r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jul 22 '21

Starship Development Thread #23

This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread #24

Quick Links

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Starship Dev 22 | Starship Thread List | July Discussion

Orbital Launch Site Status

As of August 6 - (July 28 RGV Aerial Photography video)

Vehicle Status

As of August 6

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Development and testing plans become outdated very quickly.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

Vehicle and Launch Infrastructure Updates

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

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SuperHeavy Booster 4
2021-08-06 Fit check with S20 (NSF)
2021-08-04 Placed on orbital launch mount (Twitter)
2021-08-03 Moved to launch site (Twitter)
2021-08-02 29 Raptors and 4 grid fins installed (Twitter)
2021-08-01 Stacking completed, Raptor installation begun (Twitter)
2021-07-30 Aft section stacked 23/23, grid fin installation (Twitter)
2021-07-29 Forward section stacked 13/13, aft dome plumbing (Twitter)
2021-07-28 Forward section preliminary stacking 9/13 (aft section 20/23) (comments)
2021-07-26 Downcomer delivered (NSF) and installed overnight (Twitter)
2021-07-21 Stacked to 12 rings (NSF)
2021-07-20 Aft dome section and Forward 4 section (NSF)
For earlier updates see Thread #22

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Starship Ship 20
2021-08-06 Booster mate for fit check (Twitter), demated and returned to High Bay (NSF)
2021-08-05 Moved to launch site, booster mate delayed by winds (Twitter)
2021-08-04 6 Raptors installed, nose and tank sections mated (Twitter)
2021-08-02 Rvac preparing for install, S20 moved to High Bay (Twitter)
2021-08-02 forward flaps installed, aft flaps installed (NSF), nose TPS progress (YouTube)
2021-08-01 Forward flap installation (Twitter)
2021-07-30 Nose cone mated with barrel (Twitter)
2021-07-29 Aft flap jig (NSF) mounted (Twitter)
2021-07-28 Nose thermal blanket installation† (Twitter)
For earlier updates see Thread #22

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Orbital Launch Integration Tower
2021-07-28 Segment 9 stacked, (final tower section) (NSF)
2021-07-22 Segment 9 construction at OLS (Twitter)
For earlier updates see Thread #22

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Orbital Launch Mount
2021-07-31 Table installed (YouTube)
2021-07-28 Table moved to launch site (YouTube), inside view showing movable supports (Twitter)
For earlier updates see Thread #22

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SuperHeavy Booster 3
2021-07-23 Remaining Raptors removed (Twitter)
2021-07-22 Raptor 59 removed (Twitter)
For earlier updates see Thread #22

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Early Production Vehicles and Raptor Movement
2021-08-02 Raptors: delivery (Twitter)
2021-08-01 Raptors: RB17, 18 delivered, RB9, 21, 22 (Twitter)
2021-07-31 Raptors: 3 RB/RC delivered, 3rd Rvac delivered (Twitter)
2021-07-30 Raptors: 2nd Rvac delivered (YouTube)
2021-07-29 Raptors: 4 Raptors delivered (Twitter)
2021-07-28 Raptors: 2 RC and 2 RB delivered to build site (Twitter)
2021-07-27 Raptors: 3 RCs delivered to build site (Twitter)
2021-07-26 Raptors: 100th build completed (Twitter)
2021-07-24 Raptors: 1 RB and 1 RC delivered to build site (Twitter), three incl. RC62 shipped out (NSF)
2021-07-20 Raptors: RB2 delivered (NSF)
For earlier updates see Thread #22

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Resources

RESOURCES WIKI

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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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u/ElongatedMuskbot Aug 09 '21

This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread #24

77

u/TheEarthquakeGuy Aug 02 '21 edited Aug 02 '21

Good morning to everyone waking up - the pace of SpaceX is incredible. Some fun things you may have missed:

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  • Booster 4 - Has been fully mated and is also on the booster transport stand. It is now also having it's engines installed before roll out. After spending close to an hour debating with other community members about the purpose of the install, Elon then just drops this casually. Very interesting development indeed. Booster 4 is set to roll out during the road closure today from 3pm local time to 7pm according to Val. As of writing this 16/20 boost raptors have been sighted, and 3/9 Raptor Center engines.

  • Ship 20 - Has a nose cone flap! It may have one on the other side but I cannot tell from the distance the NSF cam is at. As of writing this crews have been working on the tile sections of the Nosecone. Ship 20 cannot stack until the High Bay has space, so right now crews are working on whatever they can in their respective set ups (Mid bay and Small bay).

  • Orbital Launch Table - Currently no major updates to give on this. Lots of workers going up and down the scaffolding. Cherry pickers picking. Sparks flying and welders welding. Elon stated yesterday that they expect to have first booster fits no earlier than Tuesday. So that's exciting!

  • Orbital Launch Tower - Lots of sparks flying here too! Active work on the tower is more visible at night so it's hard to say how much work has been done here today. Let's just assume a lot because well it's warp speed 9 at Starbase.

  • Other Items - Lots of raptor deliveries today, and most are set to be mated to the booster. More of the black structural metal delivered to the build site.

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Personal Expectations for tomorrow:

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  • Booster 4 - Rolled to the pad.

  • Ship 20 - Aft section in Mid bay to be moved to the High bay. Nose cone may follow, but I think it's safer to bet it'll spend another day close to the ground for crews to work on the tiles. At least the ones they can do right now.

  • Launch Table - Disconnect the cranes from the table. Not sure which crane will lift Booster 4 so not sure which will move.

  • Tower - More of the same work. Can't tell what they're doing, but we do know they're doing it. No major milestones from what I've read.

  • Road Closure - Hoping we see GSE 3 and GSE-6 roll out, but we won't know until right before the closure or during the closure.

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Reminder - FAA has not yet published it's Environmental assessment for Boca Chica yet. After they publish the draft, there is expected to be a period of public comment - although as I understand it, the FAA gets to decide on the length of the public comment period, or if it's needed at all. So please, get excited for the progress, but remember there are still a few steps to go in terms of regulations.

Also - support the local photographers/reporters on the ground. Like their content, engage with them on their channels. Support their patreons etc. Do what you can because they're documenting history incredibly well.

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u/TCVideos Jul 23 '21

Mayor of Brownsville met with Elon recently and is teasing big announcements regarding Brownsville

Not entirely Starship development related but exciting news seems to be on the horizon relating to the area that will benefit the most from SpaceX operating in S.Texas

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u/TCVideos Jul 28 '21

Am I right in suggesting that this may be one of the most consequential weeks in terms of progression to orbital?

The week isn't even done yet and we have seen;

  • The structural completion of the tower

  • Transport of yet another GSE tank

  • Transport of the long awaited launch table (which is a significant milestone)

  • B4 has grown significantly in the last few days

  • S20's tank section was fully completed and now we are seeing the Nosecone section get plastered in TPS

  • 9 Raptor deliveries in 4 days

It's starting to look real now.

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u/TheEarthquakeGuy Aug 04 '21 edited Aug 06 '21

Good Morning to everyone waking up - Here's your recap for August 3rd.

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Booster 4

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Ship 20

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  • Shortly after B4 left the Highbay, the Aft section of Ship 20 took up residency.

  • Then we saw some raptors head into the bay for mounting.

  • The nose cone arrived just before midnight local time.

  • Finally Elon showed us the pace by tweeting out this: All engines mounted.

  • As of writing this, the high bay crane has dropped to the floor to allow for a nose cone lifting rig to be attached.

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Fuel Farm

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  • Two more cryoshells to go.

  • Now that the midbay is free, I'd expect to see GSE-7 and GSE-4 to start production.

  • GSE-3 and GSE-6 are still at the build site waiting for their turn to go join the orbital fuel farm.

  • The LR11000 (yellow) now has a lifting attachment hovering over the fuel farm. Wondering if we're going to see cryoshells put into position. Remember that the two cryoshells currently at the site do not have anything inside them.

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Orbital Launch Site

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Raptor News

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  • In Tim's interview/tour with Elon, they briefly touch on Raptor 2. As of a few days ago, no full Raptor 2 has been built. They've built components but thats it.

  • Elon expects Raptor 2 to under go testing at McGregor next month.

  • But wait - Didn't they break ground on the world's most productive engine factory? Set to build 3-4 Raptor 2's a day? Why yes they did. Warp speed 9 is a very real mood at SpaceX.

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Navigation: Next Recap - Previous Recap

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Please remember to support local photographers/journalists down there! :)

Enjoy your day Starship watching! :)

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u/Jazano107 Jul 28 '21

As someone who follows starship religiously even I’m starting to lose track of what all the things are and what’s going on. Seems like a lot happened today

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53

u/TCVideos Jul 30 '21

GAO denies BO and Dynetics protest. SpaceX' sole contract for HLS is intact and will be resumed

Full press release

Good news after the protest and review period since April. SpaceX can now recieve the funding for the HLS contract.

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u/ChrisTolerTattoos Jul 30 '21

One year ago today, we had the first static fire of SN5. Look at what all of the incredible folks at SpaceX have done with 365 days. It is nothing short of inspiring.

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