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Starship Development Thread January 2025 (self.spacex)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

8 comments fedilink

SpaceX Starship page

Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.

FAQ

When next launch? (Flight 7) NET Jan 11th, likely a "3 or 4 days" further. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Cadena OIS (archive), Elon)
When previous launch? (Flight 6)? Booster 13 and Ship 31 launched on 2024-11-19.
What was the result? Booster catch attempt aborted, performed soft splashdown in the Gulf. Ship performs in-space raptor relight, survives reentry, and makes an on-target splashdown.

Quick Links

Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)

Road closures and road delays

Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot

*As of 2025-01-01

1-hour road delay is posted for Jan 8th from 04:00 to 05:00 for transportation from launch pad to factory.
1-hour road delays are posted for Jan 8th from 14:00 and 17:00 or Jan 9th from 00:00 to 03:00 for transportation from factory to launch pad (likely S33 rollout).

Vehicle Status

*As of 2025-01-01

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship	Location	Status	Comment
SN2	Rocket Garden	Pending scrapping?
S20	Rocket Garden	Pending scrapping?
S31	Indian Ocean	Successful splashdown	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. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. In-space raptor relight was successful, ship survived reentry and performed soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
S32	Rocket Garden	Pending scrapping?	Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps
Test Tank 16	Rocket Garden	Pending scrapping?	Cryo tested four times between July and September.
S33	Megabay 2	Pending rollout	First V2 Starship. Nosecone spotted Jul 14th. Forward section spotted Jul 27th. Stacking completed Aug 23. Cryo tested Oct 29th (partial), 30th (full), and 31st (full). Raptor installation begins Nov 9th. Spin prime Dec 12th. Static fired Dec 15th and 16th. Starlink simulators loaded Jan 7th. Catch hardware installed Jan 8th.
S34	Megabay 2	Pending cryo test	Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. Stacking completed around end of November.
S35	Megabay 2	Assembly	Parts spotted Sep 20th. Forward flap installation Dec 3rd. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Dec 11th.
S36	Starfactory	Assembly	Parts spotted in December.
S37	Starfactory	Assembly	Parts spotted in December.
S38	Starfactory	Assembly	Parts spotted in December.

Booster	Location	Status	Comment
B12	Megabay 1	Post-flight inspection	Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched as IFT-5 on Oct 13, returned to launch site for successful chopstick catch. Moved to Megabay 1 Oct 15th.
B13	Gulf of Mexico	Successful splashdown	Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank). Static fired Oct 24th. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. Chopsticks catch attempt was aborted, performed soft splashdown in the Gulf.
B14	Launch Mount A	Pending wet dress rehearsal	Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th. Static fired Dec 9th. FTS installed Jan 3rd.
B14.1	Sanchez	Resting	Multiple catch simulation "slap tests" performed on Jun 26th and 27th.
B15	Megabay 1	Pending engine install	Stacked from July to September. Methane tank cryo test Dec 27th, full cryo test Dec 28th.
B16	Megabay 1	Pending cryo test	Stacking completed by Dec 26th.
B17	Build Site	Assembly	Parts spotted. First two sections moved to Megabay 1 Jan 4th.

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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Italy’s plan to buy Starlink data deals a serious blow to European space network (arstechnica.com)

submitted 7 hours ago by [email protected] to c/spacex

0 comments fedilink

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Starlink 12-11 launch bulletin (self.spacex)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

4 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 12-11 launch out of LC-39A in Florida is currently scheduled for 2025-10-08 15:27 UTC, or 2025-01-08 10:27 local time (EST). Booster 1086-3 to land on A Shortfall of Gravitas.

Webcasts:

Space Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxE4HeUH_YA
Spaceflight Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwouv6Xdt_M
NASASpaceflight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylDTE76Ojjo
The Launch Pad: none
SpaceX: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1877012678562206006
The Space Devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8LGg3uxYr0

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Starship flight 7 objectives and changes (pbs.twimg.com)

submitted 2 days ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

6 comments fedilink

Source: Infographic from VikranthJonna

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SN181 fairing half flight history (pbs.twimg.com)

submitted 3 days ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

0 comments fedilink

Source: rykllan

SpaceX have recently started printing serial numbers on the fairings, allowing obsessive nerds to track their flight history!

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Starlink 6-71 launch bulletin (self.spacex)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

4 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 6-71 launch out of SLC-40 in Florida currently scheduled for 2025-01-06 20:27 UTC, or 2025-01-06 15:27 local time (EST). Booster 1077-17 to land on Just Read the Instructions.

Webcasts:

Space Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-caeRktmlI
Spaceflight Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8laNo8ZQ7M
NASASpaceflight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlqcJPWwf0o
The Launch Pad: https://youtube.com/watch?v=n1GQc7xV43o
SpaceX: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1876368001974640911
The Space Devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rloIImDE1vc

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SpaceX to attempt first payload deployment, engine reuse during Starship Flight 7 (spaceflightnow.com)

submitted 4 days ago by [email protected] to c/spacex

2 comments fedilink

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SpaceX achieves record-breaking 2024, looks ahead to 2025 - NASASpaceFlight.com (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 5 days ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

1 comments fedilink

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Starship Flight Test 7 (www.spacex.com)

submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/spacex

4 comments fedilink

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SpaceX notches first orbital launch of 2025 with mission for UAE-based Space42 – Spaceflight Now (spaceflightnow.com)

submitted 5 days ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

0 comments fedilink

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Thuraya 4-NGS launch thread (self.spacex)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

10 comments fedilink

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2025-01-04, 01:27 | |

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Webcasts

| Stream | Link | |

|

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight and r/SpaceX:

☑️ 1st launch from SLC-40 this year

☑️ 5 days, 20:27:00 turnaround for this pad

☑️ 1st Falcon 9 mission this year, 419th Falcon 9 mission overall

☑️ 1st SpaceX mission of 2024, 435th mission overall (excluding Starship flights)

☑️ 1st SpaceX launch this year, 450th SpaceX launch overall (including Starship flights)

☑️ 67th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch (if successful)

☑️ 92nd landing on ASOG

☑️ 393rd Falcon family booster landing, 408th Falcon recovery attempt

Mission info

Thuraya 4-NGS is a communication satellite being built by Airbus Defense and Space for the UAE based Yahsat. Based on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar-Neo Platform, Thuraya 4-NGS will incorporate a large 12-meter L-band antenna and a payload with on-board processing providing advanced routing flexibility of up to 3200 channels with dynamic power allocation over a large number of spot beams.

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[rykllan] 2025-01-01 Falcon flightworthy boosters overview (pbs.twimg.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

0 comments fedilink

Infographic source: rykllan

https://x.com/_rykllan/status/1874488098928865357

B1067 is in first place with 24 flights.
B1063 in second place with 22 flights.
B1071 in third place with 21 flights.
B1069 in fourth place at 20 flights.
B1073 and B1076 tied for fifth place at 19 flights.
B1075, B1077, and B1078 in sixth place at 16 flights.

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SpaceX launch surge helps set new global launch record in 2024 (spacenews.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

4 comments fedilink

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[rykllan] 2024 year-end infographic (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

4 comments fedilink

Source

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Starlink launch concludes record-breaking 2024 - NASASpaceFlight.com (www.nasaspaceflight.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

0 comments fedilink

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Study to examine environmental impacts of increased SpaceX launches from Vandenberg (spacenews.com)

submitted 1 week ago by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

9 comments fedilink

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Starlink 12-6 launch bulletin (self.spacex)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

6 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 12-6 launch out of LC-39A in Florida is currently scheduled for 2024-12-31 05:39 UTC, or 2024-12-31 00:39 local time (EST). Booster 1078-16 to land on Just Read the Instructions.

Webcasts:

Space Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmCGcTvWi-o
Spaceflight Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruqzvcZnQHc
NASASpaceflight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaBkMd9etb4
The Launch Pad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrLXphOwuFM
SpaceX: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1873965935792710039
The Space Devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=349owYqe8EE

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SpaceX is expected to kick off 2025 with a triple-shot at landing on the Moon (spaceexplored.com)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/spacex

1 comments fedilink

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Astranis: "From One to Many" launch thread (take two) (self.spacex)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

7 comments fedilink

This launch follows last week's launch attempt which aborted upon engine ignition. Booster has changed from B1077 to B1083.

| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-12-29, 05:00 | |

|

Webcasts

| Stream | Link | |

|

Stats

Sourced from NextSpaceflight:

☑️ 62nd launch from SLC-40 this year

☑️ 12 days, 04:08:00 turnaround for this pad

☑️ 62nd consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch (if successful)

☑️ 91st landing on ASOG

☑️ 392nd Falcon family booster landing, 406th Falcon recovery attempt

☑️ 131st Falcon 9 mission this year, 417th Falcon 9 mission overall

☑️ 133rd SpaceX mission of 2024, 433rd mission overall (excluding Starship flights)

☑️ 137th SpaceX launch this year, 449th SpaceX launch overall (including Starship flights)

Mission info

A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch 4 MicroGEO satellites for Astranis. The satellites are designed to be much smaller than typical GEO sats and are therefore deployed closer to GEO, cutting down on the time between deployment and operation.

Of the four satellites, one named "AGILA" will provide broadband access to the Philippines through Orbits Corp, two named "NuView-A and NuView-B" will be leased to Anuvu to provide internet connectivity to airplanes and cruise ships, and the final satellite named "UtilitySat", which will be reconfigurable on orbit, will temporarily provide replacement services for the failed Arcturus satellite.

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Starlink 11-3 launch bulletin (self.spacex)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex

5 comments fedilink

Starlink Group 11-3 launch out of SLC-4E in California currently scheduled for 2024-12-29 01:58 UTC, or 2024-12-28 17:58 local time (PST). B1075-16 to land on Of Course I Still Love You.

Webcasts: