Orbital Launch and Integration Tower 3 (OLIT #3), confusingly often referred to as Tower 2, despite being the third tower overall (the second being at Cape Canaveral), is the second tower under construction at Pad B of the Starbase launch site. Stacking of the modules is completed. This tower is being assembled using the CC8800-1 crane at the Starbase Launch/Testing Site.
According to MLGPure, OLIT-3 will, unlike OLIT-1, have an all-metal base which is built into the original structure.[1]
During the Crew-9 webcast, SpaceX said that the plan is to get Pad B online early during 2025. Although this is more likely to actually occur sometime in mid 2025.
Construction History[]
In May 2024, a new FAA OEAAA filing was published, according to which the tower 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.[2]
Following completion of OLIT #3's foundations over the preceding months, the first base column was raised vertical and put in place on the 13th of June 2024 and the last base column was raised vertical and put in place just two days later on the 15th of June 2024. Over the next month the base was prepared with the addition of lots of steel plates, concrete and footings for the tower segments. On the 11th of July 2024, the first OLIT #3 Module was stacked on top of the base and on the 21st of August the final module was stacked, completing the stacking of this tower in 41 days.
On 24 September 2024, parts for what appear to be the first segments of the new OLM have been spotted heading towards Sanchez site.[3] The design appeared to be significantly upgraded with SpaceX having opted to a quadradic design rather than a circular, and water cooling of the upper layer with water inlets on the side. On the 1st of October a newly arrive corner piece was lifted onto an assembly stand marking the official start of orbital launch mount assembly[4]. On 6 May 2025, the mostly completed OLM rolled out to be installed at the Pad B launch site. The installation of the OLM on top of the launch site's support columns happened about a week later, on 12 May 2025, and the OLM is currently undergoing post-installation work as part of some of the final pad preparations before it can support a launch in the near future.
As of the 28th of January 2025, the chopsticks have been installed onto OLIT-3 and is being fitted out for operation.
Construction Timeline[]
- 13 June 2024: First base column installed
- 15 June 2024: Final base column installed
- 11 July 2024: Module 1 Stacked
- 16 July 2024: Module 2 Stacked
- 18 July 2024: Module 3 Stacked
- 25 July 2024: Module 4 Stacked
- 1 August 2024: Module 5 Stacked
- 3 August 2024: Module 6 Stacked
- 15 August 2024: Module 7 Stacked
- 17 August 2024: Module 8 Stacked
- 21 August 2024: Module 9 Stacked
- 24 September 2024: Parts for what appear to be the first segments of the new OLM have been spotted heading towards Sanchez site[3]
- 1 October 2024: OLM assembly started
- 20 October 2024: Chopstick cable chain installed
- 14 November 2024: Chopsticks winch has been installed
- 18 January 2025: Chopsticks carriage rolled to Pad B
- 18 January 2025: Chopsticks carriage lifted onto mobile support for Chopsticks assembly
- 20 January 2025: Chopsticks rolled to Pad B
- 20 January 2025: Second mobile support for Chopsticks assembly assembled
- 24 January 2025: the two chopsticks were lifted onto the mobile support for chopsticks assembly
- 28 January 2025: Chopsticks Installed onto Orbital launch integration tower 3
- 16 March 2025: Concrete cooling on flame trench started
- 20 March 2025: First of several flame trench wall sections delivered
- 22 March 2025: workers started to drill holes in the flame deflector pipes
- 6 May 2025: OLM rolled out to Pad B
- 12 May 2025: OLM installed at Pad B
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1250944787746652210 (13 June 2024)
- ↑ https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=619969843&row=9
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://twitter.com/BocaChicaGal/status/1838592159777235383
- ↑ https://fixupx.com/StarshipGazer/status/1841169226737885624