FAQ
- When (first) orbital flight? First integrated flight test occurred April 20, 2023. “The vehicle cleared the pad and beach as Starship climbed to an apogee of ~39 km over the Gulf of Mexico – the highest of any Starship to-date. The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble. The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and ship.”
- Where can I find streams of the launch? SpaceX Full Livestream. NASASpaceFlight Channel. Lab Padre Channel. Everyday Astronaut Channel.
- What’s happening next? SpaceX has assessed damage to Stage 0 and is implementing fixes and changes including a water deluge/pad protection/“shower head” system. No major repairs to key structures appear to be necessary.
- When is the next flight test? Just after flight, Elon stated they “Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months.” On April 29, he reiterated this estimate in a Twitter Spaces Q&A (summarized here), saying “I’m glad to report that the pad damage is actually quite small,” should “be repaired quickly,” and “From a pad standpoint, we are probably ready to launch in 6 to 8 weeks.” Requalifying the flight termination system (FTS) and the FAA post-incident review will likely require the longest time to complete. Musk reiterated the timeline on May 26, stating “Major launchpad upgrades should be complete in about a month, then another month of rocket testing on pad, then flight 2 of Starship.”
- Why no flame diverter/flame trench below the OLM? Musk tweeted on April 21: “3 months ago, we started building a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. Wasn’t ready in time & we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through 1 launch.” Regarding a trench, note that the Starship on the OLM sits 2.5x higher off the ground than the Saturn V sat above the base of its flame trench, and the OLM has 6 exits vs. 2 on the Saturn V trench.
Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 48 | Starship Dev 47 | Starship Dev 46 | Starship Dev 45
Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread
Status
Road Closures
| Type | Start (UTC) | End (UTC) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 2023-08-24 13:00:00 | 2023-08-25 01:00:00 | Cancelled |
| Alternative | 2023-08-25 14:00:00 | 2023-08-26 02:00:00 | Concluded |
| Alternative | 2023-08-28 13:00:00 | 2023-08-27 01:00:00 | Cancelled |
Up to date as of 2023-09-05
Vehicle Status
As of 2023-09-22
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S20 | Rocket Garden | Retired | |
| S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed on during Flight Test 1 |
| S25 | Stacked on B9 | Spin Prime and Static Fire | |
| S26 | Test Stand B | Cryo tested | |
| S27 | Rocket Garden | Scrapped | Common dome imploded |
| S28 | Engine Install Stand | Raptors installed | Previously tested at Masseys |
| S29 | Masseys | Awaiting testing | |
| S30 | High Bay | Under construction | |
| S31 | High Bay | Under construction | |
| S32 | Build Site | Parts spotted | |
| S33 | Build Site | Parts spotted | |
| S34 | Build Site | Parts spotted |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-B7 & B8 | Scrapped or Retired | B4 is in the Rocket Garden, the rest are scrapped. | |
| B7 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed April 20th in Flight Test 1 |
| B9 | Launch mount | Hot-stage ring installed | Static fire (August 5th) |
| B10 | Megabay 1 | Cryo tested | |
| B11 | Megabay 1 | ||
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Grid fins installed | |
| B13 | Megabay 1 | Stacking | |
| B14 | Build Site | Parts under construction | |
| B15 | Build Site | Parts under construction |
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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“This thread maybe, next thread definitely!”
I appreciate these threads!!
definitely maybe*
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters C3 Characteristic Energy above that required for escape FAA Federal Aviation Administration NSF NasaSpaceFlight forum ~ National Science Foundation OLM Orbital Launch Mount OTF Orbital Tank Farm QD Quick-Disconnect SPMT Self-Propelled Mobile Transporter Jargon Definition Raptor Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX dancefloor Attachment structure for the Falcon 9 first stage engines, below the tanks
[Thread #8 for this sub, first seen 10th Sep 2023, 22:00] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
12:22am- Booster thrust sim stand moved into the mega bay
9:00am- I can confirm that the OLM is still there and that one lift went up to the top of it overnight.
10:44am- A couple of workers with leaf blowers are cleaning off the pad
11:25am- Scaffolding went up on top of the 3rd large deluge tank this morning
12:02pm- B10 is being lifted on to the thrust sim stand
4:30pm- On NSF live, Jack confirms that media accreditation for IFT-2 has not opened yet.
9:02pm- B10 starts rolling out of the mega bay
9:18pm- Stopped at the gate to Hwy 4
10:02pm- Rolling out on to Hwy 4
(This gets synced)
Elon has posted the list of 63 corrective actions: https://nitter.net/elonmusk/status/1700789411279966339#m
Congrats to SpaceX for completing & documented the 57 items required by the FAA for Flight 2 of Starship!
Worth noting that 6 of the 63 items refer to later flights.
A readable text version of the 63-item list can be see on Reddit here and a reply.
I copied and pasted it here. Thanks to @threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works for pointing me back at the RES extension so I could get the source.
Each item is on its own line. C## is the ID#. If there’s text before it on its line, that’s its Observation / Description section name; if it’s at the start of the line, the Observation / Description string is the next one above.
List of Actions:
Observation / Description ID# Corrective Action Description Status Tank sensing C1 Replace certain fittings with welds inside tank Complete Aft end cavity environment failure C2 Increase fire suppression capacity by 15x Complete C3 Replace certain manifolds with dedicated drain per corresponding valve Complete C4 Replace certain flanges with better seals and improve joint design Complete C5 Replace certain fittings with welds in specific location Complete Booster leak C6 Replace accessible valves of a certain type with new design Complete mitigation C7 Replace certain flange bolts with higher strength bolts and increase torque Complete C8 Disallow certain seal re-use, and add cameras to monitor all engines during ground operations Complete C9 Increased scrutiny on leak checks Complete C10 90+ cameras added to detect leakage during operations Complete C11 Add leak capture and drain hardware for valves of a certain type Complete C12 Add leak check and screen for porosity on igniter units Complete C13 Improved igniter seal design Future Action C14 Weld certain alignment bolt holes shut Complete Raptor leak C15 Reassess k-factor and torque for engine hot joint #1, add leak capture and route overboard Complete mitigation C16 Reassess k-factor and torque for engine hot joint #2 Complete C17 Add safety cable to certain fluid lines on high risk locations Complete C18 Add one methane sensor per engine bay Complete C19 Ground test campaign to better characterize typical engine leakage Complete C20 Improve structural FEA/fatigue analysis for all medium to high criticality lines Complete C21 Add insulation to engine lines sensitive to thermally driven loads Complete Collateral C22 Add insulation to avionic harnessing Complete damage from fire C23 Add backup wire to specific harness Complete C24 Improve thermal protection of avionics tray Complete C25 Change routing to flight computers Complete C26 Replace sensor with more reliable units Complete C27 Coat gimbal assembly with lubricant Complete C28 Add pump pressure sensors to certain location Complete C29 Add pump temperature sensors to certain location Complete Booster reliability C30 Replace certain bolts, and increase torque for certain flanges Complete improvement C31 New seal design for certain areas of booster Complete C32 Add electric actuation system Complete C33 Better manage engine bay pressure by increasing fire suppression capacity by Complete C34 Change certain booster valve timing Future Action C35 Add final leak checks for critical joints Complete C36 Add support bracket for certain sensor Complete C37 Add support bracket for certain sensor Complete C38 Add check valves to certain areas of engine Complete C39 Improve oxygen valve design Future Action C40 Improve oxygen valve seal design Future Action Raptor reliability C41 Improve design of hot manifold Future Action improvement C42 Change nitrogen shutdown usage Complete C43 Change engine shutdown logic Complete C44 Increase capability for ground leakage mitigation Complete C45 Redesign fire suppression system Complete C46 Change conditions around bolts Complete C47 Change timing of specific valve actuation Complete Avionics reliability C48 Eliminate certain type of connector Complete improvement C49 Redesign network architecture Future Action Risk Process C50 Improve risk tracking process Complete C51 Implement improvements to safety system Complete Safety System C52 Verify flight safety system design improvements using additional type of test article Complete C53 Verify flight safety system design improvements via analysis Complete C54 Perform component testing Complete C55 Review and improve operations surrounding flight safety system Complete C56 Improve CAD controls Complete Control C57 Add engineering walkdown Complete Change C58 Improve use of change management system Complete C59 Redesign of launch pad deck Complete Pad Design C60 Improve assumptions for new pad deck design Complete C61 Add water cooled pad deck Complete Pad Design Process C62 Improve pad deck design documentation Complete C63 Improve pad design process Complete Reddit took away the “source” link, which would help any mass editing.
You can restore the “source” link using RES.
I can’t be bothered to try to make it a table here. (I don’t know if or how it can be done
Reddit and Lemmy markdown are almost identical, so you should be able to copy it over with minimal formatting changes.
Thank you for the pointer. Fixed.
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
11:45pm- Booster stand arrives at the production site. Goes in to the fenced in yard where the mid bay was.
3:10am- Deluge tank lifted again
3:25am- Tank is sat back down
9:40am- Deluge tank is still hooked to the load spreader and under tension. No lifts were up at the OLM overnight but workers could be seen going up and down the stairs.
10:51am- Straps unhooked from the deluge tank
11:48am- Concrete truck at the pad. Looks like they are pouring something off to the side of the pad.
12:34pm- 2nd concrete truck
2:30pm- 2 lifts are up to the inside of the legs. Not moving like paint crews. Maybe working on the cameras?
5:25pm- 2 mini excavators have been working over between the OLM and OLT again this afternoon. Likely breaking up more fondag.
8:58pm- Workers at the SQD. One of the mini excavators was working at the right side of the pad for a bit.
(This gets synced)
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
6:25am- Workers returning to the pad
7:26:54am- SQD retracts
7:47am- SQD work platform is extended
7:49am- Worker on the SQD arm climbs up to S25’s QD. Installing covers?
7:58am- Work platform is retracted
8:41am- SQD arm swings to the side
8:54:55am- S25 is lifted off of B9
8:56:40am- Swinging to the side
9:04:40am- Going down
9:21:26am- Starts swinging over the stand
9:23:44am- Lowering onto the stand
9:45am- Looks like it’s down
10:32am- Workers back at the pad
11:04am- AWP going up to S26
11:12am- Squid is being disconnected from S26
11:34am- Lift up behind the cryo leg
11:54am- LR11000 swings away from S26
12:40pm- Workers on top of the OLM
1:55pm- AWP goes up to the Hot stage ring. Lifts up to the top of the OLM and behind the cryo leg
2:15pm- LR11000 starts moving towards the OLM for HSR removal most likely
3:30pm- Klaxon, storm warning announcement. Lifts go down
6:34pm- Some workers return to the pad after one heck of a storm. Over on the NSF discord, they said their weather station showed 48mph winds
9:58pm- Workers have been on top of the OLM and the AWP has been back up at the HSR.
(This gets synced)
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
7:24am- LR11000 picks up the ring lifting jig and swings over to hot staging ring. Looks like they are done with the work on top of B9
7:30am- Lowers the lifting jig down to the ring
8:10am- Workers are on the SQD and on top of B9
8:47am- Workers retract the work platform on the SQD
9:00am- Lifts went up to the staircase and dance floor overnight. More sparks could be seen coming from the OLM ring to the right of the staircase. AWP left the pad area
9:08am- Ring is lifted and 2 AWP’s are going up
9:20am- Swings over to B9
9:25am- Workers helping to line it up
9:31am- Down on top of B9
9:34am- Worker climbs into the HSR
9:39am- Workers disconnecting the lifting cables
9:47am- Lifting jig is lifted away from B9 and AWP’s go down
10:04am- SQD work platform is swung back over to the end of the arm
10:38am- LR11000 disconnected from the lifting jig
12:20pm- Workers up on the SQD
1:00pm- LR11000 moves over to the sub orbital pad area
1:15pm- Lift has been up at the top of the staircase
3:44pm- AWP goes up to one of the latch points between B9 and the HSR.
4:09pm- Work platform at the end of the SQD is swung away
4:21pm- AWP goes back down. Sensor was showing the latch didn’t work?
4:30pm- AWP goes back up. Needed to grab something?
4:33pm- After some quick work, they go back down again
6:24pm- Venting at Massey’s. S29 cryo starting?
6:47pm- LR11000 is lowering the squid to the top of S26 and an AWP is going up to hook it up
7:04pm- Klaxon and announcement. I can make out personal and orbital pad.
7:17pm- Frost on S29
7:41pm- Lox tank is full frosty on S29
8:12pm- Full frosty
9:10pm- Lift has been up at the right chopstick
9:27pm- AWP goes back up to the top of B9. Other side of booster compared to earlier
9:55pm- AWP comes back down. No view of what they were doing on SBL or Rover 2
10:30pm- Frost is receding on S29. Lift up to the dance floor
(This gets synced)
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
10:17pm- S29 exits the high bay
10:25pm- Stops at the gate to Hwy 4
10:32pm- Turns onto Hwy 4.
12:47am- Turns into Massey’s
8:30am- Lifts were up to the top of the OLM, under the OLM, and to the bottom of S26 overnight. Workers could be seen on the dance floor along with some welding going on.
10:25am- 1 lift up under the OLM. Right side of staircase looking at the pipe work
1:30pm- 3 lifts up under the OLM. 2 over by the cryo leg and 1 in the same spot as earlier
4:00pm- 1 lift up behind the cryo leg
7:53pm- Workers are on top of B9. Otherwise it’s been a pretty quiet afternoon
8:49pm- E dome test tank turns on to Hwy 4 headed to Massey’s
9:27pm- Turns into Massey’s
9:50pm- One lift was up to the top of the staircase and workers could be seen moving around on the dance floor.
(This gets synced)
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
12:53am- Chopsticks raise back up
2:32am- S31 is going for a twirl in the high bay
8:55am- 1 lift up under the OLM. Overnight, workers could be seen moving around on the dance floor and going up and down the stairs. The cranes working on the star factory also lifted up numerous roof beams.
1:30pm- One lift has been up and down but doesn’t look like much is going on today.
5:25pm- Single lift has been going up and down to to the dance floor
7:50pm- All is quiet on the OLM front
10:00pm- The 2 guys on the lift earlier get employees of the day.
(This gets synced)
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
11:12pm- Thrust stand turns into Massey’s
3:15am- S29 moved to the middle of the high bay
4:25am- New ship lifting jig raised up to S29
4:28am- Lifts go up to attach the new lifting jig
5:29am- Lift goes down. Jig is attached
8:25am- Several workers arrive at the deluge tank farm and climb up to the pressure pipe on top of the large tanks. 2 lifts up at the OLM and 1 up at S26
8:54am- LR11000 picks up a ring lifting jig
9:15am- Swings it over to B9 and worker on top starts connecting it to the hot staging ring
9:20am- S29 has been lifted in the high bay with the new jig
9:42am- Ship thrust simulator is being moved into the high bay. Looks like S29 may be headed to Massey’s during tonight’s closure
10:22am- AWP going up to the hot staging ring
10:25am- Hot staging ring lifted off of B9
10:27:30am- Swings over to right side of OLM and starts lowering
10:38am- Looks like it’s down
11:01am- Hot staging ring disconnected from the crane
11:11am- Lifting jig disconnected from crane
1:25pm- One lift has been up under the OLM and one under the OLM.
4:35pm- Workers have been on top of B9 but it’s been a pretty quiet afternoon otherwise
6:27:56pm- 26.1 goes pop at Massey’s
7:20pm- One lift has been up under the OLM
9:35pm- Welding can be seen on the dance floor and a lift is up to the staircase platform
(This gets synced)
Huh, I wonder why they’re removing the hot staging ring. Further upgrades to the ring following the B9+S25 stack test? Better access to the top of B9?
I posted here about the FWS environmental re-assessment due to the booster bidet.
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
8:50am- AWP went up to several places around the HSR on B9 overnight. A lift went up and down to the staircase and workers could be seen on the dance floor.
12:15pm- Lifts have been up to the staircase, dance floor, under the backside of the OLM, and to the lox tank of S26. Overall, back to being pretty boring to watch.
5:45pm- Workers on top of the OLM
9:00pm- Lifts have been up to the backside of the OLM and the backside of the tower.
(This gets synced)
S25 is being stacked back on B9.
NSF are live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qe1yOyZyX8
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
8:45am- Quiet overnight. 1 lift was up behind the cryo leg for a bit this morning.
10:30am- Lift up at the top of the OLM and the second lift went back up behind the cryo leg
1:05pm- Both lifts went down and now all is quiet
4:00pm- Both lifts back up at the same places
6:35pm- Shift change happened and one lift went back up behind the cryo leg
8:15pm- Workers are up on the dance floor. No lifts are up
9:40pm- Looks like lots of work going on up on the dance floor. One lift up at the top of the staircase because who wants to climb all those steps
(This gets synced)
New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
8:10am- 2 lifts up at S26’s methane hatch. 1 lift was up to the top of the staircase on the OLM overnight. Tarps have been put up around the dance floor blocking the view.
11:29am- Concrete truck arrives at the front of the pad where the fondag was being broken up yesterday. Workers had been working in that most likely redoing the rebar for the last couple of hours
11:58am- Concrete truck leaves
12:49pm- 2nd concrete truck arrives
1:30pm- Mini excavator with the jack hammer attachment arrives back at the pad. More Fondag getting broke up.
1:34pm- 2nd concrete truck leaves
2:45pm- 2 lifts up at S26 and a scissor lift is up under the OLM
5:48pm- Chopsticks lower a bit. Still need some grease.
7:08:14pm- S26’s lox tank is pressurized
9:45pm- 2 lifts up at the OLM and S26. Workers can be seen on the dance floor
(This gets synced)
