Starship Development Thread #56

threelonmusketeers, 3 days ago (edited 1 day ago)

Starbase activities (2024-06-07):

• Comparatively quiet day.
• R-vac #390 arrives at the Highbay again, is lifted into the Highbay this time, and S30 is lowered onto the engine.
• Launch mount work platform returns to the launch site. Post-launch inspections have already begun.
• Another horizontal tank arrives.
• RGV Aerial post-launch flyover photos of the launch mount.
• Road delay for booster transport to Massey’s seems to have been rescheduled for Jun 11th 00:00 to 03:00.

KSC:

• NSF complete timelapse of barge loading and departure.

Other:

• Recent Ringwatchers article is updated with new info on changes to the nosecone and aft sections.
• Mary posts a photo of the camera which gave us such great views of the right fore flap.
• FAA is assessing whether a mishap investigation is warranted. IFT-4 could be the first full stack flight which does not require one.
• Older Starships to be moved close to the fence for photo ops.

threelonmusketeers, 4 days ago (edited 1 day ago)

Starbase activities (2024-06-06):

• Jun 5th addendum: R-vac which arrived at Highbay leaves. An R-vac is removed from S30.
• Overnight, cars to the pad.
• Mary evacuates, OLM and tower venting (ViX, NSF), frost on ship (ViX, NSF), engine chill,
• IFT-4 happens :)
• Jun 7th and 8th road closures are revoked. No surprises there.
• Road delay for booster transport to Massey’s is posted for Jun 8th 00:00 to 03:00.
• Post-launch photos of the pad from Starship Gazer and Jack Beyer.

IFT-4:

• Liftoff, hot staging, hot stage ring jettison, booster splashdown (landing coordinates), ship coast phase, reentry and partial flap disintegration, ship splashdown is confirmed.
• Chopsticks slowly close shortly after booster splashdown.
• Clear shot of disintegrated flap hinge. (annotated)
• Flap hinge was an anticipated weak point, and will be addressed on newer ships by shifting the flaps leeward.
• A WB57 was near the booster landing location, and a Dassault Falcon 900EX was near the ship landing location. RGV Aerial performed a flyover in the afternoon, likely to the booster landing location. Hopefully these planes got some good footage.

KSC:

• Barge which is carrying the chopsticks and remaining tower segments departs, but hasn’t gone far yet.

Other:

• SpaceX confirms that the missing heatshield tiles are intentional experiments.
• ViX tally of recent cryo deliveries to the Starbase orbital tank farm.
• Current orbital tank farm will supply both launch pads.
• Booster catch on IFT-5 is a possibility, per Elon.

I need to get some sleep, and you probably should too :)

threelonmusketeers, 5 days ago (edited 1 day ago)

Starbase activities (2024-06-05):

• S29 is restacked on B11. Video and photos from ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, LabPadre, Mary, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Cargile, Beyer, Ramirez, and SpaceX.
• Missing tiles on S29 have not been replaced (clwphoto1, ViX) and no decals are present on S29. The missing tiles are intentional, per Elon (cyb3rgam3r420 is one of his known alts).
• An igniter test is audible, and S29 flaps are tested.
• A possible concrete form for the 2nd launch tower base is delivered and unloaded. Zack chimes in with his thoughts.
• R-vac stand arrives at Highbay, apparently for S30 engine removal. R-vac #390 arrives at Highbay.

KSC:

• Second chopstick is loaded onto barge, joining the first chopstick, the chopsticks carriage, and the two tower segments.

IFT-4:

• Jun 6th road closure scheduled for “possible flight”.
• ElonJet is in the air. (Though Elon is not on it, it might be transporting other SpaceX employees).
• Go America and Defender 1 range security boat move into position. Hopefully no wayward boats.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article summarizing the history of S29 and B11.
• Elon and Tim Dodd (EverydayAstronaut) are spotted on LabPadre Rover Cam (bottom left):

https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/44d535cf-5112-488d-a9c4-acd3864d9bdb.png

threelonmusketeers, 6 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-06-04):

• Jun 3rd addendum: S26 static fire slow-mo.
• Overnight, ship transport stand moves towards OLM.
• Ship lifting jig enters Highbay.
• S29 destacked: SQD retracts, SQD arm swings away, and ship is destacked (ViX, NSF). Photos from Mary, LabPadre, Cargile, clwphoto1, and Ramirez.
• A steady convoy of cryo tankers tops up the orbital tank farm. ViX tracks all.
• Build site: B15 common dome and ring section enter Megabay 1.
• New Ringwatchers article.

KSC:

• Launch tower segment #5, chopsticks carriage (SPMT crabwalk closeup), and tower segment #4 (spinning closeup) are loaded onto barge. One of the chopsticks approaches the barge.

IFT-4:

• SpaceX still targeting the morning of Jun 6th.
• Road closure scheduled for Jun 6th.
• Road closure order is amended to include Jun 8th as a backup.
• Isla Blanca Park boat ramp closure is scheduled.
• Temporary flight restrictions are posted for Jun 6th, 7th, and 8th.
• Launch license is issued! (direct link, ViX highlights relevant changes)
• Statement from FAA to NASASpaceflight regarding launch license modifications.

ludu, 7 days ago

Can’t wait for Thursday, it’s going to be great!

threelonmusketeers, 6 days ago

Same! Super excited to see re-entry again. Hopefully the ship survives further than last time.

What are your expectations? Do you think the ship and booster could make it all the way to splashdown this time?

ludu, 6 days ago

I will set my expectations pretty low as usual haha, so that I’m at worst satisfied with the outcome, and at best, pleasantly surprised.

So, I’m thinking the ship is not going to make it to splashdown. If Flight 4 is a repeat of Flight 3 minus the tumbling and with the ship going a bit farther into the reentry, then it’s already progress. For the booster, from the SpaceX article they published some time ago, it seems that the issue requires a redesign, and that the fix applied on Booster 11 is only partial. I wouldn’t be surprised if it still RUDs during the landing burn, but who knows?

What I’m more interested about is the flight rate, which is not so great at the moment.

threelonmusketeers, 5 days ago

Flight rate hasn’t been too bad. They’ve reduced the time between each flight to under three months now. If they keep this cadence up, they’ll do at least two more flights this year, doubling last year’s cadence.

ludu, 5 days ago

No sure that’s already pretty great. It’s just that given their objectives and their fly-break-fix methodology, they really need to crank up those numbers!

(And also, I’m a bit impatient haha.)

threelonmusketeers, 7 days ago (edited 1 day ago)

Starbase activities (2024-06-03):

• Build site: Early morning video tour. Ship lifting jig exits the Highbay. Barrel section moves from Starfactory to near Megabay 1. B15 aft 2 section spotted.
• Former ‘GATEWAY TO MARS’ wall demolition continues. ‘ƧRAOM⅄⊥AGAEW’ is now parked at the carpark opposite the D1 gate.
• Multiple tanker deliveries to the orbital tank farm.
• S26 static fire at Massey’s: NSF livestream. Road closed, venting, frost line (ViX, NSF), methane activity, header tank frost, and static fire.
• ViX video, NSF video, Rocket Ranch video (close), Rocket Ranch video (wide), Starship Gazer photo, Doherty photo, Cargile photo.
• Potentially quite a few SpaceX workers are being flown in ahead of IFT-4. (similar Cargile photo)
• Jun 5th closure revoked. No surprise there.

KSC:

• Tower segments and chopsticks still pending load onto barge.

Other:

• Christian Davenport: Barring any last-minute changes from SpaceX that the FAA would have to approve, the license should be ready for Starship’s fourth launch attempt on Thursday, I’m told.
• New CSI Starbase video: Why SpaceX Plans To Jettison The Interstage On Flight 4
• IFT-4 infographic from BingoBoca.

threelonmusketeers, 8 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-06-02):

• Jun 1st addendum: NSF timelapse of stacking, and ship transport stand rolls away from the OLM.
• Launch site: Excavator is lifted. Work on pad 2 is progressing (closeup of tower foundation rebar).
• Starship Gazer photo of the full stack, and closeup of missing tiles on ship.
• ‘GATEWAY TO MARS’ sign is loaded onto a trailer as ‘ƧRAOM⅄⊥AGAEW’.
• Build site: Ship lifting jig is loaded onto an SPMT and enters Highbay. Nighttime photo of Starfactory from cnunez.
• Recent RGV Aerial photo of entire build site.
• Starkitty sighted :)
• S26 still at Massey’s.
• New Ringwatchers diagram is posted. Parts spotted for S36, S37 (Starship v2), B16, and B17. Tweet with additional list of updates.

KSC

• Final tower segment and both right and left chopstick arms leave the Roberts Road site and arrive at the turning basin. Max Evans video.

threelonmusketeers, 9 days ago (edited 1 day ago)

Starbase activities (2024-06-01):

• S29 press plate is removed, and S29 is stacked on B11. Timelapse from ViX, photos from Starship Gazer, Mary, LabPadre, Doherty, cnunez, Ramirez 1 (raptor closeup), Ramirez 2.
• A couple tiles fell still off, but the vast majority are “OK”.
• Workers test ship quick disconnect arm a couple of times.
• RGV Aerial spotted activity near Massey’s on the Mexican side. Does SpaceX own any land there?

KSC:

• Chopsticks carriage and tower segment (#5) roll to the turning basin and are pending loading onto barge.

IFT-4:

• IFT-4 slips to Jun 6th.
• Elon: “The main goal of this mission is to get much deeper into the atmosphere during reentry, ideally through max heating.”

Other:

• The @SpmtTracker account disappeared. Anyone know what happened?

threelonmusketeers, 10 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-31):

• Build site video tour: Fairly quiet.
• S29 aft flaps are extended. Chopsticks open.
• S29 moves between the chopsticks (which close and rise), and the LR11000 is laid horizontal. Closeups of the pad from Starship Gazer, NSF, Ramirez, and Doherty.
• Disassembly begins on the “GATEWAY TO MARS” sign. Starship Gazer closeup.
• Great photo of tower sections at Sanchez from RGV Aerial. We can clearly see four full-height sections and three 2/3-height sections.

KSC:

• Empty barge heading to KSC, likely for the two remaining tower segments.

threelonmusketeers, 11 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-30):

• Better video of S29 moving away from the tower the previous day.
• Overnight, B14.1 test tank moves to Massey’s.
• LR11000 crane and continuous flight auger move away from the pad in preparation for IFT-4.
• Flight termination systems are installed on both S29 and B11 (photo, video)
• LN2 vapourizer is removed from the old orbital tank farm. Corresponding cryo pumps are removed as well.

Elon tweet on heat shield tiles: x.com/elonmusk/status/1796049014938357932

Unless we make the heat shield relatively heavy, as is the case with our Dragon capsule, where reliability is paramount, we will only discover the weak points by flying.

Right now, we are not resilient to loss of a single tile in most places, as the secondary containment material will probably not survive.

I will explain the problem in more depth with @Erdayastronaut next week. This is a thorny issue indeed, given that vast resources have been applied to solve it, thus far to no avail.

Tim Dodd confirms Starbase tour to be filmed before IFT-4.

threelonmusketeers, 12 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-29):

• SpaceX tweets some nice photos of the previous day’s WDR, and confirms June 5th is still the target launch date.
• S29 destacked from B11 (Starship Gazer, Rover 2, Nerdle, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Mary, cnunez).
• Stacking comparison from Elisar Priel.
• Workers in a lift remove a section of a chine on B11.
• S29 moves a short distance away from the tower.
• Workers observed on launch tower QD arm.
• Launch pad 2: RGV Aerial photo. Crane parts arrive (seven trucks, one truck), and the parts are assembled into an LTR 1220. Crane then begins moving rebar cages for the pile drill.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction progressing quickly.
• Road delay for booster transport still scheduled for May 30th 00:00 to 03:00.

threelonmusketeers, 13 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-28):

• Second WDR of S29 and B11: NSF livestream. Mary receives evac notice, klaxon and pad clear, detonation suppression system is activated, tank farm spools up, and LOX recondensers are venting.
• Chopsticks open (their arms wide), tower and launch mount start venting, stop, and start again. Chine vents are visible.
• Frost on ship and booster methane tank, frost on booster LOX tank. Nice wide shot of frost and venting.
• Full load, 30 minute hold, detonation suppression system is activated again, and depress vent.
• Deluge is activated (LabPadre, NSF, wide shot).
• Full timelapses of WDR (LabPadre, NSF).
• Chopsticks close (closeup (wide timelapse), and S29 flaps are tested.
• Concrete pump deploys at the former suborbital site, a concrete truck arrives, and concrete is poured.
• Road closures for May 29th and 30th are removed (hopefully due to good WDR), and new closures for Jun 5th, 6th, and 7th (00:00 to 14:00) have been added.
• New road delays (booster transport, 00:00 to 03:00) posted for May 30th or 31st. Likely to or from Massey’s, B14 or B14.1.

Other:

• FAA determines that public safety was not in danger during IFT-3. Consequently, IFT-4 launch licence is not contingent on completion of IFT-3 mishap investigation.

threelonmusketeers, 14 days ago

Second wet dress rehearsal with S29 and B11 in-progress now. NSF are live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2X_568sxc

threelonmusketeers, 14 days ago (edited 14 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-27):

• Relatively quite quiet day (holiday?)
• LR11000 removes the remaining section of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1).
• OLM detonation suppression system is tested.
• OLM deluge is tested. (Nerdle, Rover 2, NSF)
• Road closure scheduled for May 28th, possibly for a 2nd WDR.

threelonmusketeers, 15 days ago (edited 14 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-26):

• Overnight, 2 SPMTs roll towards S29, and ship rolls between the chopsticks. Chopsticks rise to align with ship load points.
• S29 press plate is removed. (Starship Gazer livestream)
• S29 is stacked on B11 again. (ViX, NSF, NSF upskirt, Beyer, Mary, Doherty, Starship Gazer)
• Still a few tiles missing on S29.
• LR11000 crane prepares to remove another GSE outer tank. (Edit: Nope, just the remaining section of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1).