Portions of this thread copied from the Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? IFT-3 is NET Feb 2024, and after completion of the IFT-2 mishap investigation. Candidate vehicles are Booster 10 and Ship 28.
- When previous launch? (IFT-2)? Booster 9 and Ship 25 launched on 2023-11-18.
- What was the result? Successful lift off with minimal pad damage. Successful booster operation with all engines to successful hot stage separation. Booster destroyed by AFTS after attempted boost-back. Ship fired all engines to near orbital speed then destroyed by AFTS. No re-entry attempt.
- Was IFT-2 a complete failure? No. As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.
—
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
Status
Road Closures
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2023-12-18 08:00 | 2023-12-18 20:00 | Closure Revoked. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach will be open. |
| Alternative Date | 2023-12-19 08:00 | 2023-12-19 20:00 | Closure Revoked. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach will be open. |
| Alternative Date | 2023-12-20 08:00 | 2023-12-20 20:00 | Closure Concluded. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach now open. |
| Primary Date | 2023-12-21 08:00 | 2023-12-21 20:00 | Closure Concluded. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach now open. |
| Alternative Date | 2023-12-22 08:00 | 2023-12-22 20:00 | Closure Concluded. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach now open. |
| Primary Date | 2023-12-27 08:00 | 2023-12-27 20:00 | Closure Revoked. HWY 4 and Boca Chica Beach open. |
| Primary Date | 2023-12-29 06:00 | 2023-12-29 16:00 | Possible closure. |
| Alternate Date | 2024-01-03 08:00 | 2024-01-03 18:00 | Possible closure. |
| Alternate Date | 2024-01-04 08:00 | 2024-01-04 18:00 | Possible closure. |
Up to date as of 2023-12-27
Vehicle Status
As of 2024-01-05
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S24 | Gulf of Mexico | Destroyed | April 20th (IFT-1): Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| S25 | Atlantic Ocean | Destroyed | 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 | Highbay | Pre-flight prep | Static fired Dec 29th |
| S29 | Megabay 2 | Pending engine install | 3x cryo |
| S30 | Massey’s | Cryo testing | 2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th |
| S31 | High Bay | Receiving aft flaps | |
| S32 | High Bay | Under construction | Stacking in progress. |
| 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 | Megabay 1 | Pre-flight prep | Static fired Dec 29th. |
| B11 | Megabay 1 | Finalizing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. |
| B12 | Massey’s | Pending cryo testing | |
| B13 | Megabay 1 | Stacking | LOx tank stacked |
| B14 | Build Site | Assembly | Assorted parts spotted |
| 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
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Starbase activities (2023-12-08):
- S26 was hooked up to a crane last night, and remained connected throughout the day.
- Road closure for December 8th revoked.
- Temporary and intermittent road delay posted for the night of December 10th/11th.
- Road delay is likely for S28 rollout.
- Another horizontal tank heading to Masseys
- SQD arm was swung away, and the chopsticks were slowly raised.
- Work on S28 TPS and the OLM continues
Starbase activities (2023-12-12):
- Today’s road closure was revoked, and new closures have been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
- At the launch site, test stand A appears to be being scrapped. Video of SQD being demolished.
- Some sort of plumbing test involving venting was conducted at suborbital pad B.
- Work on the OLM, chopsticks, and S28 continues.
- Back at the build site, Starfactory is being expanded.
- More horizontal tanks are on their way to Starbase from Florida.
In other Starship news, Kathy Lueders (now general manager of Starbase) states that they are working to shift as much testing as possible from the launch site to Masseys.
Starbase itself is a hotbed of construction activity these days, she said, with a second orbital launch pad on tap as well as a million-square-foot factory, additional employee housing and office space all coming online, she said. The second pad is necessary for SpaceX’s goal of a faster launch cadence, while much of the engine testing is now taking place at SpaceX’s Massey test site on a former gun range west of Starbase, Lueders said.
“That test site is very critical,” she said. “What it allows us to do is keep our test operations … away from the beach. We know that it’s a pain in the butt for everybody when we have to (be) close the beach. And so we’re moving more of our testing over there so that it doesn’t impact operations that are over near the beach.”
She also confirms that the AFTS was triggered on IFT-2:
Lueders said Starship’s anomaly investigation team was still looking into why the Nov. 18 flight’s Automated Flight Termination Systems were activated.
Thanks for this! Really want to keep up with the goings on in space but it’s really hard without Reddit.
Glad to hear that people find these threads useful! Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.
When do you think we’ll see IFT-3? January? February? March?
I’m really hoping for before '24 of course because of the yearly launch limit, but realistically I think January is possible and February is most likely. I’d be surprised if it isn’t before March unless there’s extenuating circumstances, e.g. FAA or lawsuits.
Rumours are that February is the internal target date, so I wouldn’t be too surprised if it slipped to March. End of '23 would definitely be a treat though!
extenuating circumstances, e.g. FAA or lawsuits
I’m hoping this shouldn’t be as long of an issue as last time, given that there wasn’t a delayed FTS, and there was minimal damage to ground infrastructure.
Kathy Lueders said that this month is unlikely but seems to think that there’s a chance for January. I’ll go with that.
I think that a launch this year is still possible but I wouldn’t want to give odds. I think that before the end of January is likely. It would be cool for it to happen on my birthday but I’d rather see it earlier.
Starbase activities (2023-12-13):
- Cones were deployed in preparation of S28 rollout
- Road closure for Dec 14th was revoked, but a road delay for Dec 14th early morning was posted, likely for S28 transport.
- Pipe prefabrication building is being demolished.
- Today’s road closure was used for GSE testing at the launch site.
- Starfactory expansion continues.
- Work on the OLM and chopsticks continues.
- Two SPMTs enter the Highbay to move S30 out of the way of S28.
- Two more SPMTs are decked out with festive trimmings for S28 transport. Trimmings include a Santa, a Christmas tree, a reindeer, and Christmas lights. Additional festive photos.
- Demolition of suborbital pad A continues
- S30 rolls out of the Highbay
- Festive SPMTs are ready for S28 rollout
Lmao the SPMT reminds me of the festive raptor engine from a couple years ago
I had forgotten about this! “Christmas tree” indeed. They’ve certainly simplified the Raptor engines since then.
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.
Thanks for posting this! Looks like this is OLT #3 segment 7.
Videos of rollout and loading onto a barge at the KSC Turning Basin.
Starbase activities (2023-12-10):
- Not too much action today.
- No observed changes to S26. Still connected to up to a crane in the rocket garden.
- Work on the OLM continues
- The SpaceX LR 11000 crane was rolled over to the launch tower. Later in the day, the crane was connected to the Ship Quick Disconnect arm. Looks like they’re planning on lowering at least a portion of it. (Rover 2.0 Cam)
- For the first time in several days, I didn’t spot any lifts at S28. Perhaps this means it is ready for rollout tonight?
Disconnect arm. Looks like they’re planning on lowering at least a portion of it. (Rover 2.0 Cam)
They removed the flex pipes.
Starbase activities (2023-12-16):
- SPMTs leave the launch site, taking S28’s transport stand with them.
- B13’s LOx tank is stacked
- Starkitty sighting.
- Megabay 2 is coming along. Outfitted with some sort of build stand deck.
- Main event of the day: S28 conducted a spin prime test. Full NSF livestream.
- D1 gate to the suborbital tank farm has been opened after a couple months of construction.
- A holiday drone show (sponsored by SpaceX) took place over South Padre.
Starbase activities (2023-12-15):
- The new horizontal tanks at the launch pad are getting connected up and tested
- New BQD hoses arrived at the launch site, and were installed later in the day
- B13 aft section was spotted and moved to Megabay 1
- S28 flaps were exercised
- Weird panels were welded to S26. Interesting speculation by Ringwatchers, but S26 remains a mystery.
- The SQD has festive lights now too
Starbase activities (2023-12-09):
- Chopsticks were lowered and the ship quick disconnect arm was exercised. The chopsticks were later closed.
- S26 still connected to the crane, not being scrapped, not being worked on.
- Work on S28 TPS and the OLM continues
- Two 10-axle SPMTs entered the High Bay, likely for shuffling the ships around in advance of S28’s presumed rollout to the launch site on Sunday night.
Other Starship news:
- Ryan Hansen is working on a computational fluid dynamics simulation of booster propellant slosh during hot-staging. Looks like it could be an interesting analysis.
What are people’s thoughts on the fate of S26? Will it be scrapped? Will they do further modifications or testing?
Starbase activities (2023-12-18):
- Chopsticks were exercised overnight
- In the early morning, B10 rolls out to the launch site, accompanied by another holiday-themed escort. Both vehicles for IFT-3 (S28 and B10) are now at the pad.
- Chopsticks close around B10 and engage the lift points
- Rear cover of BQD returned to launch mount area. (video)
- GSE vertical tank #7 welds cleaned and inspected, possibly in anticipation of tank removal/scrapping.
- Back at the build site, new nosecone welding station set up in the Starfactory expansion
- December 18th and 19th road closures revoked, 20th still listed as possible.
- Workers reattach pressure hoses to B10. NSF commentary livestream for potential B10 lift overnight.
Other related activities:
- Launch tower #3 segment 7 departs from the departs from the KSC Turning Basin
Starbase activities (2023-12-20):
- Overnight, BQD attaches to B10 and back shell of BQD hood is reinstalled.
- Main event: S28 performs a static fire at 13:37 CDT. SpaceX confirms all 6 engines ignited for the intended duration, and uploads some drone shots: Top down, slow-mo, additional angle.
- A small handful of S28’s tiles are lost/damaged.
- S28 tests payload door (open-close) after static fire.
- S26 has had lots of external stringers added to its payload section. The mystery of S26 continues.
- B10 grid fins are exercised.
- Mary receives overpressure notice for December 21st. B10 testing?
Starbase activities (2024-01-03):
- Two SPMTs arrive at the launch site for S28 rollback. Squid lifting jig attached later in the day.
- S30 cryo tested at Massey’s.
- Another large tank delivered. Looks like one of the two that arrived with the tower section last week. Likely a vertical tank destined for Massey’s.
- One of the launch site LOx pumps was removed and replaced with the new pump which was delivered yesterday.
- The build site LR11000 crane lies down, likely indicating completion of Megabay 2.
- Excavation work has begun on the Massey’s flame trench.
- Some shrubbery was (seemingly) mistakenly delivered to the launch site.
- Road delay posted for Jan 4th from 15:00 to 17:00.
Starbase activities (2024-01-01):
- New Year’s fireworks
- Very quiet New Year’s day.
- Venting observed at Massey’s, but no major tests are done on B12 or S30.
- Road delay still scheduled for Jan 2nd from 06:00 to 09:00 for transportation operations. I wonder what they’re transporting?
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…)
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.
That looks like a long reach from where it’s parked.
But there’s a guy up on one of the veritcal tanks working on the lifting rings so perhaps Zack is right.
Starbase activities (2023-12-23):
- Not too much action today either.
- B10’s transport stand rolls back to its storage area at the launch site. Possibly a sign that B10 is in good health?
- Following the recent “GATEWAY TO MARS” sign, a “SPACEX” sign is installed over the new entrance to the launch complex. Letters arriving, partway through installation ("SP CE "), ("SPACE "), (“SPACEX”), (mostly) complete.
