Portions of this thread copied from the Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? IFT-3 is NET Mid-March, and after completion of the IFT-2 mishap investigation. Candidate vehicles are Booster 10 and Ship 28.
- When previous launch? (IFT-2)? Booster 9 and Ship 25 launched on 2023-11-18.
- What was the result? Successful lift off with minimal pad damage. Successful booster operation with all engines to successful hot stage separation. Booster destroyed by AFTS after attempted boost-back. Ship fired all engines to near orbital speed then destroyed by AFTS. No re-entry attempt.
- Was IFT-2 a complete failure? No. As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.
—
Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 52 | Starship Dev 51 | Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49 | Starship Dev 48
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-01-12)
Status
Road Closures
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2024-02-15 08:00 | 2024-02-15 20:00 | Closure revoked. |
| Backup Date | 2024-02-16 08:00 | 2024-02-16 20:00 | Closure scheduled. |
| Backup Date | 2024-02-20 08:00 | 2024-02-12 20:00 | Possible closure. |
Up to date as of 2024-02-19
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-02-20
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | April 20th (IFT-1): Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| S25 | Atlantic Ocean | Destroyed | 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 | Suborbital test stand | Awaiting testing | Static fired Dec 29th. Stacked on B10 on Feb 13th. Partial WDR conducted Feb 14th and 16th. Destacked Feb 18th. Spin prime Feb 26th. |
| S29 | High Bay | Pending engine install | 3x cryo |
| 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 | Megabay 1 | Awaiting testing | Static fired Dec 29th. Hotstaging ring installed Jan 26th. Partial WDR conducted Feb 14th and 16th. |
| B11 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. |
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Cryo x2 |
| B13 | Megabay 1 | Fully stacked | Chine installation underway |
| B14 | Build Site | Assembly | Assorted parts spotted |
| 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
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Starbase activities (2024-01-22):
- Overnight, workers struggled to undent the OTF shells. Pop!
- First beam for the new launch tower arrives, 4th piece overall. Piece #1, piece #2, and piece #3 were spotted last November.
- Seems like the black LR11000 could be removed from the launch complex soon. I wonder where it is needed?
Starbase activities (2024-01-29):
- Black LR11000 reassembly begins. A-frame rises.
- Chopsticks rise and open.
- 2-point lift jig stand (without the jig) moves from Rocket Garden to Highbay.
- Starfactory progress: More columns are installed and concrete is poured.
- S28: Workers and Raptor removal jig are spotted under the skirt. Bad engine?
Starbase activities (2024-01-21):
- 9th, 10th, and 11th stringers installed on the OTF shells. The use of a “dent puller” was required in a couple cases. Unclear at this point whether all shells will receive reinforcements, or just these two.
- Starfactory expansion is pretty quiet, though a new fence has been erected.
Starbase activities (2024-01-20):
- 8th stringer installed on the OTF shells.
- Cross-bracing installation begins on the OTF shells.
- Zack Golden’s thoughts on the concrete issue: “If you pour too quickly, pressure will continue to rise at the bottom as additional material is added. Eventually this head pressure can reach a point where it becomes too great for the form work to handle, resulting in a collapse.”
Starbase activities (2024-02-06):
- LOX pump replaced overnight.
- Cones still in place despite no scheduled road closures or delays.
- Barge arrives in Brownsville with the 9th (and possibly final) horizontal cryo tank for the OTF. Another cryo tank delivery likely scheduled for the end of February, so it is unclear where that tank would go.
- Long SPMT moves to launch site, presumably in anticipation of the 9th cryo tank.
- OLIT segment 9 column section arrives at Sanchez.
- Starfactory progress: A more excavation and a few beams added.
- Workers observed at the top of Megabay 2.
- Coyotes spotted. Hope Starkitty is safely out of the way.
KSC:
- 4th tower section is loaded onto barge. (timelapse of 4th section, timelapse of all 4 sections)
Starbase activities (2024-02-01):
- Black LR 11000 crane is reassembled to the point where the yellow GMK 7550 crane is no longer needed at the launch site.
- Tower section assembly: A column is lifted to vertical, then lowered back down. Stargazer covered the very exciting lowering in a livestream.
- Starfactory progress continues: More beams installed, some excavation and concrete work done.
Shipping:
- More cryo tanks destined for Brownsville.
- Loading more tower sections onto a barge in the KSC turning basin for presumed transport to Starbase.
- Summary of tower sections by Alexphysics13.
Starbase activities (2024-02-02):
- S28: An R-vac was removed.
- SpaceX posts stunning pictures of B10 through B13 in Megabay 1. B11 has engines and shielding. B13 partially stacked.
- More sections added to Megabay 1 door. Hope SpaceX continues to post regular pictures.
- Starfactory progress: Columns and beams continue to be added at a steady pace.
- Signs of roofing work on the potential bathroom at the launch site.
KSC:
- A total of four launch tower sections are now at the KSC turning basin.
- Updated summary of tower sections by Alexphysics13.
Wow. I don’t think I realized how gargantuan the megabay is.
Yeah, I think it’s 2-3 times the floor space of the current high bay, and slightly taller. Megabay 2 is similar size to Megabay 1. Definitely huge buildings, though still not as big as the VAB at the Cape.
Starbase activities (2024-01-31):
- S28 has one of its engines swapped out. Photos from Starship Gazer and LabPadre.
- A raptor leaves Megabay 2 and a raptor arrives at Megabay 2. Must be for S29, as it is the only vehicle there.
- More sections added to Megabay 1 door :(
- Starkitty sighted :)
Other:
- The Starship manifest grows: Starlab commercial space station to launch on Starship
Starbase activities (2024-02-08):
- Road delays posted for Feb 8th 15:00 to 18:00 and Feb 9th 00:00 to 03:00.
- B10 rolls out to launch pad during the Feb 8th road delay. NSF stream. LabPadre timelapse.
- B10 is positioned between the chopsticks for a potential lift tonight.
- Launch tower section assembly resumes.
- Starfactory progress: Quite a few more beams!
KSC:
- Four launch tower segments depart KSC by barge, complete with a Valentine’s decoration.
- Three cryo tanks delivered to the Cape. SpaceX VP of launch confirms they are to enable consecutive prop load attempts on Falcon Heavy at 39A, not for Starship. (Though I wonder if they wouldn’t repurpose the tanks for Starship eventually…)
- SpaceX submits updated site plans for western site of Roberts Road facilities.
IFT-2:
- NASA releases WB-57 tracking plane footage with some sections redacted. NSF edits the available files together.
IFT-3:
- Road closures posted for Feb 12th through 14th. Launch or wet dress rehearsal?
Starbase activities (2024-02-13):
- Feb 13th road closure is revoked. Feb 14th closure scheduled. Feb 15th, 16th, and 20th have been added as possible road closure dates.
- S28 is restacked on B10. Alternate angle timelapse, and pretty pictures from Mary, Starship Gazer, Sean, and Starship Gazer.
- Vicki goes AFK.
- Starfactory progress: More roof close to camera, more beams far from camera.
- Launch tower section coming along nicely.
- SpaceX more or less confirms WDR is up next. Here’s to a Valentine’s Day WDR!
Starbase activities (2024-02-07):
- Clamp retraction test is performed on the OLM. Nice closeup shot of OLM from Stargazer.
- 9th horizontal cryo tank arrives at launch site, and after widening the D2 entrance, is slotted into position alongside its siblings. Stargazer photos of tank and farm. NSF also captured some video of delivery and tank closeup.
- Starfactory progress: Several more columns and beams added.
- Black LR11000 raises its boom for the first time since undergoing maintenance.
- New Ringwatchers diagram! Text summary of changes.
KSC:
- Four tower segments are secured on barge. Barge has not left port yet.
IFT-3:
- FAA currently waiting on SpaceX to submit necessary information for launch license modification.
Starbase activities (2024-02-05):
- Booster transport stand moved from Rocket Garden to Ring Yard (video), possibly for B10 transport. Transport stand then moves to Megabay 1, but then leaves empty shortly after.
- Not much Starfactory progress.
- LOX pump delivered to launch site, unboxed, and an existing LOX motor and pump are removed.
KSC:
- Barge arrives at the KSC turn basin.
- Barge lowers, and the first of potentially four launch tower sections is loaded (timelapse). Hold-down chains tensioned, the SPMT is removed, and the 2nd and 3rd sections are loaded.
Other:
Interesting thread regarding distribution of segments for the top of the 3rd (2nd at Starbase) launch tower. Seems like the top 3 will all be two-thirds height, as opposed to the full-height, two-thirds, one-third segments on the 1st tower.
Nitter links
Starbase activities (2024-02-15):
- SQD push-pull test.
Starbase activities (2024-02-16):
- Pad cleared (transcript), Feb 16th road closure scheduled, and another WDR attempt (NSF livestream).
- Ship 28 and booster 10 both got a bit frosty, but full WDR was ultimately aborted. (timelapse)
- Feb 20th road delay scheduled and road closure possible.
Other:
- Launch tower segments on their way to Starbase. ETA Feb 20th.
- SpaceX to build a Starship launch complex at SLC-37 in Florida. Currently use is for Delta IV Heavy, which is retiring.
𝕏 links
Starbase activities (2024-02-15):
- SQD push-pull test.
Starbase activities (2024-02-16):
- Pad cleared (transcript), Feb 16th road closure scheduled, and another WDR attempt (NSF livestream).
- Ship 28 and booster 10 both got a bit frosty, but full WDR was ultimately aborted. (timelapse)
- Feb 20th road delay scheduled and road closure possible.
Other:
- Launch tower segments on their way to Starbase. ETA Feb 20th.
- SpaceX to build a Starship launch complex at SLC-37 in Florida. Currently use is for Delta IV Heavy, which is retiring.
I wonder what happened that caused them to abandon today’s WDR attempt.
Possibly something GSE-related? They upgraded it since IFT-2, and it could be having some teething issues…
Starbase activities (2024-02-04):
- Pretty quiet Sunday.
- S28 gains a raptor engine.
- Production site: Cones set up for potential transport to or from Sanchez or RocketGarden, but no road closures scheduled. A few more beams have been added to Starfactory since yesterday.
- New hardware spotted at Sanchez site. Likely a production jig or transport stand for hotstage rings.
KSC:
- Marmac 2860 barge (79 m x 30.5 m) inbound for KSC turn basin.
