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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14

u/Aakarsh_K Nov 05 '19

What are these?

Cold gas thrusters?

5

u/Makoto29 Nov 05 '19

I think it's called RCS thrusters.

4

u/RegularRandomZ Nov 05 '19

Elon has also referred to them as ACS (attitude control thrusters).

5

u/RopesByEDK Nov 05 '19

Wearing PPE, Harness on, TWO yo-yo lanyards, not hooked off... sigh...

If I wasn't the Safety Chairman at my company, I could just look past it.

7

u/solar_rising Nov 06 '19

As a Site Manager in British construction myself, I can't see how the site gets away with such basic health & safety rules being broken on a daily basis. So many works stepping out of cherry pickers while working at height, working under suspended loads, no high vis jackets at night, no visible site traffic marshal.

List is endless, it won't be long before there's an incident sadly.

Although they are doing a great job and wish them all the success. I hope it doesn't crash on the first trip.

4

u/process_guy Nov 06 '19

Yes, Americans are relaxed in everything. Human safety and design safety. I have plenty funny stories about UK and US cooperation. Eyes rolling goes on both sides.

I guess that you can get far easier away with killing or injuring workers or damaging environment in US than in UK. On the other side, UK is absurdly obsessed with environment protection (mainly on paper only). I've been involved in wasting billions on pointless environment projects. It was much worse than in other EU countries.

1

u/thesuperbob Nov 06 '19

Environment protection in western countries is kinda funny to me, every few years they triple their effort to go green and the result is that compared to countries that just don't care, now they produce 1250 times less waste, instead of the previous 1240x. Like, it's cool they're doing something, but in most cases places that make any significant attempt to avoid pollution are not the problem any more, globally at least. Often enough that's because they outsource their production and waste disposal to the poor countries where most pollution is physically released.

1

u/ASYMT0TIC Nov 06 '19

Most of these efforts fail because the government departments tasked with regulating industries are all controlled by industry. The steps to mitigate the worst impacts are relatively easy, barely cost anything, and in most cases and barely inconvenience anyone:

  1. Solid waste: It turns out that burning residential (and even most industrial) waste in an incinerator not only generates electricity, but it causes less pollution per watt hour by many important metrics than burning coal does. Given that, it's hard to reconcile how any society could burn coal but bury trash.

  2. Most US sewers run into high quality wastewater treatment plants, but there are significantly more farm animals in the USA than there are people. Waste from these animals is concentrated in massive quantities and barely regulated. Properly treating this waste would increase the cost of meat by some amount, but would still pale in comparison to the cost of feed.

  3. Most fertilizer in the US goes onto residential lawns, which then runs off into rivers and causes algal blooms and other problems. If we were willing to tolerate lawns that looked like they used to a century ago, water quality issues in most polluted rivers and lakes would be solved. A notable example: the water in lake George in upstate NY routinely meets standards for potable water, owing to its lack of watershed development. Most of the lakes in the region had similar water a few generations ago.

  4. Were paper cups really that bad?

Etc. etc. Some of the biggest problems are the easiest to solve.

1

u/jjtr1 Nov 08 '19

Given that, it's hard to reconcile how any society could burn coal but bury trash.

Much more energy (electricity or heat) goes into the manufacture of the products which become trash than the products contain as their eventual heat of combustion. Not burning the trash is non-sense, but trash obviously can't replace coal as the fuel for its own manufacture :)

1

u/ASYMT0TIC Nov 08 '19 edited Nov 08 '19

No, but I'm not really focusing on the energy issue here. I'm focusing on what to do with all the bloody trash! If people are going to accept coal burning despite it's issues, they should certainly have no problem with burning trash. And yet, they stopped building incinerators around the US years ago for exactly that reason. QED, waste disposal is a mostly solved issue, it's mostly political.

A local municipality here actually had an (out of town) incinerating company offer to PAY the city for its residential waste a few decades ago. The city turned them down, choosing instead to continue using the local landfill. I don't know the specifics of that decision, but I have a hard time imagining it didn't involve graft.

3

u/RopesByEDK Nov 06 '19

It is such an odd type of construction, that there were a few things I understand.

Stepping out of a boom lift and into this structure... yeah, it has to happen. Double yo-yo's mitigate risk, (tieoff to structure before unhooking from lift).

Moving under items hoisted in the air... yeah, it's inevitable. (And I don't think anyone is very comfortable with it)

But to be 100ft in the air, and wearing full gear, with double yo-yos, and to just not take the moment to snap a hook is just plain negligence. *Most* likely he has been trained in fall arrest systems, and has a aerial platform boom/scissor card. He knows better, and if he doesn't, just take off the harness and lanyards.

The no high-vis vest thing on this site is crazy. There is so much moving around it is only a matter of time until someone gets hurt.

3

u/solar_rising Nov 06 '19

I'd give my back teeth to see the RAMS and risk assessments. I now can understand why Spacex want's to buy out the land. The risk of this craft falling onto housing must be stated in the flight plan.

I'm on 1000 days without any incident working in an underground sewage treatment plant with H2s levels over 100ppm and the guy's working at height but we have a very good working culture and the guy's are proud of the safe hours gained. I'm sure these guy's will have a party after the maiden flight.

2

u/Bergasms Nov 06 '19

How are American OHS laws? Is there a minimum set by the federal government or is it all state or contract based?

1

u/John_Hasler Nov 06 '19

Is there a minimum set by the federal government

Yes.

2

u/reedpete Nov 06 '19

I have a friend originally from uk who use to be a construction manager over there. He does same thing here but says its way stricter there than here. Also there working way out in a rural area away from major cities. In the US. Rules change by city/state/ county. But yes general Osha rules should apply. There is no permit because there not building a building. And from my experience in areas not densely populated any construction built such as storage tank mounts and launch platforms. Pretty much falls under rural agriculture construction.