threelonmusketeers, 11 days ago

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Starship Development Thread #56

threelonmusketeers, 11 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-15):

• Overnight, S31 returns from Massey’s to the Highbay. Closeup of raceway damage.
• GSE-2 inner tank is removed.
• Tower segment 1 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Sanchez.
• S29 moves towards the launch pad, and is stacked on B11 (LabPadre, NSF) shortly before noon (closeup). NSF and StarshipGazer livestreams.
• IFT-4 full stack photos: Starship Gazer, Beyer, Doherty 1, Doherty 2, Cargile, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2, and of course, SpaceX.
• Ship transport stand and raptor work platform move away from the OLM.
• Demolition continues on the Gateway to Mars wall and suborbital test pad.
• Build site: Two new segments arrive, joining B14.1 forward section, which then enters Megabay 1 (not Megabay 2, I think).
• Massey’s: Some venting observed in the evening.
• Road closure scheduled for May 16th. (Official document). May 17th closure added.

Other:

• Aspirational Mars goals from the CEO: “Less than 5 years for uncrewed, less than 10 to land people, maybe a city in 20 years, but for sure in 30, civilization secured.” I’ll eat my hat Beck-style if this timeline holds, but I’m glad he’s still ambitious.
• IFT-4 launch license for early June should be feasible for the FAA.

threelonmusketeers, 13 days ago (edited 11 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-14):

• S29: Overnight, S29 is rolled away from the launch pad (LabPadre, NSF).
• B11: Brief testing occurs in the morning: Pad clear, road closedslight ventingroad reopened (LabPadre, NSF)
• May 14th road closure concluded and May 15th road closure revoked.
• LR11000 crane preps with load spreader to lift GSE-2 inner tank.
• Aerial photo of the Starship Block 2 forward flap which was recently delivered. It seems to be kite-shaped whereas the Block 1 flap was more trapezoidal.
• Can’t quite place where this welding is taking place, but it is too cool not to share. (Edit: It is scrapping of GSE-2 outer tank, not welding.)
• S31: Damage to raceway is visible. Ship starts rolling from Massey’s. Back to the build site for repairs?
• Launch tower segment 1 of 5: Staged for rollout to Starbase during the day, ready for rollout (LabPadre, cnunez), and rollout begins.

Florida:

• FAA solicits comments regarding impact of Starship operations at KSC.

threelonmusketeers, 14 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-13):

• May 13th road closure scheduled, then revoked. No testing takes place. Similar closure scheduled for May 14th.
• S29: Chopsticks move slightly, but still no stack yet.
• GSEC-7 (a.k.a. GSE-2?) outer tank is cut free and lifted off.
• Tanker convoys continue.
• Suborbital pad: Berm removal is completed.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, Starfactory glass installation is finally complete.
• B14.1 forward section arrives at the build site (LabPadre, Cargile).
• Starship V2 (Block 2?) forward flap arrives.
• S31 is inspected by a drone at Massey’s, following yesterday’s incident (likely an electrical fire).
• A pair of tower sections prep for transport from Brownsville port to Starbase. Road delay posted for May 13th 22:00 to May 14th 02:00.

threelonmusketeers, 15 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-12):

• S29: Overnight, S29 rolls out to the launch site (LabPadre timelapse, NSF timelapse, NSF livestream), and parks between the chopsticks. Forward flaps extend in early afternoon. Stack seems imminent.
• Build site: Video tour. Looks like the parking garage construction will be outwards rather than upwards at this point.
• Launch site: Video tour. LR11000 crane is still attached to GSE-2 outer tank, pending lift. Demolition of the suborbital test pad continues throughout the day with the removal of the SQD (LabPadre, NSF), the SQD support frame, and the berm. 48-hour before-and-after comparison.
• S31: Undergoes a cryo test at Massey’s, and bright flashes (fire?) emanate from the side of the ship (LabPadre, NSF). This does not look norminal.

threelonmusketeers, 16 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-11):

• B11: Overnight, booster rolls out to the launch site, and chopsticks close around B11. In the afternoon, B11 is lifted onto OLM, then chopsticks release B11 and are lowered. SpaceX posts photos of B11 leaving Megabay 1, with other boosters visible.
• S31: Also overnight, ship moves to Massey’s.
• Launch site: LR11000 crane moves toward orbital tank farm, and load spreader is attached. This may indicate that perlite insulation removal from the GSE-2 outer tank has been completed, and the tank will soon be scrapped. Crews working to attach load spreader to the tank.
• Starfactory: Helicopter delivers HVAC units (LabPadre, NSF). (closeup).
• S30 enters Highbay.
• Starkitty sighted :) (LabPadre, Doherty)
• S29: Road delay scheduled for early morning May 12th, possibly for ship roll out.
• S26: RGV Aerial posts a photo of Massey’s.

Other:

• Wen IFT-4? IFT-4 is now NET June 1st. “Objective is for the ship to get past max heating or at least further than last time.”

threelonmusketeers, 17 days ago (edited 17 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-10):

• S30: Overnight, ship is lifted off of test stand. Lifting jig removed around midday. In the afternoon, S30 rolls back to the Highbay.
• Suborbital pad: Demolition of the test stand begins.
• S29 moves from Highbay to Megabay 2 (after some manoeuvring).
• Orbital pad: OLM legs have been recently repainted.
• Orbital tank farm had a long queue of cryogen deliveries, likely caused by competing gravel deliveries.
• New road closure scheduled for May 13th from 08:00 to 20:00, for non-flight testing. NOTMAR issued for May 16th.
• Build site: Build site video tour: Parking garage nears its final height; Starfactory cladding installation continues.
• RGV Aerial photo of the build site. I don’t think I quite realized how big Starfactory is in terms of area when compared to the Highbay and Megabays.
• New booster landing tank spotted outside Starfactory.
• S31: A ship test stand arrives at the build site, likely for transporting S31 to Massey’s.
• New launch tower: New road delays posted for May 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 20th (all 22:00 to 02:00 the following day). These are “to transport tower modules from Brownsville Port to Sanchez”. Tower segments incoming!
• B11: Booster transport stand arrives at the build site, and later enters Megabay 1. B11 is lifted onto the transport stand, and rolls out of Megabay 1. B11 is currently rolling out to the launch site. NSF are live.

threelonmusketeers, 18 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-09):

• LR11000 crane moves toward the S30 on the test pad. Ship lifting jig rolls back out to the launch pad, and is (eventually) connected to S30 (NSF, LabPadre).
• An SPMT rolls to the launch site to retrieve the ship lifting jig stand. A different lifting jig rolls into the Highbay, and the stand returns to the test pad.
• Removal of the berm between the suborbital tank farm and the test pad begins. Likely an indication that all further ship testing will be at Massey’s.
• Drilling and rebar installation for the second orbital pad continues.
• Convoy of vacuum trucks continue to remove perlite insulation from GSE-2 outer tank.
• Late-morning build site tour video: Parking garage construction continues. Workers observed at the gap in glass panels on Starfactory. Gap still present as of late afternoon.
• A ring segment enters Megabay 2, following the May 7th and 8th deliveries of a triple and single segment. It is thought that these are to test welding robots.
• May 9th road closure cancelled. New road closures posted for May 14th, 15th, and 16th, all 08:00 to 20:00.
• New road delays posted for May 10th (15:00 to 17::30 and 22:00 to midnight), 11th and 12th (both 00:00 to 03:00).

threelonmusketeers, 19 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-08):

• Overnight, S26 rolls from the build site to Massey’s. Photos from Starship Gazer (tweet 1, tweet 2), Doherty (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3), LabPadre (tweet 1, tweet 2), and Cargile,
• Main event, S30 testing: Overpressure notice published, road closure scheduled, NSF livestream. Tank farm venting, SQD frost, frost line (LabPadre, NSF), frost line grows, engine chill, static fire (LabPadre, NSF), and road closure concluded.
• NSF timelapse of the test, LabPadre with sound synced, photos from Cargile and Ramirez (tweet 1, tweet 2). SpaceX posts drone videos and photos, and confirms it was a six-engine static fire.
• Lab Padre shares infrasound data from static fire: Tweet 1, tweet 2.
• Mid-afternoon and late-afternoon build site video tours: Parking garage progress continues. Starfactory glass panel installation is completed slightly out of order, with a couple gaps being filled later in the afternoon.
• OLM BQD door closes and opens.
• Recent photo of a ship (S29?) in the Highbay. Tile work is looking good.

threelonmusketeers, 20 days ago (edited 20 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-07):

• Overnight, the Massey’s ship stand arrives at the build site (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Cargile). This stand should be capable of supporting both transport and testing. Ship stand enters Megabay 2 late-afternoon, and S26 is lifted onto it (closeup).
• Build site video tours from dawn, early morning, and mid-morning: Parking garage construction continues, glass panel installation on Starfactory nearly completed.
• B14 CO. Are these for the onboard fire suppression system?
• A ring segment doth enters Megabay 2, possibly to test welding robots. Mary’s closeup and Zack’s thoughts.
• Soft road closure in place.
• Main event, S30 testing: Grass vent, engine chill(?), frost line, detank (timelapse). Recycle, NSF livestream, frost line (LabPadre, NSF), frost line grows (but very slowly), engine chill, venting from multiple locations, detank. NSF timelapse of both tests.
• Orbital tank farm and tower plumbing are tested. Tower venting and more venting.
• Chopstick testing continues.
• Possible typo or change of plans in May 8th road closure notice. Document says “booster transport”, but ship transport seems more likely.

threelonmusketeers, 21 days ago (edited 20 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-06):

• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Final row of glass panels on Starfactory is now half completed. A nice alternate angle of Starfactory from cnunez.
• RGV non-Aerial photos indicate that Starfactory intersects with Megabay 2 (tweet 1, tweet 2).
• S26 lifted off of transport stand in Megabay 2. The mystery of S26 continues.
• Launch pad A: SQD is tested, and another excavator is lifted nearby.
• Launch pad B footprint grows. Hole drilling and rebar placement continues.
• S30: Flaps are tested. The continuous flight auger is relocated, possibly in preparation for S30 testing.
• Road closure still scheduled for “non-flight testing activities” on May 7th. Mary receives evacuation overpressure notice.

threelonmusketeers, 22 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-05):

• Morning build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Minimal change to glass panels on Starfactory. Alternate angle from RGV Aerial.
• S26 moves to Megabay 2 (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, NSF timelapse). The S26 mystery continues.
• New weather station installed on Starhopper.
• New “edome” spotted labelled “SHIP FWD, 34.1#18, RTC=748Mt”. What’s an edome?

Other:

• New Ryan Hansen twitter thread on Booster Quick Disconnect: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5.

threelonmusketeers, 23 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-04):

• Launch pad B: Drilling continues.
• Starhopper: Modifications to Starhopper continue, likely a weather mast rather than lift points as initially assumed.
• GSE-7 outer tank base is finally removed and scrapped.
• Build site video tour (slower): Installation of the 4th (and final) row of glass panels on Starfactory continues.

Starbase activities (2024-05-03 addendum):

• Official document for May 7th and 8th road delays (both 00:00 to 03:00) is published.
• Nice shots of evaporators, tower section, parking garage, and flying excavator.

threelonmusketeers, 23 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-05-03):

• Overnight, B13 moves from Massey’s to Megabay 1 (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Gomez). B13 is lifted off of transport/test stand, which then moves to Sanchez site.
• B11 has hotstage ring installed now. Nice closeup shot inside Megabay 1, though hotstage ring is not visible.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage progressing quickly. Third row of glass panels on Starfactory completed, 4th row just starting.
• A dome section is moved from San Martin to Remedios. Identity unclear.
• Crews detach S30 from lifting jig (NSF closeup).
• LR11000 crane moves from test pad to orbital tank farm (closeup), possibly in preparation for GSE-2 outer tank removal. Crane lifts an excavator.
• Starhopper’s legs receive reinforcements. Wild speculation on future location.
• Chopstick testing continues (LabPadre, NSF).
• New road delays for May 7th and 8th, (both 00:00 to 03:00).

Other:

• New Ryan Hansen animation of SQD mechanism.

threelonmusketeers, 25 days ago (edited 24 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-05-02):

• Launch Pad B: 8 confirmed continuous flight auger holes drilled so far (LabPadre timelapse). Convoy of vacuum trucks continue to remove perlite insulation from GSE-2 outer tank.
• Demolition of one end of the the “Gateway to Mars” wall continues.
• SQD extends, SQD door swings open, SQD retracts, SQD arm swings out, and SQD arm swings back in.
• Morning and afternoon build site video tours: Third row of glass panels on Starfactory more than half installed, nearing completion by mid-afternoon. Parking garage construction continues.
• New road closures for May 3rd (07:00 to 19:00, now cancelled), 7th, 8th, and 9th (all 08:00 to 20:00).
• New road delays for May 3rd (00:00 to 03:00 and 20:00 to 23:00), and 4th (00:00 to 03:00).