https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023...llout-ship-28/
SpaceX Pushes Ahead to Flight 3 with the Rollout of Ship 28
After an exciting and milestone-achieving Flight Test Two, SpaceX is ready to move into Flight Three, with the opening of preflight testing via the rollout of Ship 28 to Suborbital Pad B. This will be the start of what is hoped to be a condensed testing campaign for Ship 28 and Booster 10 ahead of a flight early in 2024.
Ship 28 was rolled to Suborbital Pad B on Dec. 14, 2023, to complete engine testing ahead of a third test flight of the Starship stack. Ship 28 has already completed two cryo proof tests at Masseys before spending 2.5 months on the Ship stand at the Sanchez site receiving its engines and upgrades.
This Ship is expected to have a condensed testing schedule, with possibly a cryo proof, then a six-engine spin prime, and six-engine static fire before being ready for stacking.
Booster 10, the other half of the Flight Three stack, has received its Hot Stage Ring and was placed on the new booster transport stand that SpaceX has been building for the past several months. Booster 10 was then rolled to the Rocket Garden to be staged for rollout to the launch site. Even though the views are limited with the new transport stands, Booster 10 appears to have all of its engines and shielding.
As with ship, Booster 10’s testing is expected to be condensed, possibly only including a cryo proof, a 33 engine spin prime, and then a 33 engine static fire before being ready for flight.
SpaceX is likely aiming for a preflight test campaign that is as short as possible, per future aspirations related to key missions such as NASA HLS (Human Landing System) campaigns. However, there is a chance SpaceX will conduct extra cryo proof testing with Booster 10, and even with a full stack, because of the upgrades they have completed to the Orbital Tank Farm.
These new stands are like a mini OLM (Orbital Launch Mount) where 20 arms and clams can be released simultaneously without manual interaction. The new stands will also make moving and getting boosters ready for stacking onto the OLM much easier…..
Left to Right: S20, S31, S26, B4, and B10 with its HSR