Starbase activities (2024-10-31 🎃):

• Oct 30th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad A: Minor chopstick movements. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane disassembly continues. (ViX)
• Sanchez: Section 2 of level 2 is fitted to launch mount B. (ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF flyover)
• Massey’s: Staircase metal work is performed on the test cage. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Halloween rainbow for S33. (Mouser, ViX)
• S33 performs another cryo test. (ViX)

Other: RGV Aerial summary of Spaceflight Now interview with Dr. Kent Chojnacki, the deputy manager for NASA HLS program:

• Ship to Ship prop transfer campaign planned to start in March 2025
• Ship to Ship prop transfer test planned to be completed over the summer
• NASA is looking for a bi-weekly cadence with only the Boca pads at first and then later getting 39a online
• NASA helped SpaceX test their MMOD (Micro Meteoroids & Orbital Debris) tiles which will be used in space
• NASA helped SpaceX improve cryogenic valves and other internal cryogenic cooling components
• SpaceX uses testing capabilities at Glenn and Marshall and expanded that relationship
• Design update in November, critical design review next year
• Astronauts have a meeting with SpaceX once a month to improve the HLS design
• There are HLS crew cabin, sleeping quarters, and laboratory mock ups at Boca Chica

This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread November 2024

Starbase activities (2024-10-30):

• Oct 29th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: CC800-1 crane disassembly continues. (ViX)
• Build site: Three SPMTs carrying turntable parts depart from Sanchez, heading inland on Highway 4, destination unknown. (ViX)
• Two new sections arrive for launch mount B. (ViX)
• B16’s A3 section enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
• Massey’s: S33 completes a full cryo test. Interesting venting action is observed. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF, Priel)
• Visual comparison of propellant tank size between S31 (v1 ship) and S33 (v2 ship) by height of frost line. (LabPadre)
• 2-hour road delays are posted for Nov 1st (01:00 to 04:00) and 2nd (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from Massey’s to factory. (Presumably S33 rollback)

Starbase activities (2024-10-01):

• Sep 30th cryo delivery update.
• Sep 30th addendum: LabPadre and NSF timelapses of hotstage ring removal from B12.
• Overnight, booster transport stand moves from the launch site to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Crew lift goes up to the top of B12. (ViX)
• Two corner segments for launch mount B arrive. One is lifted onto an assembly stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Mary)
• Booster “puck shucker” test/transport stand moves from Sanchez to build site. (ViX)

Other:

• All of S30’s Raptor engines have now been identified. Centers are R269, R319, and R334. Vacuums are R368, R384, and R390. (SpaceRhin0)

Starbase activities (2024-10-02):

• Oct 1st cryo delivery update.
• Build site: Overnight, booster “puck shucker” test/transport stand moves into Megabay 1 and B14 is lifted onto it, likely in preparation for transport to Massey’s. (ViX, LabPadre, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF, Gisler)
• Sanchez: Gisler posts a photo. Chopsticks carriage is still surrounded by scaffolding.
• Pad A: Chopstick wiggle tests performed in the early morning and afternoon.
• Tank farm active in the evening, chopsticks rise, and drones are spotted. (Anderson)
• Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane is laid down, and dismantling begins (ViX, NSF).
• Load spreader for chopsticks testing moves to the launch site. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)

Maritime:

• Two more cryo tanks en route to Brownsville port. (Cornwell)

McGregor:

• Possible HLS thruster test spotted. (NSF/Nerdplysgames)

Other:

• NOTMAR for “rocket launching activities near Boca Chica” are spotted for Oct 12th through 19th. These are likely just placeholders, as the official word from the FAA is still NET November. Berger has heard rumours to the contrary, but nothing is finalized. A NASA WB-57 is listed for imagery support in mid-October, but those are also just placeholder dates.

Starbase activities (2024-10-05):

• Oct 4th cryo delivery update.
• Oct 4th addenda: NSF timelapse of B14 methane tank cryo test at Massey’s. NSF timelapse of chopstick testing with water bags.
• Pad A: Overnight, hot stage ring is restacked on B12. (LabPadre)
• Water bags are removed from the chopsticks. (ViX)
• S30 flaps are deployed, ship is positioned between chopsticks, and stabilizer pins are deployed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, LabPadre, ViX 3, Hammer (closeups))
• S30 is restacked on B12. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, NSF full livestream)
• Massey’s: B14 performs another cryo test, filling the LOX tank this time. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Rocket Ranch full livestream)
• Brownsville Port: HOS Ridgewind arrives, presumably with another load of salvaged B11 hardware. (Cornwell)

Starbase activities (2024-10-19):

• Methane deliveries: 3 on Oct 18th, 14 total since IFT-5.
• LR11000 crane is lowered and raised. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Pad A: Raining on the on launch mount. (ViX)
• Cable tray belt/chain moves towards Tower B. (ViX)
• Heatshield work continues on S31. (Doherty, NSF)

Maritime:

• HOS Ridgewind is 10 km offshore from Starbase, likely for B12 hotstage ring recovery. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2, Hayden)

Starbase activities (2024-10-03):

• Oct 2nd cryo delivery update.
• Overnight, B14 and ship test stand move to Massey’s. (ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, Gomez)
• Also overnight, some chopstick testing and cryo pipe cleaning. (ViX)
• Pad A: Workers inspect S30. (LabPadre, House/Gisler)
• Water bags are delivered for chopstick testing. (Mary)
• Build site: Megabay 2’s 4-point lifting jig is lowered (ViX). Another lifting jig arrives at Starfactory in the afternoon (LabPadre).
• Massey’s: The “top hat” portion of the “can crusher” testing rig is removed. (ViX)
• Road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted for Oct 7th (10:00 to 22:00), and for Oct 8th and 9th (08:00 to 20:00).

Starbase activities (2024-10-04):

• Oct 3rd cryo delivery update.
• Pad A: Telehandler unfurls large water bags, which are then mounted on the chopsticks. (Phillips, LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, Starship Gazer, Hammer)
• Bags are then filled. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer, Hammer 1, Hammer 2, Ramirez)
• Chopstick deflection comparison and weight estimates (ViX, Anderson 1, Anderson 2).
• Bags are placed further out on the lever arm than in 2022. (Anderson)
• B12 grid fin photo with humans for scale. (Gisler)
• Evening preparations underway to lift hot stage ring back on B12. (Anderson)
• Pad B: Disassembly of the CC8800-1 crane continues. (ViX)
• Build site: 4th and final corner of launch mount 2 is spotted heading to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Pez dispenser emerges from Starfactory and moves to Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• New cladding is being added to the garage. (Gisler)
• Massey’s: B14 is cryo tested. (ViX, cnunez)
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 6th and 7th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Brownsville Port to Massey’s.
• Oct 7th road closure (10:00 to 22:00) is scheduled.

Other:

• Additional angles and closeups of B11 recovery at sea. (Joe Tegtmeyer)
• NOTAM are posted for IFT-5 Ship reentry in Indian Ocean. (RGV Aerial)

Starbase activities (2024-10-13):

• Busy day for some reason.
• Overnight, pad is cleared. (LabPadre)
• Chopsticks open up and landing rails are deployed. (LabPadre)
• Tank farm spools up. (ViX)
• A helicopter briefly lands at the road closure. (ViX)
• Starbase village is evacuated. (ViX)
• Surrounding waters are evacuated. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2)
• NASA WB-57 plane is in position. (Manley)
• Launch mount and tower venting, followed by propellant load. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Evans, NSF)
• Frost lines on B12 and S30. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• A few wayward boats push T-0 from 08:00 to 08:25. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2, Summer Wise)
• IFT-5 occurs. B12 returns to launch site and is caught by the chopsticks at Tower A. S30 survives reentry and landing burn for an on-target splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
• Minor burn-through on one flap, but a marked improvement over IFT-4. (TankWatchers)
• Minor damage on a chine is spotted. (Interstellar Gateway, Tibininin)
• Residual propellant / frost. (Golden)
• Chopstick conveyor belts move B12 outwards. (Golden)
• B12 is lowered back down onto the launch mount, despite the absence of stabilizer pins. Booster quick disconnect connects. (Golden, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, Priel, )
• B12 is refilled with a small load of cryogens? (LabPadre)
• Booster stand pending rollout to the launch site. (LabPadre, ViX, Fediverse Starbase Tracker)
• Party observed in the high bay. (NSF)
• Elon report on B12 health: “A few outer engine nozzles are warped from heating & some other minor issues, but these are easily addressed.”
• Flight-proven raptor engines to be sent to McGregor, confirmed by Elon.
• Road closure is amended to include the period from Oct 13th 14:00 to Oct 14th 14:00. (ViX 1, ViX 2)

IFT-5:

• Launch: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, Priel, Evans 1, Evans 2, Beyer, Cosmic Perspective, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2
• Catch: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2 (slowmo), LabPadre, SpaceX 3, Space Sudoer 1, Space Sudoer 2, ViX, Starship Gazer, Mary, Evans 1, Evans 2, Evans 3, Evans 4, Beyer, D Wise, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, Reed, Golden, Elon 1, Elon 2, Kimbal, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2, RGV Aerial 3, RGV Aerial 4, RGV Aerial 5, Cosmo_556, Kraus 1, Kraus 2, John William Cargile, Beff, Austin Barnard, Cosmic Perspective, John Pisani, clwphoto1, EverydayAstronaut, Redline Helicopter Tours
• Reentry and splashdown: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Berger, Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2
• Miscellaneous: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2, SpaceX 3, Gomez, Kraus

Starbase activities (2024-10-06):

• Oct 5th cryo delivery update.
• Pad A: Overnight, S30 is restacked on B12. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, Gisler, Hammer 1, Hammer 2)
• Chopstick testing equipment leaves the launch site. (ViX)
• Build site: Water-cooled “top deck pancake” plates for the new launch mount are delivered. (Mary/NSF, ViX)
• A large launch mount piece is delivered. (Starship Gazer, Beyer)
• Golden concludes that the launch mount will still have 20 hold-down clamps, but no raptor quick disconnects.
• Brownsville Port: Salvaged aft dome from B11 is offloaded and transported. (Beyer 1, Beyer 2, Gomez)
• Summary of recent B14 cryo tests. (Priel, cnunez)

Starbase activities (2024-10-22):

• Methane deliveries: 3 on Oct 21st, 23 total since IFT-5.
• Oct 21 addendum: S31 heatshield closeups video. (Starship Gazer)
• B13 emerges from Megabay 1, and performs a grid fin wiggle test. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Gisler, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF livestream)
• B13 rolls out to Pad A, and is lifted onto the launch mount. (SpaceX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, cnunez, Doherty, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Mary, Starship Gazer, Ramirez 1, Ramirez 2, Ramirez 3, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Priel, NSF livestream, LabPadre)
• Pad B: Flame trench construction continues. (Gisler)
• Starfactory: Awning is installed on the main door, and window installation begins on the passage between Starfactory and offices. (Hammer, Gisler)
• Sanchez: GMK 7550 is deployed behind the fence, presumably assembling launch mount B. (Gisler)
• Road closures are posted for Oct 24th and 25th (08:00 to 20:00) for non-flight testing activities. Oct 24th closure is scheduled.

Maritime:

• HOS Ridgewind heads back out to sea and recovers B12’s hotstage ring. (Cornwell 1, NSF, Starship Gazer, Priel, Cornwell 2, Cornwell 3)

Starbase activities (2024-10-09):

• Oct 8th cryo delivery update.
• Pad A: B12 flight termination system is installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• S30 flight termination system is installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3, Tank Watchers, Evans)
• New test tiles spotted on the port side of S30. (Starship Gazer)
• Chopsticks are tested. (NSF)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane disassembly continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler)
• Build site: Parking garage cladding is revealed to be a mural. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Gisler, Hammer)
• Massey’s: Test tank 16 is lifted out of the test stand. (Gisler)
• 2-hour road delay is posted for Oct 11th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Massey’s to factory.

IFT-5:

• Oct 13th 00:00 to 14:00 road closure is scheduled.
• Temporary flight restrictions are posted.
• Isla Blanca County Park and boat ramp will close one hour earlier on Saturday, Oct 12th.

Other:

• Launch mount B render is posted by ChromeKiwi.
• Foust highlights comment by Bill Gerstenmaier (SpaceX VP of build and flight reliability), who stated B11 landed in the ocean “with half a centimeter accuracy”. What this was measured with respect to is unclear. (Military GPS?)

Starbase activities (2024-10-12):

• Oct 12th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Overnight, the CC8800-1 crane back mast and main body are relocated away from Pad A. (ViX)
• LR11000 and CC8800-1 cranes are laid down. (ViX)
• Pad A: Workers are spotted inside B12. (Starship Gazer)
• A couple of igniter tests are conducted. (LabPadre)
• S30 flaps are tested. (ViX)
• Drones are spotted around the pad. (ViX)
• B12 grid fins are tested. (ViX)
• Build site: S34 forward dome emerges from Starfactory and enters Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Car park mural reveal is completed. (ViX, Mary, Daniel B)
• Oct 13th cryo delivery tally. Likely the final regular update of this type: (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4)

IFT-5:

• Ringwatchers post an article summarizing the history of S30 and B12.
• Lueders confirms vehicle is ready.
• FAA close out the written reevaluation of the 2022 PEA for Flight 5. Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera twitter thread: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7, tweet 8, tweet 9, tweet 10
• IFT-5 is added to the FAA ATC Planning Advisory. (Alexphysics13)
• FAA issue the launch license. (FAA, LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, NSF, Beil)
• License includes approval for flight 6 mission profile. (Beil)
• SpaceX confirm IFT-5 target launch date and time of 2024-10-13 07:00 CT, 30 minute window. (12:00 UTC)

Other:

• The cost of the Starship development program is ~4 million $ per day. (Zhan, via this PDF)
• SpaceX releases Starship, The Game.

Starbase activities (2024-10-14):

• Oct 13th addendum: Party in Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Oct 14th road closure concluded.
• 2-hour road delays are posted for Oct 15th (12:00 to 15:00) and 16th (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from pad to factory.
• Pad A: Booster transport stand finally arrives at the pad after an apparent delay the previous day. (ViX, NSF, Fediverse Starbase Tracker)
• Workers return to Pad A, and get to work removing the (unused) flight termination charges. (ViX, Starship Gazer, NSF)
• Workers inspect damaged chine on B12. (Starship Gazer)
• Coloured oxide layer visible at the top of B12. (Starship Gazer)
• Raptor work platform arrives. (Hammer)
• Build site: Parking garage mural closeup. (Gisler)
• S34 forward dome spotted in the doorway of Megabay 2. (Gisler)

Other:

• Elon on advantages of tower catch over landing legs: Tweet 1, tweet 2.
• “Good chance” of full stack reuse in 2025 (Elon Time).

IFT-5:

• Additional liftoff media: SpaceX wide shot, SpaceX tower view (liftoff), Evans hotstage ring, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, Pauline Acalin, Sen (view from ISS).
• Additional landing media: SpaceX wide shot, SpaceX onboard load point closeup, SpaceX tower view 1, SpaceX tower view 2, (https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1845977050592723312), Elon, Evans, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, cnunez 4, cnunez 5, RGV Aerial, Kennedy, Beil, Schlang, Nathan Moeller, Kraus, Doherty.
• Launch and landing media: [SpaceX], D Wise, Elon, Jay L. DeShetler, Richard P Gallagher.
• Post-launch media: Starship Gazer B12, Starship Gazer miscellaneous, Starship Gazer B12 again, Mary B12, Evans B12, Gisler B12, Gisler chine closeup, Golden B12, RGV Aerial B12,
• Grid fin comparison gif from Anderson, highlighting slight warping.

Starbase activities (2024-10-15):

• Oct 14th addendum: First section of B16 is spotted at Starfactory. (ViX)
• Pad A: Overnight, booster transport stand moves toward launch mount. (ViX)
• Booster quick disconnect retracts, chopstick stabilizer pins engage. (LabPadre, ViX)
• B12 is lifted from the launch mount onto the transport stand. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Priel, Evans 1, Evans 2 (pi engine), Evans 3 (pi engine closeup), NSF, clwphoto1)
• B12 moves from the launch site to the build site. (ViX, LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Priel, Evans 1, Evans 2, NSF livestream, NSF 1, NSF 2 (chine closeup), NSF 3, NSF 4, Mary, Beyer, Gisler 1, Gisler 2 (chine damage), Gisler 3, Gisler 4, Gisler 4, Doherty, Gomez 1, Gomez 2. clwphoto1, Fediverse Starbase Tracker 1, Fediverse Starbase Tracker 2)
• Crews back at the launch mount and chopsticks. (Gisler 1 (B12, not B11), Gisler 2)
• The Raptor work platform moves to the Pad A launch mount. (ViX)
• Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane’s derrick is raised (ViX). Contract until January (Gisler)
• Build site: Ship 30’s transport stand returns to the rocket garden. (ViX)
• Following Pez dispenser integration with S34, the Pez jig moves from Megabay 2 towards Starfactory. (ViX)
• B12 enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
• B16’s common dome and A2 sections move from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
• S33 nosecone in Megabay 2 (Space Sudoer). Elon comments on new flap design.
• Sanchez activities. (Gisler)

Starbase activities (2024-10-16):

• Oct 15th methane delivery tally: 5
• Pad A: Overnight, crews back at the launch mount and chopsticks. (LabPadre, ViX, clwphoto1)
• Workers back on ship quick disconnect. (clwphoto1)
• Pad B: The LR11000 crane rises. (ViX)
• Build site video tour.
• RGV Aerial post a photo of S31 in the Highbay.

IFT-5:

• More photos from SpaceX.
• Landing burn slowmo from Cosmic Perspective.
• Landing as viewed from helicopter. (Doug Kelly)
• Post-catch RGV Aerial flyover photo.

Maritime:

• Expedition is still working offshore, likely to locate the hotstage ring impact site and look for species impacts. Map from TheSpaceEngineer.

Other:

• Ship catch scheduled for “hopefully early next year”, Elon Time.
• Elon on aspirational marginal cost per ton: “Full & immediate (no mandatory refurbishment) reusability with low cost propellant (almost 80% liquid oxygen, no helium pressurant) will mean a marginal cost per ton ~100 times better than Falcon, which is already >10 times better than the Shuttle.”
• Brief video from the top floor of Megabay 2. (Steve Jurvetson)