Starship Development Thread #54
Starship Development Thread #54
Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? IFT-4 is NET May per Gwynne Shotwell.
- When previous launch? (IFT-3)? Booster 10 and Ship 28 launched on 2024-03-14.
- What was the result? Booster makes it to the landing burn, but loses control and insufficient engines relight. RUD occurs at 462 m in altitude. S28 makes it to reentry but fails to face the heat shield in the correct direction, followed shortly by RUD. Payload door test and propellant transfer demo "complete".
Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 53 | Starship Dev 52 | Starship Dev 51 | Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-01-12)
Status
Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2024-03-07 08:00 | 2024-03-07 20:00 | Closure Scheduled. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-08 08:00 | 2024-03-08 20:00 | Possible closure. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-09 08:00 | 2024-03-09 20:00 | Possible closure. |
| Primary Date | 2024-03-11 08:00 | 2024-03-11 20:00 | Closure Concluded. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-12 08:00 | 2024-03-12 20:00 | Closure Cancelled. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-13 08:00 | 2024-03-13 20:00 | Closure Cancelled. |
| Primary Date | 2024-03-14 00:00 | 2024-03-14 14:00 | Closure concluded. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-15 00:00 | 2024-03-15 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-16 00:00 | 2024-03-16 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
Up to date as of 2024-03-15
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-03-15
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | IFT-1 launched on 2023-04-20. Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| S25 | Atlantic Ocean | Destroyed | IFT-2 launched on 2023-11-18. Mostly successful launch and stage separation |
| S26 | Rocket Garden | Mysterious | Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, multiple mysterious changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. |
| S28 | Indian Ocean | Destroyed | IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Ship destroyed on reentry due to heat shield facing the wrong way. |
| S29 | High Bay | Static fires completed | Spin prime Mar 11th, Static fire Mar 25th (6 engines) and 27th (1 engine) |
| S30 | High Bay | Pending engine install | 2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. |
| S31 | High Bay | Aft flaps installed | |
| S32 | Rocket Garden | Resting | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
| S33-34 | Build Site | Parts spotted | To be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2 |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B7 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| B9 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt. |
| B10 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Booster destroyed shortly after failed landing burn attempt. |
| B11 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. |
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Cryo x2 |
| B13 | Megabay 1 | Fully stacked | Chine installation underway |
| B14 | Megabay 1 | Partially stacked | Stacking in progress |
| B15 | Build Site | Assembly | Potential aft end spotted Jan 5th |
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
Link to IFT-3 launch thread
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Starbase activities (2024-03-05):
- Overnight: Loud venting from Ship QD arm.
- Main event, S28 destack: Ship pressurization trailer arrives at launch complex. Ship quick disconnect arm is disconnected from S28 (NSF closeup). S28 destacked from B10 (LabPadre, NSF).
- Ship quick disconnect arm extends towards the now-exposed hot stage ring on B10. Workers spotted on the arm shortly after.
- Slight movement of the black LR 11000 crane and the chopsticks.
- Build site: Two booster segments emerge from Starfactory. These include B14's aft section per LabPadre. Weld marks for additional slosh baffles not observed on this segment. Progress on Starfactory itself continues.
- Coyote sighted.
- Road closures for Mar 4th and 5th finally revoked.
- New road closures posted for Mar 7th and 8th from 08:00 to 20:00.
- Possible internal IFT-3 date of Mar 14th. WB-57 plane also scheduled for Mar 14th.
We're getting close, very exciting!
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