Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? (IFT-5) Booster catch is now NET late November, per SpaceX.
- 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
Starship Dev 56 | IFT-4 launch thread | Starship Dev 55 | IFT-3 launch thread | Starship Dev 54 | Starship Dev 53 | Starship Dev 52
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Status
Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2024-07-09 08:00 | 2024-07-09 20:00 | Possible Closure. |
| Backup Date | 2024-07-10 08:00 | 2024-07-10 20:00 | Possible Closure. |
| Backup Date | 2024-07-11 08:00 | 2024-07-11 20:00 | Possible Closure. |
| Backup Date | 2024-07-10 12:00 | 2024-07-11 00:00 | “Clossure” Scheduled. |
| Backup Date | 2024-07-11 12:00 | 2024-07-12 00:00 | Possible “Clossure”. |
| Primary Date | 2024-07-12 08:00 | 2024-07-12 20:00 | Possible “Clossure”. |
Up to date as of 2024-07-11
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-08-23
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S20 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | |
| S26 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | 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. Moves to Megabay 2 Aug 13th, raptors removed Aug 14th. |
| S30 | Stacked on B12 | Static fired Jul 26th | 2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. Engines installed ~Apr 9th. Static fired May 8th. Heatshield replacement completed by Jul 20. Static fired Jul 26th. Raptor replacement Aug 3rd. Spin prime Aug 6th. |
| S31 | Highbay | Resting | Cryo tested May 12th, suffers small electrical fire. Underwent repairs in the Highbay, rolls back to Massey’s Jul 1. Cryo tested Jul 2nd and 3rd. Engines installed by Jul 26th. Rolls to Massey’s Sep 6th. Partial (aborted) cryo test Sep 8th. Static fired Sep 18th. |
| S32 | Rocket Garden | On the move | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
| S33 | Megabay 2 | Pending flaps install | First V2 Starship. Nosecone spotted Jul 14th. Forward section spotted Jul 27th. Stacking completed Aug 23. |
| S34 | Starfactory | Stacking | Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. |
| S35 | Starfactory | Parts spotted | Parts spotted Sep 20th. |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B12 | Launch Mount A | Pending hot stage ring install | Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. |
| 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 | Sanchez | Resting | Multiple catch simulation “slap tests” performed on Jun 26th and 27th. |
| 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
- Everyday Astronaut 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: Starfactory tour | Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview
You must log in or register to comment.
Starbase activities (2024-07-11):
- Pad B: First tower section is installed (LabPadre, ViX). Crews working on bolts. NSF livestream, NSF timelapse, Starship Gazer photo 1, photo 2, DeffJeff timelapse, Cargile photo, Gomez timelapse, cnunez photo.
- B12 testing at Pad A: Tank farm starts up, Cowbell venting, frost on LOX tank, more cowbell venting. Tanking test, road is reopened open. Grid fin and ship quick disconnect are tested. NSF timelapse.
- Raptor work table moves towards Pad A.
- Build site: Another B15 forward section is staged outside Megabay 1.
- Road delays for tower segment transportation are posted for July 11th through 19th, all 22:00 to 03:00 the following day.
Other:
- BingoBoca posts some nice labelled maps from RGV Aerial flyovers.
Starbase activities (2024-07-25):
- Jul 24th cryo delivery tally, ViX)
- Pad B: Tower segment #4 is stacked on Tower B. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, NSF, Golden, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, clwphoto1 1, clwphoto1 2, clwphoto1 3)
- Pad A: The LR11000 crane removes one of a recondensers and loads it onto a truck for transport. (ViX)
- S30 still at Massey’s, pending static fire.
- Road delay for transportation operations is posted for Jul 25th 23:00 to Jul 26th 01:00.
Other:
- RGV Aerial post a recent photo of S33 in the Highbay, prior to its move to Megabay 2.
Starbase activities (2024-09-04):
- Sep 3rd cryo delivery tally.
- Sep 3rd addendum: Starhopper relocation timelapse. (ViX)
- Overnight, chopstick rails are tested again. (ViX)
- Chopsticks work continues. (cnunez) Ship lifting pin is reinstalled on the port-side chopstick. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Starboard-side pin may have been reinstalled. (ViX)
- Welding on chopstick bumpers. (Hammer)
- Documentary interview being filmed on chopsticks? (Hammer)
- Starhopper’s new home. (ViX)
- SPMTs arrive at the build site, likely for S31.
- 2-hour road delay is posted for 2024-09-06 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Megabay to Massey’s.
Starbase activities (2024-09-03):
- Sep 2nd cryo delivery tally.
- Starhopper is relocated from launch site to parking lot. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Gomez 1, Gomez 2, Ramirez 1, Ramirez 2, Ramirez 3, Hammer, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF full livestream)
- Pad A: The LR11000 lifts and lowers scaffold basket. (ViX)
- Chopsticks work continues. Ship lifting pin arm is retracted. Landing rail and stick movement are tested.
Starbase activities (2024-08-07):
- Aug 6th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, B14.1 rolls out to the launch site. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
- B14.1 is lifted onto the launch mount. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, ViX, Mary, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- New entrance to launch site is under construction.
- CC8800-1 crane reconfiguration continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Gisler)
- S30 at Massey’s. Tank farm venting, and spin prime completed.
- 2-hour road delay is posted for August 9th or 10th, for transport from Massey’s to pad. (Return of S30?)
- Starkitty sighted :)
Starbase activities (2024-07-24):
- Jul 23rd addendum: B15 aft section enters Megabay 1, and a pair of grid fins head towards Starfactory.
- Jul 23rd cryo delivery tally.
- S33 forward section emerges from the Highbay and moves to Megabay 2, likely in preparation for stacking.
- cnunez posts several photos: Pad B 1, Pad B 2, Pad B 3, office construction, Megabay 2.
Other:
- A doofus flies his drone over SpaceX property. If you ever visit Starbase (or any launch facility) don’t be like this guy.
Starbase activities (2024-09-29):
- Pad A: S30 still stacked on B12, still not launching yet. (Beyer, LabPadre, Ansuini, clwphoto1)
- S30 transport stand moves towards the launch mount. (ViX)
- Build site: New road markings are painted. (ViX)
- Second set of chopsticks are receiving the same reinforcements as the first set. (Anderson)
- S32, S26, and S20 are still in the Rocket Garden. (cnunez)
- RGV Aerial post recent photos of Sanchez, Massey’s, launch site, B11 aft section, and Pad B flame trench construction.
Maritime:
- HOS Ridgewind is back at the B11 splashdown site. (Cornwell)
Other:
- Lewis Knaggs speculative renders of Pad B launch mount. Zack Golden’s thoughts.
Starbase activities (2024-08-05):
- Aug 4 cryo delivery tally.
- Lowering of the CC8800-1 crane main boom is completed. (LabPadre, ViX, DeffGeff)
- Crane masts are lowered, and unreeved. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, clwphoto1)
- Some sort of utility pole structure is erected.
- Static fire stand arrives at the build site and enters Megabay 2 (LabPadre, ViX).
- S30 is set for transport to Massey’s, presumably to test the engine which was replaced.
- 2 hour road delay is posted for 2024-08-06 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to Massey’s.
- 1 hour road delay is posted for 2024-08-07 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to pad.
- RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the entire area.
McGregor:
- SpaceX likely running Superheavy catch profiles. Relight test had a 3m 13s gap, same as B11 between boostback and landing burns.
Starbase activities (2024-07-15):
- Jul 14th cryo delivery tally.
- B12 static fire: Sunrise and overpressure notice, NSF livestream. Road closed, tank farm spooling up, chopsticks raised, launch mount venting, prop load begins. Static fire occurs at 10:13, and lasts about eight seconds. (LabPadre, alternate angle, ViX, NSF, Gomez).
- NSF timelapse, Doherty photo, Doherty gif, SpaceX drone photos and videos.
- Build site: Ship transport stand enters Megabay 2. Cnunez posts an S30 tile progress photo.
- Pad B: Probable launch tower winch arrives.
- Brownsville Port: Chopstick rolls towards Starbase.
- Road delay posted for “transportation operations” for Jul 16th, 12:00 to 16:00, possibly for B12 rollback.
Starbase activities (2024-07-17):
- Jul 16th addendum: Starkitty sighted :)
- Jul 16th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, tower module 3 rolls out to Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
- Tower module rolls into position and the load spreader is attached in the around midday.
- At Pad B, a column to support the Drawworks flooring and an angled wall section are moved into place.
- Another elevator shaft section is installed in tower B, and the construction elevator is now operational.
- Pad A: The LR 11000 crane moves towards the launch mount.
- The remaining chopstick is preparing for transport from Brownsville Port to Starbase.
Starbase activities (2024-09-05):
- Sep 4th cryo delivery tally.
- Build site: Overnight, ship test stand arrives at Megabay 2. Ship lifting jig enters Megabay 2 and is attached to bridge crane. (ViX)
- Counterweights are moved to the rear of the two SPMTs, which then transport S31 from Highbay to Megabay 2. Ship is then transferred from transport stand to test stand. (ViX 1 (Shadow is the black LTR1220), ViX 2, Starship Gazer, DeffGeff, cnunez, Gisler, Gisler (tile closeup), Hammer)
- Office and passageway construction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- Pad A: Chopsticks work continues. Both ship lift pins are now installed. (ViX, Hammer)
- In the morning, chopsticks are raised.
- Simulated catch test. Ship quick disconnect swings away, chopsticks close. (LabPadre, ViX, Doherty)
- Landing rails are tested. (ViX)
- Additional chopstick testing. (ViX 1 (Shadow is the black LTR1220), ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, NSF 1, NSF 2, Anderson (compilation))
- Chopsticks are lowered. (ViX)
- Launch mount has been repainted. (Starship Gazer)
- Massey’s: Frost is observed on Test Tank 16. (ViX)
Starbase activities (2024-07-26):
- Overnight, tower module #5 arrives at pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2)
- S31 is lifted onto transport stand. Raptor covers are on and payload door is open. (LabPadre, ViX, Golden)
- S31 then moves from Megabay 2 to Highbay. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
- In the morning, S31 briefly emerges from the Highbay and retreats.
- S30 performs a static fire at Massey’s: Frost ring, static fire: LabPadre, Gomez, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, Beyer, cnunez, Doherty, NickyX, clwphoto1, Ramirez.
- Road delays for transportation operations are posted:
- Jul 27th 00:00 to 03:00 “from Massey’s to production pad”.
- Jul 27th 12:00 to 15:00 or 21:00 to 00:00 “from Massey’s to production pad”.
- Jul 29th 23:00 to 02:00 “from production to pad”.
Starbase activities (2024-07-12):
- Jul 10th and 11th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, tower segment #2 rolls out to Pad B (LabPadre, NSF, ViX).
- More B12 testing today: Raptor work table moves away from Pad A, road is closed. Still plenty of scaffolding near B12, so static fire is unlikely.
- Tank farm is active (ViX, NSF), chine venting and more venting, launch mount venting and more venting, methane recondensers are active.
- B12 spin prime test (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2). “Cowbell” venting also visible. Chopsticks lower.
- Ship quick disconnect and engine bay purge tests (LabPadre timelapse). SQD retracts and returns, engine bay purge test 1 and test 2, SQD test 2 (retract and return), SQD test 3 (retract and return)
- Build site video tour: Crews work on tower segments at Sanchez, car park painting continues.
- Massey’s: Crews spotted at the top of a tower.
- Brownsville port: Final tower segment preparing for transport (Doherty, Gomez).
- Road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted for July 15th through 17th, all 06:00 to 18:00.
Other:
Starbase activities (2024-09-06):
- No Sep 5th cryo delivery tally.
- Sep 5th addendum: Compilation timelapses of chopstick tests, including a full launch rehearsal from BQD retraction to chopsticks catch. (ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2) When the chopsticks are at the top of the tower, their momentum causes a noticeable amount of tower sway. (Anderson)
- Build site: Overnight, S31 moves to Massey’s. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer photo, Starship Gazer video, NSF, NSF video, Beyer, Gisler, Doherty)
- Pad A: Chopsticks testing continues. Chopsticks close, landing rails rise, landing rails lower.
- Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane is laid down. (ViX, Hammer)
- Massey’s: Crews were spotted at Test Tank 16. (Hammer)
Starbase activities (2024-08-06):
- Aug 5th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, S30 rolls out to Massey’s. (LabPadre, ViX, tibininin, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
- Reconfiguration of the CC8800-1 crane is underway (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, NSF)
- cnunez posts an image of the build site.
- B14.1 is on the move, likely to the launch mount.