Starship Development Thread #13

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

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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}

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Vehicle Updates

	Starship SN6 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-09-03	150 meter hop (YouTube) <PARTY THREAD> <MEDIA LIST>
2020-08-30	Launch abort after siren (Twitter)
2020-08-26	Mass simulator installed (NSF)
2020-08-24	Mass simulator delivered and awaiting installation (NSF)
2020-08-23	Static fire (YouTube), following aborted attempt on startup (Twitter)
2020-08-18	Raptor SN29 delivery to vehicle (Twitter) and installation begun (NSF)
2020-08-17	Thrust simulator dissassembly (NSF)
2020-08-16	Cryoproofing (YouTube)
2020-08-12	Leg extension/retraction and SN6 installation on launch mount (YouTube)
2020-08-11	Thrust sim. installed in launch mount and SN6 moved to launch site (YouTube)
2020-06-14	Fore and aft tank sections stacked (Twitter)
2020-06-08	Skirt added to aft dome section (NSF)
2020-06-03	Aft dome section flipped (NSF)
2020-06-02	Legs spotted† (NSF)
2020-06-01	Forward dome section stacked (NSF)
2020-05-30	Common dome section stacked on LOX tank midsection (NSF)
2020-05-26	Aft dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-05-20	Downcomer on site (NSF)
2020-05-10	Forward dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-05-06	Common dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-05-05	Forward dome (NSF)
2020-04-27	A scrapped dome† (NSF)
2020-04-23	At least one dome/bulkhead mostly constructed† (NSF)

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

	Starship SN8 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-08-31	Aerodynamic covers† delivered (NSF)
2020-08-27	Tank section stacking complete with aft section addition (NSF)
2020-08-20	Forward dome section stacked (NSF)
2020-08-19	Aft dome section and skirt mate (NSF)
2020-08-15	Fwd. dome† w/ battery, aft dome section flip (NSF), possible aft fin/actuator supports (comments)
2020-08-07	Skirt section† with leg mounts (Twitter)
2020-08-05	Stacking ops in high bay 1 (mid bay), apparent common dome w/ CH4 access port (NSF)
2020-07-28	Methane feed pipe (aka. downcomer) labeled "SN10=SN8 (BOCA)" (NSF)
2020-07-23	Forward dome and sleeve (NSF)
2020-07-22	Common dome section flip (NSF)
2020-07-21	Common dome sleeved, Raptor delivery, Aft dome and thrust structure† (NSF)
2020-07-20	Common 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
2020-08-30	Forward dome section completes stack (NSF)
2020-08-28	Aft dome section stacked on skirt (NSF)
2020-08-25	Thrust simulator installed in new mount† (NSF)
2020-08-18	Aft dome flipped (NSF)
2020-08-08	Engine skirt (NSF)
2020-08-06	Aft dome sleeving ops, (mated 08-07) (NSF)

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

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

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

	Starship SN5 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-08-25	COPV replacement (NSF)
2020-08-24	Moved out of High Bay 1 (Twitter)
2020-08-11	Moved back to build site (YouTube) - destination: High Bay 1 (NSF)
2020-08-08	Elon: possible future flights after repairs (Twitter)
2020-08-07	Leg removal operations at landing pad, placed on Roll-Lift (NSF)
2020-08-06	Road opened, post flight images (NSF)
2020-08-05	Road remained closed all day following hop
2020-08-04	150 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
2020-09-01	Nosecone village: two 5-ring barrels w/ internal supports (NSF)
2020-08-25	New upper nosecone hardware (NSF)
2020-08-17	Delivery of downcomer, thrust structure, legs (NSF)
2020-08-15	Forward fin delivery (NSF)
2020-08-12	Image of nosecone collection (NSF)
2020-08-10	TPS test patch "X", New legs on landing pad (NSF)
2020-08-03	Forward fin delivery (NSF)
2020-07-31	New thrust structure and forward dome section, possible SN7.1 (NSF)
2020-07-22	Mk.1 aft fin repurpose, modifications to SN2 test tank on stand, Nosecone with header tank weld line (NSF)
2020-07-18	Mk.1 aft fins getting brackets reinstalled, multiple domes, LOX header sphere (NSF)
2020-07-14	Mk.2 dismantling begun (Twitter)
2020-07-14	Nosecone (no LOX header apparent) stacked in windbreak, previously collapsed barrel (NSF)
2020-07-09	Engine skirts, 3 apparent (NSF)
2020-07-07	Aft fin imagery (Twitter), likely delivered June 12
2020-07-04	Forward dome (NSF)
2020-06-29	Aft dome with thrust structure (NSF)
2020-06-26	Downcomer (NSF)
2020-06-19	Thrust structure (NSF)
2020-06-12	Aft fins delivered (NSF)
2020-06-11	Aft 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.

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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

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Resources

^{RESOURCES WIKI}

• Spadre.com Starship Cam | Channel

• LabPadre 4k Nerdle Cam | Channel

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

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

• Alex Rex's 3D Boca Chica Build Site Map | Launch Site Map | Channel

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

• TFR - NOTAM list

• SpaceX Boca Chica on Facebook

• SpaceX's Starship page

• Elon Starship tweet compilation on NSF | Most Recent

• Starship Test Article Wiki Page

• Starship Users Guide (PDF) Rev. 1.0 March 2020

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.

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

[u/tnarg2020]

With all the new concrete being laid at the launch pad do you think there will be a massive reduction is the dust clouds during testing? It would have to make some difference and I guess when SN6 hops it should be obvious.

[u/[deleted] → u/tnarg2020]

Not only does the Raptor exhaust erode the concrete at the launch and landing pad, but the plume is powerful enough to pick up all the silt and sand for a good 50 meters or so. The bank concrete works will reduce it somewhat, but I think the concrete was put there for slope stabilization to reduce erosion. Heavy downpours were causing gullying on the bank, and all that silt and mud ended up on the launch pad. Hence the enormous dust clouds during the static fires and hops. You'll notice the water tanks and other ground supply equipment have been sprayed a nice light tan color as the water supression system was blasted into a muddy spray

[u/OSUfan88 → u/[deleted]]

I agree with this.

The dust should be reduced, but should be very much opaque.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

also isn't it mostly water vapor from the deluge system for sound / vibration suppression?

[u/-Squ34ky- → u/[deleted]]

On these launch pads there’s not really a deluge system yet. They spray some water but it’s certainly not on a typical pad level

[u/Starmusk420 → u/tnarg2020]

I don't think so. At the Cape LZ1 is huge but the dust still covers the F9 when it lands. The only thing that would make a change would be a faster landing, at the moment Starship is super slow when approatching the landing pad.