Starship Development Thread #57

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 (2024-07-25):

• 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 (2024-07-24):

• 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 (2024-07-23):

• Jul 22 addendum: New Pez dispenser door enters the Highbay.
• S31: R-Vac #376, RC #386, and RC unknown enter Megabay 2.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 load spreader is raised and attached to tower module #4. (LabPadre, ViX)
• B15: upgraded aft section is spotted, featuring small internal tanks mounted on the LOX landing tank.

Other:

• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the Sanchez site.

Starbase activities (2024-07-22):

• Jul 21st cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 21st addendum: Following work on the Megabay 2 bridge crane hook, the new ship lifting jig is hoisted to vertical in Megabay 2.
• A flock umbrellas begin their annual migration :)
• Overnight, tower module #4 moves from Sanchez to the Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF timelapse, NSF closeup)
• One sea level Raptor (#374) and two R-Vacs (#320 and #391) enter Megabay 2, likely to be installed on S31. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Beyer)
• At Massey's, S30 is prepared for a potential static fire on Jul 23rd.

Starbase activities (2024-07-20):

• Jul 19th cryo delivery tally.
• New ship lifting jig briefly hoisted to vertical for laser level check.
• Old ship lifting jig and ship static fire stand arrive at the build site (ViX, Doherty). Lifting jig hooks up to Megabay 2 bridge crane, and the jig transport stand departs.
• S30 moves from Highbay towards Megabay 2 (LabPadre, ViX)
• Cnunez posts a photo of the test tank at Massey's.
• Jul 20th cryo delivery tally.

Starbase activities (2024-07-21):

• Overnight, S30 is lifted onto static fire stand. (NSF, Starship Gazer)
• S30 moves to Massey's. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• S30 at Massey's and closeups. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, cnunez 1, cnunez 2)
• Cnunez also posts nighttime photos of Starfactory and office construction progress.
• Starkitty sighted :)

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article: Just Don't Melt: Flight 5's Upgraded Heat Shield
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of the launch site, build site, and Massey's.

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 (2024-07-14):

• Jul 13th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Overnight, LTR 1220 crane lifts 2nd elevator section into tower.
• Pad A: Scaffolding is removed from launch mount. Movac trucks empty the retention pond and the detonation suppression system is tested. B12 static fire on Jul 15th seems possible.
• Build site: A Starship V2 nosecone rolls from Starfactory to the Highbay. Starship Gazer identifies it as S33.
• LabPadre comparison of Starship V1 vs V2.

Other:

• New Ringwatcher's article: What's New on Super Heavy Booster 12?
• Possible new design for launch mount hold-down arms is spotted at McGregor.

This thread maybe, next thread definitely!

Starbase activities (2024-07-10):

• Jul 9th addendum (ViX, NSF, Doherty): Tank farm offload area is functional again, B12 is lifted onto launch mount, and booster transport stand returns to build site.
• Jul 9th cryo delivery tally.
• S31 moves back into Megabay 2. Ship is lifted from transport stand onto turntable.
• Pad B: Tower segment #1 moves towards the tower base. CC8800-1 crane is lowered, then raised. Load spreader is attached to tower segment.
• Build site morning video tour.
• Amended road closures for "non-flight testing" are posted, and the July 10th 12:00 to 00:00 closure is scheduled.
• Booster quick disconnect retracts from B12 (not B13). Some venting from B12, followed by road reopening.
• Two July 11th closures ranging from 08:00 to midnight are possible, and one July 12th closure from 08:00 to 00:00 is possible.

Other:

• Recent Starship Gazer videos on Tower B construction and S30 heat shield replacement.
• SpaceX publicly responds to a NYT article on the affects of Starbase on piping plover populations. It is somewhat unusual to see an official SpaceX social media account used in this manner. Anyone else remember any similar examples?

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:

• FAA is assessing proposal to increase flight rate at Starbase up to 25 launches and landings per year.

Starbase activities (2024-07-16):

• Jul 15th cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 15th addendum: Booster transport stand moves toward Pad A. Booster quick disconnect retracts from B12.
• Overnight, a chopstick arrives at Sanchez.
• Pad B: In the early morning, module 2 is stacked on the tower, and the load spreader is removed. Media: LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Starship Gazer, Doherty, DeffGeff, cnunez, Hammer.
• Pad A: B12 is destacked (NSF livestream, Starship Gazer, NSF timelapse, Doherty), briefly repositioned on the transport stand, rolls to the build site (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Doherty, cnunez), and enters Megabay 1.
• Transport stand for tower module 2 also rolls back (DeffGeff, Hammer).
• A grackle briefly blocks the view of the cryo deliveries.

Other:

• SpaceX headquarters are moving from Hawthorne to Starbase... due to a transgender protection law? I fail to see how this is relevant to the aerospace industry. Seems like it may have already been in the works for some time, as office construction is well under way.

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 (2024-07-18):

• Jul 17th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, the remaining chopstick moves from Brownsville Port to Starbase. (LabPadre, ViX, Beyer, NSF)
• Also overnight, the second and third angled wall sections are lifted to Tower B.
• In the morning, tower module 3 is stacked. (LabPadre, ViX, DeffJeff, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF timelapse, Beyer, Starship Gazer, Doherty, )
• Lifting jig disconnects from tower.
• A large spool of some sort (Drawworks cables?) heads towards launch site. (closeup)
• The chopsticks carriage is preparing for transport from Brownsville Port to Starbase. (Doherty, cnunez)

Other:

• New annotated Starbase maps from Boca Bingo.

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 (2024-07-13):

• Overnight, final tower segment moves from Brownsville Port to Sanchez (LabPadre, ViX, Doherty, NickyX, Gomez 1, Gomez 2).
• Jul 12th cryo delivery tally.
• Nighttime tanker convoy.
• Action at Megabay 2 (LabPadre, Ringwatchers). Likely a ship v2 test tank.
• Ship v2 payload section enters the Highbay (Starship Gazer, Ringwatchers).
• S30 heat shield replacement continues.
• Pad B: Load spreader detaches from tower segment #1 and attaches to tower segment #2 (Vix, NSF 1, NSF 2).
• Pad A: Chopsticks move to either side of B12 and are lowered. SQD arm swings in. Chopsticks, their arms wide. Scaffolding is being removed from the launch mount.
• RGV Aerial posts recent photos of office construction, Pad A, Pad B, and Massey's.

Starbase activities (2024-07-19):

• Jul 18th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, chopsticks carriage moves from Brownsville Port to Sanchez. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Gomez, Beyer).
• Starship V2 test tank moves from Megabay 2 to Massey's. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2).
• S30: Scaffolding has been removed from nosecone.
• New hardware spotted at build site. Possible ship lifting jig and stairs.
• A peek at the Pez dispenser loader inside the Starlink building.
• New road delays posted for "transportation operations" on Jul 21st (06:00 to 09:00 or 12:00 to 03:00) and for "operaciones de transporte" on Jul 22nd (00:00 to 03:00).

Edit: Pez loader, not dispenser.

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

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