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 | Resting | 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
Starbase activities (2024-09-27):
- Not too much action reported today.
- Overnight, the recovered B11 aft section is transported to Massey’s. (Starship Gazer, Gisler, RGV Aerial (flyover closeups!))
- Pad A: Third consecutive daily photo from SpaceX of B11/S30 not launching.
Other:
- SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell addresses the Texas House of Representatives. She highlights the investment SpaceX have put into their Texas sites and surrounding communities, stresses the importance of enhancing regulatory efficiency, and recommends “updating legislation and regulations in the state to protect individuals and the public from potential hazards associated with launch while allowing freedom and flexibility for us to continue operations safely and efficiently”. She also clarifies that SpaceX have a good relationship with TCEQ, and that most of the regulatory issues they are encountering are at the federal level. (xdNiBoR)
Starbase activities (2024-09-26):
- Overnight, B11 remains are offloaded from Hos Ridgewind, and transported to Massey’s. (Beyer 1, Beyer 2, Beyer 3, Carson Phillips, Hammer)
- Sanchez: SpaceX begins lifting possible Pad B OLM hardware. (Beyer)
- Pad A: Chopsticks close around S30, 'murican flag is flown from tower. (Starship Gazer, NSF, Hammer, SpaceX official)
- Road delay is posted for Sep 27th from 00:00 to 03:00 for transport from Brownsville Port to Massey’s.
Other:
- Why not salvage B10 in addition to B11? Probably too deep, 800 meters vs. 61 meters. (Golden)
Starbase activities (2024-09-25):
- B12 and S30 are still stacked at Pad A. (Starship Gazer)
- Booster alignment pins are removed. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
- SpaceX post a photo of technicians posing on the chopsticks. (alternate angle from Hammer)
- HOS Ridgewind arrives at Brownsville port. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, Beyer 1, Beyer 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, interstellargw, Jordan Guidry, Hammer)
- Roof of the passage between Starfactory and the new offices looks complete now. (Gisler)
- Road delay is posted for Sep 25th between 22:00 and 02:00 for transport from Brownsville Port to Massey’s. (Offloading B11 remains?)
McGregor:
- Raptor tests continue. (NSF)
Starbase activities (2024-09-24):
- Mary spots some more potential hardware for Pad B launch mount. Zack Golden’s thoughts: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3.
- S34 is back in Starfactory. (cnunez)
- Roof of the passage between Starfactory and the new offices is mostly complete. (Gisler)
- B12 and S30 still looking beautiful. (LabPadre, Gisler, Doherty 1, Doherty 2, clwphoto1, )
- Chines have a slightly wrinkled appearance.
FAA:
- SpaceX Global Government Affairs refutes comments made in Congress by the administrator of the FAA.
Maritime:
- HOS Ridgewind departs after a brief stop in Altamira, Mexico, and is now heading for Brownsville, likely to delivery the recovered portions of B11.
Starbase activities (2024-09-23):
- Main event: Partial tanking test on B12 and S30. (NSF full livestream, LabPadre full livestream, NSF timelapse)
- Road is closed (NSF), tower vent (NSF), propellant loading (NSF), depress vent. (NSF), detanking (NSF, LabPadre).
- SpaceX tweet: “Propellant load test and preflight checkouts complete ahead of Flight 5”
- Sep 23rd closure is concluded, and the Sep 24th and 25th closures are cancelled.
- S30 thermal protection system looks very clean. (NSF closeup)
- Build site: S34 nosecone and payload bay, now stacked, move from Highbay to Starfactory. (NSF, Planatus666)
Starbase activities (2024-09-22):
- Sep 21st addenda: Starship Gazer timelapse of S30 stacking on B12. RGV Aerial photo 1 and photo 2 of stacking. NSF timelapse comparison of all six stackings so far.
- Not too much Starbase activity reported on Sep 22nd.
- Recent RGV Aerial photos of the launch site, Massey’s, Pad B flame trench construction, and build site.
- Road “clossure” still in place for Sep 23rd from 08:00 to 20:00 for non-flight testing activities. (Wet dress rehearsal)
Maritime activities:
- Elon posts a photo of B11 remains from IFT-4.
- Gisler photo of the vessel (Hos Ridgewind), Interstellar Gateway video on the recovery operations and satellite photos.
- Zack spots some potential filter mounting brackets.
Starbase activities (2024-09-21):
- Overnight, hotstage ring is stacked on B12. (Hammer, NSF timelapse)
- S30 is stacked on B12. (NSF full livestream, Starship Gazer, Mary, cnunez, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF timelapse, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4, Gisler timelapse, Doherty 1, Doherty 2, Hammer closeup 1, Hammer closeup 2, RGV Aerial, Beyer, SpaceX official photos)
- Ship quick disconnect is tested. (NSF)
- Recent photo of S35 in Starfactory. (cnunez)
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 (2024-08-24):
- Aug 23rd cryo delivery tally.
- Aug 23rd addendum: B14.1 is outfitted with two load point arms. S33 is connected to aft section and heads towards welding station. (LabPadre timelapse, Starship Gazer closeup)
- Not too much action reported on the 24th.
- Test Tank 16 still at Massey’s. (cnunez, Gisler)
- Pad A: Work on chopsticks continues. (Gisler)
- RGV Aerial post photos of the build site and Pad B flame trench construction from their recent flyover.
Starbase activities (2024-08-22):
- Aug 21st cryo delivery tally. (Yes, 21st)
- Aug 21st addendum: Move video of ship quick disconnect extension and retraction tests. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Pad A: Chopsticks work continues. Nice clear photo of actuator pistons.
- Pad B: Load spreader disconnects from tower. Work on flame trench is under way. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- S30 receives a Mechazilla decal. Unknown if B12 will receive one too. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Mary, Gisler (sort of))
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.
Starbase activities (2024-08-30):
- Aug 29th cryo delivery tally.
- Aug 29th evening addendum: S33 is moved to the centre work stand in Megabay 2. (cnunez closeup)
- Pad A: Chopsticks work continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- Construction of passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler)
- Partially tiled nosecone in Starfactory has been turned around. (Gisler)
- B15 final forward section still outside Megabay 1.
- Zack Golden’s thoughts on the upcoming booster catch tests. (TL;DR: “be patient”)
- 1 hour road delay is posted for 2024-09-04 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from pad to parking lot.
Starbase activities (2024-08-31):
- Not too much action reported today.
- Chopsticks work continues. (NSF (lightning!))
- New attachments added onto Starhopper prior to potential relocation. (Mary, RGV Aerial, Hammer)
- RGV Aerial post recent photos of Test Tank 16 at Massey’s, Rocket Garden (labelled), Pad A (chopsticks work), and Pad B (flame trench).
Other:
- New CSI Starbase episode: How To Prevent Raptors From Destroying Superheavy Pt.2
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 (2024-09-04):
- 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.