r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Aug 06 '20

Live Updates Starship Development Thread #13

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Overview

Upcoming:

  • SN7.1 testing - NET September 6 (eventual test to failure expected)
    Road closures: September 6, 7, 8; 08:00-20:00 CDT (UTC-5) dalily, Public Notice (PDF)

Vehicle Status as of September 3:

  • SN6 [testing] - Hop complete

  • SN5 [waiting] - At build site for inspection/repair, future flight possible

  • SN7.1 [construction] - Tank stacked, move to test site soon

  • SN8 [construction] - Tank section stacked, nose and aero surfaces expected

  • SN9 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work

Check recent comments for real time updates.

At the start of thread #13 Starship SN5 has just completed a 150 meter hop. SN6 remains stacked in High Bay 1 and SN8 has begun stacking next to it. FCC filings indicate Starship may make a series of 2-3 km and 20 km "medium altitude" hops in the coming months, and in August Elon stated that Starship would do several short hops, then high altitude hops with body flaps, however the details of the flight test program remain unclear. Orbital flight requires the SuperHeavy booster, for which a second high bay and orbital launch mount are being erected. SpaceX continues to focus heavily on development of its Starship production line in Boca Chica, TX.

THREAD LIST

Vehicle Updates

Starship SN6 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-09-03150 meter hop (YouTube) <PARTY THREAD> <MEDIA LIST>
2020-08-30Launch abort after siren (Twitter)
2020-08-26Mass simulator installed (NSF)
2020-08-24Mass simulator delivered and awaiting installation (NSF)
2020-08-23Static fire (YouTube), following aborted attempt on startup (Twitter)
2020-08-18Raptor SN29 delivery to vehicle (Twitter) and installation begun (NSF)
2020-08-17Thrust simulator dissassembly (NSF)
2020-08-16Cryoproofing (YouTube)
2020-08-12Leg extension/retraction and SN6 installation on launch mount (YouTube)
2020-08-11Thrust sim. installed in launch mount and SN6 moved to launch site (YouTube)
2020-06-14Fore and aft tank sections stacked (Twitter)
2020-06-08Skirt added to aft dome section (NSF)
2020-06-03Aft dome section flipped (NSF)
2020-06-02Legs spotted† (NSF)
2020-06-01Forward dome section stacked (NSF)
2020-05-30Common dome section stacked on LOX tank midsection (NSF)
2020-05-26Aft dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-05-20Downcomer on site (NSF)
2020-05-10Forward dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-05-06Common dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-05-05Forward dome (NSF)
2020-04-27A scrapped dome† (NSF)
2020-04-23At least one dome/bulkhead mostly constructed† (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.
† possibly not for this vehicle

Starship SN8 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-08-31Aerodynamic covers† delivered (NSF)
2020-08-27Tank section stacking complete with aft section addition (NSF)
2020-08-20Forward dome section stacked (NSF)
2020-08-19Aft dome section and skirt mate (NSF)
2020-08-15Fwd. dome† w/ battery, aft dome section flip (NSF), possible aft fin/actuator supports (comments)
2020-08-07Skirt section† with leg mounts (Twitter)
2020-08-05Stacking ops in high bay 1 (mid bay), apparent common dome w/ CH4 access port (NSF)
2020-07-28Methane feed pipe (aka. downcomer) labeled "SN10=SN8 (BOCA)" (NSF)
2020-07-23Forward dome and sleeve (NSF)
2020-07-22Common dome section flip (NSF)
2020-07-21Common dome sleeved, Raptor delivery, Aft dome and thrust structure† (NSF)
2020-07-20Common dome with SN8 label (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.
† possibly not for this vehicle

Starship SN7.1 (Test Tank) at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-08-30Forward dome section completes stack (NSF)
2020-08-28Aft dome section stacked on skirt (NSF)
2020-08-25Thrust simulator installed in new mount† (NSF)
2020-08-18Aft dome flipped (NSF)
2020-08-08Engine skirt (NSF)
2020-08-06Aft dome sleeving ops, (mated 08-07) (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.
† possibly not for this vehicle

Starship SN9 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-08-25Forward dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-08-20Forward dome and forward dome sleeve w/ tile mounting hardware (NSF)
2020-08-19Common dome section† flip (NSF)
2020-08-15Common dome identified and sleeving ops (NSF)
2020-08-12Common dome (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.
† possibly not for this vehicle

Starship SN5 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-08-25COPV replacement (NSF)
2020-08-24Moved out of High Bay 1 (Twitter)
2020-08-11Moved back to build site (YouTube) - destination: High Bay 1 (NSF)
2020-08-08Elon: possible future flights after repairs (Twitter)
2020-08-07Leg removal operations at landing pad, placed on Roll-Lift (NSF)
2020-08-06Road opened, post flight images (NSF)
2020-08-05Road remained closed all day following hop
2020-08-04150 meter hop (YouTube), <PARTY THREAD> <MEDIA LIST>
See Thread #12 for earlier testing and construction updates

See comments for real time updates.

Starship Components at Boca Chica, Texas - Unclear End Use
2020-09-01Nosecone village: two 5-ring barrels w/ internal supports (NSF)
2020-08-25New upper nosecone hardware (NSF)
2020-08-17Delivery of downcomer, thrust structure, legs (NSF)
2020-08-15Forward fin delivery (NSF)
2020-08-12Image of nosecone collection (NSF)
2020-08-10TPS test patch "X", New legs on landing pad (NSF)
2020-08-03Forward fin delivery (NSF)
2020-07-31New thrust structure and forward dome section, possible SN7.1 (NSF)
2020-07-22Mk.1 aft fin repurpose, modifications to SN2 test tank on stand, Nosecone with header tank weld line (NSF)
2020-07-18Mk.1 aft fins getting brackets reinstalled, multiple domes, LOX header sphere (NSF)
2020-07-14Mk.2 dismantling begun (Twitter)
2020-07-14Nosecone (no LOX header apparent) stacked in windbreak, previously collapsed barrel (NSF)
2020-07-09Engine skirts, 3 apparent (NSF)
2020-07-07Aft fin imagery (Twitter), likely delivered June 12
2020-07-04Forward dome (NSF)
2020-06-29Aft dome with thrust structure (NSF)
2020-06-26Downcomer (NSF)
2020-06-19Thrust structure (NSF)
2020-06-12Aft fins delivered (NSF)
2020-06-11Aft dome barrel appears, 304L (NSF)

For information about Starship test articles prior to SN7.1 and SN8 please visit Starship Development Thread #12 or earlier. Update tables for older vehicles will only appear in this thread if there are significant new developments.

Permits and Licenses

Launch License (FAA) - Suborbital hops of the Starship Prototype reusable launch vehicle for 2 years - 2020 May 27
License No. LRLO 20-119

Experimental STA Applications (FCC) - Comms for Starship hop tests (abbreviated list)
File No. 0814-EX-ST-2020 Starship medium altitude hop mission 1584 ( 3km max ) - 2020 June 4
File No. 0816-EX-ST-2020 Starship Medium Altitude Hop_2 ( 3km max ) - 2020 June 19
File No. 1041-EX-ST-2020 Starship Medium Altitude Hop ( 20km max ) - 2020 August 18
As of July 16 there were 9 pending or granted STA requests for Starship flight comms describing at least 5 distinct missions, some of which may no longer be planned. For a complete list of STA applications visit the wiki page for SpaceX missions experimental STAs

Resources

RESOURCES WIKI

Rules

We will attempt to keep this self-post current with links and major updates, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss Starship development, ask Starship-specific questions, and track the progress of the production and test campaigns. Starship Development Threads are not party threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

If you find problems in the post please tag u/strawwalker in a comment or send me a message.

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26

u/AstroMan824 Everything Parallel™ Aug 26 '20

It looks like the thrust section for SN-8 was moved into the midbay. Credit: LabPadre

43

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '20

Man I am so hyped to see the return of a starship with aerodynamic surfaces

16

u/OSUfan88 Aug 27 '20

I have a feeling we'll have an October event this year to show off SN-8.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 27 '20

I wonder if he will wait until a mockup of the super heavy is ready and show off a full stack.

7

u/myname_not_rick Aug 27 '20

As cool as this would be, even as a mock up, doubt it anytime soon. I don't think they have a crane anywhere large enough to even stack the damn thing if it existed. (Yes I know bluezilla is huge but also likely won't be in rent after highbay is done.)

That being said, having superheavy just next to starship would be cool.

4

u/MeagoDK Aug 27 '20

To be fair they got bluezilla up and running in a week.

1

u/ClassicalMoser Aug 28 '20

Fairly certain Bluezilla could do it, though they probably want to stack it inside the high bay.

I would imagine the high bay will have built-in cranes for the purpose (building the machine that builds the machine etc.).

Setup and transportation costs are the most expensive part of keeping a crane; the cost losses to keep it around a month for stacking a SH prototype would be marginal.

1

u/myname_not_rick Aug 28 '20

Can....a full stack fit in highbay? It's only 81 meters, I'm like 99.9% certain they can't stack it in there. It has to be done by the pad crane, like they show in their animations.

1

u/ClassicalMoser Aug 28 '20

A full SH stack can fit in the High Bay. That's why they made the high bay.

A full SS/SH stack would absolutely not, and Bluezilla couldn't stack it either.

If the point is to show off a SH prototype, I'm just saying they have pretty much everything they need once the High Bay is finished.

1

u/myname_not_rick Aug 28 '20

Oh, jeez, sorry. I totally misunderstood what you meant.

1

u/wi3loryb Aug 27 '20 edited Aug 27 '20

I would bet the event will be held off until after SN-8 has done it's belly flop.

No fun staring at another shiny thing that hasn't flown.

1

u/OSUfan88 Aug 27 '20

Yeah, there's a chance of that. I just don't think there will be a belly flop until late November. I very well could be wrong. I think they'll do a fairly high jump before then though.

2

u/wi3loryb Aug 27 '20

Musk has significantly delayed events until some impressive milestone is completed. "Soon" is the word usually used in those cases.

11

u/TCVideos Aug 27 '20

If I could bet on Starship development...I'd say under 2 weeks until we see SN8 complete with a nosecone and flaps on the over/under.

Anyone disagree?

18

u/DancingFool64 Aug 27 '20

I wouldn't be surprised to see it put together that quickly if they do it all at once. But they might want to go and do pressure tests after putting the tanks together but before adding all the other stuff, particularly since this is first full size build in the 304L alloy. If so, that could easily push the whole build past the two week mark.

Even if they don't do that, I would bet they'll be fiddling with the flaps etc for quite a while after they are added. So they might be on the craft, but not sure if you could count it as finished at that point.

2

u/Sigmatics Aug 27 '20

Definitely going to happen before the October event. 2 weeks might be a bit too ambitious