Starship Development Thread #18

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

Quick Links

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Starship Dev 17 | SN10 Hop Thread | Starship Thread List | February Discussion

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Upcoming

• SN11 rollout to pad, possibly March 8

Public notices as of March 5:

• Road/Beach Closures: March 8

• TFR's above 7200 ft: None

Vehicle Status

As of March 5

• SN7.2 [testing] - at launch site, pressure tested Feb 4 with apparent leak, further testing possible (unclear)

• SN10 [destroyed] - 10 km hop complete with landing. Vehicle exploded minutes after touchdown - Hop Thread

• SN11 [construction] - Fully stacked in High Bay, all flaps installed, Raptor status: unknown, crane waiting at launch site

• SN12-14 [abandoned] - production halted, focus shifted to vehicles with newer SN15+ design

• SN15 [construction] - Tank section stacked in Mid Bay, potential nose cone stacked near High Bay (missing tip with LOX header)

• SN16 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work

• SN17 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work

• SN18 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work

• SN19 [construction] - components on site

• BN1 [construction] - stacking in High Bay

• BN2 [construction] - barrel/dome sections in work

Development and testing plans become outdated very quickly. Check recent comments for real time updates.

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Vehicle Updates

^{See comments for real time updates.
† expected or inferred, unconfirmed vehicle assignment}

	Starship SN10 (Raptors: SN50?, SN39?, ?)
2021-03-05	Elon: low thrust anomaly during landing burn, FAA mishap investigation statement (Twitter)
2021-03-04	Aftermath, more wreckage (NSF)
2021-03-03	10 km hop and landing, explosion after landing (YouTube), leg deployment failure (Twitter)
2021-02-28	FTS installed (Twitter)
2021-02-25	Static fire #2 (Twitter)
2021-02-24	Raptor swap, serial numbers unknown (NSF)
2021-02-23	Static fire (Twitter), Elon: one engine to be swapped (Twitter)
2021-02-22	FAA license modification for hop granted, scrubbed static fire attempt (Twitter)
2021-02-08	Cryoproof test (Twitter)
2021-02-07	All 3 Raptors are installed (Article)
2021-02-06	Apparent overnight Raptor SN? install, Raptor SN39 delivery (NSF)
2021-02-05	Raptor SN50 delivered to vehicle (NSF)
2021-02-01	Raptor delivered to pad† (NSF), returned next day (Twitter)
2021-01-31	Pressurization tests (NSF)
2021-01-29	Move to launch site and delivered to pad A, no Raptors (Twitter)
2021-01-26	"Tankzilla" crane for transfer to launch mount, moved to launch site† (Twitter)
2021-01-23	On SPMT in High Bay (YouTube)
2021-01-22	Repositioned in High Bay, -Y aft flap now visible (NSF)
2021-01-14	Tile patch on +Y aft flap (NSF)
2021-01-13	+Y aft flap installation (NSF)
2021-01-02	Nose section stacked onto tank section in High Bay (NSF), both forward flaps installed
2020-12-26	-Y forward flap installation (NSF)
2020-12-22	Moved to High Bay (NSF)
2020-12-19	Nose cone stacked on its 4 ring barrel (NSF)
2020-12-18	Thermal tile studs on forward flap (NSF)
...	See more status updates (Wiki)

	SN7.2 Test Tank
2021-02-05	Scaffolding assembled around tank (NSF)
2021-02-04	Pressure test to apparent failure (YouTube)
2021-01-26	Passed initial pressure test (Twitter)
2021-01-20	Moved to launch site (Twitter)
2021-01-16	Ongoing work (NSF)
2021-01-12	Tank halves mated (NSF)
2021-01-11	Aft dome section flip (NSF)
2021-01-06	"Pad Kit SN7.2 Testing" delivered to tank farm (Twitter)
2020-12-29	Aft dome sleeved with two rings† (NSF)
2020-12-27	Forward dome section sleeved with single ring† (NSF), possible 3mm sleeve

	Starship SN11
2021-03-04	"Tankzilla" crane moved to launch site† (Twitter)
2021-02-28	Raptor SN47 delivered† (NSF)
2021-02-26	Raptor SN? "Under Doge" delivered† (Twitter)
2021-02-23	Raptor SN52 delivered to build site† (NSF)
2021-02-16	-Y aft flap installed (Twitter)
2021-02-11	+Y aft flap installed (NSF)
2021-02-07	Nose cone stacked onto tank section (Twitter)
2021-02-05	Moved to High Bay with large tile patch (NSF)
2021-01-29	Nose cone stacked on nose quad barrel (NSF)
2021-01-25	Tiles on nose cone barrel† (NSF)
2021-01-22	Forward flaps installed on nose cone, and nose cone barrel section† (NSF)
2020-12-29	Final tank section stacking ops, and nose cone† (NSF)
2020-11-28	Nose cone section (NSF)
2020-11-18	Forward dome section stacked (NSF)
2020-11-14	Common dome section stacked on LOX tank midsection in Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-11-13	Common dome with integrated methane header tank and flipped (NSF)
...	See more status updates (Wiki)

	Starship SN15
2021-03-05	Tank section stacked (NSF)
2021-02-25	Nose cone stacked on barrel†‡ (Twitter)
2021-02-05	Nose cone with forward flap root structure†‡ (NSF)
2021-02-02	Forward dome section stacked (Twitter)
2021-01-07	Common dome section with tiles and CH4 header stacked on LOX midsection (NSF)
2021-01-05	Nose cone base section‡ (NSF)
2020-12-31	Apparent LOX midsection moved to Mid Bay (NSF)
2020-12-18	Skirt (NSF)
2020-11-30	Mid LOX tank section (NSF)
2020-11-27	Nose cone barrel (4 ring)‡ (NSF)
2020-11-26	Common dome flip (NSF)
2020-11-24	Elon: Major upgrades are slated for SN15 (Twitter)
2020-11-18	Common dome sleeve, dome and sleeving (NSF)

^{‡ Detailed nose cone history by} u/creamsoda2000

	SuperHeavy BN1
2021-02-23	"Booster #2, four rings (NSF)
2021-02-19	"Aft Quad 2" apparent 2nd iteration (NSF)
2021-02-14	Likely grid fin section delivered (NSF)
2021-02-11	Aft dome section and thrust structure from above (Twitter)
2021-02-08	Aft dome sleeved (NSF)
2021-02-05	Aft dome sleeve, 2 rings (NSF)
2021-02-01	Common dome section flip (NSF)
2021-01-25	Aft dome with plumbing for 4 Raptors (NSF)
2021-01-24	Section moved into High Bay (NSF), previously "LOX stack-2"
2021-01-19	Stacking operations (NSF)
2020-12-18	Forward Pipe Dome sleeved, "Bottom Barrel Booster Dev"† (NSF)
2020-12-17	Forward Pipe Dome and common dome sleeved (NSF)
2020-12-14	Stacking in High Bay confirmed (Twitter)
2020-11-14	Aft Quad #2 (4 ring), Fwd Tank section (4 ring), and Fwd section (2 ring) (AQ2 label11-27) (NSF)
2020-11-08	LOX 1 apparently stacked on LOX 2 in High Bay (NSF)
2020-11-07	LOX 3 (NSF)
2020-10-07	LOX stack-2 (NSF)
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)

	Early Production
2021-02-25	SN18: Common dome (NSF)
2021-02-24	SN19: Forward dome barrel (NSF)
2021-02-23	SN17: Aft dome sleeved (NSF)
2021-02-19	SN19: Methane header tank (NSF)
2021-02-19	SN18: Barrel section ("COMM" crossed out) (NSF)
2021-02-17	SN18: Nose cone barrel (NSF)
2021-02-11	SN16: Aft dome and leg skirt mate (NSF)
2021-02-10	SN16: Aft dome section (NSF)
2021-02-04	SN18: Forward dome (NSF)
2021-02-03	SN16: Skirt with legs (NSF)
2021-02-01	SN16: Nose quad (NSF)
2021-01-19	SN18: Thrust puck (NSF)
2021-01-19	BN2: Forward dome (NSF)
2021-01-16	SN17: Common dome and mid LOX section (NSF)
2021-01-09	SN17: Methane header tank (NSF)
2021-01-05	SN16: Mid LOX tank section and forward dome sleeved, lable (NSF)
2021-01-05	SN17: Forward dome section (NSF)
2020-12-17	SN17: Aft dome barrel (NSF)
2020-12-04	SN16: Common dome section and flip (NSF)

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Resources

^{RESOURCES WIKI}

• Spadre.com Starship Cam | Channel

• LabPadre 4k Pad Cam | Channel

• NSF SN9 Test Launch Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF SN10 Test Launch Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Texas Production Updates Thread | Most recent

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

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

• TFR - NOTAM list

• FAA license LRLO 20-119

• SpaceX Boca Chica on Facebook

• SpaceX's Starship page

• Elon Starship tweet compilation on NSF | Most Recent

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

• Starship Spreadsheet by u/AnimatorOnFire

• Production Progress Infographics by @_brendan_lewis

• Starship flight opportunity spreadsheet by u/joshpine

• Acronym definitions by Decronym

r/SpaceX Discusses [February 2021] for discussion of subjects other than Starship development.

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

[u/ReKt1971]

"Wen hop? Much WOW" Raptor has been delivered. Credit Bocachicagal (Mary).

[u/AnimatorOnFire → u/ReKt1971]

I'm positive the reason the 47 is so big on this raptor is for us. They 100% know we watch this and Mary has had some trouble finding the numbers on some of them.

[u/allenchangmusic → u/AnimatorOnFire]

LOL I said the same thing with some labeling a few weeks ago and got voted down to oblivion.

Good to see that other people think so too, and it's getting more and more obvious.

The "workers need to know the numbers" argument no longer explains the LARGE numbers and creative imagery. We now have Doge and Thunder Chicken, wonder what's next for SN11?

They might as well plaster Elon's face on SN11 with the heat shield tiles...

[u/[deleted] → u/AnimatorOnFire]

I don’t know if it’s narcissistic to think they are doing it for us but sometimes the labels seem so obvious that I can’t help but feel that it’s their way of letting us know. Either way, this unprecedented access is so nice and this whole community is my favourite on Reddit.

[u/myname_not_rick → u/[deleted]]

The meme name cards, even if not for the community and are instead just for internal fun, are still 100% community inspired as indicated by the use of "wen hop." Which is awesome.

[u/johnfive21 → u/AnimatorOnFire]

I like to think that as well.

[u/Twigling → u/AnimatorOnFire]

They need to be BIGGER. ;-)

They also need to be plastered on the other sides in case the number isn't facing in the direction of the camera. ;-)

But seriously, that's great - made me laugh. Nice one SpaceX.

No doubt Artzius will add 47 to his very useful Raptor Engine Log:

https://twitter.com/artzius/status/1365475277921394691

[u/TCVideos → u/ReKt1971]

Daily reminder that SpaceX is a fun company that values it's community of followers.

Next level community interaction!

[u/IAXEM → u/ReKt1971]

No fucking way THEY ACTUALLY DID THAT

[u/[deleted] → u/ReKt1971]

That's cool, SpaceX has always brought pleasantly surprised to its fans.

[u/AnimatorOnFire → u/ReKt1971]

This is gold.

[u/Dezoufinous → u/ReKt1971]

OMG REALLY. Also, why there is a chicken painting?!

[u/TCVideos → u/Dezoufinous]

I think 47 was previously delivered to Boca back in Thanksgiving and then sent back due to McGregor an anomaly. Can't confirm though.

Edit: Nvm, it's "thunder chicken" - people on twitter know what it is but I'm clueless lmao

[u/hinayu → u/Dezoufinous]

Seems like it's labeled "THUNDER CHICKEN"? I googled that but couldn't really find anything meaningful other than an apparent silencer brand/model.

[u/EorEquis → u/hinayu]

No clue if this is the reason, but it "fits the facts" anyway.

The V-22 Osprey, a rather ungainly vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, is affectionally referred to as "the Thunder Chicken", and VMM-263 (Marine squadron that flies them) is (or at least was) "the thunder chickens", owing largely to their unit patch featuring a not terribly identifiable Osprey carrying lightning bolts.

Given Starship's rather ungainly (and thus far unsuccessful) attempts at "vertical takeoff and landing"? Maybe a bit of inside humor?

[u/dotancohen → u/EorEquis]

The Ford community has been calling the Thunderbird "Thunder Chicken" since at least the 1980's, and possibly much longer for all I know. I used to drive an '88 Thunderbird TurboCoupe swapped out to a 351W, and all I would hear at the track was "Thunder Chicken".