SpaceX

Starbase activities (2023-12-08):

• S26 was hooked up to a crane last night, and remained connected throughout the day.
• Road closure for December 8th revoked.
• Temporary and intermittent road delay posted for the night of December 10th/11th.
• Road delay is likely for S28 rollout.
• Another horizontal tank heading to Masseys
• SQD arm was swung away, and the chopsticks were slowly raised.
• Work on S28 TPS and the OLM continues

Starbase activities (2023-12-12):

• Today's road closure was revoked, and new closures have been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
• At the launch site, test stand A appears to be being scrapped. Video of SQD being demolished.
• Some sort of plumbing test involving venting was conducted at suborbital pad B.
• Work on the OLM, chopsticks, and S28 continues.
• Back at the build site, Starfactory is being expanded.
• More horizontal tanks are on their way to Starbase from Florida.

In other Starship news, Kathy Lueders (now general manager of Starbase) states that they are working to shift as much testing as possible from the launch site to Masseys.

Starbase itself is a hotbed of construction activity these days, she said, with a second orbital launch pad on tap as well as a million-square-foot factory, additional employee housing and office space all coming online, she said. The second pad is necessary for SpaceX’s goal of a faster launch cadence, while much of the engine testing is now taking place at SpaceX’s Massey test site on a former gun range west of Starbase, Lueders said.

“That test site is very critical,” she said. “What it allows us to do is keep our test operations … away from the beach. We know that it’s a pain in the butt for everybody when we have to (be) close the beach. And so we’re moving more of our testing over there so that it doesn’t impact operations that are over near the beach.”

She also confirms that the AFTS was triggered on IFT-2:

Lueders said Starship’s anomaly investigation team was still looking into why the Nov. 18 flight’s Automated Flight Termination Systems were activated.

Thanks for this! Really want to keep up with the goings on in space but it's really hard without Reddit.

Starbase activities (2023-12-13):

• Cones were deployed in preparation of S28 rollout
• Road closure for Dec 14th was revoked, but a road delay for Dec 14th early morning was posted, likely for S28 transport.
• Pipe prefabrication building is being demolished.
• Today's road closure was used for GSE testing at the launch site.
• Starfactory expansion continues.
• Work on the OLM and chopsticks continues.
• Two SPMTs enter the Highbay to move S30 out of the way of S28.
• Two more SPMTs are decked out with festive trimmings for S28 transport. Trimmings include a Santa, a Christmas tree, a reindeer, and Christmas lights. Additional festive photos.
• Demolition of suborbital pad A continues
• S30 rolls out of the Highbay
• Festive SPMTs are ready for S28 rollout

Starbase activities (2023-12-18):

• Chopsticks were exercised overnight
• In the early morning, B10 rolls out to the launch site, accompanied by another holiday-themed escort. Both vehicles for IFT-3 (S28 and B10) are now at the pad.
• Chopsticks close around B10 and engage the lift points
• Rear cover of BQD returned to launch mount area. (video)
• GSE vertical tank #7 welds cleaned and inspected, possibly in anticipation of tank removal/scrapping.
• Back at the build site, new nosecone welding station set up in the Starfactory expansion
• December 18th and 19th road closures revoked, 20th still listed as possible.
• Workers reattach pressure hoses to B10. NSF commentary livestream for potential B10 lift overnight.

Other related activities:

• Launch tower #3 segment 7 departs from the departs from the KSC Turning Basin

Starbase activities (2023-12-20):

• Overnight, BQD attaches to B10 and back shell of BQD hood is reinstalled.
• Main event: S28 performs a static fire at 13:37 CDT. SpaceX confirms all 6 engines ignited for the intended duration, and uploads some drone shots: Top down, slow-mo, additional angle.
• A small handful of S28's tiles are lost/damaged.
• S28 tests payload door (open-close) after static fire.
• S26 has had lots of external stringers added to its payload section. The mystery of S26 continues.
• B10 grid fins are exercised.
• Mary receives overpressure notice for December 21st. B10 testing?

Starbase activities (2023-12-15):

• The new horizontal tanks at the launch pad are getting connected up and tested
• New BQD hoses arrived at the launch site, and were installed later in the day
• B13 aft section was spotted and moved to Megabay 1
• S28 flaps were exercised
• Weird panels were welded to S26. Interesting speculation by Ringwatchers, but S26 remains a mystery.
• The SQD has festive lights now too

Daily summary compiled from users on the Starship dev thread over on Reddit

12/15/23

It appears that Tower Pieces are being moved from Florida to Texas. The launch ring in Hangar M at the Cape might roll out onto a barge soon. There was a second tower under construction at 39A, and parts at Roberts Road were intended for a second Starship tower at KSC. SpaceX initially planned a second tower at Boca Chica but dropped the permit request. Now, it seems the tower segments at Roberts Road are destined for a second Starship tower in Boca Chica, possibly for launching and landing Tanker Starships in a rapid salvoing process. It seems like the limiting factor might be the tank farm's capacity to fill Tankers with methalox. The ultimate goal may be controlling multiple Ships in LEO for refilling missions. Tower segments are being transported to Starbase, with various activities observed throughout the day.

Starbase activities (2023-12-16):

• SPMTs leave the launch site, taking S28's transport stand with them.
• B13's LOx tank is stacked
• Starkitty sighting.
• Megabay 2 is coming along. Outfitted with some sort of build stand deck.
• Main event of the day: S28 conducted a spin prime test. Full NSF livestream.
• D1 gate to the suborbital tank farm has been opened after a couple months of construction.
• A holiday drone show (sponsored by SpaceX) took place over South Padre.

Starbase activities (2023-12-09):

• Chopsticks were lowered and the ship quick disconnect arm was exercised. The chopsticks were later closed.
• S26 still connected to the crane, not being scrapped, not being worked on.
• Work on S28 TPS and the OLM continues
• Two 10-axle SPMTs entered the High Bay, likely for shuffling the ships around in advance of S28's presumed rollout to the launch site on Sunday night.

Other Starship news:

• Ryan Hansen is working on a computational fluid dynamics simulation of booster propellant slosh during hot-staging. Looks like it could be an interesting analysis.

What are people's thoughts on the fate of S26? Will it be scrapped? Will they do further modifications or testing?

Starbase activities (2023-12-10):

• Not too much action today.
• No observed changes to S26. Still connected to up to a crane in the rocket garden.
• Work on the OLM continues
• The SpaceX LR 11000 crane was rolled over to the launch tower. Later in the day, the crane was connected to the Ship Quick Disconnect arm. Looks like they're planning on lowering at least a portion of it. (Rover 2.0 Cam)
• For the first time in several days, I didn't spot any lifts at S28. Perhaps this means it is ready for rollout tonight?

Starbase activities (2024-01-03):

• Two SPMTs arrive at the launch site for S28 rollback. Squid lifting jig attached later in the day.
• S30 cryo tested at Massey's.
• Another large tank delivered. Looks like one of the two that arrived with the tower section last week. Likely a vertical tank destined for Massey's.
• One of the launch site LOx pumps was removed and replaced with the new pump which was delivered yesterday.
• The build site LR11000 crane lies down, likely indicating completion of Megabay 2.
• Excavation work has begun on the Massey's flame trench.
• Some shrubbery was (seemingly) mistakenly delivered to the launch site.
• Road delay posted for Jan 4th from 15:00 to 17:00.

Starbase activities (2023-12-23):

• Not too much action today either.
• B10's transport stand rolls back to its storage area at the launch site. Possibly a sign that B10 is in good health?
• Following the recent "GATEWAY TO MARS" sign, a "SPACEX" sign is installed over the new entrance to the launch complex. Letters arriving, partway through installation ("SP CE "), ("SPACE "), ("SPACE^X^"), (mostly) complete.

The LR11000 has moved into the space near gate D2 where they recently demolished the storage sheds. I think it's there to handle the last three horizontal tanks (unless it's just there to compact the new asphalt...)

Starbase activities (2024-01-05):

• S28 moves to high bay.
• S30 performs its 2nd cryo test.
• S31 aft flap installation.
• New booster aft end spotted at Starfactory. Possibly B15.
• Scrapping of the old vertical tanks begins, with the removal of the unused water tank. Zack Golden speculates on why this tank was removed first. Stargazer is live to cover the "cutting torch party".
• Chopsticks are repainted.
• Some concrete under suborbital pad B is being cut up and removed. Unclear at this point whether this is minor maintenance or the start of a complete teardown with all ship testing moving to Massey's.
• The red LR11000 is disassembled, following the completion of Megabay 2.
• Starkitty sighted :)

Other:

• Updated Ringwatcher's Raptor diagram is released.

Starbase activities (2023-12-29):

• B12 is moving to Massey's.

• S26 mystery continues, as a second row of stringers is added.

• S29 moves out of the Highbay and into Megabay 2, where it is hooked up to a 2-point lifting jig.

• Preparations underway to move S30 to Massey's.

• Tower segment and two (relatively small) horizontal tanks arrive in Brownsville Port.

• Main event: Static fires of both S28 and B10.

• S28 static fire was a single engine for roughly 6 seconds, simulating "flight-like startup for an in-space burn"), likely using the header tanks.

• B10 static fire was 33 engines for roughly 10 seconds. Zack Golden compares to B9 static fire.

• OLM pad looks in good condition, but a shipping container disappeared (and reappeared), and a small sign was damaged.

• Road delay posted for Dec 30th from 00:00 to 03:00.

Other:

• SpaceX posts another aspirational/inspirational video, similar to their original ITS video.
• CEO speculates hourly booster reuse, daily ship reuse, and stresses the importance of ship production rate.

NSF are live for today's testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWYZ90lAUOk

S28 has performed a static fire. B10 is up next.

Starbase activities (2023-12-31):

• Not much action today.
• No major vehicle movement or testing.
• Minor work on the OLM, chopsticks, and tank farm, visible on NSF Starbase Live and LabPadre Rover 2.0.

Other:

• Zack Golden shared a sneak peek of what is likely Ryan Hansen's computational fluid dynamics simulation project.

Happy New Year, all!

Starbase activities (2024-01-01):

• New Year's fireworks
• Very quiet New Year's day.
• Venting observed at Massey's, but no major tests are done on B12 or S30.
• Road delay still scheduled for Jan 2nd from 06:00 to 09:00 for transportation operations. I wonder what they're transporting?

Starbase activities (2023-12-22):

• Not too much action today.
• Mary received an overpressure notice, but the road closure was ultimately cancelled, and no significant B10 testing took place.
• B10 transport stand moves next to OLM.
• Raptor installation stand rolls out to launch site.
• Dec 27th road closure is still possible.
• Road delay advisories posted for Dec 28th and 29th from 00:00 to 03:00 for transportation operations.

Starbase activities (2023-12-24):

• 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all throughout Starbase, not a creature was stirring, not even an SPMT or Aerial Work Platform.
• Nice timelapse of the "SPACEX" letters being installed yesterday (2023-12-23), ending with a shot of them lit up alongside "GATEWAY TO MARS".

Other Starship dev related info:

• New Ringwatcher's production diagram is posted.
• According to Zack Golden, the static fire testing infrastructure at Massey’s will include a large flame trench.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Starbase activities (2023-12-26):

• Another very quiet day.
• Chopsticks have been lowered.
• Road closure still possible for December 27th.

Starbase activities (2023-12-25):

• Christmas day delivery (LN2) to the orbital tank farm.
• Very quiet day otherwise.

Starbase activities (2023-12-17):

• Not too much action today.
• Starlink ground-station antennas installed at the Sanchez site.
• At least one lift observed near S28. Monday road closure still scheduled for potential static fire.
• Work on the OLM and chopsticks continues.

Since not much happened today, here are some more videos of Saturday's drone show:

• Backstage
• Starship (video)
• SpaceX logo

Other:

• Excellent Ringwatchers article on booster propellant plumbing

Road closure revoked for today.

They're now cutting up the shell of one of the vertical methane tanks. They managed to suck all the perlite out when we weren't looking.

Starbase activities (2024-01-04):

• S31 moves from Rocket Garden to High Bay.
• S28 rolls back to build site.
• LOx pump motor reinstalled following yesterday's LOx pump replacement.
• Cribbing delivered to the launch site, and the black LR11000 rolls toward the old vertical tanks. Cribbing and counterweights indicate preparations for a heavy lift.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article on Starship's Propellant Distribution System.

Starbase activities (2024-01-02):

• B10 rolls back to the build site, enters Megabay 1, and is removed from the transport stand.
• S28 rollback looks like it may soon follow B10. Hopefully this means that the static fires went well.
• New LOx pump delivered to launch site.
• Possible road closure still listed for Jan 3rd from 08:00 to 18:00. They did use the primary date (Dec 29th) for the S28 and B10 static fires, so not sure if they'll use the alternate dates (Jan 3rd and 4th) for anything.

Starbase activities (2023-12-30):

• S30 moves to Massey's to join B12 for cryo testing.
• B10 is removed from the launch mount; the chopsticks are rather noisy.
• SpaceRhin0 has identified the layout of engines on B10, and Zack Golden has some interesting thoughts on temporary sensors and booster plumbing.

Starbase activities (2023-12-11):

• Last night's road delay went unused and today's road closure was revoked.
• A couple cryo deliveries to the launch site.
• B12 moved from front left corner to back left corner of Megabay, where B10 was previously.
• Small(ish) cryo tank delivered to the launch site.
• S26 disconnected from crane. Perhaps it won't be scrapped after all?
• Quite a bit of activity at the SQD arm.
• The Booster Quick Disconnect (BQD) was also tested (Peekaboo!)
• Work on the OLM and the chopsticks continues.
• A couple lifts were observed near S28, so perhaps the ship isn't quite ready for rollout yet.

Starbase activities (2023-12-14):

• S28 rolls out to the pad in the early morning. Festive, festive, festive! (NSF livestream with commentary)
• Highbay ship shuffle: S29 rolls out of Highbay, S30 rolls back into Highbay, S29 rolls back into Highbay.
• S28 was lifted onto the remaining suborbital test stand (pad B) at the launch site, though not without some difficulty.
• New road closures posted for Dec 16th, Dec 18th, 19th, and 20th.
• Work on the OLM and chopsticks continues.

Starbase activities (2023-12-28):

• Dec 28th early-morning road delay is used to transport the booster thrust simulator stand to the Megabay, likely to receive B12.
• 2-point ship lifting jig is transported to the rocket garden ahead of testing at Massey.
• Another horizontal tank arrives at the launch site, is transferred to a waiting SPMT, and is slotted neatly into the gap between the existing five horizontal tanks. (Timelapse of entire process)
• Road closure still scheduled for Dec 29th. Mary has received an overpressure notice, likely for B10 testing.
• Road delay posted for Jan 2nd from 06:00 to 09:00.

Starbase activities (2023-12-27):

• Today's road closure was cancelled.
• No major testing took place, but there was venting and more venting from the tank farm, and LOUD venting from B10.
• B10's SPMTs depart from the launch site, drop their counterweights at the storage yard, and head towards the Rocket Garden.
• Starfactory work continues.
• A horizontal tank arrives at the Port of Brownsville.
• Road closure posted for Dec 29th, with alternate dates on Jan 3rd and Jan 4th.

NSF are live for potential B10 static fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJKVjLA1cMg

Starbase activities (2023-12-21):

• FireX is tested in the morning.
• Main event: B10 testing. LOx and methane are loaded, held for a while, and eventually detanked, but with a very delayed depress vent. This is unusual (Zack Golden tweet). ~~Some dude who claims to not work for SpaceX, but has worn a SpaceX hardhat reports that the ground connection to B10 was severed for some reason.~~ (Edit: This is likely an unreliable source)
• Lots of ground work at Massey's, likely for more cryo tanks.
• New possible road closure posted for Dec 27th.

Other:

• Kathy Lueders' full post-launch conference is posted on YouTube. Zack Golden's summary.
• Sub-scale mockup elevator for HLS is tested
• Some dude I've never heard of named Sergio, but who many people seem to like, needs a new kidney.

Starbase activities (2024-01-06):

• S26 receives a third row of stringers. From limited available data, Lab Padre makes a humorous extrapolation referencing a certain breakfast cereal. The S26 mystery continues.
• The tank shell removed yesterday is cut into sections and scrapped. Starship Gazer livestreams the process, and Vicki Cocks tracks each section removed.
• A second tank shell is removed. It is carefully disconnected to preserve functionality of the internal tank. Starship Gazer livestreams day 2 of the cutting party. Unclear whether they will continue scrapping more than these two tank shells at this point, or stop for now.

Other:

• SpaceX CEO will give a company talk with Starship updates on January 11th.

Really hoping for no major setback after what happened during the last tests with the booster.

Static fire!

Potential static fire of S28 today. NSF are live: https://youtube.com/watch?v=vO4olRWhFQs

Zack Golden seems to have guessed wrong! The vertical inner tank which was exposed yesterday is next to be removed. LR11000 is currently being hooked up to the tank.

Starbase activities (2023-12-19):

• B10 lifted on to the orbital launch mount. Slight issue with some obstructing scaffolding, but ultimately fine. Stabilization pins release, and chopsticks release and move upwards.
• The raptors have protective covers
• B10 cable management is better than on B9
• FireX tested with B10 in place
• Two more raptor boost engines delivered behind mega bay
• New potential road closures posted for December 21st and 22nd.