SpaceX

Starbase activities (2024-09-06):

• No Sep 5th cryo delivery tally.
• Sep 5th addendum: Compilation timelapses of chopstick tests, including a full launch rehearsal from BQD retraction to chopsticks catch. (ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2) When the chopsticks are at the top of the tower, their momentum causes a noticeable amount of tower sway. (Anderson)
• Build site: Overnight, S31 moves to Massey's. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer photo, Starship Gazer video, NSF, NSF video, Beyer, Gisler, Doherty)
• Pad A: Chopsticks testing continues. Chopsticks close, landing rails rise, landing rails lower.
• Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane is laid down. (ViX, Hammer)
• Massey's: Crews were spotted at Test Tank 16. (Hammer)

Starbase activities (2024-07-28):

• Pretty quiet Sunday.
• Jul 27th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, S30 is lifted off the static fire stand and moves to the Rocket Garden. (ViX, NSF)

Other:

• IFT-5 is now NET "late August or early September", per Elon.

Starbase activities (2024-08-09):

• Overnight, S30 moves from Massey's to build site. (LabPadre, ViX, Beyer, NSF 1, NSF 2, Gomez)
• S30 is transferred from static fire stand to transport stand, and moves to staging area near Rocket Garden. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2), ViX, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• RGV Aerial spots a triangular hole in the Starfactory roof, possible for Starhopper.
• CC8800-1 crane rises. (ViX, NSF)
• Comparison of crane size before and after reconfiguration. (DeffGeff)
• The CC8800-1 crane mishap: The boom is lifted a bit too far, and causes the jib to detach from its trolley and swing freely, which causes a mast strut to break loose. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, Prince Faisal, ViX)
• Crews go up to inspect the strut; strut is back in place.
• Pad A: Chopstick modifications continue. Shaun Gisler posts photos of ship quick disconnect, B14.1 on launch mount, and booster quick disconnect.
• 2 hour road delays are posted for Aug 9th and 10th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Massey’s to production pad.
• 1 hour road delays are posted for Aug 11th and 12th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to pad.

Starbase activities (2024-07-23):

• Jul 22 addendum: New Pez dispenser door enters the Highbay.
• S31: R-Vac #376, RC #386, and RC unknown enter Megabay 2.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 load spreader is raised and attached to tower module #4. (LabPadre, ViX)
• B15: upgraded aft section is spotted, featuring small internal tanks mounted on the LOX landing tank.

Other:

• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the Sanchez site.

Starbase activities (2024-08-10):

• Aug 8th and 9th cryo delivery tallies.
• Aug 9th addendum: Chopstick alignment push rods are tested.
• In the morning, 3 bumper pads are installed, one is removed, and one is installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4 closeup)
• CC8800-1 crane is lowered, likely in response to the damage the previous day. (LabPadre, ViX)
• The jib mast struts are removed. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• cnunez posts recent photos of the CC8800-1 crane, S30 flap, launch mount, and S31 tile replacement.
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of Massey's, Pad A, Pad B, and build site.

Other:

• IFT-5 is NET Aug 31st, per Elon. (3 weeks from Aug 10th)

Starbase activities (2024-08-26):

• Aug 25th cryo delivery tally.
• Following the removal of gas tanks from the chopstick carriages at Sanchez and Pad A, the chopstick carriage at Pad A receives a replacement tank.
• Chopsticks work continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Booster stand arm installation. (Hammer)
• Office construction continues (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Mostly tiled nosecone in Starfactory. (Gisler)
• The car park is filling up.
• Test Tank 16 is still at Massey's.

Other:

• Statement from the FAA to NSF regarding Starship Flight 5: "The FAA is evaluating SpaceX's proposed license modification for its Starship Flight h5 mission. SpaceX must meet all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements prior to FAA authorization. Safety will drive the timeline. Please contact SpaceX for information about the proposed changes to its license."
• Pad B flame trench excavation diagrams. (ChromeKiwi 1, ChromeKiwi 2)

Starbase activities (2024-09-10):

• Sep 9th cryo delivery tally.
• Sep 9th addendum: Timelapse of Test Tank 16 cryo test. (LabPadre)
• The wet continues. (LabPadre, Gomez)
• Workers begin reconfiguring the CC8800-1 crane. (ViX)

Other:

• SpaceX complains about regulatory hurdles. (full post is worth a read for context and details)
• A scale model was tested in a transonic wind tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center.

Starbase activities (2024-07-22):

• Jul 21st cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 21st addendum: Following work on the Megabay 2 bridge crane hook, the new ship lifting jig is hoisted to vertical in Megabay 2.
• A flock umbrellas begin their annual migration :)
• Overnight, tower module #4 moves from Sanchez to the Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF timelapse, NSF closeup)
• One sea level Raptor (#374) and two R-Vacs (#320 and #391) enter Megabay 2, likely to be installed on S31. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Beyer)
• At Massey's, S30 is prepared for a potential static fire on Jul 23rd.

Starbase activities (2024-07-29):

• Jul 28th cryo delivery tally and corrected Jul 27th tally.

• Jul 28th addenda: S30 flaps are untied, migrating crabs and more crabs are spotted, Test Tank 16 is visible in Starfactory, where it was moved following testing at Massey's.

• Hot stage ring emerges from Starfactory and enters Megabay 1. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2.

• Glass panel installation begins on new office building.

• New Ringwatchers diagram.

• Road delay for transportation operations "from Sanchez to Pad" is posted for Jul 31st 00:00 to 03:00.

Other:

• FAA release a labeled map of the future two tower Starbase launch complex. (Starship Gazer)
• ViX's tanker counting days may be numbered, due to wall construction.
• Possible future horizontal ship transport.
• Possible future Starship recovery off the coast of Australia.
• FAA are soliciting comments regarding increasing launches from Starbase. Don't send too many this time.
• Raptor relight test at McGregor. Three minutes between relights, which is unusually long.
• SpaceX post a statement on Super Heavy sonic booms.
• Photographer Cargile is taking a well-deserved break.

Starbase activities (2024-08-01):

• Jul 31 cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 31 addendum: B15 forward dome reenters Megabay 1, followed by a 3-ring section. It seems likely that the two segments have been stacked.
• Pad B: Module 5 is stacked on the tower. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, NSF highlight, NSF timelapse, clwphoto1, Ramirez)
• Module 6 rolls towards the tower.
• Pad A: Tank farm upgrades are underway. A tank is relocated by the LR11000 crane.
• Build site video tour: Crews work on tiling the lower hinge area of S30.

LC-39A:

• A crane is observed to be working.

Starbase activities (2024-07-30):

• Jul 29th cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 29th addendum: Pez dispenser jig is removed from Megabay 2, likely indicating that dispenser installation on S33 is complete. Comparison photo.
• B15 forward dome emerges from Starfactory.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane load spreader is lowered. Crane is preparing to lift an elevator section.
• Pad A: Worker on a chopstick.
• S30 (I think) in the ~~Rocket Garden~~ at Sanchez, S31 in the Highbay. (Edit: S30 is at Sanchez, not the Rocket Garden.)
• Office window installation continues.
• Crab invasion continues. (NSF, clwphoto1 1, clwphoto1 2)

Other:

• TheSpaceEngineer posts a render of Starbase based on the recently released map from the FAA. (tweet 1, tweet 2)

Starbase activities (2024-09-07):

• Sep 6th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, lay down of CC8800-1 crane is completed.
• Quiet Saturday, no significant action is reported.

Other:

• Elon update on Mars timeline: Uncrewed Starship NET 2026, crewed Starship NET 2029, which is pretty much the most ambitious timeline possible. I wouldn't be surprised if the uncrewed tests slip by one transfer window, and I'm expecting the crewed missions to slip by at least a two or three transfer windows. I'm glad they're setting ambitious internal goals though.

Starbase activities (2024-09-08):

• Sep 7th cryo delivery tally.
• Chopsticks work continues. A coat of "something" has been applied to both bumpers. (Hammer)
• Massey's: S31 begins cryo test, but aborts. (ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF)
• RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of the launch site, Massey's, and office construction.

Starbase activities (2024-09-09):

• Sep 8th cryo delivery update.
• Sep 9th is a wet day at Starbase. (Gomez, Cooper_Hime, Garza)
• Build site video tour, including an interesting delivery, plausibly an HLS airlock prototype article. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, TheSpaceEngineer 1, TheSpaceEngineer 2)
• Massey's: Test Tank 16 undergoes testing.

Starbase activities (2024-08-17):

• No cryo deliveries on Aug 16th.
• B14.1 moves from the launch site to the Rocket Garden. (LabPadre, NSF 1, NSF 2, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Hammer)
• Test Tank 16 moves from Starfactory to Massey's. (LabPadre, NSF)
• Pad B: Tower module 8 is stacked. (LabPadre, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF timelapse, Gomez, DeffGeff, Gisler, Hammer)
• Construction on passageway between Starfactory and the offices continues.
• Office glass installation continues.
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of Massey's, Pad A, launch site, Pad B,

Starbase activities (2024-08-16):

• Aug 15th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Tower module 8 is hooked up to load spreader.
• Pad A: Chopstick testing continues. The chopsticks have had bumpers added, and seem to be moving faster than in previous tests. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, NSF 5, DeffGeff, Golden)
• Chopstick testing concluded: LR11000 lowers main block. Two SPMTs arrive with booster connection plates. Booster load spreader is lowered over B14.1. B14.1 lifted from launch mount to transport stand.
• 1 hour road delay is posted for Aug 19th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Sanchez to pad.

Other:

• Ringspaceflight sets up a Starbase tracking file on figma.

Starbase activities (2024-07-31):

• Jul 30 cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, tower module #6 arrives at Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
• Elevator section is lifted into module 4.
• Tower module 5 rolls towards tower and hooks up to load spreader. (ViX, NSF)
• Ship stand enters Megabay 2, briefly attaches to bridge crane, then disconnects and exits Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Another ship stand enters Megabay, hooks up with the bridge crane for a short spin, then disconnects. (ViX) Ring stand moves further into Megabay 2.
• B15 forward dome enters Megabay 1, then exits later in the day.

Starbase activities (2024-08-11):

• Aug 10th cryo delivery tally.
• Aug 10th addendum: Great closeup of chopstick bumper pad installation.
• Fairly quiet Sunday.
• Work on the CC8800-1 crane continues.
• Chopstick movement observed. (LabPadre, ViX, Gisler)

Other:

• NSF post a nice timelapse compilation of the stacking of the first 6 tower modules of Tower B.

Starbase activities (2024-08-25):

• Aug 24th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad A: Chopstick work continues. Crews cut and remove both hard-stop points, which stop the arms from closing too much. (LabPadre, Niall Anderson)
• Pad B: The CC8800-1 continues lifting components for a catch net on Tower B. (ViX)
• Some gas tanks were removed from the Pad B chopsticks carriage stored at Sanchez the previous day. A similar tank was later removed from the Pad A chopsticks carriage. Possibly indicative of a hardware swap, though not conclusive. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• cnunez posts recent progress on office construction, and a peek through the Starfactory windows.

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

[Thread #50 for this sub, first seen 15th Jul 2024, 04:50] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]