this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
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Starship Development Thread May 2025 (self.spacex)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by threelonmusketeers to c/spacex
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SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When next launch? (Flight 10) Three to four weeks after Flight 9, Elon time.
  2. When previous launch? (Flight 9) Starship flight 9 launched at about 23:36:29 UTC May 27.
  3. What was the result? Ship reached a suborbital path with a 189 km apogee. It lost attitude control during coast and tumbled during reentry, with loss of signal at about 59 km altitude." (Jonathan McDowell) - Booster experiences rapid unscheduled disassembly immediately after landing burn startup. (Golden, SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2)

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 April | Flight 8 launch thread | Starship Dev March | Starship Dev February | Flight 7 launch thread | Starship Dev January

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

Road closures and road delays

Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot

  • Road closures are posted for Apr 3rd and 4th, from 07:00 to 19:00, for non-flight testing activities.

Vehicle Status

*As of 2025-05-26

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.
Test Tank 16 Sanchez Resting Cryo tested four times between July and September. Sliding plates added to the catch points on Jan 27th. Moved to Sanchez Mar 15th.
S34 Caribbean Destroyed Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. Stacking completed around end of November. Cryo tested Jan 17th. Static fired Feb 11th. FTS installed Feb 24th. Launched Mar 6th, experienced an RUD shortly before SECO.
S35 Indian Ocean Destroyed Parts spotted Sep 20th. Forward flap installation Dec 3rd. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Dec 11th. Stacked by Feb 7th. Cryo tested Mar 11th. Single-engine static fire Apr 30th, six-engine static fire May 1st. R-vac likely replaced May 6th. Static fired May 12th. Spin prime May 22nd. Rolled out and stacked May 25th. Launched May 27th.
S36 Megabay 2 Pending engine install Parts spotted in December. Stacking began Jan 30th. Moved to Megabay 2 Feb 12th. Stacking completed Mar 11th. Cryo tested Apr 27th.
S37 Massey's Cryo testing Parts spotted in December. Forward dome section moves to Megabay 2 Mar 24th.
S38 Megabay 2 Stacking Parts spotted in December. Nosecone stacked on payload bay as of Mar 28th.
S39 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Apr 9th).
S40 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Apr 10th).
S41 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (May 10th).
Booster Location Status Comment
B12 Rocket Garden Resting 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.
B14 Gulf of Mexico Destroyed Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th. Static fired Dec 9th. FTS installed Jan 3rd. Wet dress rehearsal performed Jan 10th. Launched and landed Jan 16th. Static fired Apr 3rd. Stacked on launch mount May 13th. Destacked May 16th. Rolled back May 17th. Rolled out May 24th. Launched May 27th.
B15 Rocket Garden Resting Stacked from July to September. Methane tank cryo test Dec 27th, full cryo test Dec 28th. Static fired Feb 9th. Launched and landed Mar 6th.
B16 Megabay 1 Pending engine install Stacking completed by Dec 26th. Cryo tested Feb 28th.
B17 Rocket Garden Pending engine install Parts spotted. First two sections moved to Megabay 1 Jan 4th. Fully stacked by Apr 7th. Cryo tested Apr 9th.
B18.1 / Test Tank 17 Massey's Pending cryo test Test article for Booster v3. Parts spotted Feb 24th, Apr 21.

Resources

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[–] threelonmusketeers 2 points 1 day ago

This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread June 2025

[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-31):

  • May 30th addendum: S37 underwent two cryo tests at Massey's. The first test filled the tanks simultaneously, the second test filled methane and LOX sequentially. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • May 30th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • Launch site: Overnight, a fit check is performed on the booster quick disconnect hood at Pad B. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad B booster quick disconnect hood is reinstalled. (ViX)
  • Pad B chopsticks are lowered to the bottom stop. (ViX)
  • A LOX pump is lifted into position #2 at the pump farm, likely just a test fit. (ViX)
  • Build site: A peek at S38 in Megabay 2. (Hardcore Electric 1, Hardcore Electric 2)

Flight 9:

  • SpaceX post videos and photos of hotstaging and coast phase.

Other:

  • Version 3 Starlink satellites to start launching on Starship in "6 to 9 months". (Elon Time)
[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 3 days ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-30):

  • May 28th addendum: Test Tank 17 performs its first cryo load at Massey's. (Video 1, Video 2)
  • May 29th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • At Massey's, S37 performs a full cryo load test on both tanks. (ViX, Hardcore Electric 1, Hardcore Electric 2)
  • Cleanup at the former site of the Highbay continues, refurbishment of Pad A begins. (D Wise)

Flight 9:

  • The FAA require a mishap investigation, but focused only on the loss of Starship. (Beil 1, FAA (archived))
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-29):

  • May 28th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • May 28th addendum: S37 is transferred from work stand to cryo stand. (ViX)
  • Massey's: S37 moves from Megabay 2 to Massey's. (NSF 1, NSF 2, LabPadre)
  • Build site: One Raptor engine moves from the right side of Megabay 2 towards Sanchez, a second engine (an R-vac) moves into the left side of Megabay 2 (likely for S36). This is the third engine R-vac spotted heading towards S36. (ViX)
  • An aft flap is lifted to S36. (ViX)
  • Launch site: Suspected part of the Pad B booster quick disconnect system moves from Sanchez to the pad. (LabPadre, ViX)
  • A deluge manifold is lifted to Launch Mount B. (ViX)
  • Pad A chopsticks perform simulated catch tests. (ViX)
  • Pad B chopsticks are lowered to halfway. (ViX)

Official Starship update presentation (SpaceX, highlights from NASASpaceflight and Co.: (NSF 0, NSF 1, NSF 2, Caton)

  • The plan for Giga Bay to manufacture 1,000 Starships per year
  • a close-up video of Raptor 3 firing at the McGregor test site (NSF)
  • an updated render of orbital refueling (NSF)
  • the plan for Booster to be redesigned to only have three gridfins (NSF)
  • an intention to launch five Ships to Mars in the 2026 transfer window, with each ship carrying 10 tonnes of payload (NSF)
  • a Martian base in the Arcadia region, near large ice deposits (NSF)
  • and a plan to deploy Starlink satelites around Mars to support interplanetary communications (NSF)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-28):

  • May 27th post-launch cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • May 27th addendum: 2-hour road delay is posted for between May 28th 22:00 and May 29th 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey's.
  • May 28th and 29th road closures are revoked.
  • Build site: Arrival of cryo stand outside Megabay 2 suggests that the road closure is for S37. (ViX)
  • Launch site: The SpaceX LR11000 crane is raised. (ViX)

KSC:

Flights 10 and 11:

  • B16 will be a catch attempt, B15-2 will not. (Shana Diez 1, Shana Diez 2)
  • It is currently unclear which booster will support which mission. My guess would be that they would expend B15-2 on Flight 10 to retest reentry with a (slightly less) aggressive angle of attack.
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 6 days ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-27):

  • May 26th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • Launch site: Overnight, B14-2 performs an audible igniter test. (ViX)
  • Chopsticks open and rise. (ViX, Keegan)
  • Chopsticks lower and close around S35 again, possibly due to weather. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Fast boats are on duty. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2, mcrs987)
  • S35 flaps are exercised. (ViX)
  • Range security gets in position. (Cornwell)
  • Road closes, range helicopter is on duty. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Ship and booster transport stands depart from the launch site. (ViX)
  • Chopsticks open. (LabPadre, ViX)
  • Pre-launch cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • Another chopsticks test. (ViX)
  • Tank farm venting. (NSF)
  • Roadblock retreats. (NSF)
  • Tower vent. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
  • Propellant loading. (LabPadre, NSF)
  • Flight 9 happens.
  • Cars back to the pad. (ViX)
  • Build site: S38 aft section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX, Planatus666)
  • The older style ship lifting jig heads towards Megabay 2 and then turns back. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Tim Dodd conducts a short pre-launch interview with Elon: Elon was looking forward to seeing how the heatshield performed on reentry. Active cooling is still under consideration, but they're hoping to avoid it if possible. Loss of heatshield tiles precludes rapid reusability.
  • V3 booster forward section with integrated hotstaging ring is visible during certain camera angles. (Golden, Astro_Ptolemy)

Flight 9:

  • Jessie Anderson confirms that Raptor #314 is on this B14-2. This was the engine’s third flight, as it flew on Flight 7 (B14’s first flight), and Flight 5 (B12).
  • Clock holds at T-40 to address a booster engine temperature issue. At T-11 seconds, the clock resets to T-40 to address a GSE issue.
  • Liftoff. (NSF 1, ViX, Pike, Pike, Evans, SpaceX)
  • Hotstaging and directional booster flip. (NSF, SpaceX)
  • Booster experiences rapid unscheduled disassembly immediately after landing burn startup. (Golden, SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2)
  • S35 makes it to SECO. (NSF, Golden, SpaceX)
  • Payload door was unable to open fully. No Starlink simulator deployment on this flight.
  • Ship loses attitude control. (ViX, NSF, Golden)
  • In-space raptor relight test is cancelled.
  • Ship burns up on reentry. (NSF, Merritt, Dsandoval20112, SpaceX)
  • The FAA is aware of the anomaly and are working with SpaceX. There are no reports of public injury or damage to public property at this time. (Beil)
  • (Elon): "Leaks caused loss of main tank pressure during the coast and re-entry phase. Lot of good data to review."
  • (Shana Diez): "Need to look at data to confirm all fixes from flight 8 worked as expected but all evidence points to a new failure mode."

Flight 10:

  • Shana Diez is optimistic, and implies that it will include a tower catch of B15: "I’m optimistic based on what we are seeing in data that turnaround time to flight 10 will be faster than we had for flight 9." "And definitely need to make sure we understand what happened on Booster before B15 which will be a tower catch mission."
[–] threelonmusketeers 6 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-16):

Flight 9:

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-17):

  • May 16th cryo delivery tallies. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • May 16th addendum: Pad B chopsticks water bag testing timelapse. (ViX)
  • Build site: Overnight, B14-2 rolls from the launch site back to Megabay 1. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX)
  • B14-2 is transferred from the transport stand to a work stand. (ViX)
  • Launch site: A valve/manifold assembly is delivered to the Pad B quick-disconnect gantry structure. (ViX)
  • Pad B chopstick testing continues. The chopsticks are raised to near the top of the tower, held for ~2.5 hours, and lowered. Bages are then emptied and the jig is removed. (ViX, NSF, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Hammer)
  • RGV Aerial post a recent photos of the launch site and tank farm, Pad A (north side), Pad A (south side), Pad B, and a comparison of the two pads.
  • Other: Killip notes a change in the thrust puck design for the booster v3 test tank (May 10th 1, May 10th 2). "This upgraded design will allow more robust heat protection as the engine shields that cover the powerheads is being deleted. The Gimbaled engines will sit lower the closer to the center they are mounted as the plate now tapers down to a cone in the center."
[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 3 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-07):

Flight 9:

  • U.S. Coast Guard hazard notice is posted for May 19th between 18:30 and 20:34 CT. (Starship Gazer, uscg.gov (PDF warning))
[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-01):

  • Apr 30th cryo delivery tally.
  • Apr 30th addendum: S35 performs a short-duration single-engine static fire at Massey's. (NSF, NSF livestream, LabPadre, ViX, SpaceX)
  • Build site: S38 forward dome section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • Starfactory window demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Launch site: Wall demolition continues. (ViX)
  • Drilling equipment is delivered. (ViX)
  • The Buckner LR11000 crane is raised, following recent reconfiguration. (ViX)
  • Spray nozzle on Tower A is tested. (ViX)
  • Massey's: 2-hour road delays are posted for May 2nd between 12:00 and 16:30 and between May 3rd 16:00 and May 4th 05:00 for transport from Massey’s to factory.
  • Afternoon Massey's PA system announcement for S35 hot fire. (NSF)
  • Tank farm spools up, LOX load, detank. (ViX 1, NSF, ViX 2, ViX 3, NSF livestream)
  • Later in the evening, S35 performs a 30-second six-engine static fire at Massey's. (NSF livestream, NSF 1, Starship Gazer, Evans)
  • A extra flashes and fire are visible around the time of shutdown.

Note for Piefed users: Post pinning doesn’t seem to consistently federate from Lemmy to Piefed, but you can click “notify about replies” (on the original post, not this comment) to stay up to date with this thread.

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-02):

Note for Piefed users: Post pinning doesn’t seem to consistently federate from Lemmy to Piefed, but you can click “notify about replies” (on the original post, not this comment) to stay up to date with this thread.

[–] threelonmusketeers 5 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-19):

Flight 9:

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

Starbase activities (2025-05-26):

Heatshield discussion (Carmack, Elon 1, Elon 2): Could a lower ballistic coefficient render a bare stainless steel structure viable? No.

we need a heat shield that can handle Mars atmospheric entry conditions with a heavy payload, so the ballistic coefficient will necessarily be high. Steel is unfortunately hopeless.

No one has ever made a truly reusable orbital heat shield, so this is an extremely tough problem. [As you know] The Shuttle’s shields required extensive rework between flights.

It will take many more design iterations for SpaceX to make the shield work well. We had to build the entire supply chain from glass and alumina to finished tiles, which is why the SpaceX heat shield factory at the Cape is shockingly enormous.

Flight 9:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-13):

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-11):

KSC:

  • The two new horizontal tanks are moved towards LC-39A. (NSF)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-15):

  • May 14th cryo delivery tally.
  • May 14th addenda: The first LOX barrel section of S38 moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2, and a booster barrel section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Build site: An R-vac is removed from Mega Bay 2, likely the one which that had the problem during the first six-engine static fire of S35 on May 1st. (video)
  • Launch site: Water bags for chopsticks testing arrive at the launch site. (ViX)
  • Chopsticks testing jig has not been attached to the chopsticks yet. (ViX)
  • Welding of the pedestals to the bottom of the launch mount B deck has begun. (Golden / Starship Gazer)
  • Cryo deliveries to the Pad B deluge system begin. (ViX)
  • The Buckner LR11000 is laid down, presumably for disassembly and departure. (ViX)
  • B14-2 is still on launch mount A, booster alignment pins are removed. (Starship Gazer, Anderson)
  • 1-hour road delay is posted for between May 15th 22:00 and May 16th 02:00 for transport from pad to factory.
  • 1-hour road delay is posted for May 18th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from pad to factory. It is unclear what these would be for. B14-2 rollback seems unlikely... maybe crane parts?

Flight 9:

  • Another NOTAM is posted, this time directly over the Turks & Caicos islands. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3)
  • The FAA approve the license modifications for Flight 9, but not launch license itself. That is contingent on closure of the Flight 8 mishap investigation. (Foust, NSF)
  • Latest documentation suggests launch is NET May 22nd. (NSF, Manley)

McGregor:

  • Raptor 3 SN #20 heads towards the south stand for testing. (Cuker / NSF)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-06):

  • May 5th cryo delivery tally.
  • Build site: Starfactory wall demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad A: Chopsticks perform a brief raise and lower test. (ViX)
  • Tank farm: LOX pump in position #7 is installed. Pump for position #2 remains uninstalled. (ViX)
  • Launch mount B rollout prep: Some rigging for launch mount B is moved from Sanchez back to the launch site. (ViX)
  • Temporary fencing along Highway 4 is removed, likely to facilitate launch mount delivery. (ViX)
  • Steel sheets are laid on the sand along Highway 4, likely to provide extra support for the SPMTs. (ViX)
  • Some scaffolding is removed from launch mount B. (ViX)
  • Using the hold-down arms as lift-points is looking increasingly likely. (BingoBoca, Golden)
  • Launch mount B rollout: NSF livestream, Starship Gazer
  • Other: The FAA approve a Starbase launch cadence increase to 25 per year. (Jeff Foust, FAA (PDF warning), NSF 1, NSF 2)

Flight 9:

  • New local NOTMAR is posted for May 19th through 23rd. (NSF)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-18):

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 month ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-03):

Flight 9:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-20):

  • May 19th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • May 19th addendum: Highbay demolition continues. (Hammer)
  • 2-hour road delays are posted for May 21st between 12:00 and 16:00 or between May 21st 22:00 and May 22nd 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s.
  • Build site: A new part moves from Starfactory to Sanchez, possibly for a new booster or launch mount lifting jig. (ViX, Chen_Tianfei)
  • Orange sign spotted on Megabay 2, possibly the explosives warning sign, suggesting that installation of the flight termination system on S35 is imminent or already completed. (Planatus666)
  • S38 LOX barrel section (A3:4) moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • Cladding is removed from the new outer wall of Starfactory, a single ring section is taken for scrapping, and Highbay demolition continues. (ViX)
  • Cladding is replaced with taller panels. (ViX)
  • RGV Aerial post a flyover photo of S36 and S37 aft flaps near Starfactory.
  • Launch site: Pad B chopsticks load testing continues. Partial fill on the bags, but twisted cords seem to have ended the test prematurely. (ViX, NSF, Anderson, unrelated Wikipedia article)
  • Starship Gazer posts a recent photo (May 19th) of Pad B launch mount support structure progress.

KSC:

  • Mid-May photos from GEOSAT of Roberts Road and LC-39A. (Stranger)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-21):

McGregor:

  • The south Raptor test stand is engulfed in a brief but spectacular fireball. (NSF, Golden)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-12):

Flight 9:

  • NET date slips to May 21st, per a revised notice from the United States Coast Guard. (Starship Gazer)

McGregor:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-14):

  • May 13th cryo delivery tally.
  • Launch site: Overnight, the components for the chopsticks testing jig arrive. (ViX, Anderson)
  • Pad B chopsticks are lowered. (ViX, Roger S)
  • Load spreaders are disconnected from both LR11000 cranes, indicating completion of launch mount lift activities. (ViX)
  • Pad A detonation suppression system is tested with B14-2. (NSF)
  • Tank/pump farm: A new vertical vent pipe is installed. (ViX)
  • The first of the previously removed vaporizers are replaced. (ViX)
  • Build site: The last remaining column from the Starfactory wedge area is toppled, and cladding is applied to the gap. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Removal of concrete between Highbay and Starfactory begins. (ViX)
  • Other: Ship catch attempt still possible for later this year. (Elon time)

Flight 9:

  • Mexican NOTAM corroborates NET May 21st. (NSF)
  • A WB-57 plane is scheduled for imagery support on May 21st and 22nd. (NASA)

KSC:

  • Gigabay foundations at Roberts Road are visible in a recent synthetic aperture radar image. The x-band radar also reveals launch mount construction through the (opaque in visible light) fabric tent roof. (Harry Stranger)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-25):

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

Starbase activities (2025-05-24):

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-10):

KSC:

  • The first of two new tanks are unloaded. A nearby pickup truck with a Starlink dish suggests that these tanks could be for SpaceX. (space-offshore)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-09):

  • May 8th cryo delivery tally.
  • Early morning lightning storm. (ViX)
  • Build site: Test Tank 17 moves from Starfactory to Rocket Garden, likely pending rollout to Massey's. (NSF, ViX, Starship Gazer)
  • Launch mount B lift prep: Both LR11000 cranes now have load spreaders attached. (ViX)
  • 2-hour road delay is posted for May 12th between 10:00 and 16:00 for transport from Massey’s to pad. It is unclear what this is would be for. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos and video.

Flight 9:

  • NET date slips to May 20th, per a revised notice from the United States Coast Guard. (Beil)

KSC:

  • Two horizontal tanks are inbound for the turn basin. Unclear at the moment if these are for SpaceX or not. (space-offshore, NSF 1 (SPMT assembly), NSF 2, ViX)
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-23):

  • May 21st cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • May 22nd addenda: Pad B chopsticks testing timelapse. (NSF)
  • Timelapse of all Pad B chopsticks testing May 16th through 22nd. (ViX)
  • Launch site: Overnight, the chopsticks testing bags were swung to one side and lowered to the ground. Test jig has not been removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Some of the water bags depart from the launch site. (ViX)
  • Pad A chopsticks are raised and perform a few lateral movements. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Cryo deliveries continue. (RoughRidersShow)
  • Build site: S35 moves from Massey's to Megabay 2. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer leeward, Starship Gazer windward, Starship Gazer side view)
  • S35 is transferred from the static fire stand to the transport stand. (ViX)
  • Tag lines are attached to the skeletal remains of the Highbay. (ViX, Golden)
  • Starlink simulators move from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • Ship pez door opens. (NSF)
  • Cnunez posts a May 21st photo of S37 nosecone in Megabay 2.
  • Other: RGV Aerial post a comparison between 2020 October and 2025 May.
  • 1-hour road delay is posted for between May 24th 22:00 and May 25 08:00 for transport from factory to pad. (B14 rollout?)
  • 1-hour road delay is posted for between May 25th 21:00 and May 26 08:00 for transport from factory to pad. (S35 rollout?)

Flight 9:

  • Launch webpage is posted. (SpaceX (archive))
  • Confirmation of no tower catch for B14. Instead, the booster will attempt a more aggressive reentry profile, and test engine-out capability for the landing burn prior to splashdown.
  • Ship objectives include deployment of 8 Starlink simulators, an in-space Raptor relight, and testing of Ship ver2 heatshield and flap design on reentry.
  • "Following stage separation, the booster will flip in a controlled direction before initiating its boostback burn. This will be achieved by blocking several of the vents on the vehicle’s hotstage adapter, causing the thrust from Starship’s engines to push the booster in a known direction. Previous booster flips went in a randomized direction based on a directional push from small differences in thrust from Starship’s upper stage engines at ignition." Diagram by Killip.
  • Thread from Shana Diez (Director of Starship Engineering). (Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3)
  • 11-hour road closures are posted for May 27th, 28th, and 29th for flight activity. (NSF 1, NSF 2)

Highlights from SpaceX update (archive): FLY. LEARN. REPEAT.

  • "The most probable root cause for the loss of Starship was identified as a hardware failure in one of the upper stage’s center Raptor engines that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition." This contradicts the on-stream graphic. (Hansen 1, Hansen 2)
  • "To address the issue on upcoming flights, engines on the Starship’s upper stage will receive additional preload on key joints, a new nitrogen purge system, and improvements to the propellant drain system."
  • "While the failure manifested at a similar point in the flight timeline as Starship’s seventh flight test, it is worth noting that the failures are distinctly different. The mitigations put in place after Starship’s seventh flight test to address harmonic response and flammability of the ship’s attic section worked as designed prior to the failure on Flight 8."
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Starbase activities (2025-05-08):

  • May 7th cryo delivery tally.
  • Massey’s: 2-hour road delay is posted for May 10th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s, possibly for S35 additional static fire testing.
  • Build site: Highbay demolition continues. (ViX)
  • S38 common dome section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. Unlike previous sections, this one is substantially tiled. (ViX)
  • Ceaser G of NASASpaceflight posts recent flyover photos. (CeaserG33)
  • Launch site: Both halves of the roundabout are now completed and open for traffic. (Gisler)
  • Launch mount B lift prep: Configuration and positioning of the two LR1100 cranes continues. (ViX, Gisler)

Flight 9:

  • Email correspondence between SpaceX and the FCC indicate May 19th as the current target date. (Starship Gazer, FCC (PDF warning))
[–] threelonmusketeers 4 points 4 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-05):

  • May 4th cryo delivery tally.
  • Build site: Starfactory wall demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, cnunez)
  • Rigging for launch mount B is moved from the launch site to Sanchez. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Zack Golden speculates that hold-down arms could be used as lift-points. (Golden 1, Golden 2)
  • Launch mount B still at Sanchez. (cnunez)
  • Launch site: The sandy verge across from the D2 gate area is coned off and levelled, presumably in anticipation of launch mount B rollout. (ViX)
  • There is question as to how launch mount B will fit through the gate. (Beil)
  • Construction of the roundabout continues. (cnunez)
  • Concrete is poured for the Pad B trench walls. (ViX)
  • Pad B chopsticks are raised. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Crews trim the pipes which constitute the flame bucket, as it left Sanchez with ends terminating at different lengths. (Killip, RGV Aerial)
  • Work on the Pad B gantry structure continues. (cnunez)
  • The SpaceX LR11000 crane is on the move. (ViX)
  • Other: Ryan Hansen posts an overview of the launch pad B design, 3D animations, and a mass calculation estimate. Around 1.2 gigagrams currently, additional hardware installation will bring it to around 1.6 gigagrams. (Hansen 1, Hansen 2, Hansen 3, Hansen 4, Hansen 5, Hansen 6, Hansen 7)
  • NASASpaceflight have a livestream scheduled for launch mount B rollout.

Flight 9:

  • Local Notice to Mariners is posted for May 13th through 23rd. (ViX)
  • WB-57 has a placeholder for imagery support on May 21st and 22nd. (ViX)
[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-22):

  • May 21st cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
  • May 21st addenda: Two new shackles are delivered. (ViX)
  • Twenty tankers of water are delivered for the Pad A deluge system. (ViX)
  • Starship Gazer 4k video of S35 rollout to Massey's.
  • Launch site: Pad B chopsticks testing continues. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2, ViX)
  • Drilling begins for piles on either end of the Pad B flame trench. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
  • Build site: Highbay demolition continues. (NSF, ViX)
  • A B18 LOX barrel section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • Massey's: S35 performs a spin prime test. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, NSF livestream 1, NSF livestream 2)
  • 2-hour road delay is posted for between May 22nd between 20:00 and May 23 04:00 for transport from Massey's to factory. (S35 rollback?)
  • 2-hour road delay is posted for May 28th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey's. (S36 rollout?)

Flight 9:

  • FAA publish the determination that SpaceX have "satisfactorily addressed the causes" of the Flight 8 mishap, and Flight 9 is authorized for launch. (Foust, NSF, Caton, FAA (archived))
  • Size of hazard areas has been expanded. (Beil)
  • Flight 8 mishap investigation remains open. (Beil 1, Beil 2)
  • Temporary flight restriction for May 27th. (Caton / NeedPizza42 / FAA)
[–] threelonmusketeers 3 points 4 weeks ago

Starbase activities (2025-05-04):

  • Tank farm: LOX pump in position #6 has been installed, position #2 still pending installation. (ViX)
  • Pad B: The crossbeam has been removed from the launch mount legs, likely in anticipation of the arrival of the launch mount.
  • Road delays are still scheduled for between May 5th 22:00 and May 6th 04:00 and between May 6th 22:00 and May 7th 04:00 for transport from factory to pad, presumably for launch mount B rollout.
  • A second continuous flight auger drill/soil mixer is delivered to the launch site. (ViX)
  • Other: RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Highbay demolition progress and Pad B along with Starbase Weekly.
  • Starship Gazer posts 4k slow motion video of S35's recent long-duration static fire test.
  • Ryan Hansen posts a 3D render of a launch mount B support arm, and teases at a full launch mount animation. (Hansen 1, Hansen 2)