Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? (IFT-5) Booster catch NET late July, per Elon.
- When previous launch? (IFT-4)? Booster 11 and Ship 29 launched on 2024-06-06.
- What was the result? Both booster and ship make it to landing burn and splashdown. Ship flaps took a beating on reentry, but remained in control of the vehicle.
Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
IFT-4 launch thread | Starship Dev 55 | IFT-3 launch thread | Starship Dev 54 | Starship Dev 53 | Starship Dev 52 | Starship Dev 51
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Status
Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Primary Date | 2024-06-06 00:00 | 2024-06-06 14:00 | Possible Flight. Closure Scheduled. |
Backup Date | 2024-06-07 00:00 | 2024-06-07 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
Backup Date | 2024-06-08 00:00 | 2024-06-08 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
Up to date as of 2024-06-08
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-06-18
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
S26 | Rocket Garden | Resting | Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, multiple mysterious changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. Rolls to Massey’s May 8th, cryo test May 24th, static fired Jun 3rd, rolls to rocket garden Jun 12th. |
S29 | Indian Ocean | Successful launch and soft water landing | Spin prime Mar 11th, Static fire Mar 25th (6 engines) and 27th (1 engine), partial WDR May 16th, full WDR May 20th, full WDR May 28th, FTS installed May 30th, stacked on Jun 1st, launched on IFT-4 Jun 6th. |
S30 | Highbay 1 | Undergoing heatshield upgrade | 2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. Engines installed ~Apr 9th. Static fired May 8th. |
S31 | Build site | Under repair | Cryo tested May 12th, suffers small electrical fire. |
S32 | Rocket Garden | Resting | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
S33-35 | Abandoned | Parts spotted, likely to be scrapped in preparation for Starship v2 | |
S36-37 | Build Site | Parts spotted | Starship v2 forward flap spotted |
Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
B11 | Gulf of Mexico | Successful launch and soft water landing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. Static fired Apr 5th, hot stage ring installed ~May 3rd, partial WDR May 16th, full WDR May 20th, full WDR May 28th, FTS installed May 30th, launched IFT-4 on Jun 6th. |
B12 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Cryo x2 |
B13 | Megabay 1 | Testing | Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank) |
B14 | Megabay 1 | Pending cryo | Stacked Apr 26th |
B14.1 | Launch mount | Testing | |
B15 | Build Site | Assembly | Potential aft end, common dome section, aft tank section, and forward dome spotted. |
B16 | Build Site | Assembly | Parts spotted |
B17 | Build Site | Assembly | Parts spotted |
Resources
- LabPadre Channel | NASASpaceFlight.com Channel
- NSF: Booster 7 + Ship X (likely 24) Updates Thread | Most Recent
- NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread | Most recent
- NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation | Most Recent
- SpaceX: Website Starship page | Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)
- FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
- FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list
- FCC: Starship Orbital Demo detailed Exhibit - 0748-EX-ST-2021 application June 20 through December 20
- NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)
- Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
- Production Progress Infographics by @RingWatchers
- Raptor 2 Tracker by @SpaceRhin0
- Acronym definitions by Decronym
- Everyday Astronaut: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- Everyday Astronaut: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates | Launch Tower | Merlin Engine | Raptor Engine
- Old orbital tank farm map | Source.
Starbase activities (2024-06-26):
- Previous day’s cryo delivery tally
- Overnight, GSE-6 scrapping continues. Slight mishap in the early morning when attempting to remove the dome, but the situation was soon rectified.
- Main event: Chopsticks testing (NSF livestream): Road is closed, and chopsticks open and close on B14.1. Timelapse of two tests, first close, second close (slap!). Chopsticks, their arms wide.
- CC8800-1 crane undergoes some testing and inspections, then returns to vertical (alternate angle).
- S30 tile replacement and ablative shielding layer application continues. Additional recent photo from cnunez.
- Another horizontal tank is en route to Starbase.
Starbase activities (2024-06-25):
- Overnight, scrapping of GSEC-1 is completed. Load spreaders are swapped out and crane is hooked up to GSE-6. (reference map)
- Cryo delivery tally
- GSE-6 is removed, and scrapping begins.
- Chopsticks swing towards B14.1, road closure is revoked. Chopsticks open and lower (ViX, NSF). Montage and timelapses (ViX, NSF) of chopstick testing over the course of the day.
- CC8800-1 crane assembly complete, and the crane rises (full timelapse).
- Pad B: Entrance is widened and graded.
- Jun 25th road closure revoked. Jun 26th and 27th closures are still possible.
- Temporary road delays posted for Jun 26th, Jun 27th or Jun 28th, for transport of tower segments from Brownsville to Sanchez.
Other:
- Christian Davenport highlights Blue Origin and ULA’s “concerns” regarding Starship at 39A. (Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3)
- Zack Golden article on pad B vs pad A, and some flame trench thoughts.
Starbase activities (2024-06-24):
- Jun 23rd addendum: GSEC-1 is removed (ViX, NSF), revealing GSE-5. Alternate angle and flexing. (reference map)
- Cryo delivery tally.
- GSEC-1 scrapping begins.
- Pad B: Overnight, a concrete pump is deployed.
- CC8800-1 crane assembly: Crane twitches several times over the course of the day (video 1, video 2, video 3), but has not risen yet.
- Amended road closure scheduled: Jun 25th 12:00 to 20:00
Starbase activities (2024-06-23):
- Overnight, GSEC-3 scrapping progresses quickly, and is finished by morning.
- GSEC-1 is next to be scrapped. (reference map)
- CC8800-1 crane assembly continues: Video 1 (lines are tensioned), video 2, video 3. Zack expects the crane to rise within two days.
- Pad B work continues. Scaffolding has been erected surrounding the tower base.
- Cryo tally from Jun 22.
Other:
- “The best appendix is no appendix”: Lars Blackmore (SpaceX principal landing engineer) belatedly expresses his pleasure at the success of IFT-4. Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3.
- Elon replies to Tim Dodd, and highlights upcoming changes with Raptor 3. Integrated regenerative cooling channels throughout the engine eliminates the need for engine shielding and reduces the required fire suppression system.
Starbase activities (2024-06-22):
- Overnight, B14.1 is lifted onto the orbital launch mount (ViX, NSF). It looks rather silly, but also quite cute.
- GSEC-3 is lifted off of GSE-6, and positioned for scrapping (ViX, NSF). (reference map)
- RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of S30, Massey’s flame trench, and pad B construction.
- More photos of S30 tile work from a couple days ago.
Other:
- Tim Dodd tour of Starbase with Elon, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqjoCbZ4ik
- SpaceRhin0 has already started updating the raptor tracking diagrams.
Starbase activities (2024-06-21):
- Overnight, a load spreader moves from build site to launch complex.
- GMK 7550 is erected and seems to be prepping for a lift, possibly the aforementioned load spreader.
- Massey’s: Crane and B14.1 movement is noted. B14.1 moves from Massey’s (ViX, (NSF) to the launch complex (ViX, NSF, LabPadre).
- B14.1 may be used in an upcoming catch test. Simulation and speculation by Ryan Hansen.
- CC8800-1 crane assembly continues.
- Tower B: More wall sections installed.
- Scrapping of GSEC-4 continues: Sections are cut and removed until none remain. Next to be removed is GSEC-3, another outer shell. (reference map)
- S30 tile replacement over the past few days: Video, photos, and more photos.
- Road closures for “non-flight testing activities” are posted for Jun 25th, 26th, and 27th, all 08:00 to 20:00.
Other:
Starbase activities (2024-06-20):
- Another quiet day.
- No cryo deliveries the previous day.
- Sections of the road and marsh have been flooded and covered with debris.
- A pair of SPMTs depart from the build site and head towards Massey’s.
This thread probably, next thread perhaps less likely?
Starbase activities (2024-05-16):
- LR11000 crane is hooked up to remove a remaining portion of GSE-2 outer tank.
- Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, Starfactory cladding is nearly complete.
- S29 & B11 partial tanking test: NSF livestream. GSE venting (ship methane subcooler), B11 CO2 tank venting, LOX subcoolers venting, tower venting, (alternate angle), frost on ship and booster, depress vent, and road open. NSF timelapse.
- Cryo deliveries continue.
- Tower segment 2 of 5 preps for rollout from Brownsville to Starbase. Additional photos: Doherty, LabPadre, Gomez
Starbase activities (2024-06-11):
- Jun 10th addendum: Crane begins removing OLM clamps.
- Elon replies to Tim Dodd with info on how the orbital launch tower held up: “No major damage”
- Pad 2: Overnight, the continuous flight auger drill is reerected.
- Parts for the CC8800-1 crane continue to arrive: A steady stream of 30+ trucks labelled “Sarens” arrive at the launch site (trucks 31 and 32). The current LR11000 crane slews and begins laying mats on which to build the CC8800-1 crane. Zack posts an… article? on Starbase crane logistics.
- Build site: S30 heat shield removal begins.
- Starkitty is sighted :)
- Massey’s: S26 is lifted from test stand to onto transport.
- Road delay for “booster” transport to Massey’s seems to have been rescheduled for Jun 12th 00:00 to 03:00.
KSC: Zack highlights notable points in the environmental impact statement for LC-39A, and posts additional thoughts.
- 35 booster engines, 9 ship engines
- Up to 44 launches per year with both pad and drone ship landings
- Separate catch and launch towers
- Liquid methane, LOX, and LN2 produced on site.
- 3.8 megalitre water deluge planned, 2.5x larger than current Starbase deluge.
Starbase activities (2024-06-09):
- Relatively quiet day.
- Overnight, B15’s A3 section enters Megabay.
- Some sort of security exercise occurs.
- Work on OLM and chopsticks continues.
IFT-5 info from Elon:
- Launch NET one month from now.
- S30 heat shield to be replaced with tiles which are twice as strong, and adding an secondary ablative protection.
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.
Starbase activities (2024-06-16):
- Morning photos of the launch site from cnunez: photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5
- Tower B: Wall panel installation continues. (alternate angle photo from Doherty)
- CC8800-1 crane assembly continues. Derrick is raised.
- LR11000 moves towards the old orbital tank farm.
- Peek inside Starfactory and Megabay 1.
- S30 tile removal continues.
- New Ringwatchers article on the B14.1 test tank.
- RGV Aerial spots a thrust ram which hints at a 5-10-20 arrangement of engines for a 35-engine booster. For context, the current boosters have 33 engines in a 3-10-20 arrangement. Render and analysis from mcrs987 (TheSpaceEngineer), along with speculation on landing burn engines and redundancy.
- Opinion: I think the 3-engine landing burn looks plausible with differential thrust, but I’m not sure if the 2-engine landing burn would work. You’d have to gimbal the engines to point through the center of mass, and land with the vehicle tilted a la SN5 and SN6. Could the chopsticks compensate for that?
Starbase activities (2024-06-14):
- Jun 13th addendum: B15 LOX barrel arrives outside the Megabay.
- Build site video tour: Work on B15 LOX barrel. Unusual water fountain/deluge test.
- S30 tile removal continues. Starship Gazer video.
- Tower B: Overnight, three wall section panels are staged near the tower corners which were erected the previous day.
- The first crossbeam is added between the tower corner sections.
- The first wall panel is installed and reinstalled a short while later.
- Continuous flight auger (right) continues work nearby.
- CC8800-1 crane assembly continues. All three main winches are installed.
- Massey’s: B14.1 “hat” is removed.
Starbase activities (2024-06-15):
- Tower B: Overnight, corners 3 and 4 are erected. Starship Gazer photo 1, photo 2.
- CC8800-1 hook block arrives.
- RGV Aerial posts photos of Pad A aftermath, Massey’s flame trench, S30 scaffolding, Pad B construction, and a six-year side-by-side comparison of the build site.
- Starkitty sighted :)
IFT-5
- Booster catch NET late July, per Elon.
Starbase activities (2024-06-13):
- Overnight, the 10 launch mount hold-down clamps which were removed are replaced. The first and second booster stabilization pins are reinstalled on the launch mount.
- Parts for the CC8800-1 crane continue to arrive. Aerial photo of assembly from a couple days ago.
- Chopsticks: Landing rail on the (anatomical) left chopstick (house right) is raised and lowered. The same chopstick later swings slightly. The sled on the other chopstick is fully extended.
- Tower B: Corner 1 of 4 is erected (wide shot, closeup 1, closeups 2, closeup 3). Corner 2 of 4 is erected not long after (closeup).
- The barge carrying the remaining tower hardware rounds Florida’s tip on route to Brownsville.
Other:
- FAA licence modification followup: “The FAA’s most recent license modification approval for Starship Flight 4 allows for multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. If SpaceX decides to change the mission profile or make other changes that affect the safety analyses, it will need to request a license modification.” It is unclear if a booster catch attempt would require a modification to the launch licence.
- Twitter thread from Benedikt summarizing the foundation for the new tower: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7, tweet 8, tweet 9, tweet 10, tweet 11, tweet 12, tweet 13, tweet 14. u/TwoLineElement’s corrections are noteworthy.
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 :)