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threelonmusketeers @sh.itjust.works

Starship Development Thread #49

SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When (first) orbital flight? First integrated flight test occurred April 20, 2023. "The vehicle cleared the pad and beach as Starship climbed to an apogee of ~39 km over the Gulf of Mexico – the highest of any Starship to-date. The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble. The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and ship."
  2. Where can I find streams of the launch? SpaceX Full Livestream. NASASpaceFlight Channel. Lab Padre Channel. Everyday Astronaut Channel.
  3. What's happening next? SpaceX has assessed damage to Stage 0 and is implementing fixes and changes including a water deluge/pad protection/"shower head" system. No major repairs to key structures appear to be necessary.
  4. When is the next flight test? Just after flight, Elon stated they "Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months." On April 29, he reiterated this estimate in a Twitter Spaces Q&A (summarized here), saying "I'm glad to report that the pad damage is actually quite small," should "be repaired quickly," and "From a pad standpoint, we are probably ready to launch in 6 to 8 weeks." Requalifying the flight termination system (FTS) and the FAA post-incident review will likely require the longest time to complete. Musk reiterated the timeline on May 26, stating "Major launchpad upgrades should be complete in about a month, then another month of rocket testing on pad, then flight 2 of Starship."
  5. Why no flame diverter/flame trench below the OLM? Musk tweeted on April 21: "3 months ago, we started building a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. Wasn’t ready in time & we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through 1 launch." Regarding a trench, note that the Starship on the OLM sits 2.5x higher off the ground than the Saturn V sat above the base of its flame trench, and the OLM has 6 exits vs. 2 on the Saturn V trench.

​

Quick Links

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

Starship Dev 48 | Starship Dev 47 | Starship Dev 46 | Starship Dev 45

Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread

Status

Road Closures

TypeStart (UTC)End (UTC)Status
Primary2023-08-24 13:00:002023-08-25 01:00:00Cancelled
Alternative2023-08-25 14:00:002023-08-26 02:00:00Concluded
Alternative2023-08-28 13:00:002023-08-27 01:00:00Cancelled

Up to date as of 2023-09-05

Vehicle Status

As of 2023-09-22

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

ShipLocationStatusComment
S20Rocket GardenRetired
S24Gulf of MexicoDestroyedDestroyed on during Flight Test 1
S25Stacked on B9Spin Prime and Static Fire
S26Test Stand BCryo tested
S27Rocket GardenScrappedCommon dome imploded
S28Engine Install StandRaptors installedPreviously tested at Masseys
S29MasseysAwaiting testing
S30High BayUnder construction
S31High BayUnder construction
S32Build SiteParts spotted
S33Build SiteParts spotted
S34Build SiteParts spotted

 

BoosterLocationStatusComment
Pre-B7 & B8Scrapped or RetiredB4 is in the Rocket Garden, the rest are scrapped.
B7Gulf of MexicoDestroyedDestroyed April 20th in Flight Test 1
B9Launch mountHot-stage ring installedStatic fire (August 5th)
B10Megabay 1Cryo tested
B11Megabay 1
B12Megabay 1Grid fins installed
B13Megabay 1Stacking
B14Build SiteParts under construction
B15Build SiteParts under construction

Resources

55 comments

  • Elon has posted the list of 63 corrective actions: https://nitter.net/elonmusk/status/1700789411279966339#m

    Congrats to SpaceX for completing & documented the 57 items required by the FAA for Flight 2 of Starship!

    Worth noting that 6 of the 63 items refer to later flights.

    • A readable text version of the 63-item list can be see on Reddit here and a reply.

      • I copied and pasted it here. Thanks to @threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works for pointing me back at the RES extension so I could get the source.

        Each item is on its own line. C## is the ID#. If there's text before it on its line, that's its Observation / Description section name; if it's at the start of the line, the Observation / Description string is the next one above.

        List of Actions:

        Observation / DescriptionID#Corrective Action DescriptionStatus
        Tank sensingC1Replace certain fittings with welds inside tankComplete
        Aft end cavity environment failureC2Increase fire suppression capacity by 15xComplete
        C3Replace certain manifolds with dedicated drain per corresponding valveComplete
        C4Replace certain flanges with better seals and improve joint designComplete
        C5Replace certain fittings with welds in specific locationComplete
        Booster leakC6Replace accessible valves of a certain type with new designComplete
        mitigationC7Replace certain flange bolts with higher strength bolts and increase torqueComplete
        C8Disallow certain seal re-use, and add cameras to monitor all engines during ground operationsComplete
        C9Increased scrutiny on leak checksComplete
        C1090+ cameras added to detect leakage during operationsComplete
        C11Add leak capture and drain hardware for valves of a certain typeComplete
        C12Add leak check and screen for porosity on igniter unitsComplete
        C13Improved igniter seal designFuture Action
        C14Weld certain alignment bolt holes shutComplete
        Raptor leakC15Reassess k-factor and torque for engine hot joint #1, add leak capture and route overboardComplete
        mitigationC16Reassess k-factor and torque for engine hot joint #2Complete
        C17Add safety cable to certain fluid lines on high risk locationsComplete
        C18Add one methane sensor per engine bayComplete
        C19Ground test campaign to better characterize typical engine leakageComplete
        C20Improve structural FEA/fatigue analysis for all medium to high criticality linesComplete
        C21Add insulation to engine lines sensitive to thermally driven loadsComplete
        CollateralC22Add insulation to avionic harnessingComplete
        damage from fireC23Add backup wire to specific harnessComplete
        C24Improve thermal protection of avionics trayComplete
        C25Change routing to flight computersComplete
        C26Replace sensor with more reliable unitsComplete
        C27Coat gimbal assembly with lubricantComplete
        C28Add pump pressure sensors to certain locationComplete
        C29Add pump temperature sensors to certain locationComplete
        Booster reliabilityC30Replace certain bolts, and increase torque for certain flangesComplete
        improvementC31New seal design for certain areas of boosterComplete
        C32Add electric actuation systemComplete
        C33Better manage engine bay pressure by increasing fire suppression capacity byComplete
        C34Change certain booster valve timingFuture Action
        C35Add final leak checks for critical jointsComplete
        C36Add support bracket for certain sensorComplete
        C37Add support bracket for certain sensorComplete
        C38Add check valves to certain areas of engineComplete
        C39Improve oxygen valve designFuture Action
        C40Improve oxygen valve seal designFuture Action
        Raptor reliabilityC41Improve design of hot manifoldFuture Action
        improvementC42Change nitrogen shutdown usageComplete
        C43Change engine shutdown logicComplete
        C44Increase capability for ground leakage mitigationComplete
        C45Redesign fire suppression systemComplete
        C46Change conditions around boltsComplete
        C47Change timing of specific valve actuationComplete
        Avionics reliabilityC48Eliminate certain type of connectorComplete
        improvementC49Redesign network architectureFuture Action
        Risk ProcessC50Improve risk tracking processComplete
        C51Implement improvements to safety systemComplete
        Safety SystemC52Verify flight safety system design improvements using additional type of test articleComplete
        C53Verify flight safety system design improvements via analysisComplete
        C54Perform component testingComplete
        C55Review and improve operations surrounding flight safety systemComplete
        C56Improve CAD controlsComplete
        ControlC57Add engineering walkdownComplete
        ChangeC58Improve use of change management systemComplete
        C59Redesign of launch pad deckComplete
        Pad DesignC60Improve assumptions for new pad deck designComplete
        C61Add water cooled pad deckComplete
        Pad Design ProcessC62Improve pad deck design documentationComplete
        C63Improve pad design processComplete

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    7:24am- LR11000 picks up the ring lifting jig and swings over to hot staging ring. Looks like they are done with the work on top of B9

    7:30am- Lowers the lifting jig down to the ring

    8:10am- Workers are on the SQD and on top of B9

    8:47am- Workers retract the work platform on the SQD

    9:00am- Lifts went up to the staircase and dance floor overnight. More sparks could be seen coming from the OLM ring to the right of the staircase. AWP left the pad area

    9:08am- Ring is lifted and 2 AWP’s are going up

    9:20am- Swings over to B9

    9:25am- Workers helping to line it up

    9:31am- Down on top of B9

    9:34am- Worker climbs into the HSR

    9:39am- Workers disconnecting the lifting cables

    9:47am- Lifting jig is lifted away from B9 and AWP's go down

    10:04am- SQD work platform is swung back over to the end of the arm

    10:38am- LR11000 disconnected from the lifting jig

    12:20pm- Workers up on the SQD

    1:00pm- LR11000 moves over to the sub orbital pad area

    1:15pm- Lift has been up at the top of the staircase

    3:44pm- AWP goes up to one of the latch points between B9 and the HSR.

    4:09pm- Work platform at the end of the SQD is swung away

    4:21pm- AWP goes back down. Sensor was showing the latch didn’t work?

    4:30pm- AWP goes back up. Needed to grab something?

    4:33pm- After some quick work, they go back down again

    6:24pm- Venting at Massey’s. S29 cryo starting?

    6:47pm- LR11000 is lowering the squid to the top of S26 and an AWP is going up to hook it up

    7:04pm- Klaxon and announcement. I can make out personal and orbital pad.

    7:17pm- Frost on S29

    7:41pm- Lox tank is full frosty on S29

    8:12pm- Full frosty

    9:10pm- Lift has been up at the right chopstick

    9:27pm- AWP goes back up to the top of B9. Other side of booster compared to earlier

    9:55pm- AWP comes back down. No view of what they were doing on SBL or Rover 2

    10:30pm- Frost is receding on S29. Lift up to the dance floor

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase Live-

    6:25am- Workers returning to the pad

    7:26:54am- SQD retracts

    7:47am- SQD work platform is extended

    7:49am- Worker on the SQD arm climbs up to S25’s QD. Installing covers?

    7:58am- Work platform is retracted

    8:41am- SQD arm swings to the side

    8:54:55am- S25 is lifted off of B9

    8:56:40am- Swinging to the side

    9:04:40am- Going down

    9:21:26am- Starts swinging over the stand

    9:23:44am- Lowering onto the stand

    9:45am- Looks like it’s down

    10:32am- Workers back at the pad

    11:04am- AWP going up to S26

    11:12am- Squid is being disconnected from S26

    11:34am- Lift up behind the cryo leg

    11:54am- LR11000 swings away from S26

    12:40pm- Workers on top of the OLM

    1:55pm- AWP goes up to the Hot stage ring. Lifts up to the top of the OLM and behind the cryo leg

    2:15pm- LR11000 starts moving towards the OLM for HSR removal most likely

    3:30pm- Klaxon, storm warning announcement. Lifts go down

    6:34pm- Some workers return to the pad after one heck of a storm. Over on the NSF discord, they said their weather station showed 48mph winds

    9:58pm- Workers have been on top of the OLM and the AWP has been back up at the HSR.

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    3:09am- B11 starts rolling

    3:17am- Stops

    4:00am- Starts rolling again

    4:44am- Stops at the end of Remidos

    5:05am- Turns onto Hwy 4

    5:17am- Turns into the production site

    5:25am- Stops outside the mega bay

    5:31am- Rolls into the mega bay

    7:42am- AWP goes up to the top of B11 to hook up the bridge crane

    7:43am- 2 lifts go up under the OLM

    9:00am- Workers on top of the OLM

    10:13am- Lift goes up to S26

    11:05pm- 2 lifts up at the cameras on the inside of the legs and 1 lift up at the top of the OLM.

    11:16am- S26’s methane tank opened and vent hose installed

    1:15pm- 3 lifts have been up at the camera locations on the legs. Backhoe has been bringing in dirt and dumping it along the edge of the pad.

    2:42pm- B11 is lifted off the transport stand and over to the right side of the mega bay

    8:20pm- 2 lifts have been up under the OLM. Higher than the cameras this time.

    9:53pm- For the last hour there has been a worker on a lift going around the OLM inspecting the pipe work with a flashlight

    Rover 2-

    16:58- Vans and buses bringing in employees for pictures

    17:15- Staging in front of the deluge tanks

    17:28- Photographer is up on a lift

    17:35:55- Everyone smile

    17:38:26- Okay back to work

    18:03- Another bus and more vans. A different picture for each shift maybe? (No pictures. Could never see what the people were doing)

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    10:00pm- Dance floor is raised up under the OLM

    10:38pm- Dance floor stand drives out from under the OLM

    11:27pm- Crane lifts a box over by the right side of the OLM and moves it closer to the base

    1:34am- B10 is frost free

    2:30am- Lift goes up and Lots of movement can be seen on the dance floor

    4:48am- Railing going up on the dance floor

    6:47am- SQD being disconnected

    7:14am- SQD arm swings away

    8:05am- S25 is lifted off of B9

    8:13am- Starts swinging to the side

    8:20am- All the way over

    8:21am- Starts going down. (Someone grease that thing)

    8:26:46am- Pauses

    8:28:48am- Moving again

    8:30:10am- Pauses again

    8:31am- Swings closer to the booster

    8:32:30am- Lowering again

    8:38am- Pauses again

    8:41am- Translates to over top of the stand

    8:43am- Lowering again

    9:15am- Touchdown on the stand

    11:30am- Lifts have been up at the OLM and left rear flap of S25

    12:06pm- Lift goes up to S25 and replaces missing tile by left rear flap

    1:46pm- Lift goes up by the right side lifting pin on S25

    4:37pm- Workers on top of B9. One thinks he is the king of the world.

    5:05pm- Scissor lift has been up under the OLM. Pick ups have brought in a trailer of equipment and an air compressor. Mini excavator has been moving around the base of the pad. Lift also up at S28.

    6:25pm- More fondag is being broke up in the area right in front of the camera

    7:30pm- Drone is up looking at the pad. Lift is up at the pivot point for the chopsticks.

    10:15pm- 2 lifts up at S28. Light towers are blinding the cameras at the OLM.

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    11:13pm- B10 is frost free

    7:50am- Work on S26 has resumed with a single lift up at the methane tank hatch. A lift was also up at the top of the staircase on the OLM for awhile overnight

    8:43am- Crane extends and swings towards OLM

    9:07am- Tool van is back

    9:24am- Crane lifts a piece of metal railing and a small platform up to the back right side of the staircase where the access door is. 2 lifts up working with it (Something to do with getting on and off the dance floor at that location?)

    10:45am- Scissor lift is up at the OLM along with the crane and the 2 lifts working on the railing. 2 lifts up at S26 and 1 lift up at the backside of the OLT.

    12:00pm- The platform has been tack welded into place and lifts go down

    1:36pm- Lifts go back up and disconnect crane from the platform

    2:13pm- Small set of stairs is lifted up to the new platform. Will go from platform to dance floor

    3:10pm- Work continues on the platform and 2 lifts have been up at S26

    3:52pm- Crane lifts another set of steps with a handrail up to the platform

    4:05pm- Crane lowers and leaves the OLM area

    5:10pm- Scissor lift has been up to the left of the staircase. 1 lift was up on the backside of the OLM as well as the 2 lifts working on the platform. 2 lifts are up working on S26.

    7:50pm- Scissor lift is still up as well as one lift at the new platform. Another lift is up on the backside of the OLM

    10:00pm- Lots of grinding and welding on the new platform.

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    12:22am- B10 turns into the production site

    12:29am- Turns into the mega bay

    7:45am- An AWP went up to B9 in several places overnight. A lift was up at the top of the OLM and one was up welding at the new platform. People could also be seen working on the dance floor. Lifts were up at B10 inside of the mega bay getting it hooked to the bridge crane.

    10:00am- 2 lifts up at the OLM

    10:22am- Lift goes up to the top S26 to disconnect the squid

    11:20am- Squid disconnected and crane swings away from S26

    1:12pm- B10 starts being lifted off of the thrust simulator stand

    1:55pm- Bridge crane moves B10 to the back left corner of the mega bay

    2:00pm- One lift up at the new platform

    2:18pm- LR11000 starts rolling from the suborbital pad to the OLT.

    3:26pm- Arrives at the tower. Adding more stairs to the tower or moved in preparation of a S26 static fire?

    4:02pm- In a weird move, the LR11000 lowered its hook to the top of B9 several times before swinging away. Testing to see if it could remove the hot staging ring if need be?

    8:20pm- No lifts up but workers can be seen on the dance floor. Some of the tarps along the edge are coming down

    9:16pm- New ship lifting jig is picked up in the high bay by the bridge crane

    10:20pm- Booster thrust simulator stand turns onto Hwy 4 to head back to Massey’s

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    8:15am- Work continued on the dance floor overnight. A lift went up to the shielding on top of the staircase but no discernible work was done

    1:15pm- AWP was up at the left chopstick. A different lift is up at the top of the staircase. Some HVAC ducting was removed from the electrical bunker at the launch site. Work continues on the new mega bay’s roof and the Star factory.

    3:45pm- AWP has been up and down to the left chopstick. Lift has been up and down to the staircase. Forklift removed some equipment from around the pad. (Test soon? I don’t think they’d do anything with S25 sitting right there though.)

    6:10pm- Lift about 2/3rd of the way up the staircase. Worker looking at something on the side it looks like

    9:42pm- SPMT delivers something to the launch site (Thought to be the outriggers for the LR11000 and the old 2 point ship lifting jig)

    10:30pm- AWP is up at the left chopstick. Lift has been up and down to the top of the staircase.(I wonder if they’ve turned part of the cross bracing into a gate or if they really are just climbing over it) Sparks could be seen falling out from under the bottom of the OLM ring to the right of the staircase. So someone is obviously working inside of it.

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase live-

    3:13am- Before leaving the pad, lifts were up to the top of the OLM and to the back right chine of B9

    5:50am- Pad has been cleared of equipment overnight and It looks like they may be removing the tarp covering the deluge plate right now

    7:30am- OLM area looks clear. No sign of pressure washers yet

    7:51:22am- Cyber truck drives in front of the OLM. (Please tell me they didn’t clear this all out for a photo op)

    7:56:40am- Drone and Cyber truck

    8:04:55am-Now 2 people on bikes are riding around the OLM (Tesla bikes?)

    8:10:49am- Cyber truck leaves the launch site

    10:11am- Looks like a manifold for a set of the methane sub coolers being delivered

    12:40pm- Lift was up at the bottom of S26. Still no sign of anyone pressure washing at the OLM. So between that and the tarp going back on, a test is looking doubtful. (It’s normally 5 to 7 hours from the start of pressure washing to a deluge test.)

    1:33pm- New manifold delivered for the Lox side sub coolers .

    2:33pm- Vent hoses are in both of S28’s tanks. Doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere tonight.

    3:15pm- A crane is up over by the orbital tank farm but the tanks are blocking the view of what it’s doing. (Not by the sub coolers)

    4:12:33pm- Cyber truck now pulling an Rvac is back at the OLM with a photo car in front

    4:17:41pm- Round and round it goes. (The tarp was removed again for the video)

    4:34:14pm- Here they come again

    4:40:22pm- Taking the chains down that keep equipment off the deluge plate. They were apparently ruining the shot.

    4:47:24- Left the OLM and now coming back in. Do one lap and leave the pad area again.

    5:05pm- Back to do some still photos

    5:37:45pm- S29 nosecone venting

    5:56pm- I mean, who doesn’t want to drive circles around the OLM?

    6:34pm- Venting from bottom of S29

    6:39pm- And the road closure is for……taking video of Cyber truck pulling the Rvac up and down the road with no one else around

    7:12pm- Drone following the truck down Hwy 4 this pass

    7:45pm- B13’s transfer tube is lifted for install in the mega bay

    8:35pm- Headlights can be seen to the side of the pad but no workers have returned yet

    8:58pm- S25’s stand is moved to beside the OLM. Here comes another de stack

    (This gets synced)

  • New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:

    Starbase Live-

    11:56pm- S27 aft end test tank rolled out to Massey’s

    12:11am- SQD retracts (Rover2)

    1:20am- S29 frost free

    1:43am- S27 test tank arrives at Massey’s

    1:54am- Grinding on the left chopstick

    6:42am- More sparks under the OLM ring to the right of the staircase

    6:59am- Sparks to the left of the staircase

    7:57am- S25 venting. Looks like the stabilizer pins are engaged

    8:20- Lifts were up to both chopsticks, the staircase, the top of the OLM, and to S28 overnight.

    10:21am- Chopsticks start lifting S25

    10:35am- S27 test tank lifted into the structural test stand at Massey’s.

    10:40am- Chopsticks stop

    10:41am- SQD swings back over

    10:46am- Start swinging over B9

    10:53am- Over B9

    10:54am- Start lowering

    11:27am- Down on top of B9

    1:09pm- SQD work platform extended

    1:34pm- Worker up on SQD. Looks like they are removing covers on S25’s QD

    1:40pm- SQD work platform retracted

    1:45pm- Lift has been up at S26 off and on this morning

    1:54:55pm- SQD extends

    2:17pm- SPMT’s headed to Massey’s. S29 coming back already?

    5:00pm- Lift has been up and down to the top of the staircase. The elevator in the tower has been getting a work out today as well going up and down to the SQD level.

    5:15pm- Venting at Massey’s. S29 is go for round 2

    5:24am- S26’s Lox tank is open with a vent hose run to it

    6:16pm- Frost on S29

    7:50pm- S29’s lox tank is mostly frosty. Just a small line at the bottom of the methane tank. Lift up to the back side of the OLM and of course, there is one at the top of the staircase

    8:19:39pm- S29 depress vent. Never got full frosty

    9:48pm- Lift up at S26’s lox tank, back side of the OLM, and to the staircase. More grinding going on inside of the OLM ring to the left of the staircase

    10:17pm- S25’s stand is being moved back to the production site/storage area

    (This gets synced)

55 comments