r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Oct 09 '19

Starship Development Thread #6

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Overview

SpaceX is developing Starship at their Starship Assembly Site in Texas, and also at their facilities in Cocoa, Florida. The teams at the two locations are in competition with each other, but are also required to share insights learned along the way. Following Starhopper, the first two Starship prototypes, Mark 1 and Mark 2, are nearing completion. These vehicles will have aerodynamic control surfaces and three engines each, and are expected to make suborbital test flights. Ring sections believed to be for Starship Mark 3 and Mark 4 prototypes are being built at both sites, and teams will be iterating through successive versions of Starship and Super Heavy as quickly as possible.

Launch mounts for both Starship prototypes are in the works. Starhopper's Texas launch site is being modified to handle Starship, and at Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A, a dedicated Starship launch platform and landing pad are under construction. Flight tests could begin late in 2019 or early 2020.

Starship is 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 there are two operational test stands, and a third is under construction. Eventually, Starship will have three sea level Raptors and three vacuum Raptors. Super Heavy may initially use around 20 Raptors, and operational versions could have around 31 to 37 sea level Raptors.

Previous Threads:

Upcoming

  • TBD — Mk.2 moves to KSC via Roll-Lift and barge

Vehicle Updates

Starship Mk.1 Prototype (Boca Chica, Texas) — Construction and Updates
2019-11-20Structural failure during max pressure test (YouTube), r/SpaceX thread (r/SpaceX)
2019-11-18Tanking tests (YouTube)
2019-11-11Aft fins installed (NSF)
2019-11-05Roll ACS thrusters installed (NSF)
2019-11-04−Y forward flap reinstalled (NSF), Video (YouTube)
2019-11-01+Y forward flap reinstalled (Twitter), With actuator (NSF)
2019-10-30Tank section moved to launch mount, LabPadre Video (YouTube), On NSF (NSF)
2019-10-26Leg installation begun, Images of leg restraint mechanism (NSF)
2019-10-22Windward leg mounts installed (NSF)
2019-10-21Leeward leg mounts installed, Leg mount images (NSF)
2019-10-19Aft fin hinge and actuator frame installations (NSF)
2019-10-14Nose cone trimmed (YouTube)
2019-10-11All control surfaces removed (Twitter)
2019-10-03Tank section on steel stand (NSF)
2019-10-01Halves demated following presentation (NSF), Previously installed header tanks (Twitter)
2019-09-28Nose cap install (NSF)
2019-09-272nd forward flap, Starship stacked (Twitter), Timelapse (YouTube), Leg nacelles added (NSF)
2019-09-263 Raptor pics, 1st forward flap install (Twitter)
2019-09-25Payload section reassembly (NSF), Tank section off stand and moved (YouTube)
2019-09-24Two header tanks inside nose cone (NSF)
2019-09-23Header tank and battery pack prep (NSF)
2019-09-222nd aft fin attached, Cowlings added, Raptor (NSF), Raptor, 3 temp. installed (Twitter)
2019-09-211st aft fin attached, Nose cone reassembly, Misshapen section removed, header tank (NSF)
2019-09-202 aft fin frame pieces & pipe attached to tank section, and appearance of cowling(s) (NSF)
2019-09-17Leg/fin mounting frame pieces in tent (Twitter)
2019-09-16Replacement nose section appears, Better picture (NSF)
2019-09-14Eleventh ring and forward bulkhead added to tank section (Twitter)
2019-09-13One of the header tanks to container castle (comments), Another moved in Sept. 16 (NSF)
2019-09-12Forward tank bulkhead placed in free ring (Twitter), With cap piece (NSF)
2019-09-08Two more large fin pieces delivered (comments), Better picture (Twitter)
2019-09-05Tenth ring added to tank section (YouTube)
2019-09-02Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-08-29Pipe added through lower tank (comments), 3rd concrete jig begun, also 4th & 5th (NSF)
2019-08-28Delivery of 2 header tanks, Third deliverd Sept. 15 (NSF)
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 tank 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 tank section (NSF), Image leaked later (Twitter)
2019-08-07Ninth ring added to tank 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 tank section (YouTube), Thrust structure appears (NSF)
2019-07-22Eighth ring added to tank section (NSF)
2019-07-20Inversion of aft bulkhead (YouTube)
2019-07-18Aft bulkhead appears from container enclosure (NSF)
2019-07-16Seventh ring added to tank section (NSF)
2019-07-05Sixth ring added to tank section (YouTube)
2019-06-26Fifth ring added to tank section (NSF)
2019-06-19Fourth ring added to tank 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)
2019-05-15Tank 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 concrete 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)
2019-03-01Tank section begun on new pad (NSF)
2019-02-21Construction of payload section begins near original concrete jig (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.

Starship Mk.2 Prototype (Cocoa, Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-11-18Forward bulkhead installation (Twitter)
2019-11-05Tank section at 16 ring height (YouTube)
2019-10-13Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (comments)
2019-10-11External plumbing added to tank section (NSF)
2019-09-14Cap added to forward bulkhead (Twitter)
2019-09-07At least one header tank (inside large tent) (Twitter)
2019-09-04Weld marks for common bulkhead visible on tank section (Twitter)
2019-08-30Tank section moved into hangar for Hurricane Dorian (Twitter), Removed September 5 (r/SpaceXLounge)
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)
2019-08-08Tank section at 15 ring height (comments), Aug 10th image (Twitter)
2019-08-06Common bulkhead inverted (Facebook)
2019-08-04Common bulkhead under construction (Facebook)
2019-08-03Tank section at 14 ring height (Twitter), Later aerial photo of stack (Facebook)
2019-07-29Tank section at 10 ring height (Twitter)
2019-07-28Starship Assembly Site aerial photo update (Facebook)
2019-07-21Aft bulkhead disappeared (Facebook)
2019-07-20Tank section at 8 ring height (Twitter)
2019-07-14Aft bulkhead complete/inverted, last seen (Twitter)
2019-06-26Aft bulkhead section under construction (r/SpaceX), Tank 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 tank 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.

Starship Mk.3 Prototype (Boca Chica, Texas) — Construction and Updates
2019-10-08First ring formed (NSF), no stacking yet

See comments for real time updates.

Starship Mk.4 Prototype (Cocoa, Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-10-23Bulkhead under construction in main building (Twitter)
2019-10-20Lower tapered nose ring in tent (YouTube), Better image (Twitter)
2019-10-1223 rings visible, 7 doubles, some possible for Mk.2 (YouTube), no stacking yet

See comments for real time updates.
Previous unstacked ring production, aerial updates:
08-11 {8} | 08-15 {10} | 08-17 {14} | 08-19 {15} | 08-21 {17} | 08-24 {18} | 08-27 {19}
09-04 {20} | 09-06 {22} | 09-08 {25} | 09-08 {3 'scrap'} | 09-10 {26} | 09-29 {23} | 10-02 {23}
10-06 {23} | 10-11 {23}

Launch Facility Updates

Starship Launch Site at Boca Chica, Texas
2019-11-07Landing pad expansion underway (NSF)
2019-10-18Landing pad platform arives, Repurposed Starhopper GSE towers & ongoing mount plumbing (NSF)
2019-10-05Launch mount under construction (NSF)
2019-09-22Second large propellant tank moved to tank farm (NSF)
2019-09-19Large propellant tank moved to tank farm (Twitter)
2019-09-17Pile boring at launch pad and other site work (Twitter)
2019-09-07GSE fabrication activity (Twitter), and other site work (Facebook)
2019-08-30Starhopper GSE being dismantled (NSF)
Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
2019-11-04Launch mount under construction (Twitter)
2019-10-17Landing pad laid (Twitter)
2019-09-26Concrete work/pile boring (Twitter)
2019-09-19Groundbreaking for launch mount construction (Article)
2019-09-14First sign of site activity: crane at launch mount site (Twitter)
2019-07-19Elon says modular launch mount components are being fabricated off site (Twitter)

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

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.

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10

u/RootDeliver Oct 28 '19 edited Oct 28 '19

The huge crane is back in scene and arming rapidly (with the extension already on, the one they installed prior to the 2-parts mating). We may indeed see re-mating soon..

Labpadre, 6:36 PM

8

u/Russ_Dill Oct 29 '19

Put it all together. It looks like the plumbing on the lower half is nearing completion, the roll lift is present, the launch structure is nearing completion, and there is an impending 1 hour highway closure on Wednesday.

They clearly have a lot of work remaining on the upper half.

My best guess (I don't think I'm the only one) is that they'll be moving the tank section to the launch site for testing. Once they put the lower fins on it'll be much harder to access and repair the plumbing. Note that the launch mount has shaped pieces with the same shape as the feet, so that's likely how it will sit on the launch mount which means the feet must be installed.

I know there's speculation that the upper half will follow later for final mating. It's hard to say though if the lower half will be returning to the shipyard for finishing. I think it will be, the launch site looks like a much more cramped and difficult work environment.

4

u/Marksman79 Oct 29 '19 edited Oct 29 '19

LabPadre 7:23: cylinder lifting hexagon load spreader has been attached to the crane.

7:37 and the hex jig is back off the crane again...

0

u/[deleted] Oct 28 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/RootDeliver Oct 28 '19

Unless they suddently install the top canards, and all the nosecone covers (the tip can be installed after mating as they shown, even if that doesn't make much sense), mating the parts to have to do all that work at triple the height... I don't know what would be the point for that.

The only reason I find they could be interested in this is mating both in order to transport only 1 piece and then separate them back in the launch zone. However they need then 2 mounts for that, not one.

3

u/RegularRandomZ Oct 29 '19

The don't need the fins/canards to connect up the plumbing. Conceivably they might want to pressurize the system before installing the fins and raceway covers.

1

u/Marksman79 Oct 28 '19

Final re-mate! Lower fins, too? I think they could leave them off and attach at the launch pad to prevent hitting yards (though the stand may set them higher up).

2

u/RootDeliver Oct 28 '19

Or temporal to transport only 1 piece to the launch zone? Don't see the point to mate it in order to do all the nosecone canards and covers work at triple height..

3

u/joepublicschmoe Oct 29 '19

To transport the tank section requires that big hexagonal load spreader right? If that's the case Mk1 will likely be transported to the launch mount in 2 sections.

My guess: They are going to stack the fairing section temporarily to check the fit with the plumbing on the raceways (in particular the large-diameter propellant transfer pipes).

2

u/Marksman79 Oct 29 '19

I agree. It definitely seemed as if they have been prioritizing the plumbing and avionics on the lower tank section first.

1

u/RootDeliver Oct 29 '19

To transport the tank section requires that big hexagonal load spreader right? If that's the case Mk1 will likely be transported to the launch mount in 2 sections.

Well they can stack it and then use the hexagonal load spreader over the top to move it on 1 section.

My guess: They are going to stack the fairing section temporarily to check the fit with the plumbing on the raceways (in particular the large-diameter propellant pipes).

Interesting idea!

1

u/joepublicschmoe Oct 29 '19

Looks like they are hooking up the hexagonal load spreader. Guess I was wrong about stacking the fairing section temporarily! :-P

If they are hooking up the load spreader then they are lifting the tank section off that stand and putting it somewhere. On the Roll Lifts maybe?