Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? IFT-4 is NET May per Gwynne Shotwell.
- When previous launch? (IFT-3)? Booster 10 and Ship 28 launched on 2024-03-14.
- What was the result? Booster makes it to the landing burn, but loses control and insufficient engines relight. RUD occurs at 462 m in altitude. S28 makes it to reentry but fails to face the heat shield in the correct direction, followed shortly by RUD. Payload door test and propellant transfer demo “complete”.
Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 53 | Starship Dev 52 | Starship Dev 51 | Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-01-12)
Status
Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2024-03-07 08:00 | 2024-03-07 20:00 | Closure Scheduled. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-08 08:00 | 2024-03-08 20:00 | Possible closure. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-09 08:00 | 2024-03-09 20:00 | Possible closure. |
| Primary Date | 2024-03-11 08:00 | 2024-03-11 20:00 | Closure Concluded. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-12 08:00 | 2024-03-12 20:00 | Closure Cancelled. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-13 08:00 | 2024-03-13 20:00 | Closure Cancelled. |
| Primary Date | 2024-03-14 00:00 | 2024-03-14 14:00 | Closure concluded. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-15 00:00 | 2024-03-15 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
| Backup Date | 2024-03-16 00:00 | 2024-03-16 14:00 | Closure revoked. |
Up to date as of 2024-03-15
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-03-15
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | IFT-1 launched on 2023-04-20. Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| S25 | Atlantic Ocean | Destroyed | IFT-2 launched on 2023-11-18. Mostly successful launch and stage separation |
| S26 | Rocket Garden | Mysterious | Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, multiple mysterious changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. |
| S28 | Indian Ocean | Destroyed | IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Ship destroyed on reentry due to heat shield facing the wrong way. |
| S29 | High Bay | Static fires completed | Spin prime Mar 11th, Static fire Mar 25th (6 engines) and 27th (1 engine) |
| S30 | High Bay | Pending engine install | 2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. |
| S31 | High Bay | Aft flaps installed | |
| S32 | Rocket Garden | Resting | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
| S33-34 | Build Site | Parts spotted | To be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2 |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B7 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| B9 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt. |
| B10 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Booster destroyed shortly after failed landing burn attempt. |
| B11 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. |
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Cryo x2 |
| B13 | Megabay 1 | Fully stacked | Chine installation underway |
| B14 | Megabay 1 | Partially stacked | Stacking in progress |
| B15 | Build Site | Assembly | Potential aft end spotted Jan 5th |
Resources
- LabPadre Channel | NASASpaceFlight.com Channel
- NSF: Booster 7 + Ship X (likely 24) Updates Thread | Most Recent
- NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread | Most recent
- NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation | Most Recent
- SpaceX: Website Starship page | Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)
- FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
- FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list
- FCC: Starship Orbital Demo detailed Exhibit - 0748-EX-ST-2021 application June 20 through December 20
- NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)
- Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
- Production Progress Infographics by @RingWatchers
- Raptor 2 Tracker by @SpaceRhin0
- Acronym definitions by Decronym
- Everyday Astronaut: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- Everyday Astronaut: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates | Launch Tower | Merlin Engine | Raptor Engine
Link to IFT-3 launch thread
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Starbase activities (2024-03-15):
- Workers continue to inspect the pad and OLM. Reported damage is minimal.
- Starfactory expansion nears the western end.
- Nice shot of S31 in High Bay.
KSC activities (2024-03-15):
- Orbital Launch Mount possibly prepping for rollout to 39A.
IFT-3:
- Ringwatchers speculation on results of the payload door test.
- Side-by-side comparison to IFT-1 and IFT-2.
Other:
- Elon on current and future Starship capabilities.
- Elon on timelines (taken with a grain of salt, as always. :)
Starbase activities (2024-03-20):
- Rear section of BQD cover is removed. BQD methane and LOX hoses are removed. NSF closeup and removal.
- Build site: Starfactory progress continues.
- Crane is rigged up to the ship engine install stand.
- B4: Workers inspect the top and midsection. Scaffold points sprayed white. Scaffold bracket installation begins.
- Sometime during the fog between 12:12 and 14:39, the top of the engine installation stand at Sanchez is removed.
- Megabay 2 prep for door installation :(
Other:
- Phil Metzger paper on dust from IFT-1 is released on ArXiv.
Starbase activities (2024-03-16):
- Relatively quiet day yesterday.
- Inspections and work continues on the OLM, chopsticks, and pad.
IFT-3:
- Rhin0 posts a list of all known raptor engines on booster and ship.
- Pockn_CG posts a render of Starship orientation and camera angles on reentry.
Starbase activities (2024-03-13):
- Overnight, booster and ship transport stands removed from launch complex.
- Black LR 11000 crane is lowered.
- S28 flaps tested.
- B10 grid fins tested. (zoom in)
- Jared Isaacman flies by.
- An OV-10 arrives, likely to fly the outline of the TFRs.
- S29 rolls into the High Bay, stops for a bit, then rolls the rest of the way in.
IFT-3:
- Launch licence received: https://www.faa.gov/media/69476 (PDF warning)
- FAA Finding of No Significant Impact for Indian Ocean Landings: https://www.faa.gov/media/76841 (PDF warning)
- FAA Environmental Assessment for Indian Ocean Landings: https://www.faa.gov/media/76836 (PDF warning)
- Gav Cornwell summarizes.
- Mary receives evacuation notice.
- SpaceX tweet.
- Elon’s jet (N628TS) does a quick tour of Europe: Austin, Berlin, Paris, London, currently heading to Teterboro New Jersey.
- New Ringwatchers article: Onward to Flight 3: The Complete History of S28 & B10
Starbase activities (2024-03-14):
- During the night, orbital tank farm starts venting.
- Slight delays due to wayward boats and wind.
- IFT-3 happens.
- Chopsticks close.
- Road open, cars to the pad. The little convoy included the ship transport stand and the OLM work platform.
- Starship Gazer photos of the pad.
- Road closures for Mar 15th and 16th are revoked.
IFT-3:
- SpaceX report.
- Booster makes it to the landing burn, but loses control and insufficient engines relight. RUD occurs at 462 m in altitude.
- S28 makes it to reentry but fails to face the heat shield in the correct direction, followed shortly by RUD.
- Payload door test and propellant transfer demo “complete”. (Is that equivalent to “successful”?)
- S28 rotation stabilized.
- Webcast views matched with Madagascar coast.
- Tim Dodd may have indirectly been responsible for the fate of S28 :)
Starbase activities (2024-03-17):
- Another quiet day, somewhat foggy.
- Inspection and work continues on the OLM, chopsticks, and pad. Some excavation near the orbital tank farm.
- Black LR11000 crane rises again.
- New RGV Aerial flyover: Massey’s test stand, Launch Tower B foundations, Launch Pad A post-launch (alternate angle), (full video).
Starbase activities (2024-03-18):
- Another fairly quiet day. OLM work continues.
- Teams checking the surrounding dune area for debris.
Other:
- New ChromeKiwi render of test stand at Massey’s.
IFT-4+:
- April, Hopefully (Elon Time).
- FAA representative says “no major issues” with IFT-3. SpaceX still aiming for 6 to 9 more Starship launches this year.
Starbase activities (2024-03-23):
- S29: Ship unhooked from LR 11000 crane. Crane then rolls away from the test stand, towards D2 gate. Ship lifting jig leaves the launch site. S29 flaps deployed.
- OLM and chopsticks work continues.
- Launch Pad B: Steady convoy of dump truck deliveries, possibly for soil compaction.
- Starfactory progress continues: Frame nearing completion. More wall panels and windows added.
- B4 scrapping continues.
- Massey’s static fire flame trench: Deluge manifold spotted on its way to Starbase, and arriving at Starbase (StarshipGazer, LabPadre). Aerial photo of trench from RGV aerial.
KSC activities (2024-03-23):
Starbase activities (2024-03-24):
- Quiet day.
- OLM and chopsticks work continues.
Starbase activities (2024-03-25):
- Main event: Static fire of S29: NSF livestream. Road closed, Mary receives overpressure notice. LOX load, venting, engine chill, and static fire.
- Various angles: Nerdle, Rover2, Lab, Nerdle slowmo, Rover2 slowmo, Sapphire, NSF, Mary, and SpaceX drone.
- SpaceX confirms “full duration” static fire of 6 engines. NSF timelapse of entire tanking, static fire, and detanking process.
- OLM and chopsticks work continues.
- Build site: Tower segments coming along nicely (cnunez closeup from Saturday). Starfactory frame looks almost complete. Glass panel installation continues.
- B14 stacking continues.
Starbase activities (2024-03-19):
- Raptor service platform (NSF, LabPadre) and ship lifting jig (NSF, LabPadre) roll out to launch site.
- Launch tower inspected/serviced.
- Starfactory progressing nicely: Much wall cladding progress and window installation. More beams installed.
- Starkitty sighted trotting to and fro :)
Future launches:
- Gwynne Shotwell comments: IFT-4 NET 6 weeks (early May). Flight plan and more or less identical to IFT-3 (no Starlink sats). Satellite deployment and recovery of both stages are still goals for this year.
- FAA working with SpaceX to approve launches in batches (Part 450).
NSF are live for potential static fire of S29: https://youtube.com/watch?v=wne1VRhgSoc
Edit: Static fire!
Starbase activities (2024-03-12):
- S29: Overnight, S29 is lifted off the test stand (closeup). In the afternoon, S29 is unhooked and rolls back (LabPadre, NSF) to the production site.
- Build site: Another grid fin is removed from B4. Assembly begins on another tower segment.
LC-39A activities (2024-03-12):
- Teams performing work on the OLM legs/chopsticks. OLM leg segments are removed.
IFT-3:
https://hasspacexreceivedtheift3launchlicensemodificationyet.com/
Hah. Only slightly embarrassed by how useful this is to me.
Starbase activities (2024-03-21):
- Work on OLM and chopsticks continues.
- B4: Scaffold brackets installed and scaffolding installation begins. Ringwatchers speculates that B4 will be scrapped soon. B4 moves from the Rocket Garden to Megabay 1 (timelapse).
- S29: Ship transport stand arrives and is lifted onto SPMT. S29 lifted onto transport stand and rolls out of Highbay.
- The first and second door sections are installed on Megabay 2.
- Road delay scheduled for Mar 22nd from 00:00 to 03:00. Potentially for S29 rollout.
- Road closures posted for Mar 25th, 26th, and 27th from 08:00 to 20:00.
- RGV Aerial flyover analysis video.
Starbase activities (2024-03-29):
- S29 is moved from launch site to High Bay. Timelapses (LabPadre, NSF), closeups (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, SeanKD).
- Work on OLM and chopsticks continues. BQD hoses (number 1 and number 2) are reinstalled.
- Build site: Work final two tower segments and Starfactory continues. Interesting framework spotted. SPMT rolls towards storage area.
- Meteor spotted on NSF Starbase Live :)
Wen B11 static fire?
Starbase activities (2024-03-26):
- B4 scrapping continues: Overnight, another section emerges from Megabay, aft section departs, and another section emerges. Scrapping continues throughout the day with the final section emerging mid-afternoon.
- OLM and chopsticks work continues. A couple lifts spotted under S29.
- S31 tile work is in progress.
- Build site timelapse: Starfactory frame nearing completion, with major progress compared to just a few days ago (RGV aerial, cnunez).
- Road closures: Mar 26th revoked, Mar 27th possible, Mar 28th possible.
- Mary receives overpressure notice for Mar 27th. Potentially another static fire!
Starbase activities (2024-03-28):
- OLM and chopsticks work continues.
- S29: Flaps are folded. Ship lifting jig rolls to launch site. S29 connected to LR11000 crane (LabPadre, NSF) and lifted from test stand to transport stand (LabPadre, NSF). Ship disconnects from crane, and lifting jig leaves launch site.
- Build site: Slight ship shuffle in the High Bay. Installation of glass panels on Starfactory continues.
- Mar 28th road closure revoked. Mar 29th road delay still possible (00:00 to 03:00).
KSC activities (2024-03-28):
- 4th OLM leg is felled.