testing, Booster 9 rolled out to the launch site.

Timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* **08:11:** Road closed
* **08:46:** Pad cleared
* **11:46:** SoLS Tank farm venting (Recondenser)
* **11:48:** Grass vent and rest of SoLS tank farm starting up
* **12:25:** Frost ring on LOX tank started
* **12:39:09:** Engine chill (diverted towards the bottom of the pad, but there are some puffs from time to time from the original engine chill vent positions)
* **12:49:** Flap testing
* **12:50:** Header tank venting, as well as a vent next to the two fwd flaps; LOX tank frost at around 1 ring
* **12:55:** Siren
* **12:58:** Vent from the right original chill vent position
* **13:01:36:** Water deluge started under the pad
* **13:01:52-58:** Static fire of a single engine
* **13:04:** Depress vent, now sideways!
* **14:09:** B9 entered hwy 4
* **14:13:** Detank
* **15:20:** Cars to pad
* **16:07:** B9 arrived at launch site
* **16:11:** Road opened

A video of the static fire by SpaceX:

### 26 January 2023 - Roll Back

On 26 January 2023, SpaceX rolled S24 back to the rocket garden for final preparations ahead of an orbital flight. Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **08:35:** S24 started to move towards hwy 4
* **08:58:** Rolled out launch site
* **10:35:** Arrived at build site and entered Remedios avenue
* **11:04:** Arrived at rocket garden

### 31 March - 01 April 2023 - Roll Out

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* **08:51:** SPMTs and counterweights moved to rocket garden
* As of **17:20:** Counterweights loaded on SPMTs in the transport position [Starship Gazer]
* **23:27:** Roll out started
* **00:07:** Entered Hwy 3
* **00:55:** Arrived at launch site

### Full Stack III and IV

#### 11-12 April 2023 - Destacking

Destacked for FTS installation. See Starship 7/24 article

## References

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4ebfRG16nM
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1536896085557399552/photo/1
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1587098804452573186/photo/1
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1532510690665283584
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1544052094419832836/photo/1
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/CSI\_Starbase/status/1567989756184887297
7. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1568012966989299712
8. ↑ https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1603488658085945344