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This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by: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 (2024-10-29):

• Oct 28th cryo delivery tally.
• Oct 28th addenda: Concrete pour at Pad B. (ViX)
• Timelapse of chopstick tests. (Priel)
• Large diameter cryo-pipe is delivered to the launch site, likely for the new LOX subcoolers. (LabPadre)
• Pad A: Work on the launch mount continues. (cnunez)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane lowers, and the derrick winch line is retracted, and the derrick is removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5)
• Construction on passage between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler)
• Workers at Starhopper. (Gisler)
• Build site: B16’s LOX tank section is staged outside Megabay 1. (ViX)
• Sanchez: The first section of the second level of launch mount B is slowly stacked. (ViX, Golden)
• Massey’s: S33 cryo test. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Gomez)
• RGV Aerial post a comparison between 2023-04-20 and 2024-10-13.

McGregor:

• Flame diverter for the new south Raptor vertical stand is lowered into its flame trench. (Swartz/NSF)

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 (2024-10-03):

• 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 (2024-10-19):

• 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 (2024-10-20):

• Methane deliveries: 3 on Oct 19th, 17 total since IFT-5.
• The LR11000 rises. (ViX)
• Cable tray belt/chain is installed on Tower B. (ViX, Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
• Booster transport stand moves from Sanchez to build site. (ViX)

Starbase activities (2024-10-21):

• Methane deliveries: 3 on Oct 20th, 20 total since IFT-5.
• Build site: S34 common dome moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
• A ship flap is delivered. (ViX)
• Booster transport stand enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
• B13 is lifted onto transport stand. (ViX)
• Pad A: Announcements for “booster QD blowdown”, expect “loud venting” and “extremely loud venting”. (ViX)
• One of the new recondensers is lifted into position. (ViX)
• Pad B launch mount renders Lewis Knaggs. (Tweet 1, tweet 2)
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 22nd (12:00 to 15:00) and 23rd (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from factory to pad.
• Road closure is posted for Oct 23rd (18:00 to 00:00) for non-flight testing activities.

Other:

• But what if Starship hits a shark or a whale?

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 (2024-10-23):

• Oct 22nd cryo delivery tally.
• Oct 22nd addenda: ViX and Priel timelapses of B13 lift, Ramirez photo.
• Overnight, chopsticks open, raise, translate, and lower. (ViX, Starship Gazer)
• Scaffolding removal begins on launch mount A. (ViX, Hammer)
• Evening road closure has a late start due to cryo deliveries and Movac trucks emptying the retention pond. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Roger S)
• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of S31 in the Highbay.

Maritime:

• Starship Gazer posts 4k video of hotstage ring recovery on Oct 22nd.
• HOS Ridgewind returns to Port Fourchon. (Cornwell)

McGregor:

• Busy afternoon with two multiple firings tests of Raptor: 5 consecutive firings, followed by a test consisting of a record of 34 consecutive firings. (Priel, Prehis2oricman)

Other:

• Elon: “Starship will lengthen in the next few years. 10 years from now, there will probably be a much wider diameter Starship too.”

Starbase activities (2024-10-24):

• Oct 23rd cryo delivery tally.
• Pad A: Overnight, the raptor work platform is lowered and moved away from launch mount A. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• B13 venting is observed, the detonation suppression system is tested, and engine gimbaling is observed.
• Early morning photo from cnunez.
• Raptor work platform is raised, and overpressure notice is issued. (ViX, Mary)
• Cryo deliveries and retention pond water removal continue. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Transport stand arrives to pick up the raptor work platform., and moves it away from the launch mount
• Chopsticks raise and open. (LabPadre, ViX)
• Oct 24th road closure is extended from 20:00 to 23:00.
• B13 propellant load begins. Non-subcooled at first, then subcooled. (NSF 1, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5, NSF 2)
• B13 performs a static fire. (NSF livestream, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, NSF, Golden, Doherty 1, Doherty 2, Doherty 3, Gomez)
• Build site: Launch mount B construction continues. (ViX)
• Current photo of S32 from cnunez.
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 25th (22:00 to 00:00) and 26th (12:00 and 15:00) for transport from pad to factory.
• 2-hour road delays are posted for Oct 26th (00:30 to 03:30) and 27th (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from factory to Massey’s.

McGregor:

• “Another day, another multi firing test of a Raptor engine, this time 12 firings in around 3 minutes.” (Priel)

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 (2024-10-12):

• 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.