this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2024
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SpaceX Starship page

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

FAQ

  1. When next launch? (IFT-7) TBD
  2. When previous launch? (IFT-6)? Booster 13 and Ship 31 launched on 2024-11-19.
  3. 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

Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live

Starship Dev October | IFT-5 launch thread | Starship Dev 57 | Starship Dev 56 | IFT-4 launch thread | Starship Dev 55

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


Road closures

Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot

*As of 2024-11-19

  • 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)
  • 1-hour road delays are posted for Nov 11th (19:00 to 22:00) and 12th (10:00 to 13:00) for transport from factory to pad, likely B13 rollout.
  • 1-hour road delays are posted for Nov 13th (00:00 to 03:00 or 12:00 to 15:00) and 14th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to pad, either backups for B13 rollout or for S31 rollout.
  • 8-hour road closure is scheduled for Nov 17th (08:00 to 16:00) for non-flight testing activities.
  • 14-hour road closures are posted for Nov 18th, 19th, and 20th (all 08:00 to 22:00), for flight testing activities, presumably IFT-6.
  • Nov 20th road closure is revoked.
  • 1-hour road delay was posted for Nov 21st (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to pad, but then revoked.

Vehicle Status

*As of 2024-11-21

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship Location Status Comment
S20 Rocket Garden Pending scrapping?
S26 Rocket Garden 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. Scrapping began Nov 20th.
S30 Indian Ocean Successful splashdown 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. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched Oct 13th, with on-target splashdown in Indian Ocean.
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
S33 Megabay 2 Pending engine install 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.
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 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 Megabay 1 Pending gridfin install Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th.
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

top 24 comments
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[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-22):

  • Nov 21st cryo delivery tally.
  • Launch site: A new cryo tank arrives. (ViX)
  • Yellow LR11000 crane delivery and assembly continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler)
  • Black LR11000 crane rises back up. (ViX)
  • Tower A: The lightning and communications antenna is straightened up. (ViX)
  • Tower B: Potential cable reel is sighted. (ViX)
  • Build site: S26 scrapping continues with the removal of the forward dome. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, tobewobemusic)
  • Work on launch mount B and chopsticks carriage B continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)

IFT-6:

KSC LC-39A:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-21):

  • Nov 20th cryo delivery tally.
  • Build site: Overnight, S26 aft section moves to the scrap yard. Two more sections are moved to the scrap yard over the course of the day. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Booster transport stand moves to Sanchez. (ViX)
  • Launch mount B construction continues. (Gisler)
  • Launch site: New cryo pipes are lifted at the tank farm. (ViX, Gisler)
  • Another LR11000 crane is being delivered and assembled. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler)
  • Workers erect scaffolding around the bent lightning and communications antenna on Tower A. (ViX)

IFT-6:

Other:

  • Sneak peak of Starship HLS crew quarters, (Toby Li)
[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-20):

  • Nov 19th cryo delivery tally.
  • Nov 20th road closure is revoked.
  • 1-hour road delay was posted for Nov 21st (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to pad, but then revoked.
  • Build site: S26 moves to Highbay, the LTR1220 crane delivers a ring spreader, and the lower 4 rings of S26 are removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Beyer, DeffGeff)
  • Booster transport stand arrives at the production site. (ViX)
  • Potential raptor delivery truck is spotted. (ViX)
  • Pad A: Chopsticks and launch mount inspections overnight. (Starbase Pulse)
  • Launch mount work platform rolls back out to the pad. (ViX, NSF)
  • Three truckloads of cryo piping are delivered. (ViX)
  • Booster stabilization pins are moved back towards the launch mount. (ViX)

IFT-6:

  • Gulf of Mexico: Final sighting on Nov 19th of B13 heading south into Mexican waters, guarded by support aircraft. (LabPadre)
  • Two out of three support ships return to port. (Cornwell, Cornwell 2)
  • Indian Ocean: The two ships slowly move west, likely following the remains of S31. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2)
  • "What caused the catch abort?" Elon: "Lost comms to the launch tower computer. Catch would probably still have worked, but we weren't sure, so erred on the side of caution."
  • "What happened to the banana?" Elon: "Well, the fairing did blow up when the ship fell over after landing in the water (as expected)"
  • FAA confirms no mishap. All outcomes were within the scope of the launch license. (Beil)

Other:

  • "Is the perspirative cooling still off the table?" Elon: "Metallic shielding, supplemented by ullage gas or liquid film-cooling is back on the table as a possibility"
  • The FAA publish a revised Environmental Assessment draft (Revised Draft EA, PDF warning) for increasing launch cadence to 25 per year. Document includes (pg. 153 and 154) a map showing the planned trajectory for Starship RTLS, passing over Matamoros (Mexico) and the outskirts of Brownsville. (thanks u/Nydilien and u/scarlet_sage in The Other Place)

Embedded screenshot

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 3 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-19):

IFT-6:

  • Launch pad clearing begins. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Road is closed. (LabPadre)
  • A few cryo deliveries continue. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Chopsticks open to launch position. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
  • Booster transport stand arrives at the roadblock. (ViX, NSF)
  • Chopstick landing rails are raised. (LabPadre, ViX)
  • Frost and venting are observed on the vaporizers to the left of the D2 gate. (ViX)
  • Helicopter and fast boats are spotted, presumably for range duty. (ViX, NSF, RGV Aerial)
  • Tank farm, tower, and launch mount venting. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, Golden)
  • Frost on ship and booster, propellant is loaded. (LabPadre, SpaceX)
  • IFT-6 happens. The payload is a single banana. (ViX, Cornwell)
  • Booster catch attempt is aborted. B13 performs a soft splashdown, propellant tanks rupture when booster tips over. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
  • SpaceX marine assets approach B13. (Cornwell)
  • B13 continues to to belch fire over an hour after splashdown. (LabPadre, Golden)
  • In-space raptor relight test is successful. (SpaceX, LabPadre)
  • Slight warping of the hull is observed during reentry. (Golden)
  • S31 survives reentry and performs a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. (SpaceX, courtesy of marine assets)
  • S31 had an older heatshield design, fewer tiles, and flew a steeper reentry profile. (Tankwatchers, Maxarick 1, Maxarick 2)
  • Cause of catch abort: Although "Tower is go for catch", was called out during the webcast, it seems like a later check identified an issue which triggered the abort: "Following a nominal ascent and stage separation, the booster successfully transitioned to its boostback burn to begin the return to launch site. During this phase, automated health checks of critical hardware on the launch and catch tower triggered an abort of the catch attempt. The booster then executed a pre-planned divert maneuver, performing a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico." (Golden's thoughts](https://x.com/CSI_Starbase/status/1859074034698183118))

Non-IFT-6:

  • Nov 18th cryo delivery tally.
  • Build site: A Bigge BG-28H drill rig, Bigge Tadano crane, and drill bits are delivered. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Golden)
  • Minor damage to the lighting and communications pole on Tower A. (NSF, Golden)
  • Booster load spreader moves into Megabay 1. (ViX)

Other:

  • Elon shares flight 6 objectives. (Elon)
  • SpaceX share updated HLS renders. (SpaceX, Golden)
  • SpaceX share photos of heatshield tests in simulated martian atmosphere. (SpaceX)
  • Elon shares some numbers: "Flight 6 liftoff thrust is ~7500 tons and mass is ~5000 tons. The tanker version of Starship V3 will weigh over 7000 tons."
  • Elon shares more Starship V3 info: "Same diameter of 9m (~30 ft), but longer and at least 2 versions. The propellant tanker version will be especially heavy, as the payload volume in the forward section will mostly contain propellant. Thrust goal will be ~10k tons (3X Saturn V) and liftoff mass of tanker version ~7k tons. This should be capable of ~200 tons of orbital refilling. Note, 3% of liftoff mass as useful cargo would be insanely good for a fully reusable orbital rocket. Most expendable rockets aren’t that good."
  • Elon regarding flight 7 and 8: "We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower." This puts S34 as potentially the first RTLS ship.
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 4 days ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-18):

IFT-6:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-17):

IFT-6:

  • Starbase range security assets begin to appear on tracking maps. (Cornwell)
  • Two ships depart from Australia and head towards the splashdown location, potentially to deploy buoys. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-16):

  • Nov 15th cryo delivery tally.
  • Pad A: Overnight, FTS is installed on B13. (LabPadre, ViX, Beyer, NSF)
  • Booster transport stand leaves the launch complex. (ViX)
  • Ship transport stand moves from Pad A to storage area. (ViX)
  • Rover 2 video tour of launch site. Closeups of B13 FTS boxes, fence removal, digging, LN2 tanker. (ViX)
  • New shielding covering the waterfall valves beside the booster quick disconnect is spotted. (Anderson / Starship Gazer)
  • D Wise posts recent close-ups of S31.
  • Build site: B14's grid fins move from Starfactory towards Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of the build site, launch mount B construction, and Pad A.
[–] threelonmusketeers 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-01):

Other:

  • NSF article on pending upgrades to Starship facilities in Florida.
  • Additional highlight summaries on Starship HLS mockup from Kirtland, Bickmore, and Li. Two floors, five bedrooms, laboratory, airlock, life support, four control seats, and a 40-foot ceiling in one area.
[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-11):

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-13):

McGregor:

  • A Raptor 3 has a hard start a rough start on the horizontal stand. (Hayden / NSF)
[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-15):

IFT-5:

IFT-6:

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-07):

  • Nov 6th cryo delivery tally.
  • Pad A: The remaining subcooler is lifted into position. (ViX, Gisler)
  • Work on chopsticks continues. Workers observed on the booster quick disconnect. (cnunez, ViX)
  • Pad B: CC8800-1 disassembly continues. Six truckloads depart from the launch site. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
  • Build site: Scaffolding is delivered, glass installation continues on the passageway between Starfactory and offices. (ViX)
  • Two new semi-circular work platforms arrive at Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • Booster CO2 tank moves from Starfactory towards Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • Hotstage ring spotted outside Megabay 1. (Anderson / LabPadre)
  • S31 receives a "banana for scale" sticker. (Starship Gazer, Mary, Gisler, cnunez, Ramirez)
  • Sanchez: Launch mount B construction continues. The GMK 7550 crane lifts the first and second (of four) side sections into position. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Rocket Garden: Counterweights are added to SPMTs, likely in preparation for B13 rollout. (ViX)
  • 1-hour road delays are posted for Nov 11th (19:00 to 22:00) and 12th (10:00 and 13:00) for transport from factory to pad, likely B13 rollout.

McGregor:

  • The tripod stand is being retired. Some tanks are removed. (NSF)
[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-06):

  • Nov 5th cryo delivery tally.
  • Pad B: CC8800-1 crane disassembly continues. Two more truckloads of parts depart. (ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
  • RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the launch site.
  • Some sort of box/cover is lifted into place at the tank farm. (clwphoto1)
  • Construction on passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. Window installation in progress. (Gisler)
  • Build site: The A4:4 LOX section for B16 moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • Sanchez: Construction continues on launch mount B. All four corner sections are in place. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • The pez load has shrunk. (ViX)

IFT-6:

  • FAA NOTAMN is posted for Nov 18th through 26th. (LabPadre)

  • SpaceX announce November 18th as the NET date for flight 6, and post info on mission objectives and changes since flight 5. Highlights:

    Hardware upgrades for this flight add additional redundancy to booster propulsion systems, increase structural strength at key areas, and shorten the timeline to offload propellants from the booster following a successful catch. Mission designers also updated software controls and commit criteria for the booster’s launch and return.

    An additional objective for this flight will be attempting an in-space burn using a single Raptor engine, further demonstrating the capabilities required to conduct a ship deorbit burn prior to orbital missions.

    The flight test will assess new secondary thermal protection materials and will have entire sections of heat shield tiles removed on either side of the ship in locations being studied for catch-enabling hardware on future vehicles. The ship also will intentionally fly at a higher angle of attack in the final phase of descent, purposefully stressing the limits of flap control to gain data on future landing profiles. Finally, adjusting the flight’s launch window to the late afternoon at Starbase will enable the ship to reenter over the Indian Ocean in daylight, providing better conditions for visual observations.

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-14):

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-10):

  • Nov 9th cryo delivery tally.
  • Nov 9th addendum: S31 moves out of the corner of Highbay. (ViX)
  • Sanchez: Launch mount B construction continues. The fourth and final side section is delivered. (ViX)
  • Build site: All six of S33's raptors have now arrived at Megabay 2. "In sequence, we had RV275, RV305, RC385, RC345, RC316 and RV398." (ViX)
  • cnunez posts recent photos of S31 and chopsticks carriage for Pad B.
  • RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of Pad B / Pad West.

Other:

  • Chinese launch startup Cosmoleap are already testing their own prototype tower and chopsticks hardware. (CNSpaceflight)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-02):

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-03):

Cape Canaveral activities:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-04):

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-05):

McGregor:

Other:

  • mcrs987 notes that one of the aluminum-coated tiles on IFT-5 was glowing/melting. (Tweet 1, tweet 2)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-08):

  • Nov 7th cryo delivery tally.
  • Sanchez: Launch mount B construction continues. The third (of four) side sections is lifted into position. (ViX)
  • Build site: Overnight, scaffolding is removed from S31. (ViX)
  • Hot stage adapter moves from Starfactory towards Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • CO2 tank is lifted, presumably up to B13. (ViX)
  • Boxes labeled SN1 and SN2 are spotted. (LabPadre)
  • Two SPMTs arrive at the build site. The LTR1220 crane shifts some of the counterweights, and the SPMTs enter the Highbay. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • cnunez posts a recent photo of a partially tiled nosecone in Starfactory.
  • Pad A: The chopsticks and the ship quick disconnect are tested. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Pad B: The LR11000 crane removes a net from Tower B. (ViX)
  • 1-hour road delays are posted for Nov 13th (00:00 to 03:00 or 12:00 to 15:00) and 14th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to pad, either backups for B13 rollout or for S31 rollout.

McGregor:

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Starbase activities (2024-11-09):

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2024-11-12):

Other:

[–] UniversalMonk 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Awesome post, OP. Thank you!!

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

You're welcome! Glad to know it is appreciated!