SN20/Ship 20

### Engines

all 6 installed and removed again; some installed and removed again; all installed again

## Milestones

### First static fire

21 October 2021; 12 November 2021 6 engines

## Starship development

### See also

B4, Starship 4/20

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Starship 20 (SN20 or S20) is a decommissioned starship second stage prototype currently located in the rocket garden. Originally intended to be the first ship to fly on an orbital attempt alongside B4, it was spotted on 7 March 2021 and underwent assembly until reaching its final stacking phase in July 2021. However, plans changed when Elon Musk announced the use of Raptor 2 engines and new prototypes for the first orbital flight, retiring S20 and B4.

Elon Musk confirmed on 30 March 2021 that SN20 would have significant improvements, including orbital capability with a heat shield and stage separation system. However, multiple flight attempts would be needed for SN20+ vehicles to survive Mach 25 entry heating and land intact. SN20 represents the first prototype of the third batch of fully stacked Starships, following SN8-11 and SN15-16.

## History

The first part of Ship 20, the leg skirt, was spotted on 07 March 2021, followed by the forward dome a month later. Most parts have been spotted by May and assembly in June/July. On 5 August 2021 the Ship rolled out to the launch site. S20 was stacked on B4 for a fit check on 6 August 2021 befor being removed again on the same day and returned to the Highbay for final construction. Soon, work on the TPS head shield tiles began: they were marked and some had to be replaced, a work that lasted more than a month. On 13 August 2021, S20 moved back to the launch site and was installed on Pad B on 17 August 2021.

Work on the TPS tiles continued for one month since then. On 27 September 2021, Ship 20 underwent a pneumatic (ambient) proof test and was cryo proof tested for a first time. Some TPS tiles were lost during a header tank went. A more rigorous cryo proof test was conducted on 29 September 2021. After that, Rvac5 (a vacuum Raptor engine with reduced bell size for sea level testing) and a SL Raptor have been installed for the Preburner test (Rvac5) on 18 October 2021 and the two static fires on 21 October 2021.

According to FCC documents, SpaceX planned to use SN20 for a first orbital flight attempt in summer 2021. NSF author Chris Bergin, citing undisclosed sources, added that their goal was to use BN3 for this attempt. The date was posponed several times and plans were updated to use Starship 4/20 for a first flight. In 2022 however, SpaceX decided to focus their work on upgrading the launch infrastructure. This resulted in them using the upgraded Starship 7/24 instead for OFT-1 in April 2023.

## Timeline

* 07 March 2021: Leg skirt spotted
* 07 Apr 2021: Fwd dome spotted
* 11 Apr 2021: Leg skirt spotted (again)
* 15 Apr 2021: Fwd dome spotted (again)
* 15 Apr 2021: Comn dome barrel? section spotted (3-ring)
* 27 Apr 2021: Aft dome being constructed
* 07 May 2021: Mid LOX section (4-ring stack) spotted
* 16 May 2021: MID-LOX and Leg skirt spotted (again)
* 17 May 2021: SN20 fwd dome outside tents (not stacked yet)
* 19 May 2021: Nosecones in tent 3 [SN17?, SN20?]
* 21 May 2021: Marcus House: Combinations SN20-BN3, SN21-BN4, SN22-BN5, SN23-BN6, then major upgrades for SN24-BN7
* 21 May 2021: GSE aft section (3-ring) with reinforcement and lead ins next to SN20 cmn dome [GSE5?]
* 21 May 2021: Common dome spotted (3-ring), covered in TPS tile attachment pegs, with lead ins, CH4 header visible
* 23 May 2021: Aft dome near high bay
* 23 May 2021: New Starship [5-?] ring section with a lot of TPS tiles in a new arrangement and lead-ins moved out of mid bay [SN20?]
* 24 May 2021: Common dome with CH4 header tank still outside tents
* 27 May 2021: Starship 3-ring common dome full with TPS mounting pins [SN20?]
* 27 May 2021: Starship 3-ring common dome full with TPS mounting pins [SN20?]
* 29 May 2021: Starship fwd dome (stacked and flipped) hooked to crane [SN20??]
* 04 June 2021: [SN20?] nosecone and barrel section still outside tent three
* 05 June 2021: "aft" dome spotted
* 11 June 2021: Thrust/aft dome sleeved (with 3-ring stack)
* 16 June 2021: Aft dome moved around
* 19 June 2021: Aft section in tent 1 [vid20]
* 24 June 2021: SN20/S20 aft dome in tent
* 03 July 2021: Common dome (3-ring stack) with lead-ins and TPS-tile cover spotted (passive pressure relief valve on it); hooked to crane and lifted into mid bay for stacking it onto Mid-LOX section (header tank visible)
* 04 July 2021: Mid LOX section with tiles spotted on July 2 during lift into mid bay [Maria Pointer]
* 06 July 2021: Single ring section stacked onto 2-ring section infront of tents [SN20/S21 aft section used on June 30??]
* 07 July 2021: GSE3 (fully stacked) and SN20 (two sections) now in mid bay
* 12 July 2021: Ring section likely for TPS tiles testing spotted [NSF: possibly for SN20/S20]
* 12 July 2021: Booster section attached to flipping jig inside high bay [B4?]; later flipped [vid 13] [why booster; could it be SN20?]
* 13 July 2021: Leg skirt with lead-ins (fewer than with old sections)(2-ring stack) moved; covered TPS tiles attachment pins; lifted onto a mount
* 13 July 2021: Thrust section outside tent 1 (3-ring stack, with access hole)
* 13 July 2021: Thrust section stacked onto leg skirt
* 14 July 2021: 07.2021 Aft flap delivered [SN20?]
* 14 July 2021: Nosecone spotted: new forward flap mounting jig design; lots of TPS pin attachments; four port RCS thruster (vs 3 on previous SNs); superman logo near top of flap mounting jig
* 14 July 2021: Work in mid bay continued
* 16 July 2021: S20? aft flap with TPS tiles spotted; the first time with curved tiles like this [!]
* 22 July 2021: Thrust section (5-ring section) moved into mid bay, connection point for GSE fuelling arm visible for the first time
* 23 July 2021: S20? nosecone with TPS mount points in tent 3
* 23 July 2021: SN20/S20 under construction in mid bay (at least 16 rings tall)
* 23 July 2021: Tank section now fully stacked
* 25 July 2021: Work in mid bay continued with several man lifts up
* 25 July 2021: Nosecone barrel section prepared for TPS tiles, with lead ins, possibly for SN20/S20
* 26 July 2021: Nosecone barrel section with TPS base layer (for SN20/S20?) lifted into windbreak
* 27 July 2021: WAI internal SpaceX info: B4/S20 [SN20] ready on OLM by August 5th as internal goal!
* 29 July 2021: Nosecone with blankets and TPS tiles rolled outside tent (likely for SN20/S20)
* 29 July 2021: Aft flap installation rig moved inside mid bay and affixed to the ship for flap installation
* 29 July 2021: Fwd flap delivered to build site (SN20?)
* 30 July 2021: Nosecone: TPS tiles being installed; aft flaps moved near tents
* 30 July 2021: Ship aerocover unloaded (SN20?)
* 31 July 2021: Nosecone stacked onto barrel section at wind break; quadratic TPS heat shield tiles spotted near the flap attachment rig; lead-ins removed after the two parts have been welded together
* 31 July 2021: Tank section work in mid bay continued
* 31 July 2021: First aft flap installed in mid bay
* 01 Aug 2021: First forward flap attached to nosecone; smaller sice visible; work on the TPS tiles installation continued
* 02 Aug 2021: Nosecone: TPS tiles installation continued
* 02 Aug 2021: Rolled out of mid bay, nearly fully covered with TPS tiles on one site (still some needed near the section welds)
* 02 Aug 2021: Aft flap installed (with TPS tiles)
* 02 Aug 2021: Second fwd flap installed, second aft flap installed
* 03 Aug 2021: Work continued outside high bay
* 03 Aug 2021: Moved into high bay ahead of nosceone stacking
* 03 Aug 2021: RV5 and another RVac engine moved towards Starship SN20/S20 for a fit check. They were installed that day.
* 03 Aug 2021: Nosecone moved and stopped just outside lowbay, more TPS tiles added; later moved to high bay for stacking as well
* 03 Aug 2021: All six Raptor engines (3SL, 3Rvac) have been installed [Musk]
* 04 Aug 2021: Nosecone lifted into high bay; stacked at 4:11 am
* 04 Aug 2021: Unhooked from bridge crane, now fully assembled!
* 05 Aug 2021: **SN20/S20 and GSE6 [NSF]/GSE3 [LP] rolled out to OLS** [apparently it was GSE3, vid 07]
* 05 Aug 2021: Attached to LR11350
* 05 Aug 2021: Lift scrubbed due to high winds
* 06 Aug 2021: More TPS tiles installed
* **06 Aug 2021: Stacked onto B4 by LR11350, fully assembled rocket for the first time ever!!**
* 06 Aug 2021: Removed from B4 by LR11350 after first fit check for final construction, touch-down at 9:45 am
* **06 Aug 2021: Moved back to build site; into high bay; hooked to bridge crane**
* 07 Aug 2021: Rvac engines removed and moved around
* 07 Aug 2021: Sea level raptor engines removed
* 08 Aug 2021: Colored labels attached to TPS tiles, likely to indicate damage that needs repairs
* 09 Aug 2021: More TPS tiles marked
* 10 Aug 2021: More colored labels attached to TPS tiles
* 11 Aug 2021: Moved out of the high bay to prepare it for B4; positioned outside mid bay
* 11 Aug 2021: Work on TPS tiles continued (labels)
* 12 Aug 2021: TPS tiles inspection/repair work continued; blue markings "E1", "E2" seen
* 12 Aug 2021: TPS tile replacement began
* 13 Aug 2021: Prepared for roll out
* 13 Aug 2021: A lot of TPS tiles removed from nosecone barrel section
* **13 Aug 2021: SN20/S20 moved back to launch site; arrived at 11:57am**
* 15 Aug 2021: TPS tiles work continued; also some work on external wiring
* 15 Aug 2021: Work continued during the night [vid 16]
* 16 Aug 2021: Work on raceway (electrical wiring) continued
* 17 Aug 2021: Prepared for move to SoLS pad B for testing (ambient and cryo proof/pressure testings expected); work through access hole
* **17 Aug 2021: Moved towards pad B; lifted onto the pad by LR11000 (6:13pm)**
* 18 Aug 2021: At least two Rvac engines that were installed on SN20/S20 left Boca Chica
* 18 Aug 2021: Still hooked to LR11000
* 19 Aug 2021: Still attached to LR11000, still a lot of green and red labels on TPS tiles
* 19 Aug 2021: Disconnected from LR11000 at 3.08 pm
* 22 Aug 2021: SN20/S20 still with a lot of labels on TPS tiles
* 23 Aug 2021: TPS tiles work continued
* 25 Aug 2021: TPS tiles work continued, still a lot of red labels; new red labels added near aft flap
* 26 Aug 2021: Work continued
* 27 Aug 2021: Work continued
* 28 Aug 2021: Work on TPS tiles continued
* 29 Aug 2021: Work continued
* 31 Aug 2021: Still awaiting testing on Pad A; work on TPS tiles continued
* 02 Sep 2021: SN20/S20 prepared for upcoming cryo tests
* 02 Sep 2021: TPS tiles work continued
* 03 Sep 2021: Work continued
* 04 Sep 2021: Work on aft section (manlifts going up under skirt) continued as well as on TPS tiles; more work through the access port
* 05 Sep 2021: Work under skirt ahead of Raptor installation
* 05 Sep 2021: TPS tiles replacement continued
* 06 Sep 2021: Raptor engines being installed (RSL); work on TPS tiles continued, now blue and turquoise markings appeared
* 06 Sep 2021: Work near/through access hatch
* 06 Sep 2021: Work on Raptor engine at launch site ahead of installation on SN20/S20
* 07 Sep 2021: Work on TPS tiles continued; coloured labels slowly getting less
* 08 Sep 2021: Work continued in several areas
* 08 Sep 2021: Damaged TPS tiles replacement continued, most marked tiles have been replaced or repaired; work in the engine bay
* 10 Sep 2021: Rvac engine arrived at launch site at 1:36 am; fitted on SN20/S20 at 4:22 am
* 11 Sep 2021: Work on TPS tiles seems quite complete by now, a few missing on the top of the nosecone, especially around the crane attachment points
* 12 Sep 2021: TPS tiles work continued; hatch was closed
* 14 Sep 2021: Hatch opened for work; TPS tiles looking nearly fully repaired
* 15 Sep 2021: Work continued; manlifts up at access hatch; TPS work continued as well, some markings and missing tiles in the aft area; Raptor engine installation
* 16 Sep 2021: Work inside the aft section
* 17 Sep 2021: Work continued (access hatch open, work inside)
* 19 Sep 2021: Work under aft section
* 23 Sep 2021: Cryo pipes installed to test stand [?]
* 24 Sep 2021: RVac puck shucking equipment for SN20/S20 returned to launch site, installed under Ship on test stand B, with center engine thrust pucker
* 26 Sep 2021: Worked on
* 27 Sep 2021: Prepared for testing; thrust simulator has been installed earlier; work around the quick disconnect fitting
* **27 Sep 2021: Pneumatic (ambient) proof test (some TPS tiles lost) and cryo proof test**
* 28 Sep 2021: Testing scrubbed
* 29 Sep 2021: Work continued ahead of testing
* **29 Sep 2021: SN20/S20 cryo proof test**
* 01 Oct 2021: Venting
* 01 Oct 2021: Thrust ram removed from engine section/pad B
* 03 Oct 2021: Work in aft section
* 03 Oct 2021: Aft flaps opened during flap test [vid 04]
* 11 Oct 2021: Rvac5 engine installed on SN20/S20
* 12 Oct 2021: Work continued on aft section, Rvac5 installation completed
* 13 Oct 2021: Overpressure notice for today's SN20/S20 static fire attempt issued
* 13 Oct 2021: Work in the aft skirt area ahead of potential static fire
* 13 Oct 2021: RC for today cancelled, SN20/S20 static fire NET Thursday
* 13 Oct 2021: NOTMAR posted for October 14 for potential SN20/S20 static fire; Alert notice issued
* 14 Oct 2021: Work inside aft skirt continued
* **14 Oct 2021: Scrubbed static fire attempt**
* 15 Oct 2021: Work under aft skirt continued, as well as through top hatch
* 17 Oct 2021: Work in skirt area
* 17 Oct 2021: Work through upper hatch
* 18 Oct 2021: Alert notice issued to Boca Chica residents for possible SN20/S20 static fire today between 4pm-1am (later corrected to 5pm-midnight); NOTMAR issued
* **18 Oct 2021: Preburner test of Rvac5, vents around nosecone! [vid 19]**
* 18 Oct 2021: No big apparent damage to TPS, most tiles missing were missing before test [vid19]
* 19 Oct 2021: Evaporator at SoLS tank farm in action after SN20/S20 test
* 19 Oct 2021: Work around/in aft section
* 21 Oct 2021: Work continued
* **21 Oct 2021: Static fire #1 (Rvac5) and #2 (Rvac5 and SL raptor)[65]**, at least 8 tiles lost during fires [see vid 22]
* 22 Oct 2021: Three RC installed late in the eventing/early next morning
* 23 Oct 2021: B4 and SN20/S20 worked on
* 24 Oct 2021: Work continued, aft section and in engine area
* 25 Oct 2021: Work in engine area continued
* 26 Oct 2021: SN20/S20 has now 3 SL and one Rvac engine installed
* 28 Oct 2021: Work at engine section continued
* 28 Oct 2021: Rvac6 (label: "SN6")and Rvac7 (label: RV7") moved form production site to SN20/S20 at the launch site; Rvac6 lifted into aft section for first fit check, lowered again
* 29 Oct 2021: Rvac6 installed, Rvac7 waiting for installation; later Rvac7 installed as well
* 30 Oct 2021: Work around engines continued; all engines have been installed (RVac5, RVac6, RVac7, RC81, RC?, RC?)
* 31 Oct 2021: Work continued, especially in engine area
* 03 Nov 2021: Work on TPS tiles near aft flap
* 05 Nov 2021: Equalized pressure by venting ambient air; work on it continued
* 06 Nov 2021: Aft section work continued
* 09 Nov 2021: Work at aft section
* 09 Nov 2021: NOTMAR posted for November 10, Alert notice issued for potential SN20/S20 static fire
* 11 Nov 2021: Alert notice delivered to residence for possible SN20/S20 static fire on 12 November
* **12 Nov 2021: Perburner test and Static Fire #3 (first one with all six engines, more tiles lost)**
* 13 Nov 2021: Work in engine area
* **15 Nov 2021: Aft flaps tested**
* 17 Nov 2021: Work at engine area
* 18 Nov 2021: Aft section work continued
* **19 Nov 2021: Fwd and aft flaps tested**
* 20 Nov 2021: SN20/S20 and B4 (inspection) work
* 21 Nov 2021: Work on engine section continue
* 22 Nov 2021: Work on cables leading to raceway continued as well as on engine section
* 27 Nov 2021: Work continued through access hatch and on engine section
* 28 Nov 2021: Work near aft flaps
* 30 Nov 2021: Work on TPS tiles; all tiles have been replaced or repaired except those near the header tank vent; work on the engine section
* 30 Nov 2021: Aft section work continued
* 30 Nov 2021: Alert notice for SN20/S20 static fire attempt isssued to residents; as well as NOTMAR posted
* **01 Dec 2021: Aborted static fire attempt**
* **01 Dec 2021: Header tank test**
* 02 Dec 2021: Fwd and aft flaps tested and opened at 12:40
* 03 Dec 2021: Fwd and aft flaps have been opened (Starship Gazer)
* 04 Dec 2021: Work on extended flaps; fuelling adapter closeup; engine section worked on
* 06 Dec 2021: Work on engine section
* 07 Dec 2021: Work through access hole
* 08 Dec 2021: Flaps still remained open
* 09 Dec 2021: Work on engine section and through access hole
* 11 Dec 2021: Work on a cover above QD; nosecone hatch closed
* 13 Dec 2021: Two red/orange boxes installed [later two more added]
* 14 Dec 2021: Some tiles are brown; cable attached on lower section onto TPS tiles; attach points being removed!; work at engine section
* 15 Dec 2021: Work at the ex attach points
* 16 Dec 2021: Work on engine section, parts added
* 17 Dec 2021: Work in engine section
* 18 Dec 2021: Work at engine section
* 23 Dec 2021: TPS tiles placed over the crane attach points "this could be for a full up test of the heat shield during a static fire" [NSF]
* 27 Dec 2021: Alert notice and NOTMAR issued for static fire attempt
* 28 Dec 2021: **Scrubbed static fire attempt**
* 28 Dec 2021: Alert notice issued for S20 static fire attempt
* 29 Dec 2021: Venting early morning
* 29 Dec 2021: Flaps tested
* **29 Dec 2021: Static fire #4 and scrubbed attempt**
* 03 Jan 2022: Tiles being removed again at the nosecone lift points after the static fire
* 03 Jan 2022: **Liftting points reinstalled**
* 06 Jan 2022: Work on fwd flaps
* 09 Jan 2022: Worked on
* 11 Jan 2022: Work continued
* 17 Jan 2022: LR11000X moved towards SN20/S20
* 17 Jan 2022: Lifting squid attached; work on QD area on Pad B (disconnected from GSE connections); connected to LR11000X
* 19 Jan 2022: Ship QD transport stand positioned next to S20/SN20 at 9:37am
* 20 Jan 2022: Still hooked to LR11000X on Pad B; transport stand next to it
* 22 Jan 2022: Crane rigging from LR11000X detached and reattached from/to SN20/S20
* 22 Jan 2022: SN20/S20 disconnected (8:19am) and reconnected to LR11000X at 10:31am, **lifted from pad B on to transport stand with QD** at 11:42-57am
* 23 Jan 2022: S20 rigging and LR11000X disconnected; **moved next to OLM**
* 26 Jan 2022: Work around and on quick disconnect
* 27 Jan 2022: OLS: Excavators work around SN20/S20 base
* 28 Jan 2022: OLS tank farm venting: both subcooler areas, near SN20/S20 stand, south berm; OLM vented for a long time (vent below QD lines); subcoolers frosted up after testing
* 08 Feb 2022: Work on QD; took them very long to disconnect the ship from the stand QD
* 08 Feb 2022: Moved into position for **stacking**
* 09 Feb 2022: Has moved between the chopsticks; chopsticks moved up to lifting points, later lowered again; S20 opened aft flaps (fwd flaps already opened)
* 09 Feb 2022: **SN20/S20 stacking operations by chopsticks [vid 10]**
* 10 Feb 2022: **SN20/S20 stacking operations by chopsticks; second full starship stack**
* 10 Feb 2022: Ship QD extended and attached to SN20/S20
* 10 Feb 2022: Work around S20/B4 interface; chopsticks stabilization arms removed from S20
* 10 Feb 2022: Chopsticks disconnected from SN20/S20 and opened up [seen in vid 11]
* 11 Feb 2022: Chopsticks closed and lifted towards SN20/S20 lifting points; not yet attached
* 14 Feb 2022: Starship 4/22: SN20/S20 **destacked** from B4 by chopsticks during road closure (RC 10:27am, pad cleared 10:52am, road opened 2:01pm, QD arm back into position at 2:15 8:09pm detached from chopsticks); some OLS tank farm ventig ahead of destacking and ship transport stand moved into position; ship QD arm retracted for operation
* 15 Feb 2022: Moved away from chopsticks to its cryo stand at south of the OLS tank farm
* 16 Feb 2022: Transport stand QD connected to S20; **cryo proof test on OLS cryo pad**, frost on both tanks, engine chill vents inside flaps; possibly testing the full OLS tank farm system including LCH4 side
* 17 Feb 2022: **SN20/S20 cryo proof test at OLS cryo pad**; full frost on LOX tank; venting from engine chill vents
* 22 Feb 2022: **SN20/S20 and OLS tank farm cryo proof test,** CH4 heat exchangers frosty, as well as LOX and partly CH4 tanks on Ship
* 03 March 2022: **SN20/S20 cryo proof test,** LOX tank fully filled, followed by CH4 tank (likely fully as well)
* 04 March 2022: Work through access hole
* 10 March 2022: Work through access hole, fan used
* 13 March 2022: Moved away from cryo pad and OLIT
* 13 March 2022: Moved to chopsticks [vid 14]
* 14 March 2022: Now at chopsticks, chopsticks closed in later
* 14 March 2022: Ship QD extended (although SN20/S20 not yet stacked)
* 15 March 2022: Prepared for lifting between chopsticks
* 15 March 2022: **SN20/S20 lifted by chopsticks onto B4** for second time, much faster than previously; third full stack; Ship QD arm extended to S20 [cont. vid 16]
* 16 March 2022: Ship QD/SN20/S20 work on QD arm
* 16 March 2022: **Starship 4/20 [B4, S20] cryo test** [with liquid nitrogen], much venting from OLS tank farm (all areas), OLIT vent indicating cryo flow through OLIT, OLM vent, frost on B4 tanks and S20 condensation, first time ship QD active with cryo [vid 17]
* 18 March 2022: **Starship 4/20 [B4/S20] propellant load testing;** OLS tank fram active; unlike a cryo proof test, wher only LN2 is used, here the tanks got filled with propellant (CH4/LOX); B4 LOX and CH4 tanks got frosty, followed by S20 tanks, only partially filled (0.5-2 rings); drone observed the test
* 19 March 2022: QD arm: ship QD retracted from SN20/S20, then arm retracted away from ship ahead of destacking
* 19 March 2022: Starship 4/20: **S20 destacked from B4** by chopsticks, road remained open for the first time
* 20 March 2022: Moved away from chopsticks
* 31 March 2022: S20 (first complete heat shield) is functionally out of date as it can only be launched on B4 and possibly B5

## Gallery

### Construction

First picture: Rollout for assigned booster B4 with S20 in the background.
**Stacking**

First picture: Ship 20 attached to a crane for stacking.
### First full stack on OLM

Fly me to the moon (fully stacked orbital Starship)
## FCC

### 13 May 2021

On May 13, 2021, the FCC released information about "Starship Orbital First Flight", describing the plans for the first orbital flight. This flight is planned NET June 20th (No earlier than), the requested period of operation is June 20 to December 20 of 2021.

Flight profile:

* Start from Boca Chica, TX
* Booster stage separation approximately 170 seconds into flight
* Booster performing a partial return and "land" in the Gulf of Mexico, approx. 20 miles from the shore
* Starship to continue flying between Florida Straits and achieve orbit
* Targeted landing of Starship (upper stage) approx. 100km off the northwest coast of Kauai (Hawaii), soft ocean landing [as known with early Falcon testing], thus some 3/4 around the earth

Detailed flight profile:

* +00s Liftoff
* +169s MECO
* +171s Stage separation
* +176s SES
* +495s Booster touchdown
* +521s SECO
* +5420s Ship splashdown (90m, 20s)

More info:

* Booster apogee: 380160 feet, 115.9 km
* "We need to make sure ship won't break up on reentry, hence deorbit over Pacific" (Elon Musk)

## FAA

On May 14, the FAA added a FAQ page for the ongoing environmental review of the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy project in Boca Chica, Texas. "SpaceX must meet all licensing requirements before Starship/Super Heavy can launch." (Chris B) [FAQ: [1]]

## Design Changes

* First prototype with full TPS tile cover
* Rvac mounts
* QD system [?]
* Black LOX tank hatch with different material
* Covered up FTS
* Lines more tidy

## 27 September 2021 - Pneumatic (ambient) test; Cryo Proof Testing

Testing timeline according to different streams (LabPadre and NSF):

* 14:45 or earlier: Road closed
* 15:00 Tankers at OLS tank farm; bigger of the two small vertical tanks venting (the one with the speakers); hatch closing at S20
* 15:40 Man lift down
* 15:40 Some venting started at the SoLS tank farm
* 15:43 Man lift up again
* 15:59 Second tanker truck left
* 16:03 Man lift down
* 16:52:29 (Nerdle cam): TPS tiles above left fwd flap (looking towards east) blew away, due to LOX header tank vent
* 16:54 S20 dent disappeared
* 17:52 Six additional cars arrived at pad
* 18:56 Pad cleared
* 19:41, 19:43 Ship LOX? venting
* 19:46 More small vents (small CH4?)
* 20:08 Venting from stand lines/around skirt began
* 20:15 Lots of venting around the skirt/thrust pucker; condensation on LOX tank
* 20:25 Fast venting frum thrust pucker area
* 20:35 Venting slowed down
* 20:40 Venting nearly fully stopped; LOX depress vent; some CH4 venting
* 20:45 Short LOX vent
* 20:49 Tank farm venting
* 20:56 Satellite dish lifted
* 21:16 Road opened; huge vent audible
* SoLS tank farm venting continued for a long time

## 28 September 2021 - Scrubbed Testing

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 15:42 Sheriff at road block
* 17:30 Soft road closure (barrier)
* 17:54 Road closed
* 18:44 Road opened

## 29 September 2021 - Cryo proof test

According to Elon Musk, the "Proof was good!"

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 14:58 Soft closure
* 15:44 Road closed
* 17:05 Man lift with workers for hatch closing down
* 17:25 Dog spotted
* 17:41 Lightning alert at pad
* 17:46 Pad cleared
* 17:58 Satellite dish down
* 18:00 Several ventings
* 18:10, 18:14 LOX/CH4 venting
* 18:15 Storm rolled in with heavy rain and lightning
* 19:21 Announcement: Lightning now passed, it is safe to return
* 19:37 Venting again
* 19:38 Skirt venting began (around QD)
* 19:45 Condensation at LOX tank
* 19:50 LOX vent short; CH4 vent; skirt vent decreased
* 20:00 LOX frost beginning to form [is it higher?]
* 20:13 Vent from stand/thrust pucker increased four a short period
* 20:15 Condensation at CH4 tank
* 20:30 Lot condensation on LOX tank, several short vents from CH4 tank
* 20:35 CH4 tank vents continued
* 20:36 LOX frost increasing; CH4 frost beginning to appear (right at the hight of TPS)
* 20:43 CH4 tank vents continued; loud vent later
* 20:50 LOX tank some top frost "Santaclause"
* 21:00 Frost decreased
* 21:08 New vent from the side (right to the FTS) spotted
* 21:12 Unusual vent/condensation from bottom hatch area
* 21:20 LOX tank nearly fully frosty now
* 21:53 Several huge LOX vents; CH4 vents
* 21:54 SoLS tank farm activity started
* 21:55 Side LOX vent
* 22:03 More frost on CH4 tank; drone?; no more vent from hatch
* 22:10 Frost falling off from LOX tank
* 22:43 Satellite dish moving northwards
* 23:00 CH4 tank frost increased slightly
* 23:07 Huge LOX and CH4 vents
* 23:38 Big depress vents from LOX and CH4 tanks; frost decreasing
* 00:44 Road opened

## 14 October 2021 - Scrubbed Static Fire Attempt

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 16:16 Sheriff arrived
* 16:18 Road closed
* 19:20 Pad cleared
* 20:57 Road opened

## 18 October 2021 - Preburner Test

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams (the indicated times in the stream timelines are found to be a few minutes off):

* 17:00 Road closed
* 20:30? Ground or some continuous SoLS tank farm venting
* 21:41 Pad clear
* 21:49 Drone spotted going up
* 21:58 Drone spotted coming down
* 22:26 Drone spotted again
* 22:27 Recondenser puffs began
* 22:53 Drone spotted again
* 22:58 More venting from recondenser, ground venting around S20
* 23:01 Farm venting spooling up
* 23:13 Recondenser, fuel loading
* 23:18 Clear venting from SN20 under skirt, single tri-vent?, but not very constant
* 23:30 Siren
* 23:39:02 Preburner test of Rvac5, some small fires left over
* 23:42 Huge vent heard
* 00:13 Depress vent
* 00:27 Road opened

## 21 October 2021 - Static Fire #1 and #2

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 16:51 Sheriff at road block
* 17:37 Pad cleared [nerdle cam]
* 17:51 or earlier [on sentinel cam]: Road closed
* 18:31 Recondenser
* 18:36 Tank farm venting (CH4?)
* 18:37 Ground vent
* 18:47:57 Puffs from S20 skirt - propellant load began
* 18:48 Tank farm venting increased a lot
* 18:49 QD vent
* 18:56 Skirt vent increased, some venting from the ground around the pad
* 19:00:50 Engine chill (single)
* 19:05 Dog spotted at road block
* 19:06 Siren
* 16:15:45 Water deluge!!!
* 19:16:15 Rvac5 static fire (clearly on south side of S20 on rover cam), without spurt; no visible condensation, much plume ahead of fire; some things fell of from middle of hull (possibly TPS?, rover cam)
* 19:16 Engine chill continued, no huge depress
* 19:23 Huge skirt venting
* 19:48:28 Second static fire aborted, planned for both engines (plumes visible for Rvac first, followed by SL 0.5 secs later); followed by fast venting from skirt vent
* 19:56 Skirt venting/chill began to increase again
* 20:18:24 Second static fire, Rvac5 and SL Raptor (some fire until 18:40, again something falling off)
* 20:21 Depress vent, vents from skirt; continuous small venting
* 20:29 Condensation beginning to form on LOX tank
* 21:23 Road opened

A video of the first static fire of Rvac5 can be found on SpaceX's twitter: https://twitter.com/i/status/1451350259729420288.

## 12 November 2021 - Preburner Test and Static Fire #3

Since the last static fire, the four missing engines have been installed. All six engines have been fired during this test for the first time ever.

Timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 06:23 Sheriff at road block
* 08:00 Announcement "Pad clear in 30 minutes"
* 08:11 Road closed
* 08:45 Pad clear (no more care seen later)
* 08:47 LOX? tank venting; as well as OLS tank farm GSE1/S5 (LN2)
* 08:51 Ground vent (only short) (LOX overpressure vent)
* 08:54 More venting around LOX tank
* 09:15 Grass venting again for short
* 09:50 B2.1 and GSE4 on the move
* 10:04 Recondenser
* 10:07 Tank farm activity (LOX tank)
* 10:09 Lot ground vent
* 10:21:30 Skirt puffs (condensation) - prop load
* 10:38 "Prop load" according to LP timeline
* 10:42 Condensation on LOX tank starting to form
* 10:49 Short CH4 vent
* 11:02:13 (:30 on Rover) Engine chill (Bi-Vent)
* 11:07 Siren
* 11:15 Constant puffs
* 11:18 1.5 rings now frosty frost
* 11:20:59 (Nerdle, NSF; 21:12 on Rover) Preburner test with huge fireball
* 11:22:52 Bi-vent increased again, no depress yet
* 11:30 Bi vent pulsing again
* 11:41:15 (21 on rover) Possibly aborted static fire/preburner attempt (at least 4 plumes seen)
* 11:43 Whole LOX tank now with condensation (still 1.5 rings frost)
* 12:03 Vent from upper right aft flap
* 12:06 Siren
* 12:07 LOX tank now full frost
* 12:13:31/32 (Rover) Deluge system
* 12:13:41 (54 on Rover) 6 engine Static Fire, some tiles lost (at least 9)
* 12:16 Recondenser started again
* 12:17:57 Depress vent; LOX frost beginning to disappear
* 12:24 Vent stack venting
* 12:30 Atlas dog spotted
* 13:24 Road opened for roll out GSE4 and B2.1
* 13:48 Road opened

Elon Musk wrote, responding to Chris Bergin - NSF: "Good static fire with all six engines!". Thus he confirmed the full 6 engine static fire.

* 45-50 mins Recondenser; constant white cloud from right side of the three black tanks

## 01 December 2021 - Scrubbed Static Fire; Nosecone Vent; B2.1 Test

A quite new fuelling procedure was observable with very early "tri"/bi-vent and a new, upwards facing, vent near the lower access hole. After detank, SpaceX startet testing the B2.1 test tank on the booster test stand, followed by something that could have been a nosecone header tank test on the Ship. It was the first time, both tank farms were simultanously active for a testing purpose.

Timeline according to LabPadre (LabCam time ahead of time) and NSF livestreams:

* Before 09:32 Sherrif at road block, one dish down
* 10:26 Pad clear?
* 10:39 Short vent, some venting from SoLS tank farm LOX tank
* 10:49 Short LOX vent again; continued to vent sporadically
* 11:33 Ground vent
* 11:34 Long CH4 tank vent on S20 (2-3 minutes)
* 10:37 Ground vent; continued in short intervals
* 11:39 Again some S20 venting in shorter intervals
* 11:50 Recondenser
* 11:52 Tank farm activity
* 11:53 Ground vent
* 12:03 Aft flap vents (two, look like small tri-vent)
* 12:12? Skirt vent
* 12:24 Huge bi-vent by now
* 12:26 Frost/condensation appearing on lower LOX tank
* 12:30 Much vent
* 12:47 Venting noise
* 12;51 Frost above hatch
* 12:51:49 Pulsing started
* 12:55 Vapor dump at skirt
* 12:56 Siren announced
* 13:00 Frost at least 1.5 rings on LOX tank
* 13:02:50 unusual upwards facing vent (near the right bi-vent)
* 13:18:50 Abort: LOX 18:55 and CH4 19:04 depress vents until 19:27
* 13:24 Full condensation (typical for detank); Tank farm activity looking like spooling down (CH4 vent, flair stack vent!)
* 13:42 Methane flair stack vent again; detanking
* 13:47 One sheriff car left
* 14:01 Sheriff car returned, the other one left
* 14:36 Frost nearly fully disappeared
* 14:59 Frost fully disappeared; Long double depress vent (3 minutes); followed by some more tests
* 15:17 B2.1 "can crusher" slowly getting frosty; top venting started soon after
* 15:25 Venting from ground around B2.1 started
* 15:29 OLS tank farm activity spotted (likely active earlier) at the 2 CH4 heat exchangers/horizontal CH4 tanks [but no CH4 at the farm yet]
* 15:34 Tank farm activity increased
* 15:39 Second dish went down
* 15:44 S20 aft flap vent began again (bi-vent)
* 15:48 Nosecone header tank vent spotted
* 15:49:40 Header tank vent spooled up a lot
* 15:52:23 Double depress vent (short); nosecone vents stopped
* 16:27 Double depress vent on S20 (about two minutes); CH4 and LOX tanks continued
* 16:35 First dish vent up
* 16:38 Depress vent continued
* 16:41:12 B2.1 Top vent closed; commentator spotted debris falling off the bottom, indicating thrust pucking test
* 16:43 S20 Depress vents
* 16:55 More depress vents
* 17:21 Frost on B2.1 slowly beginning to disappear; OLS tank farm "ground vent" (south of south berm) spotted (LOX or LN2 overpressurization vent)

## 28 December 2021 - Scrubbed Static Fire Attempt

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 10:43 Road closed
* 11:33 SoLS tank farm venting picked up (some minor venting spotted earlier)
* 11:57 Loud venting (likely from vertical LN2 tank near GSE bunker at OLS tank farm)
* 13:23 Road opened

## 29 December 2021 - Static Fire #4; aborted test

Testing timeline according to LabPadre and NSF streams:

* 09:19 or earlier: Road closed
* 10:34 Pad cleared
* 10:52 Recondenser; decreased to few puffs after some minutes
* 10:54 S20 pressure vent
* 10:55 Tank farm activity; minor venting near GSE bunker at OLS tank farm
* 10:56 Ground vent
* 11:12 Venting from SoLS pad B
* 11:14 Small puffs from engine section
* 11:20 Minor pressure venting on LOX tank; engine area venting increased
* 11:23 Recondenser puffs increased to a continuous vent
* 11:28 LOX tank frost ring started
* 11:50:08 Engine chill vent; a lot of venting from frost ring that reached the top of the hatch
* 11:54 Chill vent pulsing began; Siren
* 12:05:11 Deluge system
* 12:05:34 Static fire 1-2 secs, could be all 6 engines (first center plume, at least two rvac plumes seen); some tiles fell off (at least 2-4); tank farm activity spooled down
* 12:08 Drone spotted
* 12:17 Robotic dog Apollo spotted (rover 2.0), pulling a cart with some measurement equipment (gas monitor, honeywell bw rig rat)
* 12:23 Short double vent
* 12:24 Engine chill vent started a bit; LOX tank condensation increased on one side
* 12:25 Tank farm activity started again
* 12:31 Flair stack vent started
* 12:40 Flair stack stopped
* 13:57 Depress vents for a few minutes
* 14:45 Recondenser puffs started again
* 14:52 Ground vent; tank farm activity
* 15:01 S20 venting
* 15:05 venting again; Puffs from engine section started
* 15:20 Recondenser started again
* 15:25 Frost ring started
* 15:47 Engine chill
* 15:52 Siren
* 16:02:26 Deluge system
* 16:02:50 Aborted static fire (looked like all 6 engines plume)
* 16:09:26 Engine chill started again
* 16:30 Condensation covering full LOX tank (indicates some depress?)
* 16:52 Double depress vent
* xxx Closure extended until 8pm
* 17:04 Flair stack venting started
* 18:27 Depress vent
* 19:27 Road opened

## 08-10 February 2022 - Stacking

{{Main|Starship 4/20}}

Timeline according to LabPadre, NSF, Stargazer and Ocean Cam (for audio) streams:

08 February

* 07:04 bumpers on ship QD arm removed by LR11000X
* New starship lifting pins installed on chopsticks
* 12:15 S20 disconnected from presurization system (stand QD)
* 15:00 Stabilization claws holding onto B4
* 17:42 S20 slightly moved away from cryo mount
* 20:13 Chopsticks arms opened slightly, S20 SPMT raised for transport
* 20:14-20:36 S20 moved towards chopstics and into position between chopsticks
* 21:38 Chopsticks moved upwards to the lifting points of S20

09 February

* 03:51 Pad announcment: "We are 15 minutes from clearing the orbital pad for ship proof"
* 05:08 Intermittent RC (Starship Gazer remained on beach site)
* Venting noised, from SoLS and from OLS tank farm
* 06:43? Road opened
* 09:15 Lift up to top of booster
* 9:32 Sheriff closing beach and area; Stargazer has to leave
* 9:35 Work on QD clamps (retracted from booster), with welding/cutting; as well as on ship QD
* 10:31 PA: "Attention orbital pad: 30 minutes till pad clear, 30 minutes till pad clear" (Road block not active!)
* 10:36 Road closure? Somewhere on hwy 4 (further down the road than usual)
* 10:45 PA "Attention orbital pad: 15 minutes till pad clear, 15 minutes till pad clear"
* 10:48 Lift down from the top of booster
* 10:54:55 PA: "Attention orbital pad: Pad clear in 5 minutes, pad clear in 5 minutes"
* 10:57 SpaceX car to pad
* 11:05 Sheriff cars to pad
* 11:05 One satellite dish went down
* 11:07 PA "Attention orbital pad: The orbital pad has ????"
* 11:54 Delivery to launch site, turned back
* 12:12 Still a lot of activity around the pad; pad itself might be clear
* 13:00 LN2/LOX delivery
* 13:01 Left chopstick arm slighly opened (from road)
* 13:04 Sheriff cars left entrance
* 13:06 Cars and many people entered pad; box trucks arrived (possibly to set up presentation); Elon Musk as well?
* 13:08 Chopsticks moved down
* 13:14 People on QD arm
* 13:15 Beach opened
* 14:55 sheriff cars to beach
* 14:57 Beach cleared (Ocean cam, SpaceX IMAX cam operator)
* 14:59 PA: "Attention on the pad: Please clear the area directly under the chopsticks; chopsticks ??? will occur in roughly 30 [seconds/mins]"
* 15:02 Lift from B4 top lowered
* 15:10? Left chopstick arm slightly closed again
* 15:12 Sheriff closed road again (a bit above pad entrance)
* 15:15 Right arm closed a bit
* 15:20 Right arm opened slightly
* 15:27 Crew left QD arm
* 15:30 SpaceX police car arrived pad
* 15:31 PA: "Attention orbital pad: We will be stepping into a software deploy, there will be venting from booster, there will be venting from booster!"
* 15:35 Crews back at ship QD arm
* 16:00 **OLM scaffolding has been removed**
* 16:12 OLM cleared
* 16:25-29 QD stabilization arms retracted
* 16:38 PA "Attention orbital pad: **Pressing up booster 4**, pressing up booster 4"
* 16:40 Ship QD arm claws moved into storage position, fully retracted
* 16:42 Lift again at top of B4
* 16:47 Lift moved down again
* 18:18 Elon Musk on pad
* 18:56-57 Chopsticks rose, drone flying
* 18:59-19:00 Chopsticks began to close (spotlight pointed on stabilization extension pins)
* 19:03 Closed slightly more
* 20:40-43 Ship QD arm retracted
* 20:55 Pad cleared?
* **21:22:22 S20 slightly lifted (a few centimeters)**
* 21:32:28 Right stabilization pin moving in quite fast
* 21:38:30 Moved in
* 21:40:19 Moved in more; then moved down to lock in
* 22:00-05? Left stabilization pin moved in as well
* **22:06:23-43 S20 lifted a few feet to clear the transport stand**
* **22:27:30 S20 final lift started; drone accompanied**
* 22:38:31 Lift paused
* 22:43 Lift continued
* 22:44:52 Reached top
* 23:02:45 Swing started / translating S20 over towards B4; stopped and started again
* 23:07:28 Swing continued
* 23:20 S20 arrived over B4, swing stopped
* 23:21-23:50 QD armd swung towards stack
* 23:24:50 Stabilisation claws starded to extend; continued at 27:52
* 23:36 Claws attached to booster, B4 slightly moved during it
* 23:40 S20 very slowly lowering to B4; at some point an interna light has been turned on

10 February

* 00:44 S20 and B4 stacked [exact time not clear]
* Stabilisation pins have retracted at some point
* 01:31 Road opened
* 02:09-23 Ship QD extended towards S20 with own power
* 02:00 cont: New entrance hut delivered and installed

## 11 February 2022 - Cryo proof test

{{Main|Starship 4/20}}

* 07:13 or earlier: Road closed
* 11:37 Pad cleared
* 11:45 or earlier: Minor venting from between GSE2 and GSE7
* 11:52 Right satellite dish lowered
* 11:53 Venting from between GSE2 and GSE7 increased a bit
* 14:10 Venting noises from unknown source over the next hour
* 15:42 Satellite dish raised
* 15:59 Road opened
* 16:17 Vertical LN2 tank near bunker started to vent

CH4 heat exchangers frosty, as well as LOX and partly CH4 tanks on Ship.

## 14 February 2022 - Destacking

{{Main|Starship 4/20}}

Timeline according to LabPadre (not independently veryfied):

* 08:40 QD arm detached from S20 and B4
* 10:27 Road closed
* 10:52 Pad cleared
* 11:11 S20 has begun lifting off of B4
* 11:37 QD arm retracted
* 12:00 S20 swung clear of B4
* 12:44 S20 touched down on transport stand
* 14:01 Road opened
* 14:15 QD arm moved back into position
* 20:09 S20 detached from chopsticks

## 16 February 2022 - Cryo proof test

Timeline according to LabPadre (not independently veryfied):

* 08:34:27 PA: "Attention on the pad, pad clear in 1 hour for Ship 20 cryo proof, pad clear in 1 hour"
* 09:20 Road closed
* 10:12 Pad cleared
* 10:24 Pressure vent cycle
* 14:43 Farm venting started at LOX side of OLS tank farm
* 16:20 Cryo load
* 16:26 Venting from bottom of OLIT visible
* 16:27 Frost formed on LOX tank

## 17 February 2022 - Cryo proof test

Timeline according to LabPadre (not independently veryfied):

* 08:33:38 PA: "Attention on the pad, pad clear in 1 hour for ship 20 cryo proof."
* 09:15 Road closed
* 10:09 Pad cleared
* 10:39 Farm venting
* 11:26 Cryo load "engine chill vent"
* 11:30-33 Frost began to form on LOX tank
* 15:22 Road opened

## 22 February 2022 - Cryo proof test

Timeline according to LabPadre (not independently veryfied):

* 08:32:45 PA: "Attention Starbase personnel, pad clear in 1 hour"
* 09:28 Road closed
* 12:17 Pad cleared
* 12:31 Farm venting
* 13:20 Cryo load started
* 13:29 Frost line on CH4 and LOX tanks
* 15:33 Detanking started
* 17:40 Road opened

## 03 March 2022 - Cryo proof test

Timeline according to LabPadre (not independently veryfied):

* 09:02 Road closed
* 12:00? Pad cleare as of Cameron County
* 13:09 OLS tank farm venting
* 14:19 Frost formed on S20 methane tank
* 15:45 Loud pop heard
* 17:05 Frost started to decrease
* 18:26 Road opened

The LOX tank was fully filled, followed by CH4 tank (likely fully as well) [with LN2].

## 15 March 2022 - Lift & Full stack

On March 15, 2022, Ship 20 was lifted onto B4 for the third time. For the second time, this operation was done by the chopsticks in a much faster process than previously.

## 16 March 2022 - Starship 4/20 Cryo test

{{Main|Starship 4/20}}

On March 16, 2022, SpaceX conducted a cryo proof test with liquid nitrogen on the full stack. It was the first time the ship QD was active with cryogenics. B4 tanks frosted up partially and S20 tanks got condensation.

## 18 March 2022 - Starship 4/20 Propellant load test

{{Main|Starship 4/20}}

On 18 March 2022, a propellant load test was conducted on the full stack for the first time. Unlike a cryo proof test, where only LN2 is used, here the tanks got filled with propellant (CH4/LOX). The booster 4 LOX and CH4 tanks got frosty, followed by S20 tanks, but only partially. A drone observed the test.

## 19 March 2022: - S20 destacked

{{Main|Starship 4/20}}

On 19 March 2022, Ship 20 was destacked by the chopsticks. It was the first operation of the chopsticks during which the road remained open.

## 11 May 2022 - Roll back

Timeline according to LabPadre discord:

* 09:51 S20 started to move
* 10:07 Entered hwy 4
* 11:47 Turned into Remedios Avenue
* 12:04 Arrived at the rocket garden, where SN16 was before

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1393083299526889473
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1393208058873094151
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1442630681360752640
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1443450539124137986
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jaEeMZqmgc
6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0-QttXZ38
7. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1459223854757277702