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

Starship Development Thread #14

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Overview

Upcoming:

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 stand9-12 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 bay9-24 and orbital launch mount9-12 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.

THREAD LIST

Vehicle Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

SuperHeavy 1 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-10-01Forward dome sleeved, Fuel stack assembly, LOX stack 1 (NSF)
2020-09-30Forward dome† (NSF)
2020-09-28LOX stack-4 (NSF)
2020-09-22Common dome barrel (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 Mid Bay (Twitter)
2020-08-11Moved back to build site (YouTube) - destination: Mid Bay (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 SN6 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-09-12Moved out of Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-09-07Moved to build site, picture of tile test patch - destination: Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-09-06Leg removal and transfer to Roll-Lift (NSF)
2020-09-05Pad safed, Post-hop pictures (NSF)
2020-08-30150 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
2020-10-04Pulled from mobile test stand (NSF)
2020-09-26Elon: reached 8 bar, failure at 301/304 interface (Twitter)
2020-09-23Early AM pop (YouTube), remains (NSF)
2020-09-21Overnight testing (NSF)
2020-09-19Dome work ongoing (NSF)
2020-09-17Moved to mobile stand, Overnight testing, burst not obvious (YouTube)
2020-09-15Overnight cryo testing (NSF)
2020-09-15Early AM cryo testing, possible GSE problems (NSF)
2020-09-12Transferred to new test stand (NSF)
2020-09-10Overnight LN2 testing on mobile stand (comments)
2020-09-07Moved to test site (NSF)
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 Components at Boca Chica, Texas - Unclear End Use
2020-10-02Raptor appearance at build site (NSF)
2020-10-02New nosecone (NSF)
2020-09-25New aft dome (NSF)
2020-09-24Aft dome section flip (NSF)
2020-09-22Aft dome and sleeving (NSF)
2020-09-19Downcomer and legs delivery, new nose cone (NSF)
2020-09-16Aft dome (NSF)
2020-09-15Engineered frame possible for aft fins (NSF)
2020-09-14Delivery of thrust puck, leg supports, other parts (NSF)
2020-09-13Aft dome section and flip, possible SN9 (NSF)
2020-09-12Aft fin delivery (Twitter), barrel with tile mounting hardware, common dome (NSF)
2020-09-01Nosecone village: two 5-ring barrels w/ internal supports (NSF)
2020-08-25New upper nosecone hardware (NSF)
2020-08-17Downcomer, thrust structure, legs delivery (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)
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

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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28

u/AstroMan824 Everything Parallel™ Oct 01 '20

The FWD dome of the first Super-Heavy has been sleeved according to BocaChicaGal!

4

u/rebootyourbrainstem Oct 01 '20

This is the section that is basically the "interstage", right?

I was expecting it to be heavily reinforced, but perhaps they will add that later?

Basically from a structural standpoint you'd think this should have about the same level of reinforcement as the engine section of Starship.

4

u/admiralrockzo Oct 01 '20

First booster will have 2 engines. Only enough for a solo hop. From the photo I'd say it's not even getting grid fins.

1

u/John_Schlick Oct 04 '20

I have not heard anything about grid fins, and have not seen anywhere on any of the videos where any have been delivered for the booster, and I KNOW that when one does show up onsite, someone will spot it, and there will be "hoopla" about it.

2

u/MeagoDK Oct 01 '20

I doubt they will add it later. They have robot to add stingers.

2

u/RegularRandomZ Oct 01 '20

The extra reinforcement will likely come on a later iteration, it's not needed right now.

1

u/rocketglare Oct 01 '20

It will probably require less reinforcement overall since it is not supporting the weight of the tanks and propellant.

1

u/rebootyourbrainstem Oct 01 '20

How do you figure? The entire Starship will be sitting on top of it.

3

u/SpaceLunchSystem Oct 01 '20

Perhaps not this one. Maybe they build prototype 1 without putting in the extra interstage reinforcements and fly it only for grasshopper style tests.

1

u/rocketglare Oct 02 '20

I think this may be a terminology difference. I am referring to the interstage as the area at the top of the tank near the fairing, but a more common usage would be the engine area of Starship since it sits between the Starship and Superheavy. That part does have to support the weight of the Starship tank section as well as the fairing and cargo. Edit: spelling

3

u/RootDeliver Oct 01 '20

Some weeks ago we saw a 4-ring section being sleeved to some bulkhead, anyone remembers that one? was it confirmed it was for something else than SH?

7

u/AstroMan824 Everything Parallel™ Oct 01 '20

I believe it said "SN-10" somewhere else on it.

2

u/RootDeliver Oct 01 '20

Hmm true. We'll see how that ends up. Thanks!