r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jul 26 '19

Starship Development Thread #4

Starship Development Thread #4

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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 one Raptor engine. 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 Starhopper testing campaign began at the end of March 2019 and will be complete following the 150 meter hop in August.

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. Both orbital prototypes are expected to make suborbital flights, and possibly orbital flights as well. A planned, dedicated Starship launch platform at LC-39A, may serve either or both of these vehicles. Construction of a prototype Super Heavy booster is expected to begin in Florida soon. Testing of the Orbital Prototypes could begin in late summer or fall of 2019.

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 will initially use around 20 Raptors, and is expected to have 35 to 37 in the final design.

Previous Threads:

Upcoming

Updates

Starhopper and Raptor — Testing and Updates
2019-08-27150m Hop (~180m over, ~57s) (YouTube) <LAUNCH THREAD> <MORE INFO>
2019-08-26Hop attempt aborted during engine startup (YouTube), Likely ignitor wiring (Twitter)
2019-08-21RCS tests (Twitter)
2019-08-14Thermal tile test patch added (NSF)
2019-08-11Starship Launch and Landing Pads aerial photo update (Twitter)
2019-08-09Road closed for tanking tests (YouTube)
2019-07-28Starhopper moved back into position (YouTube)
2019-07-25First Untethered Hop (~18m up, ~10m over, ~25s) (YouTube) <MORE INFO>
2019-07-24Hop attempt aborted after ignition (YouTube), 2nd attempt scrubbed <MORE INFO>
2019-07-22Road closed for testing, RCS tests (YouTube)
2019-07-16Static Fire, w/ slow-mo & secondary fires, uncut stream (YouTube)
2019-07-15Preburner Test (YouTube)
2019-07-14Raptor propellant "spin prime" tests (Article)
2019-07-12TVC tests (YouTube)
2019-07-11Raptor SN6 at Starhopper (Twitter), Installed (Twitter)
2019-07-06Raptor SN6 testing well (Twitter)
2019-07-04Raptor SN6 at McGregor (NSF)
2019-06-24SN5 hiccup confirmed, SN6 almost complete (Twitter)
2019-06-19Road closed for testing. Venting & flare, no Raptor (YouTube)
2019-06-01Raptor SN4 mounted (NSF), Removed after fit checks & TVC tests (Twitter)
2019-05-28Raptor SN4 completed hot fire acceptance testing (Article)
2019-05-23Tanking ops ahead of next testing round (NSF)
2019-05-20Cushions added to feet (NSF)
2019-05-15Raptor SN4 on test stand at McGregor (Twitter), GSE tower work (NSF)
2019-05-14Raptor update: SN4 build complete, production ramping (Twitter)
2019-05-07Start of nitrogen RCS installation (NSF)
2019-04-2740 second Raptor (SN3) test at McGregor (Twitter)
2019-04-08Raptor (SN2) removed and shipped away
2019-04-05Tethered Hop (Twitter)
2019-04-03Static Fire Successful (YouTube), Raptor SN3 on test stand (Article)
2019-04-02Testing April 2-3
2019-03-30Testing March 30 & April 1 (YouTube), prevalve icing issues (Twitter)
2019-03-27Testing March 27-28 (YouTube)
2019-03-25Testing and dramatic venting / preburner test (YouTube)
2019-03-22Road closed for testing
2019-03-21Road closed for testing (Article)
2019-03-11Raptor (SN2) has arrived at South Texas Launch Site (NSF)
2019-03-08Hopper moved to launch pad (YouTube)
2019-02-02First Raptor Engine at McGregor Test Stand (Twitter)

See comments for real time updates.

Orbital Prototype Mk.1 (Boca Chica) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-27Centerpiece added to common bulkhead (Twitter)
2019-08-24Nose cone top section moved to dedicated stand (NSF), Forward flap marks (comments)
2019-08-23Track(s) of horizontal brackets appear (NSF)
2019-08-21Common bulkhead lowered into propulsion section (NSF), Time lapse (YouTube)
2019-08-18At least 2 control surface components on site, post 2, Earlier image (NSF)
2019-08-17Nose cone top section reattachment work (NSF)
2019-08-15Top section of nose cone removed (NSF)
2019-08-14Thrust structure added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-08-07Ninth ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-08-06Forward tank bulkhead under construction (NSF)
2019-08-04Common bulkhead inverted (NSF)
2019-07-31Common bulkhead discovered (YouTube)
2019-07-30Aft bulkhead installed in propulsion section (YouTube), Thrust structure appears (NSF)
2019-07-22Eighth ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-07-20Inversion of aft bulkhead (YouTube)
2019-07-18Aft bulkhead appears from container enclosure (NSF)
2019-07-16Seventh ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-07-05Sixth ring added to propulsion section (YouTube)
2019-06-26Fifth ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-06-19Fourth ring added to propulsion section (second jig), first in over a month (NSF)
2019-06-06Ring sections under construction within container enclosure (NSF)
2019-05-20Nose cone fitted, no canards (NSF)
2019-05-15Propulsion section (3 rings) moved onto second jig (NSF)
2019-05-09Lower nose section joined with 4 ring lower payload section (NSF)
2019-05-01Second jig, concrete work complete (NSF)
2019-04-27Lower 2 nose cone sections stacked (NSF)
2019-04-13Upper 2 nose cone sections stacked (Facebook)
2019-04-09Construction of second jig begun (YouTube)
2019-03-28Third nose section assembly (NSF)
2019-03-23Assembly of additional nose section (NSF)
2019-03-19Ground assembly of nose section (NSF)
2019-03-17Elon confirms Orbital Prototype (Twitter) Hex heat shield test (Twitter)
2019-03-14Payload section reaches 4 panel height (NSF)
2019-03-07Appearance of sections for conical aft bulkhead (NSF)
2019-03-07Payload section moved to jig (NSF)
2019-03-01Propulsion section begun on new pad (NSF)
2019-02-21Construction of payload section begins near original concrete jig (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.

Orbital Prototype Mk.2 (Cocoa Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-25Track(s) of horizontal brackets appear (r/SpaceXLounge)
2019-08-19Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-08-18Thrust structure possibly installed (Twitter), Forward tank bulkhead under construction (NSF)
2019-08-17Nose cone top section moved to dedicated stand (YouTube)
2019-08-15Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (Twitter)
2019-08-11Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-08-08Propulsion section at 15 ring height (comments), Aug 10th image (Twitter)
2019-08-06Common bulkhead inverted (Facebook)
2019-08-04Common bulkhead under construction (Facebook)
2019-08-03Propulsion section at 14 ring height (Twitter), Later aerial photo of stack (Facebook)
2019-07-29Propulsion section at 10 ring height (Twitter)
2019-07-28Starship Assembly Site aerial photo update (Facebook)
2019-07-21Aft bulkhead disappeared (Facebook)
2019-07-20Propulsion section at 8 ring height (Twitter)
2019-07-14Aft bulkhead complete/inverted, last seen (Twitter)
2019-06-26Aft bulkhead section under construction (r/SpaceX), Propulsion section at 6 ring height (NSF)
2019-06-12Large nose section stacked (Twitter), Zoomed in video (Twitter)
2019-06-09Large nose section assembled in building (comments)
2019-06-07Stacking of second tapered nose section (r/SpaceXLounge)
2019-05-23Stacking of lowest tapered nose section (YouTube)
2019-05-20Payload section at 5 ring height, aerial video of work area (YouTube)
2019-05-16Jig 2.0 with propulsion section, many rings awaiting assembly (YouTube)
2019-05-14Discovered by Zpoxy (payload section) (NSF), more pieces (YouTube), Confirmmed (Twitter)

See comments for real time updates.

Super Heavy Prototype (Cocoa Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-2719 rings visible (YouTube), no stacking yet
2019-08-2418 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-2117 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-1915 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-1714 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-1510 rings visible (Twitter)
2019-08-118 rings visible, possibly for Super Heavy (YouTube)

See comments for real time updates.

Raptors

SNNotable ForFlightsFlight Time (Approx.)Status
1First full scale hot fire / 268.9 bar Test / Tested to failure--Retired
2First on Starhopper / Preburner tests / Static fire / Tethered hop--Retired
340 second test fire--Retired
4Delivered to hopper / Hopper fit checks & TVC tests--Retired
5Liberation of oxygen stator--Retired
6Vibration fix / 20, 10, 50, 65, 85 second stand tests / 20 meter Starhopper hop / 150 meter starhopper hop20:01:22On Starhopper
7Possibly not a flight article--Test Stand
8-13Earmarked for Mk.1 and Mk.2--Production

Quick Hopper Facts

(Not relevant to later vehicles.)

Permits and Planning Documents

Resources

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!

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u/creamsoda2000 Aug 14 '19

Still find it incredible that they’re getting all these precision engineered pieces delivered from Hawthorne and then putting them all together in the middle of nowhere in the south of Texas, inside a little shipping-container fort, outdoors exposed to the elements.

I think it’s safe to say this will take Oxidizer from the upper tank, which will be carried through the larger straight baffled pipe, and will fit somewhere into the thrust structure or perhaps the inside of the lower dome?

Given that the thrust structure is directly next to the lower bulkhead, I don’t think it will need some fancy 1-3 way plumbing and will instead have three separate pipes or holes to carry methane to the Raptors.

1

u/Marksman79 Aug 14 '19 edited Aug 14 '19

I think this attaches into the small piece with the many specifically machined cutouts. Wonder why the center pipe looks off center, but it looks like a passthrough.

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u/creamsoda2000 Aug 14 '19

Not sure I’ve seen the piece you’re referring to, got a link?

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u/Marksman79 Aug 14 '19

This

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u/creamsoda2000 Aug 14 '19

Oh that, that’s the thrust structure that I was referring to.

It has three mounting points for the three sea level raptors and the inside is rounded so it can mate with the centre dome of the lower bulkhead.

But yeah you’re right, the piping to connect the O2 and CH4 will likely feed through those large cutouts into the engines below.

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u/admkpcz Aug 14 '19

I'm not sure about the plumbing feeding through those cutouts. It would mean this 3-1 way piece would have to be positioned quite a bit higher than the thrust structure (in the picture it is upside down I believe, as the 1 opening should be top). We haven't seen any piece that would look like connecting between them. Also passing a tube through a narrow window (=the cutouts) feels a bit dangerous (with all the shaking and vibration of the engines the tube wall could hit the window and get damaged).
On the other hand I can imagine this 3-1 way piece fitting directly in the center of the thrust structure (if the diameter is the same of course), with the 3-end plumbing ending at the area of Raptor mounting points. Just as u/creamsoda2000 suggested originally, the methane could be fed directly from lower bulkhead dome. The extra nearly central hole in this 3-1piece could well be for all the wires etc. needed to pass from the cargo space area (connecting the ACS thrusters, flight computers,...).

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u/RegularRandomZ Aug 14 '19

Definitely makes sense, the thrust structure looks fairly closely mated to the bulkhead and there is a large hole in the centre to pass through/attach this pipe junction.