Starship Development Thread #55

SpaceX Starship page

Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.

FAQ

When next launch? Wen IFT-4? IFT-4 is now NET June 1st. "Objective is for the ship to get past max heating or at least further than last time."
When previous launch? (IFT-3)? Booster 10 and Ship 28 launched on 2024-03-14.
What was the result? Booster makes it to the landing burn, but loses control and insufficient engines relight. RUD occurs at 462 m in altitude. S28 makes it to reentry but fails to face the heat shield in the correct direction, followed shortly by RUD. Payload door test and propellant transfer demo "complete".

Quick Links

Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)

Status

Road Closures - @bocaroad Mastodon bot

Type	Start (CDT)	End (CDT)	Status
Primary Date	2024-04-05 08:00	2024-04-05 20:00	Closure Scheduled.

Up to date as of 2024-04-02

Vehicle Status

As of 2024-05-08

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship	Location	Status	Comment
S24	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	IFT-1 launched on 2023-04-20. Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
S25	Atlantic Ocean	Destroyed	IFT-2 launched on 2023-11-18. Mostly successful launch and stage separation
S26	Massey's	On new test stand	Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, multiple mysterious changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. Rolls to Massey's May 8th, likely to test the new flame trench.
S28	Indian Ocean	Destroyed	IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Ship destroyed on reentry due to heat shield facing the wrong way.
S29	Launch site	Pending WDR	Spin prime Mar 11th, Static fire Mar 25th (6 engines) and 27th (1 engine)
S30	Highbay 1	Static fire completed	2x cryo: Jan 3rd and Jan 5th. Engines installed ~Apr 9th. Static fired May 8th.
S31	Massey's	Cryo testing	Cryo tested May 12th
S32	Rocket Garden	Resting	Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps
S33-34	Build Site	Parts spotted	To be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2

Booster	Location	Status	Comment
B7	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
B9	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt.
B10	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	IFT-3 launched on 2024-03-14. Booster destroyed shortly after failed landing burn attempt.
B11	Launch Mount	Pending WDR	Completed 2 Cryo tests. Static fired Apr 5th. Hot stage ring installed ~May 3rd.
B12	Megabay 1	Finalizing	Cryo x2
B13	Megabay 1	Testing	Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank)
B14	Megabay 1	Partially stacked	Stacking in progress
B15	Build Site	Assembly	Potential aft end spotted Jan 5th

Resources

LabPadre Channel | NASASpaceFlight.com Channel
NSF: Booster 7 + Ship X (likely 24) Updates Thread | Most Recent
NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread | Most recent
NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation | Most Recent
SpaceX: Website Starship page | Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)
FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list
FCC: Starship Orbital Demo detailed Exhibit - 0748-EX-ST-2021 application June 20 through December 20
NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)
Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
Production Progress Infographics by @RingWatchers
Raptor 2 Tracker by @SpaceRhin0
Acronym definitions by Decronym
Everyday Astronaut: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Everyday Astronaut: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates | Launch Tower | Merlin Engine | Raptor Engine

Old orbital tank farm map | Source.

50 comments

Starbase activities (2024-04-17):
Workers are preparing to remove two more of the old vertical cryo tanks. Starship Gazer photos and livestream, VickiCocks comments on crane preparation and lighting removal. The black LR11000 crane rolls into position mid-afternoon (Sean closeup).
OLM clamp replacements continue: Timelapse/highlights of clamp removal (Apr 11) and replacement (Apr 16/17).
New chopstick actuator is tested.
RGV Aerial tank farm flyover and plumbing analysis.
Starfactory progress: Painting continues, cladding installation is completed on one wall. Closeup from cnunezimages.
Massey's: New quick disconnect is lifted over flame trench.
Other:
SpaceX to build recreation center and sushi restaurant in Brownsville. Construction beginning NET May 1.
- Just letting you know that the Lemmy.World stickies are broken again, and we're still seeing Development Thread #54. I posted a link over there.
  I don't think there's anything you or I can do about it. Took me a while to realize what was happening.
  As always, thanks for these updates! They are very much appreciated even when I don't actively engage. Additionally, I keep meaning to thank you for posting Nitter links for as long as you could. You're awesome :)
  
  Ah shoot, thanks for reminding me! I forgot that this happens sometimes.
  I've found that deleting and undeleting the threads can sometimes force federation of the posts. Would you be able to report which threads are now stickied on .world? I think I might have fixed it, but I'm not logged in on .world.
  Glad to know that these updates are appreciated! Engagement gives me motivation to keep posting them!
  
  I think you've fixed it! Right now the stickies are this thread and the 7-18 bulletin :)
  Responding to your comment on thread #54: your early-April comment announcing this thread didn't appear until I clicked on the link in your reply today. My click seems to have pulled it over. Which seems like a really strange federation issue, given that all your other comments seem to appear in world. Though I guess I wouldn't know?
  If I get a chance this weekend I'll try to compare some World threads to Sh.itjust.works ones and let you know what I find!
  
  and the 7-18 bulletin :)
  Whoops, that shouldn't be still up either.
  Edit: Should be fixed now.