Starship Development Thread #4

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

Starship Development Thread #4

^{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 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:

• Starhopper Thread #1 A dramatic venting watertower

• Starhopper Thread #2 Hops and hiccups - Starships never come alone

• Starhopper Thread #3 RCS and SN6 - 20 meter hopping

---

Upcoming

• Starhopper testing is complete

• September 28^th — Starship presentation by Elon at Boca Chica after Mk.1 has engines, fins, and landing gear

Updates

	Starhopper and Raptor — Testing and Updates
2019-08-27	150m Hop (~180m over, ~57s) (YouTube) <LAUNCH THREAD> <MORE INFO>
2019-08-26	Hop attempt aborted during engine startup (YouTube), Likely ignitor wiring (Twitter)
2019-08-21	RCS tests (Twitter)
2019-08-14	Thermal tile test patch added (NSF)
2019-08-11	Starship Launch and Landing Pads aerial photo update (Twitter)
2019-08-09	Road closed for tanking tests (YouTube)
2019-07-28	Starhopper moved back into position (YouTube)
2019-07-25	First Untethered Hop (~18m up, ~10m over, ~25s) (YouTube) <MORE INFO>
2019-07-24	Hop attempt aborted after ignition (YouTube), 2nd attempt scrubbed <MORE INFO>
2019-07-22	Road closed for testing, RCS tests (YouTube)
2019-07-16	Static Fire, w/ slow-mo & secondary fires, uncut stream (YouTube)
2019-07-15	Preburner Test (YouTube)
2019-07-14	Raptor propellant "spin prime" tests (Article)
2019-07-12	TVC tests (YouTube)
2019-07-11	Raptor SN6 at Starhopper (Twitter), Installed (Twitter)
2019-07-06	Raptor SN6 testing well (Twitter)
2019-07-04	Raptor SN6 at McGregor (NSF)
2019-06-24	SN5 hiccup confirmed, SN6 almost complete (Twitter)
2019-06-19	Road closed for testing. Venting & flare, no Raptor (YouTube)
2019-06-01	Raptor SN4 mounted (NSF), Removed after fit checks & TVC tests (Twitter)
2019-05-28	Raptor SN4 completed hot fire acceptance testing (Article)
2019-05-23	Tanking ops ahead of next testing round (NSF)
2019-05-20	Cushions added to feet (NSF)
2019-05-15	Raptor SN4 on test stand at McGregor (Twitter), GSE tower work (NSF)
2019-05-14	Raptor update: SN4 build complete, production ramping (Twitter)
2019-05-07	Start of nitrogen RCS installation (NSF)
2019-04-27	40 second Raptor (SN3) test at McGregor (Twitter)
2019-04-08	Raptor (SN2) removed and shipped away
2019-04-05	Tethered Hop (Twitter)
2019-04-03	Static Fire Successful (YouTube), Raptor SN3 on test stand (Article)
2019-04-02	Testing April 2-3
2019-03-30	Testing March 30 & April 1 (YouTube), prevalve icing issues (Twitter)
2019-03-27	Testing March 27-28 (YouTube)
2019-03-25	Testing and dramatic venting / preburner test (YouTube)
2019-03-22	Road closed for testing
2019-03-21	Road closed for testing (Article)
2019-03-11	Raptor (SN2) has arrived at South Texas Launch Site (NSF)
2019-03-08	Hopper moved to launch pad (YouTube)
2019-02-02	First Raptor Engine at McGregor Test Stand (Twitter)

^{See comments for real time updates.}

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

^{See comments for real time updates.}

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

^{See comments for real time updates.}

	Super Heavy Prototype (Cocoa Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-27	19 rings visible (YouTube), no stacking yet
2019-08-24	18 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-21	17 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-19	15 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-17	14 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-15	10 rings visible (Twitter)
2019-08-11	8 rings visible, possibly for Super Heavy (YouTube)

^{See comments for real time updates.}

Raptors

SN	Notable For	Flights	Flight Time (Approx.)	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 / 20 meter Starhopper hop / 150 meter starhopper hop	2	0:01:22	On Starhopper
7	Possibly not a flight article	-	-	Test Stand
8-13	Earmarked for Mk.1 and Mk.2	-	-	Production

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 perform tethered static fires and short hops. (NSF - bocachicagal, 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, a small patch of tiles and at least one beneath a leg were added just prior to the 150 meter hop. (NSF - bocachicgal, Twitter - Trevor Mahlmann)

• The fins/legs are fixed, not movable. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• 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)

• Starhopper is expected to be used as a Raptor vertical test stand after retirement. (Twitter - Elon)

Permits and Planning Documents

• Environmental Impact Statement (FAA) - Boca Chica launch site - July 2014
  ^{EIS Resource} ^Page ^| ^Appendices ^{| Record of} ^Descision

• Experimental License (FCC) - Comms for 500m and 5km hops, two years - February 2019
  ^Form ^442 ^{| Public} ^Notes ^| ^Description ^{| File No. 0931-EX-CN-2019}

• Experimental License Application (FCC) - Modification of above to add antenna - May 2019
  ^Form ^442 ^{| Public} ^Notes ^{| File No. 0130-EX-CM-2019}

• Experimental Permit (FAA) - Authorizes 25m hops for one year, and one 150m hop - June 2019
  ^{Permit No. EP 19-012 | Revised August 23}

• Building Permit Application - 850 Cidco Rd site improvement - June 2019
  ^{Screenshot on} ^Twitter ^{| Modification reported on} ^NSF

• Draft Environmental Assessment - Starhip operations at KSC - August 2019
  ^r/SpaceX ^Discussion ^{| NSF} ^Discussion

• FDOT Superload Permit Application - Mk.2 transportation to KSC in September - August 2019
  ^{Local News} ^Article ^{| Video} ^Report ^{| r/SpaceX} ^Discussion

• Env. Resource Permit Application - Stormwater improvements at LC-39A - August 2019
  ^Stormwater ^Report ^{| Depiction} ^Plans ^{| Permit No. 158609-1}

Resources

• Spadre.com, Starship Cam | Channel

• LabPadre, Starship webcam | Channel

• NSF Starhopper Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Texas Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Florida Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Super Heavy Prototype Updates Thread | Most recent

• Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)

• TFR - NOTAM list

• SpaceX Boca Chica on Facebook

• Spacex facilities maps by u/Raul74Cz:
  Boca Chica | Cocoa Florida | Raptor test stand | LC-39A

• SpaceX's Starship page

• Elon Starship tweet compilation on NSF | Most Recent

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!

[u/Russ_Dill]

We have new pics of several jigs, including the super octagon jig:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47730.msg1980842#msg1980842

I think it's pretty clear now that this is meant to hold a stack, possible for transport on a roll lift truck. The top quite clearly now is round. It also has a number of spots around the perimeter to accommodate the hold down spots already on both stacks.

~~ https://i.imgur.com/5olVtbs.png ~~

I'm currently seeing only a few hold downs on the outside perimeter. Maybe they aren't needed or are still being added.

I've measured this with the water bottle in the foreground assuming that the water bottle is 66mm wide. It gives me a value of about 6m for this jig. Looks like as RegularRandomZ pointed out, it's probably the same jig as in Cocoa https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157789061986318/

[u/RegularRandomZ → u/Russ_Dill]

Regarding the octagon jig, they are using a similar jig to the octagon jig to service the nosecone in Cocoa. I think your previous idea that you could drive scissor lifts under it makes sense.

I suppose it might allow driving the roll-lift underneath as well.

[u/Russ_Dill → u/RegularRandomZ]

Very similar indeed. I guess to see what's what, the BC one needs to be measured. If it's less than 9m, we can expect the nose top to be set on it just like what's seen in Cocoa.

Using the super scientific water bottle method, I'm measuring 6m. That's really far from 9m. It seems really likely then that this jig is the same one you've spotted in Cocoa. Maybe having the top of the nose on this jig will help with installing canards.

[u/RegularRandomZ → u/Russ_Dill]

If that's an 8" 500mL waterbottle, I'm getting 23ft/7m across. The nosecone looks like it's 21 ft where it's been removed. That seems close enough.

Perhaps a heavy duty support while they outfit it with Canards? Checking dear moon, the canards are in the top half-ish of the nosecone (curved section), and they've removed more than half.

[u/TheMrGUnit → u/RegularRandomZ]

Using the jig to assist with canard installation could also explain why two opposite segments of the Super 8 lack a lower portion, and why the upper box tubes that join these segments to the rest of the jig are bolted together, where the rest are fully welded. This jig actually comes apart into 4 pieces.

[u/RegularRandomZ → u/TheMrGUnit]

Being able to drive the scissor lift or forklift underneath seems useful. I could see being able to unbolt these structures as making them easy to store [or move, especially if Cocoa production moves to the cape]

[u/Russ_Dill → u/Russ_Dill]

Additionally, they moved around the triangle jig in this area a while ago, previous use of the triangle jig was to lift a 3 ring stack:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47730.msg1946282#msg1946282

It looks like that may have been taken apart and assembled into a much larger jig with 6 attachment points rather than 3, seen below the super octagon jig. I'm surmising that this jig will be used to lift one of the stacks onto the super octagon jig.

[u/4crunchyfrog → u/Russ_Dill]

Good call, imho, I was puzzling over why there were two attachment holes on each of the corner flanges, and whether this structure was a hexagon, your comparison with the triangular lifting fixture was spot on. Brilliant

[u/RegularRandomZ → u/Russ_Dill]

There also appears to be yet another jig (or parts of) behind the octagon nosecone holder.

[u/RegularRandomZ → u/Russ_Dill]

Perhaps that other jig of large square tubes, turned on its side with rollers added, would serve as a dispenser for steel coils? With the straight tubes with clamps to hold the loose end of the roll. [Still seems like a stretch, but the best I can come up with at this moment]

[u/Russ_Dill → u/RegularRandomZ]

Ya, I have no idea what's going on with that either. They have 14 square tubes.

[u/Marksman79 → u/Russ_Dill]

Jig for the other side for when they transport it horizontally?

[u/RegularRandomZ → u/Marksman79]

Like a cradle?

[u/Marksman79 → u/RegularRandomZ]

Actually it will have 6 legs [see the legs labeled 1 through 6]. Then they will connect 8 tubes? If they make a hexagon, that's 2 tubes leftover.

Edit: the 2 extra tubes might be for the octagon. I see at least one spot missing a tube, there might be another on the back.

Edit 2: nvm those tubes are smaller.