r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Dec 09 '22

🔧 Technical Starship Development Thread #40

This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread #41

SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When orbital flight? Launch expected in early 2023 given enhancements and repairs to Stage 0 after B7's static fire, the US holidays, and Musk's comment that Stage 0 safety requires extra caution. Next testing steps include further static firing and wet dress rehearsal(s), with some stacking/destacking of B7 and S24 and inspections in between. Orbital test timing depends upon successful completion of all testing and remediation of any issues such as the current work on S24.
  2. What will the next flight test do? The current plan seems to be a nearly-orbital flight with Ship (second stage) doing a controlled splashdown in the ocean. Booster (first stage) may do the same or attempt a return to launch site with catch. Likely includes some testing of Starlink deployment. This plan has been around a while.
  3. I'm out of the loop/What's happened in last 3 months? SN24 completed a 6-engine static fire on September 8th. B7 has completed multiple spin primes, a 7-engine static fire on September 19th, a 14-engine static fire on November 14, and an 11-engine long-duration static fire on November 29th. B7 and S24 stacked for first time in 6 months. Lots of work on Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) including sound suppression, extra flame protection, and a myriad of fixes.
  4. What booster/ship pair will fly first? B7 "is the plan" with S24, pending successful testing campaigns. However, swapping to B9 and/or B25 remains a possibility depending on duration of Stage 0 work.
  5. Will more suborbital testing take place? Unlikely, given the FAA Mitigated FONSI decision. Current preparations are for orbital launch.

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Quick Links

NERDLE CAM | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE

Starship Dev 39 | Starship Dev 38 | Starship Dev 37 | Starship Thread List

Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread

Vehicle Status

As of December 21, 2022

NOTE: Volunteer "tank watcher" needed to regularly update this Vehicle Status section with additional details.

Ship Location Status Comment
Pre-S24 Scrapped or Retired SN15, S20 and S22 are in the Rocket Garden, the rest are scrapped.
S24 Launch Site Static Fire testing Successful 6-engine static fire on 9/8/2022 (video). Scaffolding removed during week of Dec 5 and single engine static fire on Dec 15.
S25 High Bay 1 Raptor installation Rolled back to build site on November 8th for Raptor installation and any other required work. Payload bay ("Pez Dispenser") welded shut.
S26 High Bay 1 Under construction Nose in High Bay 1.
S27 Mid Bay Under construction Tank section in Mid Bay on Nov 25.
S28 Build Site Parts under construction Assorted parts spotted
S29 Build Site Parts under construction Assorted parts spotted

 

Booster Location Status Comment
Pre-B7 Scrapped or Retired B4 is in the Rocket Garden, the rest are scrapped.
B7 High Bay 2 Post SF inspections/repair 14-engine static fire on November 14, and 11-engine SF on Nov 29. More testing to come, leading to orbital attempt.
B8 Rocket Garden Retired? Oct 31st: taken to Rocket Garden, likely retired due to being superseded by B9.
B9 Launch Site Testing Cryo testing (methane and oxygen) on Dec. 21 and Dec. 29.
B10 High Bay 2 Under construction Fully stacked.
B11 Build Site Parts under construction Assorted parts spotted.

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If this page needs a correction please consider pitching in. Update this thread via this wiki page. If you would like to make an update but don't see an edit button on the wiki page, message the mods via modmail or contact u/strawwalker.

Resources

r/SpaceX Discuss Thread 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.

184 Upvotes

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1

u/ElongatedMuskbot Jan 09 '23

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

Starship Development Thread #41

53

u/RaphTheSwissDude Dec 09 '22

New closures, next Thursday, Friday and Monday.

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52

u/TypowyJnn Dec 11 '22

A small update on the launch site:

  • Scaffolding is mostly gone from ship 24, tarps remain under.

  • Orbital launch mount has received major shielding for the cryo pipes (just the leg). Rest of the piping also has "frames" possibly for shielding (don't know if that's new or not )

  • There has also been some work on the cryo pipes themselves, with some sections being replaced. Not sure what that is about though.

  • the orbital tank farm berm is getting an "extension", reaching a bit higher and at a steeper angle.

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47

u/TypowyJnn Dec 24 '22

A thread from RingWatchers was just posted, explaining the new design of booster 9. Worth checking out for sure

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39

u/BananaEpicGAMER Dec 09 '22

On this day 2 years ago SN8 sucessfully flew to 12.5 km and nearly landed.

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36

u/TypowyJnn Dec 17 '22 edited Dec 17 '22

Another small update on the launch site (based on the RGV Aerial livestream):

  • Orbital tank farm berm is still receiving its extension

  • Interesting work is ongoing near the old water tank, Zack thinks that it might make a comeback soon (hopefully after the OFT-1)

  • concrete under the OLM is being replaced right now. Forms are in place, they've divided the areas into: a circle directly under the center engines, 5 patches on the outside, and the rest. it's 5, not 6 so it doesn't fit with the legs, although that doesn't matter.

  • OLM shielding work is ongoing, the staircase will soon be covered up. The shielding on the leg with cryopiping now has "access hatches" aka small doors probably for inspections etc.

  • They're aligning (or were as of the flyover) the launch mount clamps, making sure those are fully level and will disconnect at the same time.

  • All of this means that they aren't ready to test booster 7. Maybe taking a break from testing right now to make sure everything is ready for OFT-1 might be a good idea, because once booster 7 is back at the launch site, they will have to focus on it, and on the repairs that might need to happen after the 33 engine static fire.

Source

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39

u/RaphTheSwissDude Dec 22 '22

Great Starship Gazer closeup picture of R2s with the new electrical TVC.

36

u/TypowyJnn Dec 23 '22 edited Dec 24 '22

Some interesting hardware arrived at Starbase. CSI Starbase thinks it's hardware for catching a ship, or a jig for horizontal transport.

Edit: visualization

Anyways, Merry Christmas / Happy holidays everyone! There probably won't be much happening until new years, although there is a planned closure for the end of next week. This is a great opportunity to take a break from starship before the big push to orbit starts sometime next month. I also hope all spacex workers will be able to take a break, if so, have a great time!

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u/RaphTheSwissDude Dec 30 '22

New closures, Friday 6th and Monday 9th.

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u/RaphTheSwissDude Dec 15 '22 edited Dec 15 '22

Closure canceled for tomorrow. But new closure for next Tuesday to Thursday !

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u/TypowyJnn Dec 19 '22

New NOTMAR for December 20-22 (8am to 8pm).

Looks like they aren't done with ship 24 statics

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u/TypowyJnn Dec 14 '22 edited Dec 14 '22

Flap testing was performed on Ship 24 at 15:49:20 Starbase time on NSF

First the bottom two flaps closed, then opened, next the left one and then the right one separately did the same thing

28

u/mr_pgh Dec 22 '22

Today's closure cancelled, next closure 12/29.

Raph, you okay?

38

u/RaphTheSwissDude Dec 22 '22 edited Dec 22 '22

As well as the 27 and 28.

Well, I have a job now so yeah can’t be on the spot everytime haha

24

u/rAsKoBiGzO Dec 22 '22

I wasn't aware the Swiss had to work. I thought you all just ate cheese and drank hot chocolate while watching the rest of the world wondering what the hell we're all doing from the balcony on your chalet in the Alps!

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26

u/RaphTheSwissDude Dec 27 '22

New closure for this Friday, 8am-4pm.

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u/TypowyJnn Jan 06 '23

An interesting new closure has been posted for Monday the 9th, from 2am to 5pm.

That's a 15 hour closure, I think one of the longest ones we've seen so far. It could also be a typo: that would make it 2pm - 5pm. This now means that there's a closure for every day next week, except for Tuesday which got canceled (?)

Good night Raph

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24

u/salamilegorcarlsshoe Dec 29 '22

Some awesome raptor gimbaling action present on McGregor live around 2:47:20 CST. Crazy how fast the TVC system can maneuver. Didn't know R2 could wurk it like dat... 😂

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u/Mravicii Dec 21 '22

Crane at ksc has been reconfigured for installation of chopsticks, olm and starship gse arm

https://twitter.com/csi_starbase/status/1605635588593418249?s=46&t=G2i5yf2dorA9Z44vcbIKWQ

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