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Starship Development Thread #57

Starbase activities (2024-05-17):

• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, Starfactory cladding now looks complete.
• Remaining section of GSE-2 outer tank is removed. This is followed by the lift of a small excavator.
• Suborbital site deconstruction: Small methane tank is removed from the suborbital tank farm. This is followed a few hours later by the removal of a large methane tank, which is pending transport. NSF 5-day timelapse of deconstruction.
• New road closures posted for May 20th through 22nd, 5:00 to 17:00, amended from an original 8:00 to 20:00 closure.

Interesting statement by the FAA to NSF regarding IFT-3 mishap investigation:

https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1791600893151821827

Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation:

“If the FAA agrees no public safety issues were involved in the mishap, the operator may return to flight while the mishap investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met.”

https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1791611426991157438

NSF followed up with the question if this would mean that a positive outcome of this investigation would mean the launch license will be modified before the mishab is closed?

The FAA answered: “Yes, provided all other license requirements are met.”

Starbase activities (2024-05-18):

• Overnight, tower segment 2 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Starbase. (Sean Doherty)
• GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1) is removed. In the evening, a section is cut off the bottom and scrapped.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: One of the three large black vertical tanks is dropped while being lifted by the GMK 7550 crane (slo-mo), and then loaded onto transport, slower-mo). No signs of injury. The tank leaves the launch site later that morning. The second tank is lifted in the late morning, and transported away in the afternoon. The third tank is lifted in the mid-afternoon, then dragged away and scrapped soon after. The large horizontal methane tank leaves leaves the launch site (right edge of video clip).
• Cryo tanker convoy continues, including one with a Space Shuttle painting. Potential full stack WDR on Monday.

Starbase activities (2024-05-19):

• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Tower segments are accumulating at Sanchez. Starfactory roof is completed.
• GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1) scrapping continues: Sections 2 and 3, section 4.
• Tank removal from suborbital site continues.
• S26 is still sitting on the new flame trench at Massey’s.
• Tower segment 3 of 5 prepares to move from Brownsville to Sanchez. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, cnunez).

Starbase activities (2024-05-20):

• May 19th addendum, suborbital site dismantling: Several of the tall thin vertical tanks were removed the previous day (tank 1 and 2, tank 3, tank 4, tank 5), and transported in the evening.
• Overnight, the last piece of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1) is removed.
• Tower segment 3 of 5 rolls from Brownsville to Sanchez. This is believed to be the bottom segment, and Benedikt posts an interesting analysis ( tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5), on what might be expected regarding cryo pipes and tower cladding.
• Main event: S29/B11 Wet Dress Rehearsal: NSF and Starship Gazer livestreams. Road is closed, tank farm venting, chopsticks open and lower (NSF, LabPadre), roadblock retreats, tower venting (NSF, LabPadre, propellant load begins and progresses quickly, chopsticks raise and close, both vehicles are fully loaded, roadblock advances ahead of detank, depress vent.
• SpaceX confirms successful rehearsal, and posts some drone photos. NSF timelapse.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: Miscellaneous equipment is removed.
• LR11000 crane prepares to remove GSE-1.

IFT-4:

• One of NASA’s WB-57 planes is scheduled for Imagery Support on Jun 1st, 4th, and 5th.

Elon updates on:

• IFT-4 timeline: “2 weeks” :)
• Rocket garden may be relocated
• “Staeship” launch pad plans: Two pads at Starbase, one at 39A, and one more TBD.

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:

[Thread #44 for this sub, first seen 22nd May 2024, 05:20] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

Starbase activities (2024-05-21):

• Overnight, after a brief issue with the load spreader, GSE-1 was removed, and scrapping begins (though slightly wobbly).
• S29: SQD retracts (daylight) ahead of S29 destack, which occurs mid-morning. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Vix, DeffJeff, Starship Gazer, NSF, Mary, clwphoto1)
• S29 rolls away from the tower, but hasn’t rolled back yet.
• Nice timelapse from NSF of S29/B11 WDR on the 20th.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Ship lifting jig stand is outside high bay.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: One tank leaves on an SPMT.
• New road closures posted for 28th through 30th (05:00 to 17:00, non-flight activities), and Jun 1st through 3rd (00:00 to 14:00, flight activities!).
• New road delays posted for ship transport (May 21st), and tower section transport (21st, 23rd, 24th).
• Tower segment 4 of 5 prepares to move from Brownsville to Sanchez.

IFT-4:

• Will not feature propellant transfer, Pez door opening, Raptor engine restart, or “other items that SpaceX was working to demonstrate”, per Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager of HLS at NASA.

Starbase activities (2024-05-22):

• Overnight, tower segment 4 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Sanchez. (Cargile photo)
• S29 remains at the launch site, undergoing heatshield inspection and other work. (Videos from ViX and NSF, photos from Starship Gazer and Cargile)
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: Large horizontal tank is lifted, and departs the launch complex.
• Scrapping of GSE-1 proceeds slowly.
• Build site: Three plus two cycloaddition ring welding test has been completed.

KSC:

• Approval granted for second build site.

IFT-4:

• Gulf of Mexico NOTMAR is posted.
• A second WDR is possible. Thread from Alexphysics13 of NSF: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4. (Thanks rustybeancake)

Starbase activities (2024-05-23):

• Overnight, GSE-1 is scrapped.
• Work on chopsticks and S29 continues.
• Dismantling of suborbital site and construction of second orbital pad continues: Starship Gazer livestream
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, tower segments accumulating at Sanchez. 5-ring welding test article moves behind Megabay 1 towards scrapping area. A common dome enters build site, parks near Megabay 2. Two more ring segments arrive.
• Starkitty sighted :)
• Tower segment 5 of 5 prepares to move from Brownsville to Sanchez (Starship Gazer, Cargile, Gomez). This is the final segment currently at Brownsville Port. I believe two segments still remain in Florida.

Other:

• Raptor RUD at McGregor.
• IFT-4 NET about Jun 2nd/3rd.

Starbase activities (2024-05-24):

• Overnight: GSE tank load spreader is removed from the launch site. One load spreader remains, and hooks up to the base of GSEC-5 (outer tank for GSE-1 (or maybe GSE-2 as per santa?)). Looks like there is still a small bit left.
• Booster transport stand and raptor installation platform also leave the launch site.
• Also overnight, tower section 5 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Sanchez (Cargile, Doherty). Benedikt thread on how this segment fits into the overall tower: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: Last remaining large horizontal tank is removed (Doherty).
• Tile work on S29 continues. Tile work on forward flap.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction progresses quickly.
• Massey’s: Small cryo test with S26.
• Floating truck :)

Other:

• Suborbital tank farm components arrive at KSC.
• Classic “pending regulatory approval” tweet from SpaceX. IFT-4 now NET Jun 5th.
• SpaceX posts mission page for IFT-4 and report on IFT-3. Highlights:

six engines that shut down early in the boostback burn were disabled from attempting the landing burn startup, leaving seven engines commanded to start up with two successfully reaching mainstage ignition. The booster had lower than expected landing burn thrust when contact was lost at approximately 462 meters in altitude

likely root cause for the early boostback burn shutdown was determined to be continued filter blockage where liquid oxygen is supplied to the engines, leading to a loss of inlet pressure in engine oxygen turbopumps. SpaceX implemented hardware changes ahead of Flight 3 to mitigate this issue, which resulted in the booster progressing to its first ever landing burn attempt. Super Heavy boosters for Flight 4 and beyond will get additional hardware inside oxygen tanks to further improve propellant filtration capabilities

Several minutes after Starship began its coast phase, the vehicle began losing the ability to control its attitude

likely root cause of the unplanned roll was determined to be clogging of the valves responsible for roll control. SpaceX has since added additional roll control thrusters on upcoming Starships to improve attitude control redundancy and upgraded hardware for improved resilience to blockage

• Also notable: IFT-4 flight test timeline lists “landing burn”. I wonder if this will be a soft-water or a hard-water landing?
• Comparison of IFT-3 and IFT-4 flight timelines.
• Zack’s thoughts on the recent info: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4.

Starbase activities (2024-05-25 (Happy Towel Day)):

• Slow news day compared to yesterday.
• Overnight, an SPMT rolls out to the launch site.
• Suborbital site dismantling: The GMK 7550 crane packs up and leaves the site.
• Work on chopsticks and S29 continues.
• RGV Aerial posts comparison photo of launch tower foundations.

Other:

• Some speculation on whether the hot stage ring detached (unintentionally) during IFT-3, based on shadows observed on booster cameras. Tweets from TheSpaceEngineer (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6) and Ryan Hansen (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3).

Starbase activities (2024-05-26):

• Overnight, 2 SPMTs roll towards S29, and ship rolls between the chopsticks. Chopsticks rise to align with ship load points.
• S29 press plate is removed. (Starship Gazer livestream)
• S29 is stacked on B11 again. (ViX, NSF, NSF upskirt, Beyer, Mary, Doherty, Starship Gazer)
• Still a few tiles missing on S29.
• LR11000 crane prepares to remove another GSE outer tank.

Starbase activities (2024-05-27):

• Relatively quite quiet day (holiday?)
• LR11000 removes the remaining section of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1).
• OLM detonation suppression system is tested.
• OLM deluge is tested. (Nerdle, Rover 2, NSF)
• Road closure scheduled for May 28th, possibly for a 2nd WDR.

Second wet dress rehearsal with S29 and B11 in-progress now. NSF are live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2X_568sxc

Starbase activities (2024-05-28):

• Second WDR of S29 and B11: NSF livestream. Mary receives evac notice, klaxon and pad clear, detonation suppression system is activated, tank farm spools up, and LOX recondensers are venting.
• Chopsticks open (their arms wide), tower and launch mount start venting, stop, and start again. Chine vents are visible.
• Frost on ship and booster methane tank, frost on booster LOX tank. Nice wide shot of frost and venting.
• Full load, 30 minute hold, detonation suppression system is activated again, and depress vent.
• Deluge is activated (LabPadre, NSF, wide shot).
• Full timelapses of WDR (LabPadre, NSF).
• Chopsticks close (closeup (wide timelapse), and S29 flaps are tested.
• Concrete pump deploys at the former suborbital site, a concrete truck arrives, and concrete is poured.
• Road closures for May 29th and 30th are removed (hopefully due to good WDR), and new closures for Jun 5th, 6th, and 7th (00:00 to 14:00) have been added.
• New road delays (booster transport, 00:00 to 03:00) posted for May 30th or 31st. Likely to or from Massey’s, B14 or B14.1.

Other:

• FAA determines that public safety was not in danger during IFT-3. Consequently, IFT-4 launch licence is not contingent on completion of IFT-3 mishap investigation.

Starbase activities (2024-05-29):

• SpaceX tweets some nice photos of the previous day’s WDR, and confirms June 5th is still the target launch date.
• S29 destacked from B11 (Starship Gazer, Rover 2, Nerdle, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Mary, cnunez).
• Stacking comparison from Elisar Priel.
• Workers in a lift remove a section of a chine on B11.
• S29 moves a short distance away from the tower.
• Workers observed on launch tower QD arm.
• Launch pad 2: RGV Aerial photo. Crane parts arrive (seven trucks, one truck), and the parts are assembled into an LTR 1220. Crane then begins moving rebar cages for the pile drill.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction progressing quickly.
• Road delay for booster transport still scheduled for May 30th 00:00 to 03:00.