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This article is primarily intended as a source and therefore isn't enhanced for reading confort. Please help the community by using this article to write summary articles for the individual months. Those will be linked respectively.

Currently the General Timeline is divided in 4 articles which are linked below:

Welcome to the general Timeline. Here, all updates and events will be posted. Date, description and source, with a link if possible, must be provided. Timeline sections in any other articles (such as the SN articles) should only refer to this page.

Events and activities are assigned to the days according to local time.

This page should be kept in a manner that it is search-friendly (CTRL+F).

Abbreviations[]

  • B: Super heavy booster number [new designation]
  • BN: Super heavy booster serial number (first stage of the rocket)
  • CH4: (Liquid) methane
  • COPV: Composite overwrapped pressure vessel (black helium tank for tank pressurisation)
  • FST: FutureSpaceTourist
  • GSE: Ground support equipment, including ground tanks
  • HPU: Hydraulic pressure unit (on booster)
  • IT: Integration tower (for catching boosters and stacking starship)
  • LN2: Liquid nitrogen
  • LOX: Liquid oxygen
  • LR: Liebherr crane
  • MSIB: Marine safety information bulletin
  • NET: No earlier than [+date] (but very likely later)
  • NSF: NASASpaceflight
  • OLM: Orbital launch mount
  • OLS: Orbital launch site (the east part of the launch site)
  • PB: Power bay or comms building (at the far east of the OLS)
  • PPS: Propellant production site (prop prod site)
  • QD: Quick disconnect (arm)
  • RB: Raptor boost
  • RC: Road closure (prim and sec - primary and secondary)
  • RC: Raptor Center (same as raptor boost, but with gimballing capability)25.
  • RSN: Raptor engine serial number
  • RVac: Raptor vacuum engine
  • S: Ship (upper stage) [new designation]
  • SH: Starhopper
  • SF: Static fire
  • SN: Starship serial number (upper stage of the rocket)
  • SoLS: Suborbital launch site
  • SPMT: Self propelled modular transporter
  • TFR: Temporary flight restriction (for flight tests, issued by FAA)
  • TPS: Thermal protection system heat shield tiles (hexagonal black tiles)
  • TVC: Thrust vector control, by engine gimbal; hydraulic or electric

Events[]

2025[]

February 2025[]

Date Description Source Link
04.02.3025 TT16 moved from Starfactory to the Massey Outpost LabPadre
03.02.3025 PEZ dispenser lifted in high bay, possibly for installation into the new Pez Loader Box LabPadre
02.02.2025 --- ---
01.02.2025 OLIT-3: Traveling block installed

FAA, IFT-7: The FAA confirmed a report of minor damage to a car from the Starship explosion over Turks and Caicos Islands. That's the only confirmed rpt of damage. No injuries. (Marcia Smith)

LabPadre

January 2025[]

Date Description Source Link
31.01.2025 S35 final section moved into mega bay 2 LabPadre
30.01.2025 S36 nosecone stacked on its payload bay section insiede starfactory. This eliminates the step of swapping load spreaders twice, as well as stacking in high bay or mega bay 2 (Starship Work Process). (NASASpaceflight)

FCC: SpaceX has applied for an FCC license for communication with the launch vehicle for Flight 8 during the period February 24 - August 24, 2025 (FCC)

LabPadre
29.01.2025 --- ---
28.01.2025 S35 aft LOX section moved into mega bay 2; CH4 downcomer jig moved into mega bay 2 shortly after

S34 Raptor engine installation began, with one RVac engine moving from Starfactory to mega bay 2. Another RC engine was removed, indicating that more engines may have been installed while the door was closed.

OLIT-3, OLP-B: Chopsticks detached from LR11000, initial install process completed

LabPadre
27.01.2025 OLIT-3: Chopsticks lifted onto tower for installation

OLIT-3, OLP-B: Skates being attached to the carriage of the chopsticks

LabPadre
26.01.2025 OLIT-3: Both LR11000 crane disconnected from the chopsticks assembly, prior to the rigging being re-jigged for the lift (VixXi)

OLIT-3: Re-rigging mostly completed ahead of chopsticks installation (VixXi)

LabPadre
25.01.2025 OLIT-3, OLP-B: Tubes for water cooling installed on the OLM (Mary) LabPadre
24.01.2025 OLIT-3, OLP-B: Big variety of tanks for OLIT-3 tank farm spotted at Port of Brownsvill (Starship Gazer)

OLIT-3: First chopstick picked up by the two LR11000 cranes, guided onto the carriage and assembly fixture, followed by the second chopstick; Kingpin inserted into the chopsticks assembly

LabPadre
23.01.2025 S35 first LOX tank section moved to mega bay 2 for stacking which will make it 13/21 rings tall

Ship shucker moved in front of mega bay 2 (21:32), it was speculated for a return of S34 for further testing. Later, the counterweights were removed and the shucker returned to the rocket garden area (22:44).

Gridfins emerged from Starfactory, moved in front of mega bay 1

LabPadre
22.01.2025 TT16 moved from Sanchez site into Starfactory

B17 downcomer moved in for installation, confirming that the delivery of the last two quad sections of the LOX tank was not captured due to camera outage. B17 LOX tank now 20/24 rings tall

LabPadre
21.01.2025 IFT-7: SpaceX released more pictures LabPadre
20.01.2025 --- ---
19.01.2025 Starship Development: Elon Musk on booster turnaround: "We probably get to zero refurbishment next year" (Musk)

OLIT-3: Both chopsticks arms rolled out to the launch site ahead of

LabPadre
18.01.2025 OLIT-3: Chopstick carriage system rolled out to the launch site for installation

B14 rolled back to the production site, into mega bay 1

S34 cryo proof test at Massey's test site

IFT-7: SpaceX published more images and videos of the seventh flight test and second successful catch

OLIT-3: Chopstick carriage for the second tower at Starbase lifted by LR11000X

S34 rolled back to the build site, and into mega bay 2

LabPadre
17.01.2025 Cape: Roberts Road facility: Northern expansion of the site continues and something what looks to be supports for the build of a new OLM was spotted (Harry Stranger)

IFT-7: FAA: The FAA is requiring SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle during launch operations on Jan. 16. There are no reports of public injury.

BQD detached from B14 (18:14) B14 lifted off the OLM (19:16)

IFT-5: Aerostat footage of the flight test 5 catch released

S35 common dome moved to mega bay 2 for stacking (will then be 10/21 rings tall)

16.012025 IFT-7: Flight closure scheduled (9am-10:30pm); B14 transport stand staged at ring yard

Starship Flight Test 7

V3 Ship: Stephen Clark: "NASA still expects SpaceX to debut Version 3 (necessary for in-orbit refueling) and demonstrate cryogenic propellant transfer before the end of the year."

LabPadre
15.01.2025 B12 exited mega bay shortly after midnight on the old generation transport stand. All engines have been removed, some engine shielding remains. B12 returned to the rocket garden

IFT-7: Eddie Treviño: "We have received notice that the 7th Starship launch has been postponed until tomorrow, Thursday, January 16th. The Isla Blanca Park Boat ramp will be open today." (here)

IFT-7: SpaceX: "Due to weather, we're now targeting Thursday, January 16 for Starship's seventh flight test. The 60-minute launch window opens at 4 p.m. CT." (here)

S34 Lifted onto thrust simulator inside mega bay 2

S34 rolled from mega bay 2 to Massey's test site

LabPadre
14.01.2025 Old style booster transport stand moved into mega bay where B12 has been hooked up to the bridge cranes

IFT-7: LR11000X and LR11000 cranes lowered at the launch site ahead of IFT-7

B12 lifted onto the old transport stand in mega bay

IFT-7: SpaceX: "Starship's seventh flight test is targeted to launch Wednesday, January 15, with a 60-minute launch window opening at 4 p.m. CT. The Starbase team is keeping a close eye on weather conditions" (here)

IFT-7: Cameron County: Sound advisory issued (here)

LabPadre
13.01.2025 Ship cryo stand moved to ringyard

Cape, LC39-A: Foundation work for future OLM and flametrench at OLIT-2 started

IFT-7: Flight closure for Jan 15 cancelled

IFT-7: Flight closure for Jan 15 re-added in a document form; alternatives on Jan 16 and Jan 17

S33 transport stand departed the launch site

LabPadre
12.01.2025 Cowbell vents reattached to B14

Next cut-free section of B14.1 removed from high bay (VixXi)

IFT-7: Starship 14/33 restacked

LabPadre
11.01.2025 IFT-7: Starship 14/33 destacked

B14.1 cut and lifted inside high bay

IFT-7: Several navigational warnings for 13 January cancelled (Adrian Beil)

IFT-7: NOTMARs replaced by new ones that still include 13 January. (BryanStarship)

IFT-7: SpaceX: "Now targeting Wednesday, January 15 for the seventh flight test of Starship" (here)

Starship Development: Elon Musk on V3 or V4 Starship: "There will probably be another 10m added to the Starship stack before we increase diameter" (here)

LabPadre
10.01.2025 OLIT-1, Starship 14/33: Detonation supression system tested ahead of todays testing

IFT-7: TFR published for 13 Jan (FAA); NOTAM for US side of Gulf of Mexico published for 13 Jan (FAA)

IFT-7: FAA advisory: Primary date 13 Jan, backup date 14 Jan (FAA)

IFT-7: Flight road closures issued for 13-15 January (9am-10.30pm)

IFT-7: Two navigational warnings for Indian Ocean cancelled (Adrian Beil)

Starship 14/33 WDR

LabPadre
09.01.2025 S33 new decal and classic Mechzialla decal returned (Starship Gazer)

B12 moved at the rocket garnden, grid fins rotated

S33 rolled out to the launch site ahead of stacking of Starship 14/33

B14.1 moved into high bay

S35 forward dome section moved into mega bay 2 for stacking

IFT-7: NOTAM for 14 Jan updated to 13 Jan (FAA)

Starship 14/33 stacked; S33 lifted onto B14

LabPadre
08.01.2025 IFT-7: Nav warning showing NET January 13th

S33 non-structural versions of ship catch fittings installed (picture)

OLIT-1: Chopsticks performed additional catch testing for several hours ahead of IFT-7

B14 cowbell vents on at least one side removed

IFT-7: SpaceX: "The seventh flight test Starship of is preparing to launch as soon as Monday, January 13. Teams at Starbase are keeping an eye on weather conditions for preflight operations" (SpaceX)

IFT-7: NOTAM for Indian Ocean issued, starting on 14 Jan (FAA)

S33 new catch hardware spotted on S33 (Mary)

LabPadre
07.01.2025 IFT-7: New warnings for flight test issued for the Indian Ocean, still with a first target on 10 Jan.

IFT-7: Several Starlink simulators were loaded into S33

IFT-7: Newly issued ATO alerts from the FAA show that Starship has slipped to Jan 11th for the primary launch day.  (FAA)

IFT-7: Last, 10th, Starlink simulator loaded into S33's payload bay PEZ

S33 flap test; S33 payload door closed

Two new intermittent RC posted: LS->Factory (Jan 08, 4-5am); Factory->LS (Jan 08, 2-5pm / Jan 09, 12-3am)

LR11000X attached to B14's hot stage ring, B14 hot stage ring reinstalled.

LabPadre
06.01.2025 Hot stage ring stand moved to the launch site

IFT-7: A DOD 6055 Fire Division 1 Mass Explosion Sign (Orange 1 on left side) has been placed on the entrance to MB2, likely indicating FTS installation has begun on S33

Ship transport stand entered mega bay 2, S33 lifted onto it

IFT-7: LR11000X attached to hot staging ring (20:46); Hot staging ring removed from B14 (21:42)

LabPadre
05.01.2025 IFT-7: SpaceX's LR11000X crane moved to pad A

IFT-7: "Starlink Simulators spotted inside Starfactory! 10 in total visible that are possibly the 10 to be loaded into Starship 33's PEZ Dispenser for Starship test flight 7." (Starship Gazer)

Ship transport stand for S33 relocated to the front of mega bay 2

LabPadre
04.01.2025 B17 quad section moved into mega bay 1 for stacking

B17 common dome stacked on a 4-ring section; LOX tank now 8/24 rings tall

Hot stage load spreader delivered to launch site ahead of possible destack

LabPadre
03.01.2025 IFT-6: SpaceX released the recap video of flight test 6

IFT-7: SpaceX released the launch information for flight test 7

FAA: The FAA has canceled the public meetings for Jan 9 for input to draft environmental assessment for Boca Chica because the govt now will be closed that day in honor of Jimmy Carter. Others mtgs remain on schedule. (Marcia Smith)

IFT-7: Notam posted for the Mexico side (FAA); OLM stabilizer pins removed ahead of the flight attempt

B17 common dome moved into mega bay 1 for stacking

LabPadre
02.01.2025 Booster transport stand rolled back from launch site to production site after B14 roll out

B14 grid fins tested

IFT-7: Flightaware shows NASA Gulfstream arriving in Honolulu (here)

B14, IFT-7, IFT-5, B13: "SpaceX is apparently planning to reuse the 314 Raptor engine." (Space Sudoer); confirmed by Elon Musk (here)

B14 lifted and installed on OLM of OLIT-1 ahead of IFT-7; FTS installed

LabPadre
01.01.2025 --- ---

2024[]

December 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
31.12.2024 B14 lifted onto OLM (OLIT-1) between 00:39 and 01:18

McGregor: Raptor 3 RSN4 spotted on the horizontal test stand at McGregor (NSF)

LabPadre
30.12.2024 Booster transport stand moved into mega bay 1 ahead of B14 roll out

Chopsticks raised to the top of the tower in catch configuration ahead of roll out of B14

IFT-7: Elon Musk: Confirmed 10 January 2024 as NET date (here)

B14 rolled out to the launch site

LabPadre
29.12.2024 The Starship HLS Airlock visible inside Starfactory this morning. Starship HLS (Human Landing System) is the lunar lander variant of the Starship (Starship Gazer)

B15 rolled back from Massey's test site to production site

B15 lifted onto back right work stand in mega bay 1

LabPadre
28.12.2024 B15 cryo proof test LabPadre
27.12.2024 Cadena OIS advisory notices showed a change of NET date for flight test 7 to January 10 (4pm), with backup dates for Jan 11 (7am), Jan 12-16 (4pm); (Lewis Knaggs, CADENA OIS)

New intermittent RCs for December 29 (10am-4pm) with backup on Dec 30 (12am-4am) and Dec 30 (4pm-8pm) with backup on Dec 31 (12am-3am)

B15 cryo proof test of CH4 tank

LabPadre
26.12.2024 Cape, LC39-A: OLIT-2: Chopsticks moved, nearly two years after they were (partially) installed; they were manually moved as the hydraulic system is not yet installed (NSF) LabPadre
25.12.2024 --- ---
24.12.2024 --- ---
23.12.2024 OLIT-1: New starship lifting pins installed on the chopsticks (Starship Gazer)

OLIT-1: OLM legs painted ahaed of IFT-7 (Starship Gazer)

LabPadre
22.12.2024 New hot stage ring exited starfactory ahead of installation on B14

SpaceX released a video showing a Raptor gimbal test of Raptor 2 engines on B9; "Wishing you a warm holiday season and a lit New Year" (SpaceX)

LabPadre
21.12.2024 B15 rolled out to Massey's test site

Reinforcement stringers added to B14 ahead of IFT-7 (Starship Gazer)

LabPadre
20.12.2024 Booster load spreader lifted to B15

B15 lifted onto thrust simulator stand that was previously moved into Mega Bay 1 ahead of potential roll out to Massey's

LabPadre
19.12.2024 OLIT-3: Support structures for the chopstick assembly started to arrive at the launch site (here)

SpaceX beam removed from the gateway at Launch site (VixXi)

LabPadre
18.12.2024 --- ---
17.12.2024 S33 rolled back from Massey's Outpost to MB2

SpaceX gate signage at launch site prepared for removal

S33 lifted to the back left workstation in Mega Bay 2

OLIT-3: First section of the water cooled deck for the new OLM installed (Starship Gazer)

IFT-7: SpaceX has been granted the launch license for flight test 7

Holiday / Christmas parade at starbase

LabPadre
16.12.2024 FAA on environmental assessment: "The FAA will host in-person public meetings on Jan. 7, Jan. 9 and virtually on Jan. 13 to discuss the potential environmental impacts of @SpaceX 's revised proposal to increase Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle operations in Boca Chica, TX." (FAA)

S33 completed a single engine static fire

LabPadre
15.12.2024

S33 completed a 6 engine static fire

LabPadre
14.12.2024 S33 aborted static fire test / cryo proof test LabPadre
13.12.2024 Vertical storage tank delivered to launch site shortly after midnight LabPadre
12.12.2024

S33 flaps deployed after roll out to Massey's

Jessica Kirsh: "SpaceX submits letter to Judge Treviño asking to officially incorporate Starbase, Texas, as its own city." (here)

Elon Musk: "SpaceX HQ will now officially be in the city of Starbase, Texas!" (here)

33 completed spin prime

LabPadre
11.12.2024

RCs for 11 and 12 December revoked (likely a mistake, as the intermittent RC for 11 December was used

B16 CH4 barrel section moved into mega bay 1

OLIT-1: Extensive chopsticks tests, including 4 full-speed catch tests, 10 full-speed actuations of right chopstick, 2 full-speed actuations of left chopsticks

S35 stacked nosecone and payload bay moved from high bay to Starfactory

B16 fwd dome stacked onto a 3-ring barrel section, CH4 tank now 9/13 rings tall

The board of regents for UTRGV voted to authorize the sale of Stargate to SpaceX for "fair market value" (KVUE)

S33 moved to Massey's Outpost on the Static Fire stand

Second of the two large cryo tanks at Sanchez was moved to launch site over night

LabPadre
10.12.2024 First of two large cryo tanks at Sanchez was moved to the launch site; followed by another large cryo tank from the Port of Brwonsville

S35 nosecone moved from Starfactory to high bay for stacking

B14 rolled back from launch site to production site

Scaffolding frames attached to B14 around the common dome

S35 nosecone stacked onto payload bay section

New intermittent RC for 11 December (10am-2pm)

LabPadre
09.12.2024 Early morning, the road was closed for a tank delivery to the launch site

B14 static fire test

OLIT-3: White crane lifted another piece of the flame trench into position for assembly

B14 lifted off the OLM at OLIT-1

LabPadre
08.12.2024 OLIT-1: Scaffolding removed

B14 igniter test

LabPadre
07.12.2024 Cape: LC-39A: Both cranse have risen, crews started cutting the vertical LOX tank for scrapping. Starship LOX tank outer shell decapitated

B14 Spin prime test

S35 payload bay, notably with fewer tiles, moved into high bay

LabPadre
06.12.2024 B14 lifted onto OLM at OLIT-1

Static fire stand from Massey's test site moved to the production site

LabPadre
05.12.2024 New RC for non-flight testing activities on Dec 7 (8am-4pm), Dec 9-10 (8am-6pm)

B14 Rolled out from mega bay 1 to the launch site

LabPadre
04.12.2024 Cape: LC-39A: A second crane appeared at the pad

BQD and RCQ on OML at OLIT-1 purged at 18:00 and 18:23 ahead of B14 roll out

LabPadre
03.12.2024 IFT-7: FCC approved fligh test 7

Booster transport stand returned to the build site, staged outsite mega bay 1

New humorous banner posted on OLIT-3, advertising it as penthouse apartments (Starship Gazer)

S34 moved to the front left workstand in mega bay 2

LabPadre
02.12.2024 Fully stacked S34 lifted off the turntable onto the center workstand in mega bay 2 around 23:00 LabPadre
01.12.2024 [none]

November 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
30.11.2024 Cape, LC-39A: Parts spotted for the new OLM for OLIT-2 LabPadre
29.11.2024 [none]
28.11.2024 New Bruckner owned LR11000 crane was raised near OLIT-2 (Orbital Pad B) LabPadre
27.11.2024 IFT-6: Info from Interstellar Gateway on Starship S31 debris return LabPadre
26.11.2024 Cape, LC-39A: New crane started to go up at pad 39-A near the vertical tank LabPadre
25.11.2024 Chopsticks raised into catch position

County judge denied SaveRGV's reques to halt SpaceX launches from Starbase Boca Chica (Brownsville Herald)

LabPadre
24.11.2024 IFT-7: NASA-FAA documentation shows NET 11 January for launch of Flight Test 7; reentry/landing time suggests another suborbital flight. LabPadre
23.11.2024 B16 thrust section moved into mega bay 1 LabPadre
22.11.2024 IFT-6: Videos released by SpaceX

Cape, LC39-A: Crane activity spotted at the OLIT-2 tower (first tower at the cape) at Pad 39-A

Mega bay 1 door opened, B15 had been moved from left turntable to center workstand

Booster stand moved and received counterweights in rocket garden

LabPadre
21.11.2024 Launch site: LR11000 assembly started to finish the assembly of OLIT-3

IFT-6: Some pictures published

LabPadre
20.11.2024 S26 moved into high bay shortly after midnight; lifting squid attached to S26

FAA: The FAA has rescheduled the public comment hearings for the new EIS to increase the launch cadence at Boca Chica to 25 launches a year. Revised draft EA: https://www.faa.gov/media/87646

IFT-6: Sen captured the launch plume live from their cameras on the ISS (here)

Elon Musk: "The biggest technology challenge remaining for Starship is a fully & immediately reusable heat shield. Being able to land the ship, refill propellant & launch right away with no refurbishment or laborious inspection. That is the acid test." (here), "Metallic shielding, supplemented by ullage gas or liquid film-cooling is back on the table as a possibility" (here)

IFT-6: Elon Musk announced the reason for the catch abort: "Lost comms to the launch tower computer. Catch would probably still have worked, but we weren't sure, so erred on the side of caution." It's unknown, if this was due to the damaged antenna on the top of the launch tower.

A continuous flight auger has begun drilling piles in the area behind High Bay

FAA, Cape: The permitting status page for the Pad 39A EIS has been updated and shows an estimated date of Oct 31, 2025 for completion. (here)

S26 aft section cut off insied highbay, moved to scrapyard, scrapping concluded

LabPadre
19.11.2024 Elon Musk: on V3 Starhips: "Same diameter of 9m (~30 ft), but longer and at least 2 versions. The propellant tanker version will be especially heavy, as the payload volume in the forward section will mostly contain propellant. Thrust goal will be ~10k tons (3X Saturn V) and liftoff mass of tanker version ~7k tons. This should be capable of ~200 tons of orbital refilling. Note, 3% of liftoff mass as useful cargo would be insanely good for a fully reusable orbital rocket. Most expendable rockets aren’t that good."

Starship Flight Test 6

NASA, ARTEMIS: "NASA plans to award additional work under their existing HLS contracts to SpaceX and Blue Origin for cargo missions to the lunar surface -- SpaceX will deliver Japan's pressurized lunar rover and Blue Origin a lunar habitat." (Marcia Smith); NASA statement (Jessica Taveau)

B13 transport stand moved away from road block area

IFT-6: Elon Musk: "Successful ocean landing of Starship! We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower."

several
18.11.2024 S34 aft section moved into mega bay 2

S31 transport stand moved to Sanchez site

IFT-6: The installation of S31 FTS installation, which was for long unknown to the community, was located in the night from Nov 12, 19:48 to Nov 13 0:21

IFT-6: SpaceX: "Less than 24 hours to Starship's sixth flight test from Starbase"

LabPadre
17.11.2024 IFT-6: Starship 13/31: Propellant load test

IFT-6: Shana Diez (Director of Starship Engineering): "Good tanking test this morning, team marching towards a Tuesday flight test. Weather looking pretty good for Tuesday as well."

SpaceX's Boeing 737 (N154TS) performed a lowpass by Starbase

LabPadre
16.11.2024 Starship 13/31: Video of full stack posted LabPadre
15.11.2024 OLIT-1: SQD attached to S31 after stacking of Starship 13/31

OLIT-1: Scaffolding removed from OLM

B16 downcomer moved towards mega bay VixXi

B13 igniter test VixXi

FAA - license process: According to Jeff Foust, "The Federal Aviation Administration is moving ahead with a long-awaited committee to evaluate ways to improve launch licensing regulations as one executive calls for far greater changes. The FAA announced Nov. 14 the establishment of an aerospace rulemaking committee, also known as a SpARC, that would examine potential changes to the FAA’s Part 450 rule for licensing launches and reentries. The SpARC is expected to hold its first meeting in early December." Spacenews

Starship 13/31 stacked for flight test 6 (IFT-6); FTS installed on B13 Starship Gazer

IFT-6: TFRs for 18-20 Nov 2024; Now targeting Tuesday, 19 November 2024, launch window opens at 4pm CT; this confirmed a CNBC article from earlier today

LabPadre
14.11.2024 B13 rolled out to launch site

B16 LOX section stacked on a quad section, now 16/24 rings tall

Stacking of Starship 13/31: B13 lifted onto OLM, S31 lifted on top

IFT-6: LR11000X lowered; MSIB issued, Navigational waring for Splash down area

New RC for testing of Starship 13/31, 17 November 2024 (8am-4pm)

LabPadre
13.11.2024 Chopsticks tested

Booster transport stand moved into mega bay 1 B16 LOX quad staged in front of mega bay 1 for stacking

More CC8800 parts leaving

IFT-6: Flight testing closures 18–20 November 2024 (8am-10pm)

B13 lifted onto transport stand inside mega bay 1

S31 flaps opened

SpaceX logo completed on office building

B13 moved out of mega bay 1 ahead of roll out

LabPadre
12.11.2024 OLIT-3: Drawworks for chopsticks delivered to launch site; final major piece of second level of OLM lifted into position

S31 FTS installation, as later identified (B.J. SChnettler)

LabPadre
11.11.2024 S31 moved out of high bay

S31 moved back into high bay

OLIT-1: Water cooled steel plate tested ahead of IFT-6

S31 rolled out to launch site

LabPadre
10.11.2024 Additional shielding installed on OLM

BQD retracted OLIT-3: Last large section of the new OLM was delivered Musk, Lueders: Kathy Lueders, Starbase General Manager at SpaceX, says that Elon wants to achieve a cadence of one Starship launch every two weeks by the end of 2025. here Elon replies saying it will be much faster than that. here

LabPadre
09.11.2024 RVAc 2 engines moved into mega bay 2 for installation on S33; SN275 and SN305 spotted

Raptor 2 sea level engine SN385 moved into mega bay 2 for installation on S33

LabPadre
08.11.2024 B13 hot stage ring and its load spreader moved into mega bay

Raptor delivery crates left build site Sections of concrete wall removed near OLS tank farm LR11000 staged for removal of safety netting on new launch tower Steel continued to be delivered for Starfactory New hardware moved to Starfactory Safety netting removed from new launch tower Cribbing delivered to OLS SPMT's prepared for relocation of S31 Continuing removal of Sarens crane components Steel plate lifted into OLM Chopsticks tested SQD swung out BQD extended Cladding removed from Starfactory office connector New RCs for 13 Nov 24 (12am-3am or 12pm-3pm); and 14 Nov 24 (12am-3am)

IFT-6: NOTAM for Mexican side issued Frontera Espacial

LabPadre
07.11.2024 New intermittent RC for "transport operations from factory to pad" for 11 Nov 2024 (7-10pm); or 12 Nov (10am-1pm)

Booster transport stand moved out of its Rocket garden storage spot; SPMTs prepared for a move

IFT-6: Flight timeline released

S31 banana (from early internet meme peanut butter jelly time) decal added Shaun Gisler

B13 hot stage ring staged in ring yard

LabPadre
06.11.2024 B16 LOX tank quad section moved into mega bay 1 for stacking

IFT-6: New videos of S31 and B13 added

Section between star factory and office building being cladded

IFT-6: SpaceX released info and launch date; NOTAMS added

IFT-5: Recap video issued

LabPadre
05.11.2024 OLIT-3: Fourth corner piece of the second level of the OLM lifted into position LabPadre
04.11.2024 --- --- ---
03.11.2024 LabPadre offers part of an unflown booster stiffener/stringer for sale LabPadre
02.11.2024 S33 rolled back from Massey's test site to the built site after completing multiple Cryo Tests LabPadre
01.11.2024 HLS: For Spaceflight Now, Will Robinson-Smith interviewed Dr. Kent Chojnacki, debuty manager for HLS. Updates include SpaceX planning to begin propellant transfer tests around March 2025. LabPadre

October 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
31.10.2024 S33 cryo proof test at Massey's test sit

S34 aft LOX section moved into megabay 2

LabPadre
30.10.2024 Around midnight, a convoy of 3 SPMTs carrying parts of a turntable has entered hwy 4 heading inland. These components have been stored at the Sanchez site for quite some time and their destination is unclear.

S33 cryo proof test

B16 next LOX tank quad-section moved in mega bay 1 for stackin; will be 12/24 rings tall

LabPadre
29.10.2024 OLIT-3: First pieces of the second level of the new OLM was lifted into position

S33 cryo proof test

B16 third section of LOX tank stacked in mega bay 1

LabPadre
28.10.2024 B12 moved from mega bay 1 to the rocket garden

OLIT-2: Arrival of booster quick disconnect (BQD) hardware NSF, Mary, Chris Bergin

OLIT-1: Chopsticks slewing tests

S33 ambient pressure test

link

LabPadre

27.10.2024 B12 lifted off the leftmost workstand in mega bay 1 onto a transport stand ahead of move LabPadre
26.10.2024 S33 rolled to Massey's for cryo proofing

B12 hot staging ring moved to Massey's test site

Ring Watchers

LabPadre

link
25.10.2024 Starlink PEZ loader moved to Sanchez site

Ship thrust simulator stand staged outside mega bay 2

S34 LOX tank part moved into mega bay 2 for stacking

While gaming, Elon Musk "leaked" a briefing with SpaceX employees about IFT-5: "We were one second away from telling the rocket to abort... and try to crash into the ground next to the tower" Musk

B13 lifted off OLM at OLIT-1, on to a transport stand

S33 lifted onto ship thrust simulator and B13 rolled back to MB1

B13 rolled back to the production site

Ring Watchers

LabPadre

link
24.10.2024 B13 Static Fire LadPadre link
23.10.2024 B13 lift completed

McGregor: More than 39 raptor relight tests NSF

OLM scaffolding removed for B13 testing

B13 minor testing; venting

LabPadre
22.10.2024 B12 hot staging ring picked up from Gulf of Mexico seabed by HOS Ridgewind ship after IFT-5

B13 rolled out of MB1 to the launch site and placed on the OLM

Ring Watchers

LabPadre

link
21.10.2024 S34 CX:3 (common dome section) moved into MB2 and later stacked

New, never used before, transport stand moved into mega bay 1, likely for B13

New intermittent RC for 22 October 2024 for a move of B13 (12-3pm); alternative date 23 Oct 2024 (12-3am)

B13 lifted onto transport stand

Ring Watchers

LabPadre

link
20.10.2024 IFT-5: The HOS Ridgewind, which previously recovered B11 aft remains, has returned to the Brownsville channel after visiting the area where the hot stage ring has splashed down

OLIT-3: Chopsticks cable chain installed

LabPadre
19.10.2024 --- ---
18.10.2024 Two subcoolers and OLIT-3 cable chain moved to the launch site

IFT-5 / OLIT-1: Right chopstick minor damage after fligh shown Starship Gazer

LabPadre
17.10.2024 Dome moved

Second Block 2 ship lifter moved to Mega Bay 2 Boom section for CC8800.00 crane left OLS Chopsticks adjusted their position

LabPadre
16.10.2024 LR11000 boom raised

Piling work near OLIT-3 Flex hoses moved from the build site to the OLS OLIT-1: OLM scaffolding being reinstalled B16 common dome and A2 sections moved from starfactory into mega bay 1 for stacking, following the removal of B12's transport stand and lifting jig VixXi

LR11000-X and CC8800-1 cranes rised after IFT-5

Exclusive view of what it looks at the top floor of mega bay 2 Steve Jurvetson

LabPadre
15.10.2024 BQD disconnected from B12

Chopstick stabilizers attached to B12 Starlink Pez dispenser installation jig removed from installation area in Mega Bay 2 and moved to Starfactory B12 destacking Legs for tower module assembly jigs shipped out of Starbase SQD returns to resting position Elon Musk: "Hopefully early next year, we will catch the ship too"

B12 roll back to building site

Chopstick inspections

After tilting the gridfins, B12 started to move back into mega bay 1

B16 common dome and LOX sections moved to Mega Bay 1

LabPadre
14.10.2024 Booster transport stand relocated to Launch Site

B12 FTS removed (11:26) OLM "Dance Floor" relocated to Launch Site New fencing offloaded at OLS B16 section moved from one area of Starfactory to another area "Dance Floor" moved to OLM New intermittent RC for B12 return to build site, 15 October (12-3pm)

Elon Musk: "Good chance that Starship achieves full stack reusability in 2025, which is the critical breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary"

LabPadre
13.10.2024 Starship Flight Test 5 spacex.com
12.10.2024 S34 CH4 fwd section moved in front of mega bay 2

LR11000-X laid down

CC8800-1 crane laid down ahead of flight test 5

S30 flaps tested (15:51), B12 grid fins tested (17:29)

B12 ignitor tests (18:03) S30 ignitor tests (18;13)

LabPadre
11.10.2024 Test Tank 16 (TT16): moved from Massey's to Build site, and moved into Starfactory

Starship 12/30: S30 stacked on booster 12 (third stack), S30 transport stand left the pad

OLIT-1: Extra layer of cladding panels added for protection

IFT-5:

-SpaceX: "Starship stacked ahead of its fifth flight test. We expect regulatory approval in time to fly on October 13"

-Christian Davenport: "From what I hear, and this is of course subject to change, the FAA could grant SpaceX a license tomorrow, allowing the company to launch Starship on Sunday."

LabPadre
10.10.2024 S30 moved towards the chopsticks

Massey's: Another layer of the outer cage structure has been lifted onto the structural test stand (Can crusher), now 3 sections tall

Renders of Starships on Mars at Mars Base Alpha have been revealed on the new Starbase parking garage mural. Starship Gazer

TCEQ, SaveRGV, SpaceX: Environmental Group Save RGV filed a suit against SpaceX on Wednesday alleging that the company discharged unpermitted effluent at its launch site at Boca Chica. SpaceX reacted with the following statement: "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) conducted a technical review of Starship’s water-cooled flame deflector, which uses potable (drinking) water and determined that its use does not pose risk to the environment, as we have detailed at great length here → http://spacex.com/updates/#starships-fly We have express permission from TCEQ to run the system now under the conditions of the consent order, and a closeout letter from the EPA on its administrative order. Save RGV acknowledged that they are aware of these straightforward facts and still filed an unwarranted and frivolous lawsuit."

IFT-5:

-MSIB/NOTMAR issued for possible launch on 13 October 2024, 7am-11am

-New information about expected sonic booms posted at Cameron County website

LabPadre
09.10.2024 Starbase parking garage images started to be revealed LabPadre, Genna Hammer

Jeff Foust - IFT-4: "Updated with some comments from another committee meeting today by SpaceX's Bill Gerstenmaier, who said the previous Super Heavy landed in the ocean "with half a centimeter accuracy," giving confidence for the upcoming catch attempt."

OLIT-1: Chopsticks moved up ahead of possible restack of Starship 12/30

IFT-5:

-Cameron County: Closure for Sunday updated from "possible" to "scheduled"

-B12 and S30 FTS installation

-Isla Blanca County Park will close at 8pm instead of 9pm on 12 October due to launch preparation

-FLight TFRs posted for October 13, with backup on October 14 and 15

LabPadre
08.10.2024 OLIT-1 / IFT-5: Water cooled steel plate tested (00:10) and activated once again at a reduced power for a simulated booster catch (00:25)

S34 moved into mega bay 2

Starship 12/30: S30 destacked from B12

OLIT-3: Two more pieces of the OLM-3? delivered to Sanchez site

TT16 lifted out of the Can Crusher at Massey's

IFT-5:

-Christian Davenport: "Am told the regulatory approval from the FAA is indeed possible for a Starship launch by Sunday but not a certainty."

-FAA: In a statement, the FAA no longer mentions a date for when they expect to be done with the review process: "In mid-August, SpaceX submitted new information for its proposed Starship/ Super Heavy Flight 5 mission. The FAA is continuing to review this information. The FAA will make a licensing determination once SpaceX has met all licensing requirements."

-New RCs for 13–15 October (12am-2pm)

LabPadre
07.10.2024 B14 entered mega bay 1 after returning to build site

Starship 12/30: Partial cryo load test

IFT-5:

-SpaceX: "Starship’s fifth flight test is preparing to launch as soon as October 13, pending regulatory approval"

LabPadre
06.10.2024 Starship 12/30: Stacking #2 completed

B11 aft dome returned to Build site Anthony Gomez

LabPadre
05.10.2024 LR11000X disconnected from the hot staging ring (00:25)

S30 flaps opened

B11/IFT-4: "HOS Ridgewind has unloaded at the Port of Brownsville (Exactly what TBD) and is now heading for Louisiana. That means it's the end of the salvage operation." Gav Cornwell

B14 Cryo Proof Test #2

Starship 12/30: Stacking #2 started

LabPadre
04.10.2024 OLIT-1: A telehandler was caught unfurling the big water balloons (50t) that have returned to the launch site. Likely, as used during early testing of the chopsticks after installation, they will again be used for testing purposes following recent upgrades to the catching arms. [LabPadre]

Version 2 pez dispenser moved into mega bay 2 for stacking in S34

IFT-5: NOTAMS posted

OLIT-1: Bags attached to the chopsticks and filled with water to test the chopsticks ahead of IFT-5

B14 Cryo Proof Test #1 (CH4 tank)

Hot stage ring lifted onto B12 by LR11000X

LabPadre
03.10.2024 B14 and Ship static fire stand rolled out to Massey's test site shortly after midnight

B11: More images from recovery mission with HOS Ridgewind released; it looks like SpaceX recovered at least 26 engines and was trying to get all 33 engines as well as what they could salvage from the thrustpack Joe Tegtmeyer

TT16: Can crusher hat removed from Test Tank 16 at Massey's test site

OLIT-1: 50 tons water bags delivered to launch site for chopstick-testing following the recent upgrades

LabPadre
02.10.2024 IFT-5: Local NOTMAR posted by US Coast Guard for a launch NET 12 October

FAA: A spokesman told Expressnew "We are not issuing launch authorization for a launch to occur in the next two weeks — it’s not happening,", “Late November is still our target date." ExpressNews

OLIT-1: Ship QD retracted (20:03)

OLIT-1: Chopsticks moved up into launch position

LabPadre
01.10.2024 Booster transport stand left launch site, moved to sanchez site

OLIT-3: Two corner pieces fo the new design of the OLM arrived this morning, one lifted onto an assembly stand - OLM-2?/OLM-3? assembly started Starship Gazer

Booster thrust simulator moved into mega bay 1 (for B14)

B14 lifted onto thrust simulator ahead of transport closure

LabPadre

September 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
30.09.2024 McGregor: Longest duration Raptor fire at McGregor: 897 seconds (nearly 15 minutes) Chris Bergin

New intermittent RC for 2 October 2024 (12-3 am), 3 October 2024 (12-3 am)

OLIT-1, Starship 12/30: S30 destacked from B12 by chopsticks

LR11000X picked up hot staging ring load spreader (17:35)

LR11000X removed the hot staging ring from B12 (19:42)

LabPadre
29.09.2024 --- ---
28.09.2024 B11 engine section at Massey's test site (flyover pics) RGV LabPadre
27.09.2024 B11 aft engine section transported to Massey's test site Starship Gazer

Starship 12/30: Chopsticks have let go of S30, now in expected launch position (18:18)

LabPadre
26.09.2024 OLIT-3: Another OLM segment delivered and lifted off the truck at Sanchez site

New intermittent RC for 27 September 2024 (12am-3am)

B11 Raptor engines spotted at Sanchez site after their recovery Jack Beyer

SQD retraction test from S30

SQD reattached to S30 after retraction test

LabPadre
25.09.2024 OLIT-1: Removal process of the alignment pins on the OLM, one of the launch preparation steps, started

S32 moved away from rocket garden

LabPadre
24.09.2024 OLIT-3: Parts for what appear to be the first segments of the new OLM have been spotted heading towards Sanchez site Mary

New intermittent RC for 24 September (10pm-2am)

IFT-4: "HOS Ridgewind, the ship that recovered the remains of Booster 11 offshore, has departed from Altamira in Mexico and is heading for Brownsville. Arrival ETA is in the port schedule for 6am local on Wednesday. I'm making the educated guess that parts were not offloaded in Mexico." [Gav Cornwell]

OLIT-1: Scaffolding removed

LabPadre
23.09.2024 Starship 12/30: Propellant load test and preflight checkouts

S34 payload bay and nosecone lifted off high bay turntable

S34 payload bay and nosecone, featuring a much improved weld seam, moved to Starfactory through the large garage door

LabPadre
22.09.2024 Elon Musk update on Mars mission: 5 uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years

OLIT-1: OLM detonation suppression system tested

S30 flap testing (on fullstack of Starship 12/30)

B11 engine section parts recovered from the sea

LabPadre
21.09.2024 Hotstaging ring lifted by LR11000X and installed on B12 ahead of full stack of Starship 12/30

Starship 12/30 stacked, marking 107 day since last full stack

LabPadre
20.09.2024 B12 rolled out to launch site

S31 rolled back from Massey's to mega bay 2

B12 lifted to catch position and then lowered onto OLM and installed

S31 lifted clear of the Massey's static fire stand, which was removed from mega bay 2, onto a regular transport stand

S30 rolled to the launch site

S30 moved between chopsticks, LR11000X attached to hot staging ring ahead of Starship 12/30 full stack

LabPadre
19.09.2024 Booster transport stand moved from rocket garden to ring yard

S34 payload bay moved into highbay (03:00), lifted onto high bay turntable (10:10)

Chopsticks moved up the tower and performed a catch test twice (10:23, 11:17)

B12 lifted off the leftmost mega bay 1 workstand onto a transport stand (13:36)

S34 nosecone moved to high bay

B12 placed onto a transport stand and detached from bridge cranes (15:01) rolled out of mega bay 1 (18:41)

LabPadre
18.09.2024 OLIT-3: SQD arm hinge spotted on its way to Starbase Starship Gazer

S31 6 engine static fire test

New intermittent RC for 20 September 2024 (12-3am)

LabPadre
17.09.2024 Workers are skinning Starhopper

A hot staging ring left mega bay and was moved to Starfactory

S33 second aft flap installed

LabPadre
16.09.2024 ---
15.09.2024 S33: A aft flap lifted into mega bay 2 for installation on S33 LabPadre
14.09.2024 S31 cryo proof / abortet static fire test at Massey's test site LabPadre
13.09.2024 OLIT-3: Commodity pipes installed LabPadre
12.09.2024 TT16 cryo proof test at Massey's site in the structural test cell LabPadre
11.09.2024 IFT-5: FAA's Dan Murray on SpaceX launch licensing criticisms: we work well with SpaceX, and they get majority of our resources and 80% of overtime. License review schedules depend on completeness and stability of applications; changing information sets things back. He adds that environmental reviews are the pacing item for Starship flight 5 license modification; safety review also not complete but it will be done before environmental.

IFT-5: FAA statement on launch license of IFT-5: "SpaceX's current license authorizing the Starship Flight 4 launch also allows for multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. SpaceX chose to modify both for its proposed Starship Flight 5 launch which triggered a more in-depth review. In addition, SpaceX submitted new information in mid-August detailing how the environmental impact of Flight 5 will cover a larger area than previously reviewed. This requires the FAA to consult with other agencies. SpaceX must meet all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements prior to FAA launch authorization. A final license determination for Starship Flight 5 is not expected before late November 2024." FAA by Marcia Smith

10.09.2024 IFT-5: According to SpaceX, the FAA has pushed a launch to NET late November
09.09.2024 HLS: Delivery to build site that matches the profile of the HLS airlock previously spottted at the Hawthorne facility

TT16 test at Massey's test site

LabPadre
08.09.2024 S31 aborted test at Massey's test site LabPadre
07.09.2024 Elon Musk update on Ship V3 specs LabPadre
06.09.2024 S31 rolled out to Massey's test site

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 crane lowered ahead of possible reconfiguration back to a shorter design

LabPadre
05.09.2024 S31 moved from high bay to mega bay 2

Chopsticks raised to launch position

S31 attached to 2-point lifter and lifted off transport stand onto static fire stand

OLS: TCEQ issued draft permit to SpaceX for its application in regard to the deluge runoff

OLIT-1: OLM legs freshly painted Starship Gazer

OLIT-1: Several slow open/close movements by chopsticks on the top of the tower (13:10), Landing rails raised (17:08)

OLIT-1: Full scale launch to catch simulation (18:45) Drew B.

TT16: Cryo proof test

LabPadre
04.09.2024 OLIT-1: New ship lifting pins with a slightly updated profile installed on chopsticks Drew B, pic here

2 SPMTs, counterweights and a crane moved outside of high bay ahead of S31 relocation

New intermittent RC for 6 September (12am-3am), for S31

Ship static fire stand moved from Sanchez to build site (for S31?)

LabPadre
03.09.2024 SPMTs moved under Starhopper ahead of move to the new pad at the parking lot Fabian Ramirez

OLIT-1: More chopsticks and landing rail testing

Starhopper moved to new destination at parking lot

LabPadre
02.09.2024 OLIT-1: Both ship lifting pins redeployed on chopsticks after recent modifications

OLIT-1: BQD tested with full retract and redeploy

LabPadre
01.09.2024 --- ---

August 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
31.08.2024 --- ---
30.08.2024 S33 moved to one of the left processing stands in mega bay 2

FAA-TCEQ-SpaceX (Eric Berger): "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has fined SpaceX $3,750 for an unauthorized discharge of "industrial wastewater" into surrounding wetlands. It is not yet clear what this means for FAA approval of an increased launch cadence from South Texas." Eric Berger, citing sos.state.tx.us

FAA-TCEQ-SpaceX (Musk Reply): "Just to be clear, this silly fine was for spilling potable drinking water! Literally, you could drink it." Elon Musk

B15 fwd dome stacked onto 4-ring section, CH4 tank 13/13 rings tall

LabPadre
29.08.2024 B15 final section of CH4 tank staged in front of mega bay 1

ITF-5 (Marcia Smith): "At NAC-HEO, Cathy Koerner (head of ESDMD) says they are looking forward to SpaceX's 5th Starship test "later this fall." Marcia Smith

FAA-TCEQ-SpaceX:

-Chris Bergin (NSF): "New communication from The FAA SpaceX Boca Chica Project Team. Basically, it's referencing the claims that SpaceX dismissed as inaccurate reporting from CNBC: https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1823080774012481862 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of launches and landings of its Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle at the Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas on July 29, 2024. The FAA invited interested parties to submit comments on the Draft EA. The public comment period for the Draft EA closes on August 29, 2024. On August 9th, 2024, the FAA became aware of allegations that SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act at the Boca Chica Launch Site. The FAA was unable to confirm the accuracy of certain representations in SpaceX’s license application and the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment prior to the public meetings scheduled for August 13th, 15th, and 20th. As a result, the FAA chose to postpone the public meetings until these matters could be resolved. The FAA will release a Revised Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (Revised Draft EA) in the future. The Revised Draft EA will be accompanied by an additional public comment period and public meetings. The dates, times, and locations of the rescheduled public meetings will be made publicly available at least 30 days in advance of the meetings. All comments received on the Draft EA between July 29 and August 29, 2024, as well as the forthcoming Revised Draft EA will be given equal weight and be taken into consideration."

-Stressed Potato: "Basically there is an allegation that SpaceX is lying about their numbers. The FAA is going to come in and double check those numbers to make sure no funny business is going on."

-Chris Bergin: "Yep. EA is going on for future Starbase ops. CNBC (not Michael Sheetz) ran an article citing a well-known anti-SpaceXer (well, anti-Elon) about the water [add: Eric Roesch, ESG Hound blog]. They ran with it. SpaceX went out and pointed out the inaccurate reporting in public. FAA saw the report and likely had to review per process. That delayed the public meetings they had scheduled."

FAA-SpaceX-EIA (Marcia Smith): FAA is out w/update on Draft Tiered EIA for increasing Starship cadence. FAA was unable to confirm accuracy of certain SpX representations in their license appl. Will post a revised Draft Tiered EIA in future w/new dates for public comment. Marcia Smith

OLIT-1: Bumper pads 6-11 installed on chopsticks, number 12 being aborted

OLIT-1: Port side chopsticks moved slowly inwards, catch rails raised and lowered

S33 lifted onto center work stand in Mega Bay 2

LabPadre
28.08.2024 OLIT-1 Four more bumper pads installed over the night, now 5 bumpers on port-side chopstick LabPadre
27.08.2024 OLIT-1: First new catch bumper block installed on port-side chopstick VixXi LabPadre
26.08.2024 Aft flap spotted moving at the build site, towards tent 4 LabPadre
25.08.2024 OLIT-1: Both hard-stop points (which stop the arms from closing too close together) cut and removed from chopsticks
24.08.2024 --- ---
23.08.2024 S33 aft section moved out of starfactory, moved into mega bay 2 for stacking. The section is oddly untiled.

S33 stacked on aft section in mega bay 2

LabPadre
22.08.2024 S30: Small image of Mechzilla that was also on the IFT-5 mission patch added on S30 nosecone

OLIT-3: CC88800-1 crane detached from segment 9

LabPadre
21.08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 9 lifted by CC8800-1 and stacked, completing the stacking of this tower

Can crusher hat (structural test stand) placed on top of test tank 16 (TT16) at Massey's

LabPadre
20.08.2024 New tanks arrived at Massey's test site LabPadre post on X

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 picked load spreader back up after being slanted to account for center of mass of segment nine

LabPadre
19.08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 9 rolled out shortly after midnight

Test tank 16 (TT16) lifted into new structural test rig at Massey's test site

OLIT-1: Teams have begun welding gusset plates onto the weld joints of the chopsticks for additional structural integrity [Drew B.]

S33 downcomer lifted to center of mega bay 2 on a jig for installation. Block 2 ships appear to have 3 independent downcomers for the RVac engines

LabPadre
18.08.2024 --- ---
17.08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 8 lifted and stacked, only one segment remaining

B14.1 rolled back from launch site to its parking spot in the rocket garden

OLIT-1: LR11000X (Marvin) connected to SQD-arm that was damaged during IFT-4

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 crane disconnected from segment 8 after stacking; lowered and removed the tower load spreader

LabPadre
16.08.2024 OLIT-1: Chopstick testing with B14.1 LabPadre
15.08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 8 started to roll out at 00:09

S26 moved to rocket garden

S33 midlox (A3) section rolled into mega bay 2

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 lifted segment 7 (06:55, touched down on 07:49), detached from segment 7

S33 stacked on lower Midlox section, only thrust section remaining

OLIT-1: Chopstick testing with B14.1

LabPadre
14.08.2024 S26 all three RVac engines (RVac unknown, 212, 202) removed shortly after midnight

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 crane connected to 7th segment

S34 (block 2) methane tank spotted upside down in ring yard, loaded onto a flatbet [BocaChica Gal]

OLIT-1: Chopsticks raised and opened slightly (19:59), Chopsticks lowered around B14.1 (23:28)

S26 lifted on transport stand in mega bay 2 after all the raptor engines have been removed (22:26)

LabPadre
13.08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 7 rolled out to launch site shortly after midnight

Squid load spreader delivered and hooked up to the left bridge crane in mega bay 2. S26 and S32 are currently the only ships which can be attached to the squid load spreader.

S26 moved from rocket garden into mega bay 2

S30 received "S30"-decals

S26 lifted onto central work station in mega bay 2

-FAA-TCEQ-SpaceX: CNBC updated its article to account for the reply by SpaceX; SpaceX once again replied to this update, stating that the updated info is "factually inaccurate"

LabPadre
12.08.2024 CC8800-1 crane: first piston arrived and was installed on the crane after the accident

New intermittent transport RC for August 13–15 (12am-3am)

FAA: FAA cancelled the in-person pubilc and virtual meeting on the draft EA and extended the public comment period for the draft EA which was due on August 29. The meetings were scheduled for August 13, 15 and 20. Marcia Smith, CNBC, asked the FAA for the reason, their reply was: "The FAA is seeking additional information from SpaceX before rescheduling public meetings." [add: later, it became clear that this was due to allegations raised by Eric Roesch as well as by TCEQ]

FAA-TCEQ-SpaceX:

-CNBC-Story: CNBC reported that SpaceX violated environmental regulations in releasing pollutants into or nearby bodies of water in Texas, a state environmental agency said in a notice last week. The report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) came five months after the Environmental Protection Agency also notified SpaceX that it had violated the Clean Water Act.

-SpaceX reply: According to SpaceX, the story is inaccurate.

CC8800-1 crane raised back up following reconfiguration

LabPadre
11.08.2024 Elon Musk: Starship flight test 5 (IFT-5) in "About 3 weeks" [Elon Musk]

OLIT-1: Chopsicks testing [LabPadre]

OLIT-1: Chopstick landing rails raised for first time since undergoing upgrades

LabPadre
10.08.2024 CC8800-1 crane: Both struts appeared to be broken, they were removed

OLIT-1: New style shock absorbing pads installed on chopsticks landing rails in preparation for a potential catch attempt

LabPadre
09.08.2024 S30 arrived at build site and entered mega bay 2; 2-point lifter attached

S30 lifted off Massey's static fire stand, set down onto a transport stand, moved down Remedios Avenue to rocket garden

Static fire stand moved to Sanchez site for storage

CC8800-1 crane: rised after reconfigurations to stack the remaining OLIT-3 segments

CC8800-1 crane accident: At 11:31:25 the crane jib accidentally disconnected from the trolley and swung freely before being secured once again.

CC8800-1 crane: Strut appears to have been fixed back in place for now

LabPadre
08.08.2024 S33 LOX tank three ring barrel section moved into mega bay 2 and was then stacked

Raptor engines: First pictures of R3 SN1 static fire [Gwynne Shotwell, Elon Musk]

S30 started to roll back to production site

LabPadre
07.08.2024 B14.1 rolled out to launch site, being the first vehicle to use the new D2 gate near Starhopper

OLIT-1: B14.1 lifted onto OLM

S30 spin prime test at Massey's test site

LabPadre
06.08.2024 S30 moved to Massey's test site LabPadre
05.08.2024 S30: Static fire stand relocated form Sanchez towards mega bay 2, likely indicating another static fire test for S30 following its engine swap

S31 de-tiling started

S30 lifted on to ship static fire stand

LabPadre
04,08.2024 S33 block 2 common dome section moved into mega bay 3, S33 lifted off turntable, attached to common dome section, stacked

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 crane lowered for reconfiguration

LabPadre
03,08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 6 lifted by CC8800-1

S30 moved from rocket garden to mega bay 2

OLIT-3: Segment 6 stacked. According to an FAA filing the CC8800-1 crane will be laid down for a boom extension in order to install the next segments.

S30 lifted on the back left engine work stand in mega bay 2

SpaceX updated on Raptor engine versions' performance

RVac 384 spotted moving to mega bay 2 while RVac 398 moved out, indicating another engine swap on S30

LabPadre
02.08.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 5 disconnected from CC8800-1 crane

B15 3rd piece of CH4 tank staged in front of mega bay 1

LabPadre
01.08.2024 B15 fwd dome stacked onto a triple-section, CH4 tank now 6/13 rings tall

OLIT-3: Segment 5 lifted by CC8800-1 (06:51)

"Tankenstein" LN2 tank removed from the orbital tank farm (OLS tank farm)

OLIT-3: After several hours of adjustments, segment 5 touched down on top of segment 4 (11:11)

"Tankenstein" tank reappeared on the side of the tank farm expansion, lifted into place by LR11000-X crane Drew B.

LabPadre

July 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
31.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 6 rolled out to launch site after midnight

OLIT-3: Segment 5 attached to CC8800-1 crane

S30 tiles added to fwd flaps that suffered damage during IFT-4

B15 fwd dome moved into mega bay 1

LabPadre
30.07.2024 OLIT-3 Segment 4 disconnected form CC8800-1 crane LabPadre
29.07.2024 B12 hot stage ring (HSR) moved into mega bay 1 from starfactory

FAA: FAA announced the availability of the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for the increased launch cadence at Boca Chica site here. This includes up to 25 annual launches as well as 25 landings for ship and booster respectively. The EA also addresses vehicle upgrades. FAA

Starship Plans, Joey Roulette: "SpaceX is in talks with U.S., Australian officials to land and recover Starship boosters off a coast in Australia, a possible first step toward a bigger SpaceX presence in the region as the two countries bolster their security ties, per three sources." Joey Roulette

Update from SpaceX on the sonic boom at booster landing, based on IFT-4 analysis

LabPadre
28.07.2024 S30 lifted off Static fire stand onto a regular transport stand. The static fire stand left the ring yard to Sanchez site

S30 2-point lifter detached

S30 moved from mega bay 2 to rocket garden

LabPadre
27.07.2024 Following a several hours long stop at Richardson Ave., likely due to a road accident, TT16 arrived back at the Build Site (08:04) [Oskar]

TT16 moved into starfactory (08:13)

S30 moved from Massey's test site to mega bay 2

LabPadre
26.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 5 arrived at OLS Pad B at 00:27

S31 lifted off the back left engine installation stand inside mega bay 2 (01:21)

S31 touched down on transport stand (01:30)

S31 payload door opened (01:33) 2-point lifter detached (02:45)

S31 moved out of mega bay 2 (05:18)

S31 moved in to high bay (05:28) and 2 hours later out again (07:19)

S31 moved back into high bay after counterweight blocks were removed from the front of the SPMTs for an easier move from under the transport stand (07:50) [Oskar]

S31 moved into the front right corner of high bay. This is where S30 previously was undergoing tile work (11:05)

S30 static fire test

Block 2 CH4 fwd section, notably with an E-Dome, moved out from Starfactory

TT16 lifted out of Massey's test cell (22:26)

TT16 moved towards hwy4 (23:40)

LabPadre
25.07.2024 S33 moved into mega bay 2 (00:05)

S33 lifted (likely) onto a white stand in the front right corner of mega bay 2 for installation of the PEZ dispenser

OLIT-3: Segment 4 lifted (12:49) and touched down on segment 3 (14:50)

TT16 cryo proof test at Massey's test site

OLIT-3: Segment 5 entered hwy4 (22:25)

LabPadre
24.07.2024 B15 aft section spotted moving into mega bay 1 with 6 additional tanks mounted to the side of its header tank

S33 lifted off turntable onto a stand in high bay (16:18)

S33 moved out of high bay (21:15)

LabPadre
23.07.2024 Raptor vacuum eninge SN376 delivered to mb2 for S31, with the help of a "klaausmobile" instead of directly on the "Mario cart" - 4/6 (07:59)

Raptor center SN386 delivered to mb2 for S31 - 5/6 (11:12)

OLIT-3: Segment 4 moved to CC8800-1 crane and attached to its load spreader (14:58)

A raptor center engine (unknown SN) moved to mega bay 2 for S31, 6/6 raptors (15:14)

FAA: San Antonio Express-News reporting FAA has told them SpaceX has officially requested a license modification for Flight 5 of Starship.  The FAA did not give indications on the nature of the request or timelines.  STS-125, San Antonio Express News

LabPadre
22.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 4 rolled out right after midnight

Rvac SN 320 and Raptor center engine SN374 moved to mb2 for S31 - 2/6 (17:45)

Rvac SN391 moved to mb2 for S31 - 3/6 (17:50)

Block 2 payload bay door rolled into high bay

LabPadre
21.07.2024 S30 moved to Massey's test site

S30 flaps extended (20:18)

LabPadre
20.07.2024 Massey's ship static fire stand arrived at build site, for S30 testing following the replacement of engines in June

Two SPMTs rolled into high bay, for S30 move (14:19)

S30 moved out of high bay (16:01) and rolled into mega bay 2 (16:14). By each of the four flaps, new black boxes were spotted, likely hinge cameras

S30 lifted off transport stand (20:32)

S30 lowered onto static fire test stand (21:05)

LabPadre
19.07.2024 OLIT-3: chopsticks carriage arrived at Sanchez from Port of Brownsville

Test tank 16 (TT16) moved to Massey's test site

Scaffolding removal from around S30 began

What appears to be an updated version of the pez dispenser hardware, with an integrated work stand (white), is being moved into Mega Bay 2 [Mouser] (add: S30?)

New temporary RC for 21 July 2024 (6-9am or 12-3pm), from production site to Massey's (for S30 roll out)

Tentative updated PEZ dispenser framework lifted onto mega bay 2 turntable, likely ahead of an integration with S33's nosecone stack [Oskar]

TT16 lifted into new structural test cell at Massey's (14:52)

LabPadre
18.07.2024 OLIT-3: CC8800-1 lifted segment 3 (06:57), lowered it on segment 2 (09:04), and finally detached (15:34) from segment 3 LabPadre
17.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 3 rolled out from Sanchez to launch site, later attached to CC8800-1 crane

OLIT-3: Chopsticks arrived at Sanchez from Port shortly before midnight

LabPadre
16.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 2 lifted and placed down on the tower

B12 lifted off OLM onto transport stand, some issues

B12 moved from launch site to build site, into mega bay 1

Elon Musk: SpaceX will move the headquarters due to political views of Elon Musk, his disagreement with school and family politics concerning rules for children identifying as transgender here

OLIT-3: Segment 2 unhooked from CC8800-1 crane

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 load spreader module completely disconnected

B12 lifted onto the left work stand in mega bay 1

LabPadre
15.07.2024 Chopsticks raised ahaed of B12 test

B12 full duration static fire

New intermittent movement closure for 16 July (12pm-4pm)

OLIT-3: First chopstick arm moved to Sanchez from port

B12 transort stand mowed to launch site

Detonation suppression test at 17:06

LabPadre
14.07.2024 Block 2 nosecone appeared in Starfactory doorway ahead of move to high bay [add: S33]

OLM scaffolding removed completely

First Block 2 Ship will be S33 as indicated by label: "Up-rated Ogive Cart / Reserved for S33 Ogive Flap Integration" Starship Gazer

S33 Block 2 nosecone moved to high bay, flaps have moved leeward as indicated by Elon Musk, smaller tiles on the edges, different tiling pattern; singular pitch vent visible near the top of the nosecone, moving from 2 lower down on V1 Oskar

S33 Block 2 nosecone lifted for stacking; comparison of both nosecones by ringwatchers Ringwatchers

LabPadre
13.07.2024 OLIT-3: Final segment started to roll out from Port to Sanchez site after midnight

New test tank: top stack lifted to be attached to aft section, then stacked on mega bay 2 turntable; according to Ringwatchers, "will likely undergo compression testing at some point. This tank appears to be similar to the old S26.1 test tank, qualifying the structure of the new aft section and tank." Ringwatchers

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 detached from segment 1 after stacking

Block 2 ship payload bay moved into high bay; upgrades: new roll vents, updated Starlink terminal location, new Mechzilla slot points [add: S33]

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 crane attached to segment 2 ahead of stacking

Chopsticks raised and then closed around OLM

LabPadre
12.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 2 moved from Sanchez site to launch site, short after midnight

OLM work platform lowered and drove away from OLP ahead of B12 testing

FAA: Will hold public meetings on a proposal by SpaceX to increased the number of launches and landings in Boca Chica FAA, up to 25 annual Starship/Superheavy launches, up to 25 annual landings of Starship, up to 25 annual landings of Super Heavy; it will also address vehicle upgrades. In late July, the FAA will release additional information about the Draft Environmental Assessment. WLAnimal

Chopsticks slightly raised ahead of testing of B12

B12 spin prime test

New barrel section, likely for structural testing, left high bay and moved into mega bay 2 [add: new test tank]

New ship aft section rolled to mega bay 2, toop of the new test tank is beaing attached to crane

LabPadre
11.07.2024 One OLIT-3 segment rolled from Port of Brownsville to Sanchez

OLIT-3: Segment 1 lifted (06:48) and set down on foundations (08:27)

Chopsticks on OLIT-1 raised partway

B12 partial cryo test

OLIT-1: Ship QD arm full speed retraction test

B12 grid fins tested

New temporary and intermittent RCs for July 11–19, each 10pm to 3am

LabPadre
10.07.2024 Booster transport stand left launch site

S31 moved back to mega bay 2

BQD detached from B12, crews worked on both booster and ground interfaces

S31 attached to 2-point lifter and lifted on turntable in mega bay 2

OLIT-3: Segment 1 attached to CC8800-1 crane, bolts to transport stand removed ahead of lift

B12 tested

S31 lifted after being staged on a ring stand on the right side of mega bay 2

B12 igniter tests

LabPadre
09.07.2024 Elon Musk: "Starship V3 should be capable of close to 200 tons of payload when operating as a tanker" Musk

B12 rolled out to launch site, lifted on OLM

LabPadre
08.07.2024 S31 moved out of mega bay 2

New intermittent RC for July 9 (12am-3am)

LR11000 rose back up

Booster transport stand moved into mega bay 1 for B12 roll out

LabPadre
07.07.2024 Booster transport stand moved from rocket garden towards hwy 4 LabPadre
06.07.2024 S31 rolled back from Massey's test site to the build site (arrived at 02:38), moved into mega bay 2 (03:40)

Storm warning for Starbase, Boca Chica

LabPadre
05.07.2024 CC8800-1 crane laid down due to hurricane warning

Cameron County judge declared disaster due to threat from Hurrican Beryl Eddie Treviño

Elon Musk: "Flight 5 in 4 weeks" Musk

LabPadre
04.07.2024 LR11000X lowered at launch site LabPadre
03.07.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 1 rolled out from Sanchez site to launch site shortly past midnight

Second stand for two point lifters deliverd

OLIT-3: Lifting eyes installed on segment 1 ahead of lift

S30 nosecone TPS tile installation continued, new ablative material visible Starbase Surfer

S31 cryo proof test at Massey's test site, partial frost on both tanks

LabPadre
02.07.2024 Last large section of the cryo shells has been removed from the old vertical tank farm

Double barrel with stringers moved into high bay, likely for a test tank or weld testing [add: TT16?]

S31 full cryo proof test at Massey's test site

LabPadre
01.07.2024 S31 rolled to Massey's test site for its cryo testing program (04:59 arrived)

New intermittent RC for July 2 (12am-3am), backup on July 3

OLIT-1: a propellant cryo hose has been removed from SQD arm and a replacement was lifted by LR11000X and installed

LabPadre

June 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
30.06.2024 OLS-Tank farm: GSE-5 removed from the tank farm

OLIT-3: Main propellant lines installed into first segment of the new tower

2-point lfiter and 2 SMPTs moved to high bay, S31 moved out of the corner of high bay

Ship thrust simulator stand moved to ring yard for S31

S31 lifted onto ship shucker, disconnected from 2-point lifter

S31 moved out of high bay

S31 started to roll out towards Massey's test site (2:20)

LabPadre
29.06.2024 B14.1 moved from launch site back to Sanchez site

OLS-tank farm: GSE-5, the last standing vertical storage tank, attached to LR11000X crane

Everyday-Astronaut Interview with Elon Musk, several updates on Starfacotry, Production goals, Starship versions, payload, improvements, goals, OLIT-3 with redesigned arms, launch clamps on OLM, OLM redesign with flame trench, flight test 4 (IFT-4) updates

OLIT-1: OLM QD test Vixxi

OLIT-3: Fllor frame section lifted by CC8800-1 and lowered inside the base

LabPadre
28.06.2024 GMK7550 attached to B14.1 after testing with chopsticks

B14.1 lifted (04:11)

GSE3 lifted by LR11000X (04:11)

OLIT-3: Tower sections and Chopsticks arriving at Brownsville from Kennedy Space Center

LabPadre
27.06.2024 OLIT-3: FAA: Notices from FAA indicate that CC8800-1 crane will remain in its current configuration until 27 July 2024 and then will reconfigured into a larger configuration to complete the tower stacking by 15 August 2024 Starship Gazer

Another large tank moved from Port of Brownsville to Starbase

OLS-Tank farm: LR11000X connected to GSE-3

New intermittent testing timeline of today 12-4pm

Kathy Lueders Starbase update:

  • 3 months to completion of Starfactory
  • Working with TXDOT on expanding HWY 4 to a 4 lane road eventually
  • Starbase commercial retail Space on hold.
  • Staff residency over 50% local to Brownsville with ~400 staff living on site.
  • Permanent Orbital Fuel Depot for Moon + Mars missions
  • SpaceX monitoring sound levels for Port Isabel + SPI + Brownsville during testing.
  • Texas Parks & Wildlife Environmental mitigation teams in place before and after launches.
  • Monthly emergency management meetings with Cameron County and local hospitals for catastrophe scenarios.

Extensive chopsticks testing with B14.1

Second tank like last night moved from Port of Brownsville to Sanchez site

LabPadre
26.06.2024 GSE-6 scrapped

Ship shucker moved slightly, received counterweights

IFT-2: New lift off footage released, taken by US Customs and Border Patrol owned tethered aerostat "Argos" stationed at SPI

Chopsticks testing with B14.1

LabPadre
25.06.2024

OLS-tank farm: LR11000-X picked up the 9m spreader (00:58) and attached to GSE-6 for removal (01:10)

Second part of Everyday Astronaut Starbase tour with Elon Musk released Everyday Astronaut, summary see above]

Chopsticks raised (09:46)

CC8800-1 crane raised

Chopsticks lowered, worked on (11:48)

FAA-SpaceX-BlueOrigin: In a filing with the FAA re SpaceX's proposed use of pad 39A for Starship, Blue Origin asks for a cap on "the rate of Ss-SH launch, landing, and other operations, including but not limited to test firings, transport operations, and fueling, to a number that has a minimal impact on the local environment, locally operating personnel, and the local community [...]" Blue also says there should be "mandatory penalties for SpaceX for conducting operations not included in an active EIS or other environmental restriction, violating a launch license, or any other laws, regulations, or other rules for operating." Christian Davenport

OLS-tank farm: GSE-6 lifted form the tank farm (15:29)

Chopsticks closed in onto B14.1 (16:58)

LabPadre
24.06.2024 OLIT-3: Steel legs of the base are filled with concrete (04:05) LabPadre
23.06.2024 Elon Musk (answering to EDA): "We could build a lot more [add: Raptor 2s engines], but the next version [add: V3] of Raptor is really the one to scale up production. We begin testing it in McGregor within a week or so. Regenerative cooling and secondary flow paths have been made integral to the whole engine, thus no heat shield is required. Nothing quite like this has ever been done before. Taking away the engine heat shields also removes the need for 10+ tons of fire suppression behind the engine heat shield, as any gas leaks simply enter the already super-heated plasma surrounding the engines, rendering the leaks irrelevant. Raptor 3 also has higher thrust and Isp." Musk

OLS-tank farm: GSEC-1 (last cryo shell standing) attached to LR11000-X ahead of scrapping (16:14)

OLIT-3: CC8800-1 ballast tray extended and connected to counterweights (15:05)

OLS-tank farm: GSEC-1 (shell) removed from GSE-5 (21:00)

LabPadre
22.06.2024 OLS-tank farm: GSEC-3 (over GSE-6) lifted by LR11000-X for scrapping (03:13)

OLIT-1: B14.1 lifted onto OLM by GMK7550 crane for chopsticks testing

First part of Everyday Astronaut Starbase Tour with Elon Musk released Everyday Astronaut]

LabPadre
21.06.2024 OLIT-1: Scaffolding on OLM removed

Break of Dawn ship left the shelter of Saint Petersburg, heading across the Gulf of Mexico towards Brownsville (add: for OLIT-3 tower segments)

B14.1 rolled out to the launch site

LabPadre
20.06.2024 --- ---
19.06.2024 Large propellant tank left Sanchez site and moved towards launch site

Alberto upgraded to a Tropical storm and will bring 45+ MPH winds to Starbase NHC-Atlantic

LabPadre
18.06.2024 Starbase under a Tropical storm warning NHC Atlantic

OLIT-1: GMK7550 attached to SQD panel for repairs

Sheriff Eric Garza: "From the Cameron County Judge's Office: SpaceX's latest economic stats reveal significant investments in Cameron County. SpaceX's vision, including the ambitious Starship spacecraft project, has driven major economic growth in recent years."

OLS-Tank farm: GSEC-4 (over GSE-3) removed by LR11000-X for scrapping

OLIT-1: GMK7550 (Grover) disconnected from Ship QD following repairs

LabPadre
17.06.2024 FAA: Virtual meeting on future SpaceX operations and environmental impact this evening FAA

S30: "The new 2X stronger heat shield tiles and the new secondary ablative layer are currently being applied to Starship 30 in preparation for test flight 5" Starship Gazer]

OLIT-3: Segments from KSC made a pitstop in Tampa Bay, possibly weather related with strong gusts and heavy seas forecast this week Gav Cornwell

LabPadre
16.06.2024 OLIT-3: Metal form walls hoisted in for the foundations

OLS-tank farm: LR11000-X moved to the OLS tank farm, likely for scrapping the remaining vertical tanks

LabPadre
15.06.2024 OLIT-3: Third and fourth base columns of the tower raised vertical

IFT-5, Elon Musk: "Aiming to try this [booster catch] in late July" Elon Musk

S30: most old tiles now removed, to allow replacement with new tiles as well as an additional ablative layer beneath them RGV

B15 another LOX tank section moved in and stacked in mega bay 1, now 20/24 rings tall

LabPadre
14.06.2024 --- ---
13.06.2024 OLIT-3: Boom pieces for CC8800-1 crane arrived

OLIT-1: All 10 hold down clamps have been replaced VixXi

OLIT-1: OLM booster centering pins reinstalled on chopsticks

OLIT-3: First and second column raised vertical. Unlike OLIT-1, OLIT-3 base will be all metal which is built into the original structure,

LabPadre
12.06.2024 S26 arrived at rocket garden after returning from Massey's

OLIT-3: Concrete forms for the pile cap removed

OLIT-1: SpaceX extended the railing mechanism that dampens the touchdown of booster during recovery on chopsticks for the first time

FAA: The FAA will not require mishap investigation for IFT-4 of Starship "The FAA assessed the operations of the SpaceX Starship Flight 4 mission. All flight events for both Starship and Super Heavy appear to have occurred within the scope of planned and authorized activities." Adrian Beil

LabPadre
11.06.2024

S30: De-tiling began Starship Gazer

Artemis: Elon Musk said about a possible launch date in 2026: "I think we can do it. Progress is accelerating. Starship offers a path to far greater payload to the Moon than is currently anticipated in the Artemis program. A permanently crewed Moon base is possible." Elon Musk

IFT-4: Elon Musk: "No major damage" (to OLIT) Elon Musk

New intermittent RC for June 12 (12-3am) (add S26)

FAA, Cape: New EIS for LC39-A: "The FAA has released a New EIS for LC-39A. This proposal calls for the addition of an air separation unit, a deluge pound, and a dedicated super heavy catch tower to the plans approved in to 2019 Environmental Assessment. It also includes an option to land starships on a drone ship. Note this is only the Public Scoping step, not a final  determination." FAA

SpaceX: New vid on IFT-4 liftoff

LabPadre
10,06.2024 OLIT-3: Concrete for the new tower foundation being poured

IFT-4: Elon Musk: "Left flap also got very hot, but was less damaged. Rear flaps seemed to be ok, based on their control authority, but probably lost some tiles." Elon Musk

LR1600/2 crane picked up a ship lifting squid at Massey's (add: for S26)

S30: Following engine replacement, S30 was lifted onto high bay turntable, then moved back to a transport stand

S30 moved into the front right corner of high bay, where heat shield tile work is usually conducted

OLIT-3: First parts of the new CC8800-1 crane started arriving at launch site, counter weights were first do be delivered

OLIT-1: Clamps pulled from OLM

S26 moved to the exit of Massey's test site (20:34) and was lifted from the shp static fire stand to a transport stand (22:31) ahead of a roll back

LabPadre
09.06.2024 Elon Musk update during a gaming livestream Elon Musk:
  • Ship 30's heat shield will be fully replaced with tiles that are 2x stronger, and a silicon felt ablative will be used under the tiles as backup for broken tiles
  • Aiming for Flight 5 [IFT-5] and Booster catch next month. If the booster has issues it will target the Gulf of Mexico
  • Targeting first launch from Florida in the middle of 2025
  • Aiming for first Starship to Mars in 3 years
  • Earth to Earth will happen after both Booster and Ship catching is working
LabPadre
08.06.2024 OLS tank farm: New cryo storage tank, likely for OFT, arrived at build site

OLIT-3: tug Break of Dawn headed towards inland lock to collect transport barge with the remaining parts of OLIT-3

IFT-4 and IFT-5: Elon Musk: "Starship booster makes soft landing in water, next landing will be caught by the tower arms", "Booster landing was on target, ship landing was several km off due to flap damage, but both were soft landings" Musk, Musk

LabPadre
07.06.2024 S30 RVac SN390 installed in high bay

OLIT-1: Scaffolding reinstalled on OLM

IFT-4 and IFT-5: Harry Stranger: "Despite the possibility of Superheavy drifting away/sinking after splashing down in the Gulf yesterday I decided to task a 35cm/pixel umbraspace SAR image of the estimated landing area. Sadly there was no sign of the booster anywhere [...]"

S30 and S31 payload door removed (Everyday Astronaut tour)

LR11000-X raised back up after being lowered for IFT-4

LabPadre
06.06.2024 Starship Flight Test 4

Elon Musk on IFT-4, IFT-5 and Block 2 Starship: Addressing an issue that came up during flight 4, the structural strength of forward flaps, Elon Musk answered to Everyday Astronaut: "We will have this nailed for next flight."; "Note, a newer version of Starship has the forward flaps shifted leeward. This will help improve reliability, ease of manufacturing and payload to orbit." Musk

New intermittent RC for June 8 (12-3 am)

S30 RVac SN378 removed

05,06,2024 Starship 11/29, IFT-4 Updates:

-S29 stacked on B11

-S29 flap tests (12:44)

-S29 Igniter test (15:17:40)

-Several updates (see IFT-4)

RVac engine removed from S30

RVac 390 rolled into highbay (S30?)

LabPadre
04.06.2024 Can crusher hat placed on B14.1 test article

Starship 11/29: S29 destacked from B11

OLIT-3: Chopsticks carriage and 5th segment of the tower moved on the barge at KSC turning basin

IFT-4: FAA issued launch license; FAA added flight to ATC advisory; New TFRs posted; NOTMAR issued

NASA, HLS update: "A test conducted April 30 marked the first time astronauts in pressurized spacesuits interacted with a test version of @SpaceX's Starship HLS hardware."

LabPadre
03.06.2024 LOX tank section left starfactory, joined common dome in staging area in front of mega bay 1, possibly for B15

IFT-4: Christian Davenport: "Barring any last-minute changes from SpaceX that the FAA would have to approve, the license should be ready for Starship's fourth launch attempt on Thursday, I'm told."

LabPadre
02.06.2024 Two point lifter moved into high bay

OLIT-3: Last twoer segment and both chopsticks arms moved to KSC turning basin ahead of shipping to Starbase/Boca Chica

LabPadre
01.06.2024 DearMoon has been canceled

IFT-4: New MSIB for 6 June

OLIT-3: Break of Dawn brought in a barge that will likely transport the final segments of OLIT-3 to Starbase Boca Chica

SQD connected to S29

OLIT-3: Tower segments and chopsticks carriage moved to KSC turning basin Sean Cannon

IFT-4: Elon Musk: "Starship Flight 4, with many improvements, aiming to launch on Thursday! The main goal of this mission is to get much deeper into the atmosphere during reentry, ideally through max heating."; SpaceX: "Flight 4 of Starship is now targeted to launch as early as June 6, pending regulatory approval"

LabPadre

May 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
31.05.2024 S29 moved inbetween chopsticks

IFT-4: GO America is en route to Brownsville to suppoert booster splashdown zone operations (Gav Cornwell)

IFT-4: LR11000X (Maarvin) laid down

Chopsticks raised to capture S29

IFT-4: New MSIB/NOTMAR for 05 and 6 June 2024 from 7-11am (Visit BocaChica)

Launch site: Gateway to Mars sign demolished after having only been up for 6 months

LabPadre
30.05.2024 Elon Musk, asked if he considered crowdsourcing some engineering difficulties, eg heat shield: "This is a matter of execution, rather than ideas. Unless we make the heat shield relatively heavy, as is the case with our Dragon capsule, where reliability is paramount, we will only discover the weak points by flying. Right now, we are not resilient to loss of a single tile in most places, as the secondary containment material will probably not survive. I will explain the problem in more depth with @Erdayastronaut next week. This is a thorny issue indeed, given that vast resources have been applied to solve it, thus far to no avail." (Musk)

B14.1 rolled out to Massey's test site

Everyday Astronaut announced he will do another Starbase Tour ahead of IFT-4

S29 rolled out from the chopsticks and moved back to previous work location

LR11000X left orbital tank farm area, final tanks will likely not be removed ahead of IFT-4

FTS installation on S29 and B11 started ahead of IFT-4

LabPadre
29.05.2024 S29 transport stand moved to OLM at midnight

SQD disconnected from S29 ahead of potential destack from B11 (Starship 11/29)

The 2nd level has been stacked onto what is believed to be a new structural test stand at Masseys

After lifting the final prefabricated pieces, both cranes working on the parking garage have relocated to Sanchez and one has laid down. While the structure is complete, more work is needed before it is ready for use.

S29 was destacked form B11 for FTS installation in the coming days (Starship 11/29)

New crane parts for an LTR-1220 crane arrived at the launch site

B11 part of the chine removed

Old style booster transport stand moved into mega bay 1

LabPadre
28.05.2024 FAA, IFT-4, IFT-3: The FAA has determined public safety wasnt compromised during IFT3 (Adrian Beil)

Starship 11/29 tanking test / WDR

LabPadre
27.05.2024 GSEC-5: Bottom section removed for scrapping

OLIT-1, OLM: Detonation Supression system tested (15:15), followed by a small test on the deluge system

B11 igniter test

LabPadre
26.05.2024

IFT-4: The booster stabilization pins have been removed from OLM, indicating SpaceX is not planning on removing Booster 11 anymore before IFT-4

Starship 11/29: S29 stacked on B11

LabPadre
25.05.2024 OLIT-3: Foundation work started for the second tower at the Starbase launch site (RGV)

S29 moved between chopsticks

OLIT-1: Chopsticks raised up to S29 lifting point

LabPadre
24.05.2024 IFT-4: Elon Musk: "Flight 4 in about 10 days"

B11 transport stand and Raptor work platform moved back to build site

OLIT-3: Segment #6 of the second tower at Starbase arrived at Sanchez from Port of Brownsville (01:37)

IFT-3: SpaceX posted a summary of the results of Flight Test 3 (here)

IFT-4: SpaceX: "The fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 5, pending regulatory approval"

Cape, LC39-A: Components from the Suborbital Tank Farm at Starbase have started to arrive to KSC. These could potentially be part of expanding propellant capacity for Falcon Heavy operations at Pad 39A (Zack Golden)

S26 cryo proof test at Massey's test site

LabPadre
23.05.2024 IFT-4: FAA issued NOTAM for Indian Ocean splashdown area

IFT-4: Speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee Admin. Nelson references the forthcoming SpaceX Starship IFT-4 launch and its role in the path to Artemis III. (Will Robinson-Smith)

OLIT-3: Another tower segment arrived at staging point (Starship Gazer)

McGregor: A Raptor engine exploded for unknown reason (Chris Bergin, Video)

LabPadre
22.05.2024 OLIT-3: Segment 2 of the second tower at Starbase arrived at Sanchez

S29 intensive inspections ahead of a IFT-4

IFT-4: NOTMAR posted, starting on June 1 (NAVCEN)

Cape, Roberts Road: The proposed Roberts Road North Expansion has received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from NASA. It will allow SpaceX to expand its facilities by approximately 100 acres to support vehicle and payload processing, fabrication and more. (Harry Stranger)

The Megabay 2 Dev Assembly barrel section has been spotted with TPS pins and tiles over the weld seams after leaving Megabay 2. Previously, glued tiles were used in these locations.

LabPadre
21.05.2024 Ship transport stand was spotted leaving the launch complex for unknown reasons as a destack will still be required for tile and FTS work before IFT-4

OLS: GSE-1 removed from vertical tank farm

IFT-4: NASA's HLS manager Lisa Watson-Morgan: "For Flight 4, it's mostly going to be a repeat of Flight 3 without the propellant transfer, without the Pez door open, without the other items that SpaceX was working to demonstrate." "SpaceX is not planning to attempt a Raptor engine restart on the next Starship test flight. Eventually, SpaceX must demonstrate this capability for future Starships to drop out of orbit and return to Earth." This means Starship cannot go orbital until Flight 6 at the earliest. (Ars Technica)

IFT-4: RC posted for June 1–3, (12am-2pm)

Starship 11/29: S29 destacked form B11, left orbital pad area

LabPadre
20.05.2024 OLIT-3: 1st segment arrived at Sanchez site

Elon Musk says they plan to move the Rocket Garden closer to Hwy 4: "We plan to move the display rockets closer to the road"

IFT-4: WB57 flight placeholder scheduled for June 1, marking a possible date for IFT-4 (Oliver The Space Nerd)

Starship 11/29: Wet dress rehearsal for IFT-4

IFT-4: Elon Musk: "Starship Flight 4 in about 2 weeks. Primary goal is getting through max reentry heating. Worth noting that no one has ever succeeded in creating a fully reusable heat shield. Shuttle required >6 months of rework."

LabPadre
19.05.2024 [none]
18.05.2024 OLIT-3: Tower segment 3 rolled out from Port of Brownsville to Sanchez site, where it arrived at 04:09

OLS tank farm: LR11000-X attached to the GSEC-5 cryo shell, removed it from over GSE-1

LabPadre
17.05.2024 SoLS Tank farm: Removal of tanks started

FAA: According to the FAA, if the organization "agrees no public safety issues were involved in the [Starship Flight 3] mishap, the operator (SpaceX) may return to flight while the mishap investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met." (Adrian Beil) This allows SpaceX to fly Starship without necessarily requiring an amended license for each flight.

LabPadre
16.05.2024 OLIT-3: A new FAA OEAAA filling has been published for the second Orbital Launch Tower at Starbase. It will be 474 feet (144.5 meters) tall similarly to Tower #1, and located around the current Suborbital Tank Farm, where pilling work has already commenced.

Starship 11/29: Tanking Test

LabPadre
15.05.2024 S31 entered high bay (00:34)

OLIT-3: Segment 7 arrived at Sanchez site

S29 moved towards the orbital pad (02:58) and moved between the chopsticks (03:57) which moved up to the lifting points

One 2-point lifter left launch complex towards build side; the other, already in the high bay, was connected to S31

Tower segment transporter left Starbase

Starship 11/29: MSIB for 16 May updated with an additional WDR date on 18 May (8am-8pm)

OLS: BAART (LR11000X) lowered and removed from the area of the orbital pad

New RC for 17 May 2024 (8am-8pm)

SoLS: New cut placed in the "Gateway to Mars" wall; Wall of pad B toppled over

2-point lifter detached from S31

S31 moved into the front right corner of high bay

Starship 11/29: S29 stacked onto B11

LabPadre
14.05.2024 S29 exited chopsticks and moved away

Abortet B11 testing (07:12 PA, 08:04 Road closed, 08:30 Pad clear, 09:51 Raod open)

OLS-tank farm: 9m GSE loadspreader and LR11000X attached to GSE-2

2 SPMTs with counterweights headed past Sanchez in the direction of Massey at 10am. Then, a crane began making movements consistent with counterweight shuffling at the base of S31

FAA: "We want to hear from you! The FAA is assessing the environmental impact of @SpaceX Starship operations at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Learn more about the proposal and how to submit your comments at ..." (here)

OLIT-3: Tower section on the move from the port of Brownsville (Starship Gazer)

Ship development: Pictures of the new Block 2 (V2) forward flap with new shape (Felix Schlang)

S29 manlift went up the raceway of S29 in the same area as where S31 had an issue during its cryo proof test

S31 rolled back from Massey's to the build site

OLS-tank farm: GSE-2 lifted off its pedestal (21:49)

Kathy Lueders gave a talk about Starship. Key points:

  • Infrastructure Development: Currently, there's a project underway to construct a highway or create a secondary pathway.
  • GNC Design Enhancements: Modifications have been implemented in the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system to enable boosters to get further compared to previous flight.
  • Integrated Wet Dress: Scheduled in the next Week. Wet Dress activity was temporarily postponed due to a test anomaly on Ship 31. Activities will resume once Ship 29 is cleared for testing.
  • License Timing: Expected in the last week of May, coinciding with Memorial Day (May 27), or possibly in early June. SpaceX aims to commence the flight immediately upon obtaining the license.
  • Tour Suspension: Tours around Starbase are currently suspended due to ongoing construction. However, as part of licensing requirements, tours will be provided to students and educational groups. An educational day is likely to be organized in October, once construction activity subsides.
  • Starfactory Progress: The Starfactory project is nearing completion and is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.
  • Infrastructure Enhancement**: Efforts are underway to enhance the general infrastructure surrounding Starbase.
  • Source: SpaceX Space Talk with Kathy Lueders - Credits to RGV Aerial Photography for the TLDR.
LabPadre -
13.05.2024 OLIT-1: QD arm retracted around 04:09, returned to normal position at around 06:16

Large portion of shell GSEC-7 cut free and being lifted away

Starship Development: Ship Block 2 forward flap spotted during delivery this morning (Starship Gazer)

S29 released from chopsticks

Chopsticks lowered and the raised again back up to the S29 load points

LabPadre
12.05.2024
11.05.2024
10.05.2024
09.05.2024
08.05.2024
07.05.2024
06.05.2024
05,05,2024 Weather station and camera mast installed onto the structure that recently was added to Starhopper, thus countering speculation that it would be removed LabPadre
04.05.2024 Starhopper: New structure added to the leg which was recently equipped with a steel plate

GSEC-6: remaining part removed from OLS tank farm

LabPadre
03.05.2024 B11 hot stageing ring was recently installed

B13 arrived back at the build site.

Two point lifter and LR11000X detached from S30

B13 lifted off thrust simulator onto the center work stand in mega bay 1

New intermittent RC for 7 and 8 May, both 12-3am

Starhoopper: steel plates added to one of the legs (Starship Gazer) It was speculated that "Starhopper's legs are being reinforced with steel plating for a possible lift/relocation soon." This speculation later turned out wrong as they installed a weather station and camera mast on 5 May 24,

B13: booster cap removed and taken back to Sanchez site

LabPadre
02.05.2024 New intermittent RCs for 3 May (12-3 am, 8-11 pm) and 4 May (backup, 12-3am)

B13 started to roll back from Massey's to the build site

LabPadre
01.05.2024 S30 rolled from mega bay 2 to the launch site and was lifted onto SoLS Pad B by LR11000X LabPadre

April 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
30.04.2024 Road closed for OLS tank farm testing, from 09:21-14:00

Left chopstick high-speed test at 12:12, likely fastest movement yet

LabPadre
29.04.2024 LR11000X moved to OLS pad, it tested the recently replaced hold down clamps of the OLM

B13 LOX tank cryo testing at Massey's test site

LabPadre
28.04.2024 LR11000X moved from front of OLS tank farm to eastern side of OLM

Booster 11's Hot Staging Ring has been moved into MegaBay 1

RGV
27.04.2024 [none]
26.04.2024 IFT-3: Jeff Foust: "He also noted that the inter-tank cryogenic propellant transfer test on the third Starship flight last month was successful by all accounts, although analysis of data from it is ongoing."

IFT-4: Eric Berger: "According to NASA's Amit Kshatriya, SpaceX is working toward the fourth Starship flight test before the end of May. Says IFT3 was "a great success.""

HLS: Eric Berger: "According to Kshatriya, SpaceX will perform a Starship-to-Starship cryogenic propellant transfer test in 2025."

Elon Musk: "Full & rapid reusability of booster & ship and orbital refilling of ship are the 2 fundamental technologies we aim to solve by the end of next year. Those are the critical pieces necessary to make life multiplanetary." 1]

Elon Musk: "The critical Fermi “great filter” threshold is Mars being able to survive and grow if the resupply ships from Earth stop coming for any reason. At that point, we will be a true multiplanet civilization." 2

Elon Musk: "A booster catch attempt is highly likely this year. For the ship, we need to be sure that it will survive reentry and retain aero control authority, so that means at least 2 successes landing at a precise point in the ocean." 3

B13 CH4 tank cryo proof testing at Massey's test site

LabPadre
25.04.2024 B13 rolled out to Massey's test site after midnight

B14 CH4 tank lifted off Mega bay 1's right turntable for final stacking

LabPadre
24.04.2024 Booster thrust simulator arrived at ring yard, likely to take B13 to Massey's

A "booster cap" was moved to ring yard and set doen in front of mega bay 1, possibly for installation on B13 before roll out

"Booster cap" moved into mega bay 1

B11 hot stage ring moved to mega bay 1

Massey's: 2nd section of flame bucket for the static fire test stand was lowered into the trench

OLM: BQD back hood lifted back into place

B13 attached to a tandem-lift loadspreader and the booster thrust simulator was moved into mega bay 1

OLM: detonation suppression system tested

LabPadre
23.04.2024 GSE7 removed from OLS tank farm LabPadre
22.04.2024 [none]
21.04.2024 [none]
20.04.2024 SpaceX: "One year since first flight test of Starship. Each successive launch has gone farther, and with more flights coming soon, we're rapidly building towards a fully reusable future" SpaceX
19.04.2024 12m wide GSE-shell loadspreader attached to Water tank (Shell 6) at OLS tank farm

After cuttin it, a balanced, major portion of the water tank shell 6 was lifted down onto the OLS tank farm offload area by the LR11000X for scrapping

LabPadre
18.04.2024 OLM: BQD hood removed once again NSF
17.04.2024 Legs for 3rd starship work stand placed in left corner of mega bay 2

OLS tank farm: Preparations started to remove at least 2 more vertical cryo storage tanks, possibly GSE2 and GSE7 Starship Gazer

LR11000X moved to OLS tank farm offload area

RGV analysis of the OLS tank farm using photos from 12 April: "The 3 new horizontal tanks (for water), that are where the old vertical tank was, were also connected to plumbing, as were the 2 new vertical tanks near them. The old Orbital Tank Farm was offline until the T-shaped pieces were installed and commissioned, which occurred after this flyover. (There's one where the new LOX delivery line goes into the old LOX line, one where the new LN2 line goes into the CH4 side, and one for the LN2 to go into the LOX side). Soon, SpaceX will be able to draw fluids from both farms, possibly even in time for Flight 4!"

Chopsticks and new actuator tested

LabPadre
16.04.2024 [none]
15.04.2024 [none]
14.04.2024 Another OLM linkage was replaced LabPadre
13.04.2024 New door for Booster QD lifted into position and installed; it has a slightly altered design to possibly improve flame / exhaust deflection properties [LabPadre, WAI

13 engines removed from B4 aft section [RGV Starbase weekly]

LabPadre
12.04.2024 A left chopstick actuator wa removed

Replacement swing actuator, appearing very similar to the one removed, lifted into position on the left chopstick

LabPadre
11.04.2024
10.04.2024 IFT-4: Kelvin Coleman (FAA/AST): Next launch has to both clear the mishap investigation and get a license modification because they are planning to do "some different things". It could be done by May, but this is not a commitment from the FAA Marcia Smith

SpaceX released a video of a Rvac engine shutdown in slow motion

LabPadre
09.04.2024 S30: Another Raptor center engine (likely SN 269) moved into mega bay 2, lifted into engine compartment; followed by a third Rvac engine (SN 398) LabPadre
08.04,2024 B11 rolled into mega bay right after midnight

B11 lifted off transport stand in mega bay 1

S30: 2 Rvac engines (one of it SN 368) and one Raptor centre engine (SN 319) moved into mega bay and lifted into engine compartment of S30

LabPadre
07.04.2024 B11 lifted off OLM after static fire test

B11 moved to build site

LabPadre
06.04.2024 OLM work platform raised to launch table

Starship Update by Elon Musk:

  • If flight 4 booster virtual tower catch is successful they will attempt real tower catch on flight 5
  • 2 launch towers planned for Boca, 2 planned for LC-39a, all finished "some time in 2025"
  • Aiming to have LC-39a operational around middle of 2025
  • Most operational launches probably from LC-39A
  • Plan is to build 6 more boosters and ships each by the end of 2024
  • Optimistic goal of "multiple ships per day" production rate during Mars missions
  • Ship-to-ship propellant transfer test planned for 2025
  • SpaceX plans to build Moonbase Alpha
  • Raptor 3  sea level thrust of 280 tonnes and an RVac thrust of 306 tonnes
  • Optimistic goal is 330 tonne thrust at sea level for booster engines totalling over 10k tonnes of thrust at liftoff
  • Raptor 3 is massively simplified compared to Raptor 2
  • Raptor 3 will not have a heat shield, and much of the plumbing will be integrated into the pump and chamber jacket
  • Starship version 3 will "cost less per flight than Falcon 1"
  • Starship 3, Raptor 3 and Mars Transfer diagrams
LabPadre
05.04.2024 Scaffolding removed from OLM

OLM raptor installation platform moved from the back edge of the OLS to the offloading area in front of the OLS tank farm

OLM work platform lowered, moved to OFT vertical tanks

Intermittent RCs posted for 7 April (10pm-3am), 8 April (6am-9am)

B11 static fire

LabPadre
04.04.2024 B11 roll out and lift

S30 relocated from high bay to mega bay 2

S29 moved back into the front right corner of high bay

OLM work platform lowered to the ground at 18:40

S30 lifted onto the middle work stand in mega bay 2, 2-point lifter detached

S31 lifted off the high bay turntable, set down in the back right corner

OLM detonation suppression system (DDS) [FIREX] tested at 21:17

Elon Musk: "Flight 4 next month"

03.04.2024 Booster transport stand moved to mega bay 1

New intermittent transport RC for 3 April (2-6pm)

Cape: LC-39A: Last OLM leg removed [SpaceFlightNow]

Masseys: Third and final section of water ccoled flame diverter arrived at Massey's test site Starship Gazer

B11 roll out started

LabPadre
02.04.2024 Water trucks moved to OLS LabPadre
01.04.2024 Elon Musk agrees to do another Starbase tour with Everyday Astronaut

B14: final section of CH4 tank moved into mega bay 1 for stacking

S29 TPS tile on tip of nosecone removed in mega bay 2

LabPadre

March 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
30.03.2024 BQD hood at OLM reinstalled LabPadre
29.03.2024 S29 rolled back from launch site to build site (high bay)

Second flex hose installed on OLM BQD

LabPadre
28.03.2024 S29 attached to LR11000X

S29 lifted off SoLS test stand B

2-point lifter detached from S29, left launch site

Cape: LC-39A: Another OLM leg removed

S29 rolled back from launch site to build site (high bay)

First flex hose reinstalled on OLM BQD

LabPadre
27.03.2024 B14 CH4 tank stacked onto another 3-ring section, now 9/13 rings tall

Cape: LC39-A: Another leg of OLM removed

S29 static fire of single engine using header tanks

New intermittent transport RC for 29 March 24 (12-3am)

S29 fwd flaps folded in ahead of lift

LabPadre
26.03.2024 Overpressure notice issued to residents for S29 static fire tomorrow Mary LabPadre
25.03.2024 Overpressure notice issued to residents for S29 static fire Mary

S29 static fire test, 6 engines and full duration

LabPadre
24.03.2024 Second section of the prefabricated piping assembly for Massey's starship static fire stand flame trench/flame diverter arrived LabPadre LabPadre
23.03.2024 2nd half of the water pipes for flame trech at Massey's spotted in Texas Facebook

2-point lifter removed from S29; LR11000X disconnected

S29 flaps deployed

LR11000Y rolled away from Pad B towards Gate D2

2-point lifter which was used to lift S29 onto Pad B was removed from launch site, moved to PPF area

Cape, LC39-A: Two of the OLM legs have been toppled and removed Alex/LabPadre

LabPadre
22.03.2024 S29 arrived at launch site

S29 lifted onto SoLS Pad B by LR11000X early morning

B4 attached to one of the bridge cranes in mega bay ahead of scrapping

B4 scrapping began, CH4 tank cut

SpaceX: "Flight 4 Starship moved to the pad at Starbase for upcoming static fires" [S29]

OLM booster centering pins reinstalled

LabPadre
21.03.2024 Mega bay 2 doors installed

New intermittent RC for 22 March (12-3am)

S29 placed on transport stand, two point lifter removed, S29 moved out of high bay

B4 rolled from rocket garden to mega bay 1

S29 started to roll out to the launch site

LabPadre
20.03.2024 OLM booster QD backshell (backside cover for piping/flexihoses) removed

Sanchez site engine stand: mount removed in preparation for removal

B4 received what seemed to be supports for scaffolding

LabPadre
19.03.2024 IFT-3, IFT-4: "FAA's Kelvin Coleman (Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation) says that he didn't see any major issues with last week's Starship launch. but as usual, a mishap investigation must be done. He also affirms that SpaceX is aiming for 6-9 more Starship launches this year."

IFT-3, IFT-4: "On a panel at the Satellite conference, Gwynne Shotwell says SpaceX should be ready to fly Starship again in about six weeks. Says teams are still reviewing the data from the last flight and that flight 4 would not have satellites on board." "She adds that the goal for Starship this year is to reach orbit, deploy satellites and recover both stages. And of course to launch Falcon 9 148 times." Christian Davenport

OLM raptor installation platform relocated form Sanchez to launch site between 10:15 and 11:25, followed by a 2-point lifter (from PPF)

IFT-1: Phil Metzger technical paper of the pad failure and crater from IFT-1 released Phil Metzger

Jack Kuhr/ FAA: The FAA's Kelvin Coleman at Payload's Space Capital event regarding Starship: "We’re trying to work with them to get them on a different program if you will in terms of how we approve their launches going forward," he said. "We want to get away from the launch by launch approvals and get more into what Part 450 was really designed for, which is an approval of a portfolio of launches."

LabPadre
18.03.2024
17.03.2024 LR11000X raised at launch site LabPadre
16.03.2024 IFT-3: More pictures released SpaceX
15.03.2024


Cape: LC-39A Orbital Launch Ring was caught by LabSat-1 moving out of Hangar M discord LabPadre

NASA: "Cryogenic fluid technologies are critical for human missions to the Moon and Mars and our future exploration goals. Today, during the Starship test flight, we worked with SpaceX to demonstrate a liquid oxygen propellant transfer. Teams are reviewing flight data to learn how it went."

Elon Musk: "Max payload of Starship V1 in expendable mode (like the other rockets) is ~200 tons. V3 is expected to be ~200 tons with full reusability and ~400 tons expendable. Length will grow by 20 to 30 meters and thrust to ~10k tons."

LabPadre
14.03.2024 Starship Flight Test 3 with Starhip 10/28
13.03.2024 IFT-3: B10 and S28 transport stand left launch site at around 4:20

IFT-3: Davenport: "Am told the FAA is still on track for a Thursday launch attempt, which I guess would mean the license would come today. Still seems very fluid, but we should find out soon enough. The weather also could be a factor in the timing of the flight."

IFT-3: LR11000X prepared to be laid down

S29 rolled into high bay

IFT-3: Mary: "I have been notified that Village evacuation is a GO for launch attempt tomorrow!"

IFT-3: OLM detonation suppression system test at 12:24

IFT-3: Photographers set up remote cams at parking lot location

IFT-3: FAA: Final findings about the environmental impact of Starship landing in the Indian Ocean issued. FONSI (Finding of no significant impact) 1, 2

IFT-3: SpaceX: "Targeting Thursday, March 14 for Starship’s third flight test. A 110-minute launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT → http://spacex.com/launches"

IFT-3: FAA: Launch license issued

IFT-3: B10 ignitor tests performed

IFT-3: S28 flap tests at 15:25; B10 gridfin tests at 16:02

LabPadre
12.03.2024 S29 lifted off SoLS pad B ahead of IFT-3

IFT-3: FAA: Expansion to NOTAM from yesterday issued

IFT-3: FAA: New NOTAM for Gulf of Mexico published for Thursday 14 March.

IFT-3: OV-10 Squadron plane N16854 was spotted flying by the launch complex on Rover 2.   OV-10 Squadron has helped provide range support for previous Starship launches

Cape, LC37: EIS meeting tonight

B4 second grid fin removed

S29 detached from 2-point lifter

Cape, LC39-A: Parts of OLM leg at Pad 39-A are being dismantled; work on chopsticks

S29 moved at launch site

B14 LOX tank lifted onto its aft section, 24/24 rings tall

OLIT#3: First vertical column for a new segment has gone vertical

S29 and the 2-point lifter rolled back to the build site ahead of IFT-3

IFT-3: Elon Musk: "Flight 3 end of week, pending weather"

Elon Musk: "@SciGuySpace Hopefully, at least 6 more flights this year"

IFT-3: TFRs: TFRs issued for March 14 to March 15 for possible Starship flight operations; both for 11:50-14:31 UTC 1, 2

IFT-3: NOAA: A filing for NOAA's GOES-East geostationary weather satellite to observe Starship IFT-3 has been filed within the last hour, with a window stretching from 7:00-9:00 AM CDT on March 14.

LabPadre
11.03.2024 S29 Spin prime test

IFT-3: FAA: New re-entry and splashdown location issued, this time right off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

New intermittent RC for 12 & 13 March (2-4pm / 12-3am)

IFT-3: FAA: Marine warning issued for Indian Ocean; 14–18 March,

IFT-3: Cornwell: "Range security marine assets have started to chime into tracking services (for the first time since IFT-2) as SpaceX prepares for Starship flight 3."

LR11000X rolled over to lift position at Pad B for S29 lift

IFT-3: McDowell: "New Starship IFT-3 warning area [...] for Indian Ocean presumably indicates reentry area for a successful Raptor deorbit burn. Consistent with 100 m/s burn over Botswana reducing perigee from 50 km to -250 km."

OLM scaffolding removed ahead of IFT-3

S29 attached to LR11000X and 2-point lifter ahead of lift off Pad B

LabPadre
10.03.2024 OLM work platform left launch site to Sanchez site

Starship 10/28 restacked (#4)

Full duration flame deflector / deluge test performed at OLM (13:05)

Starship 10/28: Full speed retraction test on SQD, followed by reconnect

IFT-3: Coast Guard: MSIB posted for 14–18 March, 7-11am

LabPadre
09.03.2024 Chopsticks moved up to S28

IFT-3: Raptor stand returned to Sanchez site

IFT-3: FAA: ATC Advisory active for 14 March launch window

IFT-3, S29: remove before flight taps for payload door removed

LabPadre
08.03.2024 IFT-3, Starship 10/28: FTS delivered Ramirez and installed on B10 and S28 LabPadre
07.03.2024 S29 spin prime attempt

IFT-3: Jonathan MDowell: Calculated trajectory for IFT-3 published.

IFT-3: Mexican side NOTAM posted for NET 14 March launch

Starbase Starfactory: Glass being installed ot the front of the building (facing hwy 4)

IFT-3: Cameron County: Road closures posted; primary on 14 March (12am-2pm), backup 15–16 March (12am-2pm)

LabPadre
06.03.2024 S29 flaps deployed

IFT-3: Centering pins removed from OLM

IFT-3: Davenport: "The FAA is “very close” to approving the license modification for the third SpaceX Starship launch attempt, I'm told."

IFT-3: Notice to Mariners for launch March 14th onwards (7-11am)

IFT-3: SpaceX updates on objectives

B4 first grid fin removed

S29 flap test

LR11000X moved away from SoLS Pad B, for S29 testing

LabPadre
05.03.2024 S28 lifted off B10; Starship 10/28 destacked

B14 aft section emerged from Starfactory, now staged outside mega bay 1 ahead of stacking

IFT-3: WB-57 placeholder dates for potential Starship IFT-3 imagery added for 14 March and onwards

Chopsticks lowered from S28

B4 work on the fwd dome

IFT-3: A post not publicly accessible from SpaceX's X page lists an IFT-3 stream start time of **6:30 AM Central Time, March 14, 2024**. Until the publicity of this post is officially confirmed, **this may be a placeholder date and time** for the stream.

B14 aft section moved inside mega bay at 21:50 ahead of stacking

LabPadre
04.03.2024 S29 unhooked from crane LR11000X

B10 grid fin test at 16:28

LabPadre
03.03.2024 Village to be evacuated at 17:30

Chopsticks opened to flight position

Starship 10/26 Wet dress rehearsal

Deluge test at 22:52

LabPadre
02.03.2024 S29 lifted onto SoLS Pad B

OLM work platform rolled away from OLM area

Detonation suppression system test at 10:18:20

01.03.2024 New RCs for 03 March (5pm-3am), 04-05 March (8am-8pm)

S28 lifted onto B10, Starship 10/28 stack #3

S29 attached to LR11000X

LabPadre

February 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
29.02.2024 BQD attached to B10 on OLM

S28 disconnected from 2pt-lifter, rolled to the OLM area and arrived beween chopsticks at around 9:39

B14 3rd segment of CH4 tank moved out of Starfactory at 8:53, staged otuside mega bay 1, along with the 2nd section

Chopsticks lifted to S28 lift points

S29 rolled out from high bay to SoLS Pad B

28.02.2024 B10 moved from mega bay 1 to OLS

LR11000X picked up two-point lifter to remove S28 from SoLS Pad B

B10 lifted onto OLM by chopsticks

S28 lifted off Pad B

B14 LOX tank 5th segment moved into mega bay, lifted

SpaceX and NASA recently performed full-scale qualification testing of the docking system that will connect SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System (HLS) with Orion and later Gateway in lunar orbit during future crewed Artemis missions. Based on the flight-proven Dragon 2 active docking system, the Starship HLS docking system will be able to act as an active or passive system during docking. Full article: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-spacex-test-starship-lunar-lander-docking-system/

B14 2nd section of CH4 tank emerged from starfactory at 15:37, staged outside mega bay

LabPadre
27.02.2024 New intermittent RC for 28 February 2024 (5-8am)

B10 transport stand moved into mega bay 1

Mega bay 1 door opened, B10 had been lifted onto transport stand

LR11000X moved to Pad B

LabPadre
26.02.2024 S28 spin prime test

FAA: Mishap investigation on flight test 2 (IFT-2) closed

Pair of SPMT with counterweights moved to launch site

LabPadre
25.02.2024 S29 lifted off work stand in front left corner of mega bay 2 at around 1 am, set down on a transport stand 2 hours later

S29 moved from mega bay 2 to high bay at around 10:10

S29 moved into the front left corner of high bay

LabPadre
24.02.2024 S28 livery added, new decals added Starship Gazer]

Two-point lifter removed from S28 on Pad B

S28 flaps opened

LabPadre
23.03.2024 SpaceX appears to have modified the ship-lifting pin on the left chopstick to shift the lift point several inches towards the tower. This follows modification of the stabilizer arm to also move that pin a few inches towards the tower (2nd photo). This might be an attempt to fix the slight angular mismatch that occurs between the bottom of the ship and the top of the booster each time a ship is stacked. LabPadre LabPadre
22.02.2024 FAA: SpaceX has asked for permission to launch Starship at least nine times THIS year Eric Berger, arstechnica

SpaceX reinitiated the permit to expand the launchsite with the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers: "SpaceX reinitiated the permit application on 12 February 2024 with modified project plans requesting to fill a 0.16-acre wetland to construct a second orbital launchpad which will replace the current suborbital launch pad and test stand." SWG

RCs for 22 and 23 February revoked

LabPadre
21.02.2024 FTS explosives arrived at launch site for flight test 3 Starship Gazer LabPadre
20.02.2024 Detonators? "Explosives 1.4" delivered to explosives bunker

Large tank, apparently a water tank from a derelict steelworks, delivered at Masseys. Max allowable working pressure 250 PSI. Likely a tank for the pressurized deluge system for the ship static fire stand in-construction LabPadre, Cosmical Chief

B10 moved from launch to build site, into mega bay 1

LabPadre
19.02.2024 S28 moved out from between the chopsticks

OLIT#3 4 new tower segments arrived at Brownsville port from Florida (where they left on 8 February)

S28 rolled to and lifted onto SoLS test stand B by LR11000X

2 new vertical cryo storage tanks that arrived this morning hoisted into position in front of the new horizontal cryo tanks at the OLS tank farm. Purpose yet unknown LabPadre, cosmical Chief

B10 lifted off OLM by chopsticks

LabPadre
18.02.2024 Starship 10/28 destacked by chopsticks LabPadre
17.02.2024
16.02.2024 An Environmental Impact Statement has been filed for Starship operations on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  The Proposal calls for using SLC-37 (ULA's current Delta IV Heavy Pad which is ending its use after the final launch).  An alternative is proposed to use an undeveloped site between SLC-40 and SLC-37 as a new SLC-50.  Public Comment meetings are scheduled on the Space Coast in early March with a virtual period to be held on March 12. https://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/

Starship 10/28 WDR aborted after partial fuel loading

LabPadre
15.02.2024
14.02.2024 Lifting jig for S28 arrived at OLP

Starship 10/28 WDR aborted after minor fuel loading

Deluge test at OLM

LabPadre
13.02.2024 Starship 10/28 restacked

LR1750 at Sanchez site lowered

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation posted info on Starfactory

S28 flap tests at 18:24

B14 common dome section staged in front of Mega Bay after a LOX tank section was moved inside in preparation of first stacking

LabPadre
12.02.2024 SQD disconnected from S28, SQD arm swung away

Starship 10/28 destacked early morning

Elon Musk on flight test 3: "Starship were meant to fly and our next one launches in about 3 weeks..."

S28 lifted from its stand

LabPadre
11.02.2024 Starship 10/28 stacking completed, SQD attached to S28

B10 conducted ignitor tests at 14:51:49

LabPadre
10.02.2024 S28 arrived at the launch site

Starship 10/28 stacking started

LabPadre
09.02.2024 B10 lifted by chopsticks onto OLM

New intermittent RC for 10 February (12-3am, backup 8-10am)

S28 lifted off engine install stand onto a transport stand

First section of B14, a LOX quad, staged outside of mega bay 1

S28 rolled out to the launch site

LabPadre
08.02.2024 Cape: SpaceX has submitted updated site plans for the western site of its Roberts Road facilities (interestingly referred to as "Orange Grove project site"). One of the biggest notes here are the removal of the planned 288,000sqft expansion of HangarX2 and second highbay (8 June 2022). These areas will now be home to large parking lots, a dedicated "tower build area", and two "laydown / construction" yards. There's also a mention of a Bakery Facility, which may be referring to a facility for the production of Starship heatshield tiles. (Harry Stranger); full filings can be found here

Ring with clamp interfaceds on second ship raptor stand installed inside mega bay 2

B10 transport stand moved into mega bay 1

IFT-2 WB-57 footage released via a NASA FOIA (here)

B10 rolled out to launch site

Marmac2680 left KSC turning basin, towed out of port canaveral by Miss Jean with 4 OLIT#3 segments

LabPadre
07.02.2024 OLS tank farm: 9th and final cryogenic storage tank arrived at starbase and was moved into place LabPadre
06.02.2024 Four OLIT#3 segments rolled to Marmac barge and secured ahead of transport to Brownsville

Ship arrived at Port of Brownsville with 9th and final cryo tank for OLS tank farm expansion

LabPade
05.02.2024 Marmac 2680 barge headed towards KSC turn basin LabPadre
04.02.2024 Replacement Rvac moved under S28 and later installed LabPadre
03.02.2024 B13 CH4 tank stacked onto LOX tank - stacking complete

"The Texas 13th District Court of Appeals has unanimously overturned a ruling of Cameron County’s 445th state District Court in a lawsuit brought by SaveRGV, the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas Inc. against Cameron County, the Texas General Land Office and intervenor Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over SpaceX-related restrictions to public beach access." myrgv.com

LabPadre
02.02.2024 SpaceX: Pictures of Mega bay 1 with B13 LOX, B10, B12, B11, B13 LCH4

Mega bay 1 second door segment extended

S28 one Rvac engine removed (WAI)

4 Tower (OLIT #3) sections now staged next to the dock in Florida in order to being barged to Brownsville (Cape to Starbase)

B13 CH4 tank lifted off turntable in front right corner of mega bay ahead of final stacking

LabPadre
01.02.2024 Starbase, OLIT #3, first column of 8th segment lifted vertical

Tow OLIT #3 tower segments delivered to the dock area at ksc to be shipped to Starbase

LabPadre

January 2024[]

Date Description Source Link
31.01.2024 Raptor 2 center engine moved towards mega bay 2, possibly for installation on S29

S28, raptor 2 center engine removed using the truck raptor install stand at Sanchz, later swapped with another one, which then was installed; another Raptor 2 center engine moved into mega bay 2

Christian Davenport: "The FAA is on pace to issue a Starship launch license mid to late February, I’m told, in what is shaping up to be a busy month. Intuitive Machines plans to launch in time for a Feb. 22 lunar landing, which is the same day Crew-8 is scheduled to launch. Caveats about delays, etc."

LabPadre
30.01.2024 B13 both CO2 engine bay purge tank installed in mega bay 2; this is a new procedure as on previous boosters, this was done only after final stacking

Mega bay 1 new door tested

DOD requested SpaceX taking over starship for individual missions instead of contracting the company to launch payloads (aviationweek.com)

LabPadre
29.01.2024 LabPadre
28.01.2024 LR1750 picked up the 2-point lifter and was attached to S28, S28 lifted onto the rocket garden engine stand

SoLS: a cryo storage tank was removed by GMK1550 (Grover) crane and replaced

BQD and SQD retraction test

LabPadre
27.01.2024 New stand, believed to be for moving/storing 2-point ship lifter jig, moved into high bay on an SPMT. The stand subsequently emerged carrying a 2-point ship lifting jig as expected and headed between the bays towards Sanchez site

S28 left ring yard, moved to Sanchez site

S26 lifte off engine installation stand near rocket garden and set own on a transport stand by LR1750

LR1750 crane detached from S26, ship parked in the rocket garden, S28 still near the engine installation stand

LabPadre
26.01.2024 B10 hot staging ring moved to maga bay after leaving Starfactory

Second orbital launch tower section assembly at Starbase begun (OLIT #3) with one column being lifted vertically (Starship Gazer)

Mega bay 1: Door being installed

B10 hot staging ring reinstalled

S28 left high bay

LabPadre
25.01.2024 S28 moved back into high bay

B13 CH4 tank stacked onto the final 4-ring barrel after the latter was moved into mega bay 1, now 13 of 13 rings tall

LabPadre
24.01.2024 B12 lifted onto the middle stand in mega bay 1

Booster thrust simulator left mega bay and returned to sanchez site

New concrete blast wall installed between the OLM and OLS tank farm, replacing the previous Hesco barrier which didn't work well on flight test 2 (Cosmical Chief)

S28 relocated to the side of high bay after being lift off the turntable earlier today

LabPadre
23.01.2024 2 crane shipping stands spotted at launch site

OLIT #3 segment prefabrication footings installed at Sanchez

FAA to Bruce Baur: An FAA spokesperson confirms that SpaceX has submitted its mishap investigation report for agency review. Flight 3 launch license modification is also in the works.

B12 left rocket garden, moved to mega bay 1

B12 entered mega bay 1, bridge crane lifte dthe booster load spread ahead of lift

LabPadre
22.01.2024 First beam for 2nd OLIT at Starbase (=OLIT#3) arrived, for segment 8 LabPadre
21.01.2024
20.01.2024
19.01.2024 B12 returned from masseys to build site

B13 CH4 tank stacked onto another 3-ring section at 05:20, now 19 of 13 rings tall

Part of the concrete wall for the new building next to the deluge tanks at the OLS have collapsed, the cause is unknown (Cosmical Chief)

Steel plates added to concrete base of OLIT to protect the tower during launch (Cosmical Chief)

LabPadre
18.01.2024 LC-39a: New aerial footage shows the stalled progress on starship launch infrastructure (Commander MLA) LabPadre
17.01.2024 Large support beams added to cryo shell 7 which covers GSE-2 at OLS tank farm (Cosmical Chief)

There are plans to exchange land between SpaceX and the state park. SpaceX could then extend the build site eastwards and the launch site a bit westwards (KRGV)

SpaceX moving forward to make "Starbase" the official name for the facility at Boca Chica (Regan Beck, citing Cameron County documents)

LabPadre
16.01.2024 B13 CH4 tank stacking began in front right corner of mega bay 1 after a long delay, now 6 of 13 rings tall

8th and second last new cryo storage tank for OLS tank farm delivered

LabPadre
15.01.2024 B10 hot staging ring left mega bay 1 LabPadre
14.01.2024 7th new cryo storage tank for OLS tank farm delivered, two yet missing LabPadre
13.01.2024 Tent 3 removal completed early morning

2 tanks delivered to port of Brownsville (Jessica Kirsh)

LR11000X laid down at launch site

LabPadre
12.01.2024 SpaceX update by Elon Musk, main Starship points:
  • ETVC saved a lot of dry mass
  • With some upgrades down the road, Starship will produce 20M lbf of thrust, 3x the thrust of Saturn V
  • Water pressure from the water cooled steel plate would destroy the rocket if pointed straight up
  • Starship will launch from one tower while the other is upgraded
  • Plans to send 200t to orbit while being fully reusable
  • Ship 25 was lost because of a fire during a LOX dump, performed to get rid of the LOX they wouldn't have if they were launching a payload
  • Block 2 Ship will be more reliable and have better endurance
  • V3 Ship will be stretched, pushing the full stack height to 140m - 150m tall
  • Flight 3 will go to orbit, test the pez door, test an in-space engine burn from the header tank to prove they can reliably deorbit, and perform a tipping point header to main propellant transfer
  • New [multi segment pez door design](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/805895657214705667/1195518119255490660/2024-01-13_12-58-24.mp4) revealed
  • Starlink deployment by the end of the year
  • Want solve Ship to Ship docking by the end of this year but more likely by the end of next year

B12 cryo tested at Massey's test site

Special 26-axle SPMT arrived at launch site, indicating another "hotdog" cryo tank for OLS tank farm will be arriving soon

LabPAdre
11.01.2024 S30 lifted off thrust simulator and lowered onto a transport stand using a 2-point lifting jig in high bay at around 1:00 am; moved out of high bay into the ring yard at around 06:30

Tent 3 removal has commenced

S32 left high bay, moved towards rocket garden

S30 moved back into high bay

S31 moved back into high bay

LabPadre
10.01.2024 S30 arrived at rocket garden

B12 cryo tested at Massey's test site

S31 moved out of high bay to ring yard

S26 moved back to engine installation stand

S30 and ship thrust simulator moved from rocket garden to high bay

S26 lifted onto rocket garden engine stand

LabPadre
09.01.2024 HLS: Jessica Jensen (SpaceX) says that there will be approximately 10 refueling flights needed to get HLS lander to lunar orbit. Kshatriya mentioned that more information will be needed from flight tests. (Spaceflight Now)

Flight test 3 / IFT-3: Jessica Jensen said that they are workin towards flight test 3 now, however it will not include any time of propellant transfer. Hardware will be ready in January and they are hoping for a flight in February. (Spaceflight Now)

LR1750 detached from S26 at rocket garden

GSE8 tank lifted by LR11000X

GSE8 tank being scrapped

S31 second aft flap lifted into high bay and installed

S30 left Massey's test site

LabPadre
08.01.2024
07.01.2024 S26 moved away from it storage spot, but remains at rocket garden

LR1750 attached to S26 at 10:42

Hexagonal loadspreader on LR11000X attached to GSE 8 for removal at OLS tank farm

LabPadre
06.01.2024 Shell 2 scrapped into rings Zack Golden

Cryo Shell 8 at OLS tank farm attached to LR11000X at 15:39 and lifted at 19:24 [LabPadre, Zack Golden

LabPadre
05.01.2024 LR11000 moved next to OLS tank farm vertical tanks, shell load spreader attached

S28 lifted onto high bay turntable

Load spreader and LR11000X attached to old vertical water tank (shell 2) at the OLS tank farm for removal; lifted from 18:09-18:26

S31 first flap added

S30 cryo proof test

LabPadre
04.01.2024 S31 moved out of high bay into the ring yard for reorientation, later moved back into high bay

S28 lifted off SoLS Pad B by LR11000X and moved back to build site

GSE tank shell moved to OLS

LabPadre
03.01.2024 S32 lifted and placed on an engine installation stand in mega bay 1

New tank was delivered to Massey's outpost/test site John Cargile, WAI

S28 attached to LR11000X at SoLS

LR11000 crane at build site lowered ahead of possible reconfiguration / dismantling

S29 lifted onto new ship work stand in back left corner of mega bay 2 at 16:50

S30 Cryo proof test at Massey's test site

LabPadre
02.01.2024 New intermittent RC for 2 January (12pm-3pm) [for B10 roll-back]

B10 moved back to build site into mega bay 1

Two 16-axle SPMTs with 16 CW and ship-moving couplers arrived at launch site at 21:50; at 20:23, a pressurisation trailer arrived too [add: for S28 roll-back]

LR11000X crane grabbed the ship lifting squid [add: for S28 lift]

LabPadre
01.01.2024
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