Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? IFT-4 is NET May per Gwynne Shotwell.
- When previous launch? (IFT-3)? Booster 10 and Ship 28 launched on 2024-03-14.
- What was the result? Booster makes it to the landing burn, but loses control and insufficient engines relight. RUD occurs at 462 m in altitude. S28 makes it to reentry but fails to face the heat shield in the correct direction, followed shortly by RUD. Payload door test and propellant transfer demo “complete”.
Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 53 | Starship Dev 52 | Starship Dev 51 | Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-01-12)
Status
Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Primary Date | 2024-03-07 08:00 | 2024-03-07 20:00 | Closure Scheduled. |
Backup Date | 2024-03-08 08:00 | 2024-03-08 20:00 | Possible closure. |
Backup Date | 2024-03-09 08:00 | 2024-03-09 20:00 | Possible closure. |
Primary Date | 2024-03-11 08:00 | 2024-03-11 20:00 | Closure Concluded. |
Backup Date | 2024-03-12 08:00 | 2024-03-12 20:00 | Closure Cancelled. |
Backup Date | 2024-03-13 08:00 | 2024-03-13 20:00 | Closure Cancelled. |
Primary Date | 2024-03-14 00:00 | 2024-03-14 14:00 | Closure concluded. |
Backup Date | 2024-03-15 00:00 | 2024-03-15 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
Backup Date | 2024-03-16 00:00 | 2024-03-16 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
Up to date as of 2024-03-15
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-03-15
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | IFT-1 launched on 2023-04-20. Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
S25 | Atlantic Ocean | Destroyed | IFT-2 launched on 2023-11-18. Mostly successful launch and stage separation |
S26 | Rocket Garden | Mysterious | Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, multiple mysterious changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. |
S28 | Indian Ocean | Destroyed | IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Ship destroyed on reentry due to heat shield facing the wrong way. |
S29 | High Bay | Static fires completed | Spin prime Mar 11th, Static fire Mar 25th (6 engines) and 27th (1 engine) |
S30 | High Bay | Pending engine install | 2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. |
S31 | High Bay | Aft flaps installed | |
S32 | Rocket Garden | Resting | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
S33-34 | Build Site | Parts spotted | To be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2 |
Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
B7 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
B9 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt. |
B10 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Booster destroyed shortly after failed landing burn attempt. |
B11 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. |
B12 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Cryo x2 |
B13 | Megabay 1 | Fully stacked | Chine installation underway |
B14 | Megabay 1 | Partially stacked | Stacking in progress |
B15 | Build Site | Assembly | Potential aft end spotted Jan 5th |
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
Link to IFT-3 launch thread
For those on Lemmy.World, the stickied thread isn’t updating properly. Here is the new development thread: Starship Development Thread #55
Thanks. I also posted a link to the the new thread in this thread. Is that comment visible on .world or did it fail to federate?
Starbase activities (2024-03-09):
- Chopsticks: “Winch moves are now complete” announcement, chopsticks rise and close around S28 (daytime closeup).
- Raptor stand returns to production site.
- Build site: Starfactory progress continues. More glass panels installed.
Other:
- New Ringwatchers article on Starlink PEZ dispenser.
IFT-3:
- Still no launch license from the FAA yet, but they include “STARSHIP OFT-3” in their Current Operations Plan Advisory.
This thread maybe, next thread definitely!
Starbase activities (2024-03-01):
- S29 rolls out to launch complex (LabPadre timelapse, NSF livestream), and moves towards… the orbital pad? (NSF) S29 eventually starts rolling back towards suborbital site. S29 pez dispenser closeup.
- Ship lifting jig is connected to the Black LR 11000 crane.
- Main event: S28 is lifted up with the chopsticks (noisy) and placed on B10 with a clunk (LabPadre, NSF). LabPadre/Vicki timelapse. Workers spotted on SQD arm. Mid-lift picture (LabPadre), and glamour shots (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4) from StashipGazer, Sean Doherty, and Mary. Ship quick disconnect deployed with some difficulty, connected, disconnected, and reconnected.
- B10 hot stage ring, and ship QD arm closeup.
- Build site: Work on tower segment and Starfactory continues. Window installation on Starfactory.
- New possible road closures scheduled for Mar 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
Starbase activities (2024-03-02):
- Quiet day.
- Overnight, S29 moves from orbital pad back to suborbital pad and is lifted onto test stand.
- LOX valve testing at the orbital tank farm.
- Road closure still possible for this afternoon (Mar 3rd).
Full stack wet dress rehearsal happening now. NSF are live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Eg_FltUZk
Lots of venting and frost.
Starbase activities (2024-03-03):
- S29 still connected to black LR 11000 crane.
- Main event: Full stack WDR of S28 and B10
- D2 gate is closed.
- New siren and pad evacuation announcement. Regular klaxon and pad clearing announcement. Village also evacuated, per Vicki and Mary.
- Chopsticks open and lower. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
- Tower and OLM venting. Multiple angles from LabPadre Rover 2, Nerdle, Lab, and Plex. Tower vent (LabPadre, NSF). OLM vent. OLM vent stops, and propellant load begins. (NSF livestream)
- Ship frosty, booster frosty, both nearly full. Propellant loading timelapse from Zack/NSF.
- FireX is tested.
- Detanking underway.
- New Ringwatchers diagram.
- Road closures still listed as possible (archive) for Mar 4th and 5th, but since Mar 3rd is still listed as “possible” not “scheduled”, I suspect the website has not been updated.
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters FAA Federal Aviation Administration FTS Flight Termination System LOX Liquid Oxygen NSF NasaSpaceFlight forum ~ National Science Foundation OLM Orbital Launch Mount QD Quick-Disconnect WDR Wet Dress Rehearsal (with fuel onboard) Jargon Definition iron waffle Compact “waffle-iron” aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large; also, “grid fin”
[Thread #33 for this sub, first seen 5th Mar 2024, 05:50] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
Starbase activities (2024-03-04):
- SpaceX tweet regarding WDR. Sounds like it went well. Next up would be FAA launch license, destack, arm the FTS, restack, then launch.
- S29 unhooked from black LR 11000 crane.
- B10 grid fins tested.
- Tower venting.
- Construction of second orbital launch pad continues: Excavators with stitchers on their booms installing wick drains.
- More cryo tanks inbound for Brownsville.
- Land swap approved with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Starbase activities (2024-03-05):
- Overnight: Loud venting from Ship QD arm.
- Main event, S28 destack: Ship pressurization trailer arrives at launch complex. Ship quick disconnect arm is disconnected from S28 (NSF closeup). S28 destacked from B10 (LabPadre, NSF.
- Ship quick disconnect arm extends towards the now-exposed hot stage ring on B10. Workers spotted on the arm shortly after.
- Slight movement of the black LR 11000 crane and the chopsticks.
- Build site: Two booster segments emerge from Starfactory. These include B14’s aft section per LabPadre. Weld marks for additional slosh baffles not observed on this segment. Progress on Starfactory itself continues.
- Coyote sighted.
- Road closures for Mar 4th and 5th finally revoked.
- New road closures posted for Mar 7th and 8th from 08:00 to 20:00.
- Possible internal IFT-3 date of Mar 14th. WB-57 plane also scheduled for Mar 14th.
We’re getting close, very exciting!
Starbase activities (2024-03-29):
- S29 is moved from launch site to High Bay. Timelapses (LabPadre, NSF), closeups (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, SeanKD).
- Work on OLM and chopsticks continues. BQD hoses (number 1 and number 2) are reinstalled.
- Build site: Work final two tower segments and Starfactory continues. Interesting framework spotted. SPMT rolls towards storage area.
- Meteor spotted on NSF Starbase Live :)
Wen B11 static fire?
Starbase activities (2024-03-30):
- Relatively quiet day with no vehicle testing or transports.
- Work on OLM and chopsticks continues.
- BQD rear cover is moved back to the OLM and reinstalled.
- Cool picture of steelwork. Not sure the exact location. Maybe some part of Starfactory or the new office building?
Other:
- NSF discussion/interview with Dr. Phil Metzger on his recent paper: A new launch pad failure mode: Analysis of fine particles from the launch of the first Starship orbital test flight.
Starbase activities (2024-03-31 (🐇🥚🐣)):
- Another quiet day with no vehicle testing or transports. It seems many Starbase photographers took the day off as well.
- Work on OLM and chopsticks continues. Lifts went up and down.
- Hoppy Easter from Nic Ansuini.
Starbase activities (2024-04-01):
- OLM and chopsticks work continues. BQD purge test spotted (video). Repairs to chopstick wiring and SQD in progress.
- Closeup of new plumbing at Orbital Tank Farm. Bra off. New vapourizers still pending installation.
- S29: Some TPS tiles removed from nosecone.
- B14: Final methane section moves to Megabay 1.
Starbase activities (2024-03-06):
- S28: TPS work and more TPS work, closeup, timelapse.
- B10: A grid fin is removed. OLM stabilisation pins are removed (first pin, second pin). A chine cover is removed (NSF angle).
- S29: Black LR 11000 crane moves away. Flaps are tested.
- Build site: B14 aft section moves into Megabay 1. Some shuffling was required. Starfactory progress continues.
- More cryo tanks inbound for and arrive in Brownsville.
- New road closures posted for Mar 11th, 12th, and 13th from 08:00 to 20:00.
IFT-3:
- SpaceX officially announces March 14th as the NET date for IFT-3.
- Mission page with countdown and flight test timeline is posted on SpaceX website.
- NOTMAR for Gulf of Mexico is posted (PDF). Image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4.
- FAA is “very close” to approving the license modification.
Other:
Starbase activities (2024-03-07):
- S29 testing: NSF livestream. Pad cleared for testing, likely attempting a spin-prime. A few tiles come off (close up). Timelapse of testing (LabPadre, NSF). Partial fill, engine chill, attempted spin-prime, abort/depress.
- Build site: Starfactory progress continues, glass panel installation begins (suction lift rig, panel lift). Mystery structure is transported.
IFT-3:
- Mexican NOTAM posted.
- New road closures posted for Mar 14th, 15th, and 16th.
- The orbital police posts the estimated planned trajectory.
Starbase activities (2024-03-08):
- Flight Termination System team shows up (close up). Placeholder “dummy” FTS boxes are removed. Top and bottom boxes are installed. Installation complete.
- S28 tile work touch-ups continue.
- Build site: Starfactory progress continues. More glass panels are installed. A peek into Megabay 1.
- March 11th road closure shifts from 08:00 to 20:00 to 06:00 to 18:00.
IFT-3:
- No launch license yet.