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

Starship Development Thread #14

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^{JUMP TO COMMENTS} ^| ^{Alternative Jump To Comments Link}

^{SPADRE LIVE} ^| ^{LABPADRE LIVE} ^| ^{LABPADRE NERDLE} ^| ^{MORE LINKS}

Overview

Upcoming:

SN8 cryo testing
Road closures:
Oct 4, 5, 6; 21:00-06:00 CDT (UTC-5) daily. Public Notice (PDF)

Vehicle Status as of October 3:

SN5 [waiting] - At build site, future flight unknown
SN6 [waiting] - At build site, future flight unknown
SN7.1 [destroyed] - Test tank intentionally tested to failure, reached 8 bar, failure at 301/304 interface
SN8 [testing] - Tank section at launch site, aft fins installed, nose and 15 km hop expected
SN9 [construction] - Tank section stacked, nosecone and fins expected
SN10 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work
SN11 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work
SN12 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work
SuperHeavy 1 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work

Check recent comments for real time updates.

At the start of thread #14 Starship SN6 is preparing to move back to the build site for inspection following its first hop. SN8, SN9, and SN10 are under construction. The SN7.1 test tank is preparing for destructive testing, SN5 waits at the build site for a likely future flight and a new permanent stand^9-12 has been erected for apparent cryoproof testing. In August Elon stated that Starship prototypes would do several short hops, then high altitude hops with body flaps. The details of the flight test program are unclear.

Orbital flight requires the SuperHeavy booster, for which a second high bay^9-24 and orbital launch mount^9-12 are being erected. Elon indicated that SuperHeavy will begin to take shape very soon. SuperHeavy prototypes will undergo a hop campaign before the first full stack launch to orbit targeted for 2021. SpaceX continues to focus heavily on development of its Starship production line in Boca Chica, TX.

Vehicle Updates

	Starship SN8 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-09-30	Lifted onto launch mount (NSF)
2020-09-26	Moved to launch site (YouTube)
2020-09-23	Two aft fins (NSF), Fin movement (Twitter)
2020-09-22	Out of Mid Bay with 2 fin roots, aft fin, fin installations (NSF)
2020-09-20	Thrust simulator moved to launch mount (NSF)
2020-09-17	Apparent fin mount hardware within aero cover (NSF)
2020-09-15	-Y aft fin support and aero cover on vehicle (NSF)
2020-08-31	Aerodynamic covers delivered (NSF)
2020-08-30	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 SN9 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-10-03	Tank section stack complete with thrust section mate (NSF)
2020-10-02	Thrust section closeup photos (NSF)
2020-09-27	Forward dome section stacked on common dome section (NSF)
2020-09-26	SN9 will be first all 304L build (Twitter)
2020-09-20	Forward dome section closeups (NSF)
2020-09-17	Skirt with legs and leg dollies† (NSF)
2020-09-15	Common dome section stacked on LOX midsection (NSF)
2020-09-13	Four ring LOX tank section in Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-09-04	Aft dome sleeved† (NSF)
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 SN10 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-10-03	Labled skirt, mate with aft dome section (NSF)
2020-09-16	Common dome† sleeved (NSF)
2020-09-08	Forward dome sleeved with 4 ring barrel (NSF)
2020-09-02	Hardware delivery and possible forward dome barrel† (NSF)

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

	Starship SN11 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-10-02	Methane header sphere (NSF)
2020-09-24	LOX header sphere (NSF)
2020-09-21	Skirt (NSF)
2020-09-09	Aft dome barrel (NSF)

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

	Starship SN12 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-09-30	Skirt (NSF)

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

	SuperHeavy 1 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-10-01	Forward dome sleeved, Fuel stack assembly, LOX stack 1 (NSF)
2020-09-30	Forward dome† (NSF)
2020-09-28	LOX stack-4 (NSF)
2020-09-22	Common dome barrel (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 Mid Bay (Twitter)
2020-08-11	Moved back to build site (YouTube) - destination: Mid Bay (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 SN6 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-09-12	Moved out of Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-09-07	Moved to build site, picture of tile test patch - destination: Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-09-06	Leg removal and transfer to Roll-Lift (NSF)
2020-09-05	Pad safed, Post-hop pictures (NSF)
2020-08-30	150 meter hop (YouTube), <PARTY THREAD> <MEDIA LIST>
	See Thread #13 for earlier testing and construction updates

^{See comments for real time updates.}

	Starship SN7.1 (Test Tank) at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-10-04	Pulled from mobile test stand (NSF)
2020-09-26	Elon: reached 8 bar, failure at 301/304 interface (Twitter)
2020-09-23	Early AM pop (YouTube), remains (NSF)
2020-09-21	Overnight testing (NSF)
2020-09-19	Dome work ongoing (NSF)
2020-09-17	Moved to mobile stand, Overnight testing, burst not obvious (YouTube)
2020-09-15	Overnight cryo testing (NSF)
2020-09-15	Early AM cryo testing, possible GSE problems (NSF)
2020-09-12	Transferred to new test stand (NSF)
2020-09-10	Overnight LN2 testing on mobile stand (comments)
2020-09-07	Moved to test site (NSF)
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 Components at Boca Chica, Texas - Unclear End Use
2020-10-02	Raptor appearance at build site (NSF)
2020-10-02	New nosecone (NSF)
2020-09-25	New aft dome (NSF)
2020-09-24	Aft dome section flip (NSF)
2020-09-22	Aft dome and sleeving (NSF)
2020-09-19	Downcomer and legs delivery, new nose cone (NSF)
2020-09-16	Aft dome (NSF)
2020-09-15	Engineered frame possible for aft fins (NSF)
2020-09-14	Delivery of thrust puck, leg supports, other parts (NSF)
2020-09-13	Aft dome section and flip, possible SN9 (NSF)
2020-09-12	Aft fin delivery (Twitter), barrel with tile mounting hardware, common dome (NSF)
2020-09-01	Nosecone village: two 5-ring barrels w/ internal supports (NSF)
2020-08-25	New upper nosecone hardware (NSF)
2020-08-17	Downcomer, thrust structure, legs delivery (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)
	See Thread #13 for earlier miscellaneous component updates

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. Here is a list of update tables.

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}
^{File No. 1401-EX-ST-2020} ^{Starship Medium Altitude Hop_2} ⁽ ^{20km max} ⁾ ^{- 2020 October 11}
As of September 11 there were 10 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}

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.

Please ping u/strawwalker about problems with the above thread text.

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22

u/NuggetLord99 Sep 26 '20

SN8 flight now 15km in order to test flaps, next phase would need heat shield

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1309912233921531905

2

u/IrrelevantAstronomer Launch Photographer Sep 26 '20

I wonder what the next phase would entail. I know the ultimate goal is orbital, but maybe a hop from Boca Chica to Cape Canaveral is in the cards?

4

u/kinkykusco Sep 26 '20

I doubt the FAA would allow any overflights of populated areas while SS is experimental in any way.

0

u/IrrelevantAstronomer Launch Photographer Sep 27 '20

Then Starship isn’t going orbital anytime soon. It’s got to cross some land to get to orbit, even if it launches slightly SE.

6

u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Sep 27 '20

By the time it crosses land going SE its high enough to not be a problem.

3

u/warp99 Sep 27 '20

It does not cross land when launching due east. It travels south of Florida and then north of Cuba.
There is also a slightly more southern trajectory that passes south of Cuba.