Starship Development Thread #50
Starship Development Thread #50
FAQ
- When is the next Integrated Flight Test (IFT-2)?
No official date set, waiting on launch license. FAA completed the Starship Safety Review on Oct 31 and is continuing work on environmental review in consultation with Fish & Wildlife Service. Rumors, unofficial comments, web page spelunking, and an ambiguous SpaceX post coalesce around a possible flight window beginning Nov 13.
- Next steps before flight? Waiting on non-technical milestones including requalifying the flight termination system (likely done), the FAA post-incident review, and obtaining an FAA launch license. Unclear if SpaceX will perform an integrated B9/S25 wet dress rehearsal or proceed straight to launch after the FAA license issuance. It does not appear that the lawsuit alleging insufficient environmental assessment by the FAA or permitting for the deluge system will affect the launch timeline. Completed technical milestones since IFT-1 include building/testing a water deluge system, Booster 9 cryo tests, and simultaneous static fire/deluge tests.
- What ship/booster pair will be launched next? SpaceX confirmed that Booster 9/Ship 25 will be the next to fly. OFT-3 expected to be Booster 10, Ship 28 per a recent NSF Roundup.
- Why is there no flame trench under the launch mount? Boca Chica's environmentally-sensitive wetlands make excavations difficult, so SpaceX's Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) holds Starship's engines ~20m above ground--higher than Saturn V's 13m-deep flame trench. Instead of two channels from the trench, its raised design allows pressure release in 360 degrees. The newly-built flame deflector uses high pressure water to act as both a sound suppression system and deflector. SpaceX intends the deflector/deluge's massive steel plates, supported by 50 meter-deep pilings, ridiculous amounts of rebar, concrete, and Fondag, to absorb the engines' extreme pressures and avoid the pad damage seen in IFT-1.
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Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 49 | Starship Dev 48 | Starship Dev 47 | Starship Dev 46
Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread
Status
Road Closures
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2023-11-13 00:00 | 2023-11-13 14:00 | Possible Closure |
| Alternative Date | 2023-11-14 00:00 | 2023-11-14 14:00 | Possible Closure |
| Alternative Date | 2023-11-15 00:00 | 2023-11-15 14:00 | Possible Closure |
Up to date as of 2023-11-06
Vehicle Status
As of 2023-10-09
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S20 | Rocket Garden | Retired | |
| S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed on during Flight Test 1 |
| S25 | Stacked on B9 | Spin Prime and Static Fire | |
| S26 | Test Stand B | Static fired Oct 20 | |
| S27 | Rocket Garden | Scrapped | Common dome imploded |
| S28 | Engine Install Stand | Raptors installed | Cryo test x2 |
| S29 | Rocket Garden | Cryo test x3 | |
| S30 | High Bay | Under construction | Aft flaps installed |
| S31 | High Bay | Under construction | Partially stacked |
| S32 | Build Site | Under construction | |
| S33 | Build Site | Parts spotted | |
| S34 | Build Site | Parts spotted |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-B7 & B8 | Scrapped or Retired | B4 is in the Rocket Garden, the rest are scrapped. | |
| B7 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed April 20th in Flight Test 1 |
| B9 | Launch mount | Awaiting WDR and launch | Static fire (August 5th) |
| B10 | Megabay 1 | Cryo test x4 | |
| B11 | Masseys | Cryo test x1 | |
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Under construction | Grid fins installed |
| B13 | Megabay 1 | Under construction | Partially stacked |
| B14 | Build Site | Parts under construction | |
| B15 | Build Site | Parts under construction |
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
Decent amount of activity at Starbase today:
- The chopsticks let go of S25
- Work continues on the OLM
- Clean up of OFT-1 debris continues
- There is now a giant net under the OLM for some reason: https://nitter.net/NASASpaceflight/status/1720610186434334800#m
SpaceX has announced "mid-November" as a NET launch date for IFT-2. The official SpaceX website now has a page for IFT-2, including an approximate timeline of events. MECO now stands for "most engines cut off". Are they going from hot-staging straight into a boostback burn?
If the launch happens on 13th of Nov (which is a big if), I won't be able to watch it live, sadly. Well, c'est la vie.
Starbase activities:
- No obvious changes at the launch site. Workers were observed inspecting the chopsticks, B9 chines, and the OLM.
- Back at the production site, more roof and wall panels were installed on the starfactory building.
IFT-2:
Photon Empress (SpaceX's principal video engineer) has flown from Houston to Brownsville, presumably for coverage of IFT-2. Let's hope they manage to get 4k stream set up.
A road closure has been posted for November 13th, with backup dates on November 14th and 15th. The notice currently says "non-flight testing" but that could be amended once a launch license is received. Regulatory approval is still pending, but all signs point to November 13th as the current NET date for IFT-2.
IFT-3:
Per an FCC (not FAA) filing, SpaceX is targeting December 1st to February 23rd for IFT-3.
2023-10-27 Starbase notable activities:
- Hot staging ring removed from B9
- S26 moved from launch site to rocket garden: https://nitter.d420.de/DeffGeff/status/1718011343813399015#m
- Minor work continues on the OLM, B9, and S25.
Interesting note by Ringwatchers: https://nitter.net/Ringwatchers/status/1717985507412488289#m
On this day 1 year ago, Super Heavy Booster 9 was fully stacked in Mega Bay 1 at Starbase.
Ship 25 was fully stacked 1 year and 45 days ago, meaning that both vehicles have existed in full for over a year.
SpaceX are conducting a Wet Dress Rehearsal with B9 and S25. NSF are live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAi2Qu52nCU
Edit: B9 chine cover was reinstalled the night before the WDR.
A fair amount of activity today:
- S25 was destacked from B9 again. NSF have posted a series of pictures, along with a comparison with previous destackings.
- Clean up of OFT-1 debris continues. It sounds like special care is being taken to ensure that the clean-up efforts don't do more harm than good.
- Work continues on the OLM and B9 chine area.
As was posted separately, OFT-2 is closing in on potential November launch.
Starbase activities:
- Inspections of OLM and B9 continue, as does clean up of IFT-1 debris.
- Chopsticks raised up on S25
- Workers replacing missing tiles on S25
A NOTAM has been posted for Mexican airspace, valid from November 13th to 18th.
November 13th is still the rumoured NET date for IFT-2, though the weather may or may not cooperate.
Not too much action today.
- Work and inspections continue on the B9 chine area and OLM
- NSF have posted a stacking timelapse comparison of the three full stacks so far (B4/S20, B7/S24, and B9/S25)
- Starship Gazer has posted high-res pictures of the new net underneath the OLM.
Not too much action today:
S26 is being prepared for transport from the launch site back to the production site, presumably to clear the pad for the upcoming full stack WDR.
One of the chines on B9 was removed to inspect engine purge tanks underneath.
Road closure scheduled for Sunday (8:00 to 20:00 CDT).
Not too much action today either:
- B9 chine covers were reinstalled overnight: https://nitter.net/NASASpaceflight/status/1721303540499440037#m
- Workers were observed sealing the gap between the upper and lower chine pieces.
- Miscellaneous work and inspections continue on the OLM.
Slow and steady progress towards IFT-2.
Not too much action today.
A few lifts up and down S25 and B9. E dome tank tested at Masseys.
Fish and Wildlife Service is surveyed the area around the Launch Site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeC4-WiQbNI
Quite a bit more action today:
S25 restacked on B9: https://nitter.net/CSI_Starbase/status/1715373935376638172
S26 performed a static fire demonstrating flight-like startup for a Starship deorbit burn:
- https://nitter.net/SpaceX/status/1715518177508282454#m
- https://nitter.net/SpaceX/status/1715518513060704608#m
- NSF stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM88GoHMRW8
Confirmation of WDR prior to obtaining launch license: https://nitter.net/SpaceX/status/1715535610419851594#m
Starship team preparing for additional preflight tests in advance of a full launch rehearsal while continuing to work with the FAA on the Flight 2 license
All these stack/unstack cycles are stressing me out. Which I'm sure is totally unreasonable, but my mental image of the hot staging ring is more fragile than it is.
As always, thanks for these summaries!
As always, thanks for these summaries!
You're welcome! Glad to know that someone other than me reads them!
This thread maybe, next thread definitely!
Road is closed, but no overpressure notice (yet). NSF are live for coverage of S26 testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eer8MAvUhLE
I love how energizing a fresh thread is! My excitement has been dampened by all the recent regulatory hurdles, but surely the FAA will respect the New Thread Vibes ;)
A bit more action today:
B9 performed cryo test with frost observed on LOx and methane tanks. NSF stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwViHM-m_As
Water deluge was also tested: https://nitter.net/nasaspaceflight/status/1716196747947422172
Quite a bit more action today:
Work continues on the OLM and B9 chine area, S24.2 test tank was hooked up to a crane at Masseys, and a small crane was observed moving some pipe work at the LOX side of the orbital tank farm.
For the main event of the day, S25 was stacked back on B9 again. NSF have posted a timelapse, along with a comparison from previous stackings. Still not the final stack before launch, as the FTS has not been armed yet.
A bit more action today.
- S25 destacked from B9: https://nitter.net/FelixSchlang/status/1717592217877909872#m
- S26 removed from the suborbital launch mount and loaded onto SPMTs.
- SpaceX dangled a phone from a drone: https://nitter.net/FelixSchlang/status/1717592636524056618#m
B11 moved to Masseys. Lifts going up and down at B9 and S26. Possible road closures for Friday and Monday.
S29 moved from Masseys to the Rocket Garden.
Today's road closure was cancelled. Possible road closure remains for October 24th.
CSI Starbase has a nice comparison of yesterday's deluge test with the test back in July: https://nitter.net/DeffGeff/status/1716231008851284226#m
Workers were observed at the very tippy-top of the Orbital Launch Tower. https://nitter.net/NASASpaceflight/status/1716505991334785434#m
Work continues on B9, and the chine cover has not been reinstalled yet.
B11 cryo tested at Masseys on Friday night.
Hot staging ring reinstalled on B9 Sunday night.
S25 stacked on top of B9 again. NSF stream of the stacking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRNdVH357U
SpaceX announces upcoming launch rehearsal: https://nitter.net/SpaceX/status/1714051530188579283
Starship fully stacked while team prepares for a launch rehearsal. We continue to work with the FAA on a launch license
And, S25 destacked from B9 again.
Slightly more activity today.
S26 performed a preburner test. NSF livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfhXktTt4Gk
B11 was cryo tested at Masseys.
A notice to mariners was posted, putting OFT-2 no earlier than November 1st.
A senate hearing on commercial spaceflight took place. Streamlining FAA processes and possible increase of resources and workforce were discussed. Summary thread by Jeff Foust here, full hearing here.
Not too much action today. Workers returned to the pad, mostly to inspect the results of yesterday's test.
SpaceX posted video and pictures from yesterday's WDR:
- https://nitter.net/spacex/status/1716979479845953646
- https://nitter.net/spacex/status/1716979627154149710#m
Comment from u/space_rocket_builder in The Other Place:
Todays test went well. Launch NET early second week of November. Regulatory process going well. Now final launch preps.
NOTMAR posted for November 6th: https://nitter.net/Space_Time3/status/1717205486888489291
NASA WB-57 plane scheduled for imagery support from the November 3rd through 10th: https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/aircraft_detailed_cal/2023-11?aircraft_id=19%2B20%2B36
Still no launch license, but indicative that one may be coming very soon.
Not too much action today (2023-10-28). Most notable change was the reinstallation of the hot-staging ring on B9.
https://nitter.d420.de/NASASpaceflight/status/1718339580800139737#m
Minor work continues on the OLM and B9.
In other news, Raptor #347 has been spotted: https://nitter.net/SpaceRhin0/status/1717247424475943030#m
Can I just put into context for everyone how crazy R347 appearing is. The highest raptor 2 flown to date is R115 which was on S24. The highest used in flight was R105.
Also in terms of flights (if they used every engine which they cant) they could have flown 8 full flights.
Absolutely 0 insider info here - I wonder if they skipped a lot during block upgrades or major design changes, like stopping work on a lot of similar engines after the first orbital flight because of the amount of rework needed being too significant.
Hmm, good point. Fewer of the high-serial-number engines have been spotted. This could be due to SpaceX delivering them to Starbase without our noticing them, or it could be that a large batches of engines were never sent to Starbase. Possibly a mix of both.
Not much action today:
- OLM: Welding continues
- B9: Bottom of both front chines were removed
- S25: Lifts went up to payload bay hatch
Very little action at Starbase today due to high winds.
In other news, raptor production approaches the 400th engine: https://nitter.net/NASASpaceflight/status/1719080959151095915#m
Winds calmed down enough for work to resume on the chines area of B9, but still a pretty quiet day.
Intermittent road delay scheduled for Nov 01 from 00:00 to 02:00 CDT: https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/temporary-and-intermittent-road-delay-of-a-portion-of-state-hwy-4-november-1-2023-from-12-a-m-2-a-m/
As posted elsewhere, the FAA has concluded its safety review. Now just waiting on the FWS review.
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters FAA Federal Aviation Administration FCC Federal Communications Commission ~ (Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure FTS Flight Termination System LOX Liquid Oxygen MECO Main Engine Cut-Off ~ MainEngineCutOff podcast NET No Earlier Than NOTAM Notice to Air Missions of flight hazards NSF NasaSpaceFlight forum ~ National Science Foundation OFT Orbital Flight Test OLM Orbital Launch Mount SPMT Self-Propelled Mobile Transporter WDR Wet Dress Rehearsal (with fuel onboard) Jargon Definition Raptor Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX
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Starship Development Thread #51