Mega Bay 2 (MB2) is a Vertical Integration Facility located at Starbase that is used for Ship assembly, including stacking operations, engine installation and payload integration. It has the same base area and height as Mega Bay 1, but it features twice as many windows on the upper space, which appears to be an open non office space.
Mega Bay 2 features a different internal layout to Mega Bay 1 with the multi-purpose elevated work stands in the front left, back left and centre back and a turntable in the back right. Mega Bay 2 is the only assembly facility that is attached to the Starfactory. Mega Bay 2 doors can fit the entire Static Fire Stand used for Ship engine testing in Massey's. Mega Bay 2 can also reserve a place for ships to have its pre-final-launch-rollout checkouts and Starlink (demo) loading prior to roll-out on the transport stand.
Mega Bay 2 was first occupied by Ship 29 (S29) on December 29, 2023. The facility's official debut during Flight 5 shown that the first Version 2 Ship 33 (S33) is the first vehicle produced in this facility, while Ship 34 (S34) is the second under construction at that time. It is also speculated that Flight 5 successful flight was celebrated at the office area of the Mega Bay accompanied by light shows where Mechazilla appear on the right side of the facility. Mega Bay produced all Version 2 ships. Currently, Ship 39 is in the MB, after it was stacked.
Major upgrades are being done to Mega Bay 2 to support the new Version 3 ship stacking. Stacking upgrade equipment was spotted and installed in it. Elon Musk pointed out that 'V3 hopefully launches end of year'[1] hinting that Mega Bay 2 would transition to Version 3 after S38's flight.
History[]
Although ground work started earlier, the first vertical columns of Mega Bay 2 were raised on the 20th of May 2023 and the final pre-fabricated section was installed on the 5th of August 2023. Mega Bay 2 was built using these sections to significantly reduce construction time. However after the final pre-fabricated section was installed a large amount of vertical and horizontal columns were still placed to construct the top of the bay where office space is located. The first windows were installed in this area on the 2nd of December 2023, signifying the near completion of the external structure.
Mega Bay 2 was first occupied by Ship 29 (S29) on December 29, 2023, and remained occupied until February 25, 2024. During this time, Ship 29 was located on a front left engine installation stand. However, after S29's departure from the bay, this stand was fully disassembled and transported to the Sanchez Site. A second stand was then gradually assembled in the centre back of the bay, which was then occupied by Ship 30 (S30) from April 4, 2024.
The original stand from the front left was then transported back to Mega Bay 2 and began being re-assembled in back left of the bay just before mid-April 2024. At the same time a turntable was spotted in the back right of the bay however it remains unclear whether the turntable is installed here or will be installed in the front right mirroring the layout of Mega Bay 1. Subsequently on April 17, 2024, legs for a 3rd Starship work stand were placed in the front left corner of the bay in the original position of the first work stand.
On May 1, 2024, S30 rolled out of Mega Bay 2 and on May 5, 2024, S26 rolled into Mega Bay 2. On May 7 a three ring barrel labelled “MB2 Dev Assembly” rolled into Mega Bay 2 to commission/test the robot welders. On May 8 S26 was lifted onto the Static Fire Stand and departed Mega Bay 2 for Massey's.
Mega Bay 2 replaced High Bay job, stacking Starship stages. So far, Mega Bay 2 have produced eight Starship. Mega Bay 2 completion was on-time to allow for Block 2 Starship stacking to start, while Version 1 ships are still undergoing experimental expended suborbital full stack test flights. Only one vehicle that was stacked in Mega Bay 2 has experienced a RUD during testing on the ground. Mega Bay 2 currently serves as the inspection, heat-tiles, flaps and engine installation station, final-pre-rollout-checkouts and star-link demo loading area for Version 3 Starship(s).
Timeline[]
- December 29, 2023 - S29 moved from High Bay to Mega Bay 2
- February 25, 2024 - S29 moved from Mega Bay 2 to High Bay
- April 4, 2024 - S30 moved from High Bay to Mega Bay 2
- May 1, 2024 - S30 moved from Mega Bay 2 to Starbase Launch/Testing Site
- May 5, 2024 - S26 moved from Rocket Garden to Mega Bay 2
- May 7, 2024 - Three ring barrel labelled “MB2 Dev Assembly” moved from Starfactory to Mega Bay 2
- May 8, 2024 - S26 moved from Mega Bay 2 to Massey Outpost
- July 6, 2024 - S31 moved from Massey Outpost to Mega Bay 2
- July 20, 2024 - S30 moved from High Bay to Mega Bay 2 and lifted onto Static Fire Stand
- July 21, 2024 - S30 moved from Mega Bay 2 to Massey Outpost
- July 22 ,2024 - 3 engines moved into Mega Bay 2 for S31; Raptor Centre 374; Raptor Vacuum 320; Raptor Vacuum 3
- July 23 2024 - 3 engines moved into MB2 for S31; Raptor Centre 386; Raptor Centre ?; Raptor Vacuum 376
- July 26 2024 - S31 moved from Mega Bay 2 to High Bay
- July 28, 2024 - S30 moved from Massey Outpost to Mega Bay 2 and lifted off of Static Fire Stand
- July 29, 2024 - S30 moved from Mega Bay 2 to Rocket Garden
- Aug 6 - S30 moved from Mega Bay 2 to Massey Outpost
- Aug 8 - S30 moved from Massey Outpost to Mega Bay 2
- Aug 9 - S30 moved from Mega Bay 2 to Rocket Garden
Gallery[]
