this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2023
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Starship Development Thread #52 (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works
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SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When is the next Integrated Flight Test (IFT-2)? Booster 9 + Ship 25 launched Saturday, November 18 after slight delay.
  2. What was the result? Successful lift off with minimal pad damage. Successful booster operation with all engines to successful hot stage separation. Booster destroyed after attempted boost-back. Ship fired all engines to near orbital speed then lost. No re-entry attempt.
  3. Did IFT-2 Fail? No. As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.
  4. Next launch? IFT-3 expected to be Booster 10, Ship 28 per a recent NSF Roundup. Probably no earlier than Feb 2024. Prerequisite IFT-2 mishap investigation.

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Quick Links

RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE

Starship Dev 51 | Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49 | Starship Dev 48

Official Starship Update

Status

Road Closures

Type Start (CDT) End (CDT) Status
Primary Date 2023-12-16 06:00 2023-12-16 15:00 Closure Scheduled. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach will be closed.
Primary Date 2023-12-18 08:00 2023-12-18 20:00 Closure Scheduled. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach will be closed.
Alternative Date 2023-12-19 08:00 2023-12-19 20:00 Possible Closure
Alternative Date 2023-12-20 08:00 2023-12-20 20:00 Possible Closure

Up to date as of 2023-12-14

Vehicle Status

As of 2023-12-14

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship Location Status Comment
Pre-S24, 27 Scrapped or Retired S20 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped.
S24 Bottom of sea Destroyed April 20th (IFT-1): Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
S25 Bottom of sea Destroyed Mostly successful launch and stage separation
S26 Rocket Garden Resting Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, plus other changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10.
S28 Launch Site Testing Performed spin prime on 2023-12-16
S29 High Bay Fully stacked, completed 3x cryo tests, awaiting engine install.
S30 High Bay Under construction Fully stacked
S31 Rocket Garden Fully stacked, awaiting flaps Stacking in progress.
S32 High Bay Under construction Stacking in progress.
S33-34 Build Site Being scrapped To be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2

 

Booster Location Status Comment
Pre-B7 & B8 Scrapped or Retired B4 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped.
B7 Bottom of sea Destroyed Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
B9 Bottom of sea Destroyed Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt.
B10 Rocket garden Engine install? Completed 4 cryo tests. Moved to Massey's on Sep 11, back to Megabay Sep 20.
B11 Megabay Finalizing Completed 2 Cryo tests.
B12 Megabay Finalizing Appears complete, except for raptors, hot stage ring, and cryo testing.
B13 Megabay Stacking LOx tank stacked
B14+ Build Site Assembly Assorted parts spotted through B15.

Resources

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 years ago

Starbase activities (2023-12-17):

  • Not too much action today.
  • Starlink ground-station antennas installed at the Sanchez site.
  • At least one lift observed near S28. Monday road closure still scheduled for potential static fire.
  • Work on the OLM and chopsticks continues.

Since not much happened today, here are some more videos of Saturday's drone show:

Other:

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 years ago

Road closure revoked for today.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

Starbase activities (2023-12-16):

[–] Decronym@lemmy.decronym.xyz 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

Fewer Letters More Letters
AFTS Autonomous Flight Termination System, see FTS
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FCC Federal Communications Commission
~ (Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure
FTS Flight Termination System
GSE Ground Support Equipment
KSC Kennedy Space Center, Florida
LEO Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km)
~ Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations)
NSF NasaSpaceFlight forum
~ National Science Foundation
OLM Orbital Launch Mount
SPMT Self-Propelled Mobile Transporter
TPS Thermal Protection System for a spacecraft (on the Falcon 9 first stage, the engine "Dance floor")
Jargon Definition
Raptor Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX
Starlink SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation
methalox Portmanteau: methane fuel, liquid oxygen oxidizer

[Thread #25 for this sub, first seen 10th Dec 2023, 02:00] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

[–] stshp_@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

Daily summary compiled from users on the Starship dev thread over on Reddit

12/15/23

It appears that Tower Pieces are being moved from Florida to Texas. The launch ring in Hangar M at the Cape might roll out onto a barge soon. There was a second tower under construction at 39A, and parts at Roberts Road were intended for a second Starship tower at KSC. SpaceX initially planned a second tower at Boca Chica but dropped the permit request. Now, it seems the tower segments at Roberts Road are destined for a second Starship tower in Boca Chica, possibly for launching and landing Tanker Starships in a rapid salvoing process. It seems like the limiting factor might be the tank farm's capacity to fill Tankers with methalox. The ultimate goal may be controlling multiple Ships in LEO for refilling missions. Tower segments are being transported to Starbase, with various activities observed throughout the day.

[–] John_Hasler@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The LR11000 has moved into the space near gate D2 where they recently demolished the storage sheds. I think it's there to handle the last three horizontal tanks (unless it's just there to compact the new asphalt...)

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Thanks for posting! For posterity, here a link to the video of the crane movement.

Vicki and Zack speculate that it could be there to remove one of the old vertical tanks currently used for water storage.

[–] John_Hasler@lemmy.one 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That looks like a long reach from where it's parked.

[–] John_Hasler@lemmy.one 1 points 2 years ago

But there's a guy up on one of the veritcal tanks working on the lifting rings so perhaps Zack is right.

[–] Lichtblitz@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.

Sounds reasonable, except for the final bit. It's just ridiculous to claim that perfection was not desired. Sensors provide the same data, investors will be happier and invest more, clients will gain more trust and spend more. It feels like the excuse some kid would come up with, who is lacking self confidence to stand by their limited success and claimed it was all intentio... oh.

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

It’s just ridiculous to claim that perfection was not desired.

I think this refers to SpaceX's hardware-rich iterative development process. The quote "if you never fail, you're not pushing the boundaries enough" sums up the sentiment well.