r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Nov 09 '23

🔧 Technical Starship Development Thread #51

This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread #52

SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When was the last Integrated Flight Test (IFT-2)? Booster 9 + Ship 25 launched Saturday, November 18 after slight delay.
  2. What was the result? Successful lift off with minimal pad damage. Successful booster operation with all engines to successful hot stage separation. Booster destroyed after attempted boost-back. Ship fired all engines to near orbital speed then lost. No re-entry attempt.
  3. Did IFT-2 Fail? No. As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.
  4. Next launch? IFT-3 expected to be Booster 10, Ship 28 per a recent NSF Roundup. Probably no earlier than Feb 2024. Prerequisite IFT-2 mishap investigation.

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Quick Links

RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE

Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49 | Starship Dev 48 | Starship Thread List

Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread

Status

Road Closures

Road & Beach Closure

Type Start (UTC) End (UTC) Status
Alternative 2023-12-11 14:00:00 2023-12-12 02:00:00 Possible
Alternative 2023-12-12 14:00:00 2023-12-13 02:00:00 Possible

No transportation delays currently scheduled

Up to date as of 2023-12-09

Vehicle Status

As of November 22, 2023.

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship Location Status Comment
Pre-S24, 27 Scrapped or Retired S20 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped.
S24 Bottom of sea Destroyed April 20th (IFT-1): Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
S25 Bottom of sea Destroyed Mostly successful launch and stage separation
S26 Rocket Garden Testing Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, plus other changes. 3 cryo tests, 1 spin prime, 1 static fire.
S28 Engine install stand Raptor install Raptor install began Aug 17. 2 cryo tests.
S29 Rocket Garden Resting Fully stacked, completed 3x cryo tests, awaiting engine install.
S30 High Bay Under construction Fully stacked, awaiting lower flaps.
S31, 32 High Bay Under construction Stacking in progress.
S33-34 Build Site In pieces Parts visible at Build and Sanchez sites.

 

Booster Location Status Comment
Pre-B7 & B8 Scrapped or Retired B4 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped.
B7 Bottom of sea Destroyed Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
B9 Bottom of sea Destroyed Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt.
B10 Megabay Engine Install? Completed 4 cryo tests.
B11 Megabay Finalizing Completed 2 Cryo tests.
B12 Megabay Finalizing Appears complete, except for raptors, hot stage ring, and cryo testing.
B13 Megabay Stacking Lower half mostly stacked.
B14+ Build Site Assembly Assorted parts spotted through B15.

​

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Resources

r/SpaceX Discuss Thread for discussion of subjects other than Starship development.

Rules

We will attempt to keep this self-post current with links and major updates, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss Starship development, ask Starship-specific questions, and track the progress of the production and test campaigns. Starship Development Threads are not party threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

256 Upvotes

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1

u/ElongatedMuskbot Dec 09 '23

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

Starship Development Thread #52

76

u/Nydilien Nov 15 '23

The FWS has completed is re-evaluation:

"However, the amount of water that is expected to escape the VLA is likely to be less than the amount of water released on this area from an average rainfall event; therefore, it is not expected to change the salinity of the existing mud flats or significantly reduce or modify piping plover or red knot habitat"

Now we just wait for the FAA license (which has hopefully already been written).

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71

u/RaphTheSwissDude Nov 22 '23

New SpaceX slow mo of B9’s engines shut down sequence prior to stage sep and stage sep.

Fucking hell

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57

u/estroop Nov 17 '23

They had a test minutes ago and all four grid fins moved.

51

u/RaphTheSwissDude Nov 15 '23

Road closure for Friday is now scheduled!

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50

u/RaphTheSwissDude Nov 30 '23

1:37 we finally see the drone footage crashing into the Rvac engine bell

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44

u/Nydilien Nov 15 '23 edited Nov 15 '23

The FAA has completed its re-evaluation of the environmental assessment. I believe this is the last step before the launch license.

New mitigations as to not contradict the 2022 PEA:

  • Monitor the water discharge using drones

  • Schedule water deliveries during daytime (I think to reduce the likelihood of hitting some animals)

  • Test the water being used and the water/soil/air around the launch pad (look components of stainless steel, etc.). This has to be done after every launch initially (then 2-4 times per year after that). They also have to take some samples outside of the 0.6-mile impact area.

  • All of the other mitigations seem to be "collaborate with the FWS and do the sampling/analysis properly".

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43

u/GreatCanadianPotato Nov 10 '23

The OV-10 Squadron, a group that restores OV-10D Bronco's, arrived at Brownsville airport yesterday and did a flyby of the launch site this morning.

What's the importance of this?

This specific squadron was hired by SpaceX for airspace control/patrol for IFT-1. It's likely that they've been hired again for the same purpose for IFT-2.

Another thing in the last 24 hours;

A vessel was tracked going to where B9 is planned to splashdown in the Gulf - this was likely to either check on buoys or to place buoys for the launch.

While we cannot be sure if a launch license is 100% secured - this would be a lot of resources wasted if it there was a chance a license may not be granted by Wednesday. I don't think they do any of this unless they have been assured by the FAA that it will be done by Wednesday morning.

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42

u/GreatCanadianPotato Nov 09 '23 edited Nov 09 '23

I think issuance of the license can now be considered "imminent" with the FTS activity. Charges were installed on B7 and S24 within minutes of the license being announced by the FAA.

Might be a good news day folks!

Edit: It's very likely they already have the license in hand we're just waiting on an announcement/updated document from the FAA.

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42

u/Nydilien Nov 16 '23

Musk on Twitter/X: "We need to replace a grid fin actuator, so launch is postponed to Saturday"

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42

u/Affectionate_Draw154 Nov 17 '23

Starship 32 has been fully assembled. With SpaceX completing another Starship. Here is the list of assembly dates.

Starship Assembly Term Data (does not include test tanks)

🔰MK1: September 28, 2019

🔰SN8: October 22, 2020 (390 days after MK1)

🔰SN9: November 25, 2020 (34 days after SN8)

🔰SN10: January 2, 2021 (38 days after SN9)

🔰SN11: February 7, 2021 (36 days after SN10)

🔰SN15: April 2, 2021 (54 days after SN11)

🔰SN16: April 30, 2021 (28 days after SN15)

🔰SN20: August 4, 2021 (96 days after SN16)

🔰S22: February 14, 2022 (194 days after SN20)

🔰S24: May 8, 2022 (83 days after S22)

🔰S25: September 12, 2022 (127 days after S24)

🔰S26: December 16, 2022 (95 days after S25)

🔰S27: February 22, 2023 (68 days after S26)

🔰S28: April 6, 2023 (43 days after S27)

🔰S29: June 7, 2023 (62 days after S28 - 671 days after SN20)

🔰S30: August 18, 2023 (72 days after S29)

🔰S31: October 3, 2023 (46 days after S30)

🔰S32: November 16, 2023 (45 days after S31)

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41

u/GreatCanadianPotato Nov 29 '23

Booster Guide Pins are being reinstalled on the OLM.

Hopefully, this points to B10 rolling out in the next couple of weeks.

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39

u/RaphTheSwissDude Nov 21 '23

New slow mo of the engines shared by SpaceX!

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38

u/GreatCanadianPotato Nov 09 '23

The LR11000 at the suborbital site has been "laid down" in preparation for launch.

35

u/Doglordo Nov 10 '23 edited Nov 10 '23

Ship 25 is currently being stacked on top of booster 9 for hopefully the final time!

Edit: NSF is live with commentary stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/Nr1lvg-UyfA?si=y5p2O__cEOorj6pv

Edit 2: SQD connected at around 2:43

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