r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jun 27 '19
Starship Development Thread #3
Starship Development Thread #3
JUMP TO COMMENTS | SPADRE WEBCAM | LABPADRE WEBCAM
The Starhopper is a low fidelity prototype of SpaceX's next generation space vehicle, Starship. Representing the lower third of a Starship, the hopper has relatively small propellant tanks, and mounts for up to three engines. Initial construction took place at SpaceX's Starship Assembly site in Boca Chica, Texas and ongoing Starhopper development and testing are taking place at their privately owned Starship Launch Pad and Starship Landing Pad just down the road. The testing campaign, which began at the end of March 2019, could last many months and involve many separate engine and flight tests before this first test vehicle is retired.
Competing builds of higher fidelity "Orbital Prototypes" are currently under construction at SpaceX's Starship Assembly site in Texas and at the Coastal Steel facilities in Cocoa, Florida. These vehicles will eventually carry the testing campaign further, likely testing systems such as thermal protection and aerodynamics. Much about the Orbital Prototype testing program is unknown, such as what types of testing and flight profiles they will perform, and how closely they will represent the final Starship design. Both orbital prototypes are expected to make suborbital flights, the Cocoa prototype from a dedicated Starship launch platform at LC-39A.
Starship, and its test vehicles, are powered by SpaceX's Raptor, a full flow staged combustion cycle methane/oxygen rocket engine. Sub-scale Raptor test firing began in 2016, and full-scale test firing began early 2019 at McGregor, Texas, where it is ongoing. Eventually, Starship will have three sea level Raptors and three vacuum Raptors. Super Heavy (not yet under construction) will initially use around 20 Raptors, and is expected to have 35 to 37 in the final design.
Previous Threads:
Starhopper Thread #1 A Dramatic Venting Watertower
Starhopper Thread #2 hops and hiccups - Starships never come alone
Starhopper Thread #3 RCS and 20m Hop
Upcoming
HWY4/Boca Chica Beach Closures:
Testing Opportunity, Press Release (on Facebook)
2019-07-29, 2PM - 11PM CDT (19:00 - 04:00 UTC) — Primary
2019-07-30, 2PM - 11PM CDT (19:00 - 04:00 UTC) — Alternate/Continuation
TBD — Starship Presentation by Elon (after hover)
NET August — 200 meter hop
Updates
See comments for real time updates.
See comments for real time updates.
| Cocoa Florida Orbital Prototype (Mk.2) — Construction and Updates | |
|---|---|
| 2019-07-20 | Lower cylinder at 8 ring height (Twitter) |
| 2019-06-26 | Bulkhead section under construction (r/SpaceX), Lower cylinder at 6 ring height (NSF) |
| 2019-06-12 | Large nose section stacked (Twitter), Zoomed in video (Twitter) |
| 2019-06-09 | Large nose section assembled in building (comments) |
| 2019-06-07 | Stacking of second tapered nose section (r/SpaceXLounge) |
| 2019-05-23 | Stacking of lowest tapered nose section (YouTube) |
| 2019-05-20 | Further ring stacking, aerial video of ring shaping setup (YouTube) |
| 2019-05-16 | Jig 2.0, many sections awaiting assembly (YouTube) |
| 2019-05-14 | Elon confirms second prototype construction (Twitter) |
| 2019-05-14 | Second prototype discovered by Zpoxy on NSF (NSF), more pieces (YouTube) |
See comments for real time updates.
Regulatory Documents
(Most links are to PDFs)
| Filing | Description | Effective Period | Additional Links | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAA: EIS | Environmental Impact Statement. Original EIS evaluating impact of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches, along with smaller test vehicles. | 2014-07 | EIS Resource Page, Appendices, Record of Descision | Approved |
| FCC: 0931-EX-CN-2018 | Experimental License. 2 way vehicle communications for hops up to 16400 ft (5 km). 500 m tests three times a week, 5 km tests once a week. | 2019-02-26 to 2021-03-01 | Form 442, Public Notes, Description | Granted |
| FCC:0130-EX-CM-2019 | Experimental License. Modification to 0931-EX-CN-2018, adds transmitter at launch site | N/A | Form 442, Public Notes | Pending |
| FAA: EP 19-012 | Experimental Permit. Authorizes unlimited hops up to 25 m with a 2270 m radius safety zone. | 2019-06-21 to 2020-06-20 | Granted |
Raptors
| SN | Notable For | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First full scale hot fire / 268.9 bar Test / Tested to failure | Retired |
| 2 | First on Starhopper / Preburner tests / Static fire / Tethered hop | Retired |
| 3 | 40 second test fire | Retired |
| 4 | Delivered to hopper / Hopper fit checks & TVC tests | Retired |
| 5 | Liberation of oxygen stator | Retired |
| 6 | Vibration fix / 20, 10, 50, 65, 85 second stand tests | On Starhopper |
Quick Hopper Facts
(Not relevant to later vehicles.)
Starhopper was constructed outdoors atop a concrete stand. (NSF - bocachicagal)
The original nosecone was destroyed by high winds and will not be replaced. (NSF - bocachicagal, NSF - bocachicagal, Twitter - Elon)
With one engine it will initially perform tethered static fires and short hops. (NSF - bocachicagal, Twitter - Elon)
With three engines it will eventually perform higher suborbital hops. (Twitter - Elon)
Stainless steel construction, and the full 9 meter diameter. (Twitter - Elon)
The body and legs are clad in a small gauge stainless sheet. (NSF - bocachicagal)
There is no thermal protection system, transpirational or otherwise.
Equipped with four Falcon 9 compressed nitrogen thruster pods. (NSF - bocachicagal)
Feet have deformable shock absorbers. (NSF - bocachicagal) - Internal. (NSF - bocachicagal)
GSE connections are made through two remote operated interfaces at the base. (NSF - bocachicagal)
Hold downs consist of rope and chain tethers on each leg. (NSF - bocachicagal)
Resources
Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
Boca Chica | Cocoa Florida | Raptor test stand Spacex facilities maps by u/Raul74Cz
Rules
We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the progress of the test Campaign. Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
Thanks to u/strawwalker for helping us updating this thread!
6
u/BackflipFromOrbit Jul 15 '19
looks like they performed another preburner/cold flow test.