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 | On the move | 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
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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 (2024-08-07):
- Aug 6th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, B14.1 rolls out to the launch site. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
- B14.1 is lifted onto the launch mount. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, ViX, Mary, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- New entrance to launch site is under construction.
- CC8800-1 crane reconfiguration continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Gisler)
- S30 at Massey’s. Tank farm venting, and spin prime completed.
- 2-hour road delay is posted for August 9th or 10th, for transport from Massey’s to pad. (Return of S30?)
- Starkitty sighted :)
Starbase activities (2024-08-08):
- Aug 7th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, a 3 ring LOX section moves from Starfactory to MB2, and is mated with existing S33 nose. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Test tank 16 and a nosecone spotted in Starfactory. (ViX)
- CC8800-1 crane reconfiguration continues. Looks like it is nearing completion. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5, Roger S, ViX 6, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
- Office construction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- NSF fly over Starbase, and note that SpaceX now has full access to the patch of land between Starfactory and the new offices.
Other:
- First Raptor 3 test fire (Elon 1, Elon 2, NSF)
- Frost comparison from TheSpaceEngineer.
- Gwynne fires a shot at Tory. You might even say she shot well.
- SpaceX states that IFT-5 vehicles are “ready to fly, pending regulatory approval”.
- NSF summary reading between the lines.
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 (2024-08-20):
- Aug 19th cryo delivery tally.
- Aug 19th addendum: Video of S33 downcomer and jig entering Megabay 2. (ViX)
- In the morning, the LOX downcomer enters Megabay 2 as well. (ViX)
- Build site video tour.
- Construction on offices and connecting passageway to Starfactory continues, and the two structures are now connected. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
- Pad A: A “burn plate” is lifted onto booster quick disconnect hood, and tower cladding is being added/replaced. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Pad B: Elevator sections 7 and 8 are lifted. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Crews are prepping tower module 9 for its upcoming lift. (Gisler)
- Tanks which arrived at Brownsville port on Aug 18th are arriving at Massey’s. (LabPadre)
- Test Tank 16 still at Massey’s.
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.
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 (2024-08-30):
- 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 (2024-08-21):
- Aug 20th cryo delivery tally.
- Continuous flight auger drill moves from pad B to Sanchez. (ViX, Golden 1, Golden 2, Golden 3)
- Pad A: Ship quick disconnect is extended. All 3 bumper blocks are removed from both starboard and port chopsticks. Chopstick movement observed in the evening. Newly installed “acuter” (actuator) piston is spotted by Gisler.
- Pad B: The 9th and final tower module is stacked. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, NSF timelapse, NSF livestream, Golden, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, Gisler 1 (pre-lift safety meeting), Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4, Gomez 1, Gomez 2, clwphoto1, SpaceX)
- LR11000 crane is on the move.
- Massey’s: The “can crusher” jig is placed on Test Tank 16. Horizontal tank 2 of 3 arrives from Brownsville port. (ViX, Gisler)
- Starkitty sighted :) (ViX 1, ViX 2)
Other:
- Compilation of Tower B stacking. (LabPadre)
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 (2024-08-05):
- Aug 4 cryo delivery tally.
- Lowering of the CC8800-1 crane main boom is completed. (LabPadre, ViX, DeffGeff)
- Crane masts are lowered, and unreeved. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, clwphoto1)
- Some sort of utility pole structure is erected.
- Static fire stand arrives at the build site and enters Megabay 2 (LabPadre, ViX).
- S30 is set for transport to Massey’s, presumably to test the engine which was replaced.
- 2 hour road delay is posted for 2024-08-06 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to Massey’s.
- 1 hour road delay is posted for 2024-08-07 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to pad.
- RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the entire area.
McGregor:
- SpaceX likely running Superheavy catch profiles. Relight test had a 3m 13s gap, same as B11 between boostback and landing burns.
Starbase activities (2024-08-19):
- Aug 18th cryo delivery tally.
- The 9th and final tower module arrives at Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2 (pulley closeup), Gisler 3, Hammer 1, Hammer 2)
- Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane is partially lowered for inspections, then raised back to vertical. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2)
- Pad A: Chopstick weld inspections continue, and “doubler plates” are installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Golden 1, Golden 2)
- Work on the ship quick disconnect continues.
- Construction on offices and connecting passageway to Starfactory continues. (cnunez, Gisler, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2).
- Build site: Possible new design of a ship downcomer is spotted. (Golden)
- Massey’s: Test Tank 16 is lifted into test stand/cage. (LabPadre, Mary)
- 1 hour road delay is posted for Aug 21st between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from pad to Sanchez.
McGregor activities (2024-08-19):
- Possible second Raptor 3 test fire, lasting 169 seconds, which matches full duration burn of Super Heavy. (NSF)
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 (2024-08-04):
- Aug 3rd cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, S33 common dome emerges from Starfactory and enters Megabay 2. Methane funnel has an interesting beehive shape. (LabPadre, ViX)
- S33 forward section is mated to the common dome. (LabPadre, ViX)
- R-Vac #398 (removed from S30) departs from Megabay 2.
- Pad B: Elevator section is lifted into module 6. (ViX, NSF, clwphoto1)
- CC8800-1 crane slews and is lowered in preparation for reconfiguration.