Booster 20 into Cryogenic Testing ahead of Starship Flight 13

Date:
Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:59:37 +0000

Description:
Starship Flight 12 may have only recently concluded, but SpaceXs Starbase teams are already deep The post Booster 20 into Cryogenic Testing ahead of Starship Flight 13 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Starship Flight 12 may have only recently concluded, but SpaceXs Starbase teams are already deep into preparations for the next integrated flight test.

The latest milestone involves the rollout of Booster 20 (B20), the Super
Heavy booster assigned to Flight 13, as it moved from Megabay 1 to Masseys test site and has begun cryogenic proof testing campaign.



The booster was lifted onto the cryogenic test stand and transported via
SPMTs to the test area, where it joined existing test articles.

While the move itself was largely routine, it was not without minor drama:
one of the SPMTs experienced power pack issues en route, prompting teams to swap out units on both transporters before completing the journey. Starship Booster 20 has made it to Masseys after rolling out from the production site overnight, for its cryo testing campaign, ahead of Flight 13. Interestingly the roll took much longer then normal, as the SPMTs broke down a few times, forcing a extended stop, and the booster pic.twitter.com/LAX8bebBhJ

Elisar Priel (@ENNEPS) June 5, 2026



Test Articles Active at Masseys

B20 is not the only hardware at Masseys. The forward section test article B18.3, which is evaluating Block 3 hardware, including the integrated hot-staging ring and updated grid fin slots, conducted its 20th test.

Meanwhile, the dedicated landing tank test article completed just its second test, underscoring the stepped approach SpaceX is taking to validate new
Block 3 features. Cryogenic testing on B20 will focus on verifying the structural integrity of the liquid oxygen and methane tanks under extreme
cold temperatures, while also checking the performance of internal systems, including COPVs, piping, valves, and sensors.

This phase is critical for ensuring the booster can safely handle propellant loads before any engine firings.

B20 rolled out without several key components, such as grid fins, the liquid oxygen quick-disconnect cover, and all 33 Raptor engines were absent. This is standard for cryo campaigns, as the tests do not require engine operation or aerodynamic surfaces. Booster 20 comes out of Mega Bay 1 and heads to
Massey's for its initial round of cryo tests. Flight 13 preparations are underway! @NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com/ejwKIJRyB7

Ceaser G (@CeaserG33) June 5, 2026



SpaceX is expected to conduct between two and four cryogenic tests on B20, with four representing the upper end of the range seen on recent boosters
like B19. Historical norms hovered around two tests, but the program
continues to refine its approach with each new vehicle.

Path to Static Fire

Once cryogenic testing concludes, B20 will return to the production site for data review. Any anomalies will be addressed before the vehicle transitions into static fire preparation. At that stage, crews will install the Raptor engines and grid fins.

The Block 3 grid fins are particularly significant, as they incorporate the lift and catch points that will enable the Mechazilla tower arms to lift and ultimately catch the booster, although Flight 13 is expected to be a water splashdown. Parallel work is underway on what is the upper stage, the Ship.

Ship 40 (S40) remains inside Megabay 2, where it has spent an extended period following the completion of its own cryogenic testing in early May.

In recent days, technicians have begun rolling in the three Raptor 3
sea-level engines and three Raptor vacuum engines for installation. The prolonged stay in the bay may reflect a deliberate pause to incorporate lessons from Flight 12 before finalizing the vehicle configuration.

Streamlined Testing for Ship 40

Ship 40 is expected to have a noticeably shorter engine test campaign than
its predecessor, Ship 39. As the first ship to fly with Raptor 3 engines,
Ship 39 underwent extensive ground testing: a spin prime, additional diagnostic tests, a six-engine static fire, a wet dress rehearsal, and a
final igniter test. Much of that rigor was driven by the introduction of the new engine variant.

With real-world flight data now available from Flight 12, SpaceX can likely streamline S40s campaign. A spin prime or similar low-risk test is still probable ahead of the full six-engine static fire. One open question is whether S40 will perform a dedicated single-engine static fire.

Such tests were routine on Block 2 ships (S33S38) to help validate in-space relight capability. Ship 39 skipped the test, yet an in-space relight
remained a mission objectiveultimately unachieved due to an engine-out event during ascent. Whether Flight 13 planners will reintroduce the ground test remains to be seen.

Looking Ahead to Flight 13

Once both B20 and S40 complete their respective test campaigns and return to the production bays, teams will conduct final pre-flight checkouts, load flight software, and prepare the integrated stack.

A wet dress rehearsal at the orbital launch pad is a distinct possibility prior to launch, continuing the methodical approach that has characterized recent flights.



The timeline remains fluid, as is typical in Starships rapid development cycle, but the concurrent progress on both vehicles suggests Flight 13 could follow Flight 12 more closely than previous intervals, with launch currently projected as between July and August.

Also, the much-awaited double rollout of booster and ship down Highway 4 remains a hopeful prospect.

Lead Image: Ceaser G for NSF.



The post Booster 20 into Cryogenic Testing ahead of Starship Flight 13 appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/06/booster-20-cryogenic-testing-ahead-fli ght-13/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Science News (1337:1/100)