Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? (IFT-5) Booster catch is now NET late November, per SpaceX.
- When previous launch? (IFT-4)? Booster 11 and Ship 29 launched on 2024-06-06.
- What was the result? Both booster and ship make it to landing burn and splashdown. Ship flaps took a beating on reentry, but remained in control of the vehicle.
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 57 | Starship Dev 56 | IFT-4 launch thread | Starship Dev 55 | IFT-3 launch thread | Starship Dev 54 | Starship Dev 53 |
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Status
Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
*As of 2024-10-01
- 2-hour road delays posted for Oct 2nd and 3rd between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s.
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-10-01
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
S20 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | |
S26 | Rocket Garden | Pending 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. |
S30 | Launch site | Static fired Jul 26th | 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. |
S31 | Highbay | Resting | 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. |
S32 | Rocket Garden | On the move | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
S33 | Megabay 2 | Pending flaps install | First V2 Starship. Nosecone spotted Jul 14th. Forward section spotted Jul 27th. Stacking completed Aug 23. |
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 | Launch Mount A | Pending hot stage ring install | Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. |
B13 | Megabay 1 | Testing | Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank) |
B14 | Megabay 1 | Pending cryo | Stacked Apr 26th |
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
- 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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Starbase activities (2024-10-03):
- Oct 2nd cryo delivery update.
- Overnight, B14 and ship test stand move to Massey’s. (ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, Gomez)
- Also overnight, some chopstick testing and cryo pipe cleaning. (ViX)
- Pad A: Workers inspect S30. (LabPadre, House/Gisler)
- Water bags are delivered for chopstick testing. (Mary)
- Build site: Megabay 2’s 4-point lifting jig is lowered (ViX). Another lifting jig arrives at Starfactory in the afternoon (LabPadre).
- Massey’s: The “top hat” portion of the “can crusher” testing rig is removed. (ViX)
- Road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted for Oct 7th (10:00 to 22:00), and for Oct 8th and 9th (08:00 to 20:00).
Starbase activities (2024-10-04):
- Oct 3rd cryo delivery update.
- Pad A: Telehandler unfurls large water bags, which are then mounted on the chopsticks. (Phillips, LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, Starship Gazer, Hammer)
- Bags are then filled. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer, Hammer 1, Hammer 2, Ramirez)
- Chopstick deflection comparison and weight estimates (ViX, Anderson 1, Anderson 2).
- Bags are placed further out on the lever arm than in 2022. (Anderson)
- B12 grid fin photo with humans for scale. (Gisler)
- Evening preparations underway to lift hot stage ring back on B12. (Anderson)
- Pad B: Disassembly of the CC8800-1 crane continues. (ViX)
- Build site: 4th and final corner of launch mount 2 is spotted heading to Sanchez. (ViX)
- Pez dispenser emerges from Starfactory and moves to Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- New cladding is being added to the garage. (Gisler)
- Massey’s: B14 is cryo tested. (ViX, cnunez)
- 1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 6th and 7th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Brownsville Port to Massey’s.
- Oct 7th road closure (10:00 to 22:00) is scheduled.
Other:
- Additional angles and closeups of B11 recovery at sea. (Joe Tegtmeyer)
- NOTAM are posted for IFT-5 Ship reentry in Indian Ocean. (RGV Aerial)
Starbase activities (2024-10-02):
- Oct 1st cryo delivery update.
- Build site: Overnight, booster “puck shucker” test/transport stand moves into Megabay 1 and B14 is lifted onto it, likely in preparation for transport to Massey’s. (ViX, LabPadre, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF, Gisler)
- Sanchez: Gisler posts a photo. Chopsticks carriage is still surrounded by scaffolding.
- Pad A: Chopstick wiggle tests performed in the early morning and afternoon.
- Tank farm active in the evening, chopsticks rise, and drones are spotted. (Anderson)
- Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane is laid down, and dismantling begins (ViX, NSF).
- Load spreader for chopsticks testing moves to the launch site. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
Maritime:
- Two more cryo tanks en route to Brownsville port. (Cornwell)
McGregor:
- Possible HLS thruster test spotted. (NSF/Nerdplysgames)
Other:
- NOTMAR for “rocket launching activities near Boca Chica” are spotted for Oct 12th through 19th. These are likely just placeholders, as the official word from the FAA is still NET November. Berger has heard rumours to the contrary, but nothing is finalized. A NASA WB-57 is listed for imagery support in mid-October, but those are also just placeholder dates.
Starbase activities (2024-10-01):
- Sep 30th cryo delivery update.
- Sep 30th addendum: LabPadre and NSF timelapses of hotstage ring removal from B12.
- Overnight, booster transport stand moves from the launch site to Sanchez. (ViX)
- Crew lift goes up to the top of B12. (ViX)
- Two corner segments for launch mount B arrive. One is lifted onto an assembly stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Mary)
- Booster “puck shucker” test/transport stand moves from Sanchez to build site. (ViX)
Other:
- All of S30’s Raptor engines have now been identified. Centers are R269, R319, and R334. Vacuums are R368, R384, and R390. (SpaceRhin0)