SpaceX Completes Stacking of Super Heavy Booster 19
SpaceX has finished stacking Super Heavy Booster 19 at its Starbase facility in Texas, positioning the vehicle for the program’s next orbital flight test. This assembly follows the failure of Booster 18 during a recent test campaign. Engineers completed the process before the end of December, reducing potential delays to the Starship schedule. Booster 19 incorporates enhancements developed after prior anomalies.
The rapid turnaround demonstrates SpaceX’s production cadence at the South Texas site. Stacking involves integrating the booster’s 33 Raptor engines, propellant tanks, and structural components in the high bay. Teams then transport the fully assembled booster to the orbital launch pad for integration with the upper stage Ship. This milestone supports preparations for Flight 12 in early 2026.
Booster 18 experienced a rupture during a ground test, attributed to issues in the oxygen tank area near cryogenic oxygen pressurization vessels. SpaceX implemented upgrades to tank designs and pressurization systems for subsequent vehicles. Booster 19 benefits from these modifications, including reinforced chines and improved COPV placement. The company aims to minimize recurrence of such failures through iterative testing.
Starship development targets full reusability for both booster and ship stages. Successful catch attempts in previous flights validated tower-based recovery concepts. Booster 19 will pair with an updated Ship variant featuring refined heat shield tiles and control surfaces. Flight 12 plans include booster catch and ship reentry over the Indian Ocean.
This progress aligns with SpaceX’s goal of increasing flight rates to dozens annually. Starbase expansions include new tank farms and launch infrastructure to support higher cadence. NASA monitors developments closely, as Starship serves as the lunar lander for Artemis missions. The stacking completion marks a key step toward resuming integrated flight tests.
