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Starship Development Thread #48

SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

When (first) orbital flight? First integrated flight test occurred April 20, 2023. "The vehicle cleared the pad and beach as Starship climbed to an apogee of ~39 km over the Gulf of Mexico – the highest of any Starship to-date. The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble. The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and ship."
Where can I find streams of the launch? SpaceX Full Livestream. NASASpaceFlight Channel. Lab Padre Channel. Everyday Astronaut Channel.
What's happening next? SpaceX has assessed damage to Stage 0 and is implementing fixes and changes including a water deluge/pad protection/"shower head" system. No major repairs to key structures appear to be necessary.
When is the next flight test? Just after flight, Elon stated they "Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months." On April 29, he reiterated this estimate in a Twitter Spaces Q&A (summarized here), saying "I'm glad to report that the pad damage is actually quite small," should "be repaired quickly," and "From a pad standpoint, we are probably ready to launch in 6 to 8 weeks." Requalifying the flight termination system (FTS) and the FAA post-incident review will likely require the longest time to complete. Musk reiterated the timeline on May 26, stating "Major launchpad upgrades should be complete in about a month, then another month of rocket testing on pad, then flight 2 of Starship."
Why no flame diverter/flame trench below the OLM? Musk tweeted on April 21: "3 months ago, we started building a massive water-cooled, steel plate to go under the launch mount. Wasn’t ready in time & we wrongly thought, based on static fire data, that Fondag would make it through 1 launch." Regarding a trench, note that the Starship on the OLM sits 2.5x higher off the ground than the Saturn V sat above the base of its flame trench, and the OLM has 6 exits vs. 2 on the Saturn V trench.

Quick Links

Starship Dev 47 | Starship Dev 46 | Starship Dev 45 | Starship Dev 44

Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread

Status

Road Closures

Type	Start (UTC)	End (UTC)	Status
Primary	2023-08-24 13:00:00	2023-08-25 01:00:00	Cancelled
Alternative	2023-08-25 14:00:00	2023-08-26 02:00:00	Concluded
Alternative	2023-08-28 13:00:00	2023-08-27 01:00:00	Cancelled

Up to date as of 2023-09-05

Vehicle Status

As of 2023-09-05

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

Ship	Location	Status	Comment
S20	Rocket Garden	Retired
S24	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	Destroyed on during Flight Test 1
S25	Stacked on B9	Spin Prime and Static Fire
S26	Rocket Garden	Cryo tested
S27	Rocket Garden	Scrapped	Common dome imploded
S28	Engine Install Stand	Raptors installed	Previously tested at Masseys
S29	High Bay	Under construction	Flap installation in progress
S30	High Bay	Under construction
S31	High Bay	Under construction
S32	Build Site	Parts spotted
S33	Build Site	Parts spotted
S34	Build Site	Parts spotted

Booster	Location	Status	Comment
Pre-B7 & B8		Scrapped or Retired	B4 is in the Rocket Garden, the rest are scrapped.
B7	Gulf of Mexico	Destroyed	Destroyed April 20th in Flight Test 1
B9	Launch mount	Hot-stage ring installed	Static fire (August 5th)
B10	Megabay 1	Cryo tested
B11	Rocket Garden	Resting
B12	Megabay 1	Grid fins installed
B13	Build Site	Parts under construction
B14	Build Site	Parts under construction
B15	Build Site	Parts under construction

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

84 comments

Apparently two engines shut down prematurely. Is that good enough for them to continue stacking? We should see soon enough.
https://x.com/spacex/status/1695158759717474379?s=46&t=Mj914Aam14loAYQOISZ9zQ

"SpaceX Files its Starship Mishap Report to the FAA" by Jack Kuhr at Payload.
SpaceX has filed a final mishap investigation report to the FAA for its April 20 Starship integrated flight test, the FAA told Payload on Tuesday. ...
SpaceX delayed submitting the final report for months while it implemented significant changes to both the launch vehicle and pad....
The changes mostly being the booster bidet, but there's also the Flight Termination System (FTS).
The FAA did not provide a specific timeline for its review process, leaving the timeframe for potential approval up in the air. SpaceX will need the go-ahead from the FAA before it launches again.
- I'm looking forward to some journalist FOIAing this report so we don't have to keep guessing about what's in it.

Static fire!
Edit: Full duration (~6 seconds), targeted 50% thrust. Exact number of engines to be confirmed.
- Yes looked great. Now hopefully a stack of ship 25 next week. A launch in September looks realistic, depending on FAA license…
- looked good, they seem on a path of great progress this week

Pics of the hot staging ring from SpaceX!
https://x.com/spacex/status/1692610662604702138?s=46&t=Mj914Aam14loAYQOISZ9zQ
Looks great to me, can’t wait to see this thing fly. Hope they get to staging.
- Links to the individual images (I've heard that, at one point, people couldn't see tweets without logging into to Txixxer but could see images):
  Image 1
  Image 2
  Note that there's someone taking a break on top of the dome in image 2.

According to a SpaceX label, it's for Human Landing System, presumably a mockup or test article.
Chris Bergin - NSF @NASASpaceflight 4:20 PM · Aug 12, 2023, "Mary ( @BocaChicaGal) took some cool shots of the Ship 22 nosecone that went on a wander today. Human-sized door on its side!"
Image 1 -- Image 2 -- Image 3
Jack Beyer @thejackbeyer 5:05 PM · Aug 12, 2023, "The former S22 nosecone with a door that was rolled out today has an electrical box that says "HLS" on it... neat. @NASASpaceflight"
Image 1 -- Image 2 -- Image 3
TheSpaceEngineer @mcrs987 5:48 PM · Aug 12, 2023, "This is what we currently believe the interior of the Ship 22 crew cabin article looks like. -lol in the time it took to make this infographic it has now been confirmed to be HLS related"
Image

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
9:30am- There were workers inspecting the pad shortly after the test and then there was 1 lift at the top of the OLM and 1 lift up at the chopsticks overnight. 1st shift started moving equipment back in when they arrived but they haven’t started any meaningful work as of yet. A lift has also been up at one of S25’s lift points this morning.
10:10am- I thought the lack of work on the OLM might be a sign that B9 would roll during the early closure but no sign of movement yet
11:45am- Lifts going up and down to the top of the OLM
1:07pm- Workers at the SQD
1:17pm- Side wing with the work platform swings away from the SQD
3:32pm- Crane returns to the launch pad
3:51pm- Crane removes a load from the dance floor
4:10pm- Crane removes a 2nd load of what looks like scaffolding pieces
4:22pm- 3rd load lifted and crane lowers
4:31pm- Crane leaves
5:00pm- Second closure window opens. B9 remains tucked away in the mega bay.
6:22pm- SPMT’s are still sitting outside of the mega bay. I think we can safely say they aren’t going to get B9 moved in the closure window.
6:32pm- Water truck filling up the plastic barriers around the mid bay.
8:00pm- Lifts have been up and down at the OLM. Water truck continues to fill the barriers around the mid bay. SPMT’s still sitting outside the mega bay.
9:30pm- 2 lifts have been up under the right side of the OLM working (on one of the pipes?)
10:30pm- Same 2 lifts up. Have moved to the back some
(This gets synced)

Nice picture of Starship 29 rolling out of a high bay. Courtesy of Starship Gazer @StarshipGazer here.

Starship Gazer @StarshipGazer 11:31 AM · Aug 29, 2023:
A close look at Starship 25 tiles this morning. 8/29/23
Specifically, the tip of S25's nosecone. In images 3 and 4, note that two tiles have cracked-off chunks.
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
- Surely they'll fix them up? Or maybe they're not that confident it will get to reentry anyway. Or even if it does they want to see how damaged tiles behave. Idk, just spitballing here

Looks like we have a tentative date for the next flight! August 31st. Obviously won’t hold, but this and the FAA Mishap report finally show some movement on the paperwork side.
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1691829712203497738?s=46&t=Mj914Aam14loAYQOISZ9zQ
- set expectations accordingly
  Got it: skyhigh, blocking off my calendar, starting the watch party planning

SpaceX is live for today's static fire test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENxZS6PUDuI

In re the 15-degree engine firing gimbal test mentioned here:
Musk xeexed 3:11 AM · Aug 18, 2023: "Landing burn max gimbal deflection"

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
8:45am- Lifts were up at the chopsticks, OLM, and the right rear chine overnight. Workers were also seen on top of the OLM.
2:04pm- Crane lifts another staircase segment into the new mega bay
3:47pm- Aerial work platform goes up to the underside of the SQD arm
6:23pm- Crane arrives near the chopsticks
6:30pm- Lift goes up to the chopsticks
7:04pm- 2nd crane arrives. Mini excavator working over by the dog house. (Breaking up fondag?)
8:05pm- Crane lifts the hydraulic arm, that operates the booster alignment pin on the right side, off of the OLM
9:15pm- Crane lifts the left side alignment pin unit off
(This gets synced)

Mishap Investigation has been closed!
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1700148557641097474?s=46&t=Mj914Aam14loAYQOISZ9zQ
63 corrective actions identified, but doesn’t state how many of those have been implemented already. And report won’t be made public, unfortunately.

4 years ago, Starhopper flew. YouTube video.
- It's pretty incredible to look at the build and launch sites back then vs now. None of the predicted program timelines were close to right, but the progress is still really impressive.
- I remember that day, good memories.

The deluge mentioned in the linked timeline from /u/santacfan:
Anthony Gomez @AnthonyFGomez 9:56 PM · Aug 18, 2023
Suppression system is pretty wild. It almost sounded like a static fire. Bravo, @SpaceX That was one heck of a show.
It was! It is loud, though. With the nighttime video and muted dark colors, it looked astonishing! I wish I could download it, it's so artistic ... but of course that would be copyright violation and I would never recommend that.

No comments about the spin prime test? under 10K viewers live on spaceflightnow
- This was the first time I've watched a spin prime live and I think it must be an acquired taste :P
  Can't wait for the static fire!

Road closure for Monday: https://x.com/bocaroad/status/1691876519457554600?s=46&t=Mj914Aam14loAYQOISZ9zQ
With the hot staging ring already on B9, this could be for more booster static firings, but then we’ll need a transport road closure for that as well.

This thread maybe... ok, maybe not haha.

A bit of talk about the recent static fire, where 4 engines didn't ignite. /u/warp99 stated,
There have been a lot of subsequent tests on the GSE that supplies spin up gas to the outer ring of 20 engines.
That certainly implies that the four that failed to start cleanly may have been starved of spin up gas as all outer engines started together.
With IFT1 the startup process was staggered over three seconds and three groups of engines. SpaceX are going to cut that startup time in half which likely means starting in two groups which are probably all inners followed by all outer engines.
I think that's an interesting take, and more reassuring than engine problems, which a lot of other people have assumed.
- That’s very compelling, but I guess we won’t ever know. Regardless I’m happy they can try again soon, instead of having to work 2 weeks to restore the pad after each static fire.
  I wouldn’t mind them spending the next few weeks just doing 5-10 static fires to make sure they got everything right.
  
  My gut says that if raptor reliability was as poor as the static fire makes it seem then we would be seeing more signs of panic. But now I'm unsure whether any of that would be visible to us. It sure seems like they're feeling good about things, and this theory matches that.

Abhi Tripathi @SpaceAbhi 6:32 PM · Aug 16, 2023:
For context, in my relevant personal experience the FAA doesn't just receive a mishap report thrown over a wall at them. They are read into the investigation and findings and corrective actions all along the way and not surprised. So I would disagree with the word "nuts."
in describing sending the FAA the report on August 16 and immediately getting a Notice to Mariners for August 31.
The poster also doesn’t recognize that the FAA typically doesn’t issue a bunch of corrective actions in these cases. They often approve or comment against the self identified corrective actions.
Generically speaking: In all the Aerospace investigations I’ve worked on, corrective actions don’t start only when a report is issued. They start on Day 1.

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
3:05am- Dance floor lowered on to its carrier
3:52am- Dance floor drives away
7:25am- Lifts were up most of the night and workers started to remove equipment from around the OLM.
10:04am- SQD arm swings out of the way
10:13am- Chopsticks go up
11:00am- One lift still at the pad and no sign of pressure washers yet. I also just noticed this morning that they put hesco barriers (the big dirt filled containers) in front of the container they brought over to the side of the pad the other night. Are they really thinking about leaving it there for a launch?
1:12pm- Workers removing the tarp that covers the deluge plate
1:25pm- Forklift hauling away the tarp
1:36:44pm- B9 ambient air depress vent?
1:37:49pm- Another vent
1:38pm- Grid fins tested
2:36:56pm- FireX test
2:57pm- Sheriff at the road block
3:16:34pm- Much larger FireX test
3:46pm- Adrian predicts that it will be at least 7pm cdt before a test occurs
5:06pm- OTF venting
5:18pm- Pope stack
6:16pm- OTF venting really picking up
6:37pm- OLM vent
7:25pm- OLM vent stops. Propellant loading should be under way. Appx 30 minutes until spin prime
7:34pm- Lox frost line
7:45pm- OLM vent. Propellant load should be done
7:48pm- Engine venting
8:11:15pm- FireX
8:11:34pm- Spin prime
8:13:31pm- Depress vent
8:18pm- Recondenser on
8:30:05- Purge vent test
8:46:35pm- Tower vent
8:50:03pm- Another purge vent test
9:51pm- 3rd purge test
10:04pm- Another depress vent
10:05pm- One stream of water from the FireX
10:42pm- Road open
(This gets synced)

Top-level posts just added:
[SpaceX] September 8, 2023: Upgrades Ahead Of Starship’s Second Flight Test That is, it's a statement from SpaceX itself about the major problems it saw on Starship test 1, and several changes it has made.
[Chris Bergin, Abhi Tripathi @SpaceAbhi] SpaceX LEADS the investigation It's not appreciated that SpaceX did the investigation, decided on corrections, and wrote the report. The FAA provides feedback, but we don't know how much.

Short video of Booster 9 rolling out: https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1694019925667459409?s=46&t=Mj914Aam14loAYQOISZ9zQ
They can roll out to the launch pad today. There’s a possible closure tomorrow for a static fire.

Zack Golden @CSI_Starbase (Nitter link) Sep 2, 2023 · 3:45 AM UTC has a multi-post speculation about Super Heavy testing at Boca Chica.
I am now 95% confident that SpaceX is in the process of building not one, but two Super Heavy Static Fire Test stands. One will be located near the Suborbital tank farm, and the other will be at the Massey's test site.
These test stands are essentially mini versions of the Orbital Launch Mount. There are a few major differences though:
These stands will not have launch capability so they will be much simpler....
Because of the location of these test stands, and severe limitations on space, the method of testing engines will have to be different than how its done on the OLM. [flame trenches]
Why?
Well at some point, launches will become much more frequent. This means the OLM will be nearly always be busy preparing for the next launch....
The Orbital Launch Mount, with its new Bidet system is limited to Static fire tests of less than 10 seconds. It is truly designed for Launching Full stacks, and not for long duration tests purely due to the volume of water stored in the tanks.
The OLM is also believed to be limited to Static Fire tests with thrust values at or around 50%. This is a result of the design of the hold down clamps. Also, the skirt of the booster is likely not designed for the kind of forces it would experience if it was being held down at max thrust....
So if this speculation is true, what should we be on the lookout for?
The areas where these will be located will either be built up to accommodate a flame trench, or they will soon begin excavating large holes into the ground for this purpose.
The suborbital tank farm will likely need to be expanded in order to increase its LOX and CH4 storage capabilities. I believe SpaceX is already in the beginning stages of this massive renovation.
CH4 storage tanks will need to be added to the Massey's test site. They will also need additional GSE equipment for filling Booster COPV's. This includes Helium storage, CO2 for the engine skirt purge system.
There will likely also need to be additional water tanks installed for traditional deluge systems for both of these tests stands....
He says he'd do a video if he weren't already in the middle of two deep-dives.
u/Alvian_11 in The Other Place says that a "flame diverter/ramp" is different from a "flame trench" and that a flame diverter/ramp makes much more sense.

There is a new notice to mariners, which announces “rocket launching activities” for (approximately) September 8th. The previous notice was for August 31st.

Zack Golden @CSI_Starbase (Nitter link) Aug 31, 2023 · 4:24 AM UTC states "They have been testing [tiles on ship 28] with a suction device to see if they would fall off. A large number of them failed the test."
- RGV Aerial Photography @RGVaerialphotos Sep 2, 2023 · 4:35 PM UTC wrote,
  Notice they filled in the heat tiles with some type of epoxy/clay instead of replacing these damaged tiles. Indicator Ship 25 probably isn't expected to survive reentry.
  125-megapixel image link: https://www.easyzoom.com/imageaccess/ad67522c147c4746bc055c5a80704e55
  But they look like regular tiles to me, just with adhesive smeared around messily. Marcus House, in his weekly update at 5:31, zooms in and says, "we can see that a few surrounding tiles were damaged during the process [of adding tiles to cover lifting points], but these were to be replaced soon after this shot was taken.". At 5:44 on, he explained and showed a worker using the suction cup device: one tile passed, one pulled off.

Static fire attempt scheduled for tomorrow (Friday, 24 August 2023). Mary got a notice, pictured here.

NASASpaceflight is live for today's testing and possible static fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSDS93-WiB0
- 14,100 live viewers right now
- 15,500 viewers. They are estimating 1 hour from time of this comment.

S25 is on the move!
Edit: NSF are live as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEa6YbY5A4

New production diagram from Ringwatchers on the site formerly known as twitter: https://nitter.net/Ringwatchers/status/1690359657318027265

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
8:00am- You’ll never believe it but work continued on the staircase and top of the OLM overnight. The crane never extended and no lifts went up to the chopsticks.
8:26am- Concrete pump truck up over on the backside of the deluge tank farm
8:51am- Lift up at the back side of the chopsticks carriage
9:05am- There are 4 lifts up at the staircase. They are really pushing to finish the welding
10:43am- B10 on the move down Remidos
11:53am- B10 turns on to hwy 4
12:07pm- B10 turns into the production site
12:18pm- Turns into the megabay
1:21pm- Crane leaves OLM area
1:35pm- Concrete truck arrives to start pouring at edge of pad (5 trucks yesterday so this is number 6)
3:56pm- Small concrete mixer under the OLM. Looks like they are repouring the fondag that was removed
5:45pm- Forklift has brought in 4 pieces of metal trough(think house gutters) and placed them in the area where the concrete was poured the last 2 days.
7:21pm- Pad appears to be clear and the pope stack just started venting. Testing something tonight? BQD hood is still open right now
7:32:12pm- Purge vent from the deluge tank farm
7:49pm- Pope stack stops
8:12pm- (20:12) Rover 2 - Security at the entrance to the pad leaves. So pad should be back open.
8:16pm- Or maybe not. Pope stack starts back up
8:18pm- Recondenser vent going
8:25:25pm- More loud venting (from recondenser?)
8:57:26pm- Vent finally dies out/recondenser stops
8:58pm- Pope stack starts again
9:20pm- Fireworks
9:40pm- Half of tent 2 goes down
10:39pm- Workers return to the OLM and get right back to work on the staircase.
(This gets synced)

SpaceX @SpaceX 2:42 PM · Aug 17, 2023
Long duration test fire of Raptor while gimbaled 15 degrees
Lots of discussion about why there was such a test. Some suggesting that it was for Starship for hot staging. Others saying that the new hot-staging ring has such a high dome in it that the sea-level engine gimballing so far wouldn't actually help.
Some comments about how 15 degrees is really high, like Saturn V first stage having 5 degrees, and 3-8 is more common. The Space Shuttle has 12.5 for the RS-25, but the new ones are certified for only 6. The suggestion was that this is because the stages need to be able to flip.

New transport closure for tomorrow. I guess that’s to bring Booster 9 to the OLM for the next static fire (or spin prime?) on Monday.
https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/spacex/
Stuff is really starting to come together. Wonder how long it’ll take them to get the FAA license, but September doesn’t look crazy to me.

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
11:00pm- Ventilation hose removed
1:23am- RIP tent 2
6:20am- The wooden concrete forms are being removed from the area around the edge of the pad
8:30am- Lifts were up at the staircase, top of the OLM, and chopsticks overnight. The air handling units were also removed from around the base.
9:40am- Area around the pad is being cleaned out of lifts and equipment. Are we in for more testing?
10:50am- Party on top of the OLM and 1 lift up. (I count at least 10 people) They did a quick run through with the sweeper
10:52am- Lift at S25. Finishing the tile work?
10:57am- Pressure washing. That’s a sure sign that we are getting ready to see the deluge
11:02am- Workers climbing into the BQD
12:00pm- Workers working on both sides of the BQD as well as on the BQD itself. (Even with RGV’s pictures I still can’t figure out what they are doing off to the sides). Pressure washing continues underneath
1:25pm- Looks like 2 pressure washing trucks are all that is left at the pad
1:28pm- Trucks leave. Still people on top of the control bunker for the tank farm
1:46pm- 3 people on the very top of the tower at the pulley for the chopsticks and a drone watching them. (NSF on the raptorside thinks they were working on the cameras)
2:28pm- Pressure washing truck back under the OLM
3:00pm- Water truck and a sweeper vehicle back at the launch site.
3:12pm- 3 people on top of the OLM. Another pressure washing truck returns
4:19pm- Pressure washing trucks leave again
5:10pm- Lift up at the deluge tanks
5:34pm- Workers taking down tarp that was set up on top of the new deluge tank
6:06:51pm- PA announcement- Clear the pad deflector testing
6:43pm- Chopsticks rising
7:28pm- Elevator just went up to the chopsticks level.
7:35pm- Last tanker truck leaving deluge tank farm
8:18pm- Another water tanker arrives at the deluge tank farm. Pad still clear
8:34pm- Tanker leaving
8:44pm- PA announcement/Klaxon
9:07pm- System is being primed
9:09pm- Whoosh
9:10:05pm- End of test (Looking at the replays, it looks like full pressure for around 25 seconds)
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
2:30am- Pad clear
6:14am- Lift goes up because not even a landfalling tropical storm can stop work on the staircase
7:15am- Lift goes back down
7:26am- Lift goes back up. More workers showing up under the pad
7:44am- Second lift goes up
10:05am- 2 lifts have been up at the OLM and 1 at the chopsticks. Crane is in position to lift the kettle boiler. B9 still tucked away in the mega bay as the rain continues to fall
10:54am- B9 rolls to the front of the megabay
11:03- B9 rolls out of megabay
11:24am- Turns on to Hwy 4
12:01pm- Chopsticks go up
12:30pm- Turns into the launch site
12:40pm- Arrives at the chopsticks
12:44pm- Drives in between the chopsticks
2:15pm- Chopsticks close
2:19pm- Chopsticks rise up to the lift points
3:57pm- Klaxon and PA announcements
4:48pm- Lift starts
4:52- Paused
5:11pm- Raising up again
5:14pm- Swinging open
5:17pm- Going up again
5:20pm- Swinging over the pad
5:30pm- Lowering
7:12pm- Chopsticks open and lower
7:21pm- SQD arm swings over
7:33pm- Lifts go up to the top of the OLM
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
4:01am- LR11000 moves away from the pad
6:43am- Workers return to pad. Service trucks to the broken down lift
6:58am- Raptor install stand rolling over to the pad
7:15am- Lifts go up to the install stand
7:30am- Install stand rolls up to the the OLM
7:33am- Lift goes up to the top of the OLM
7:36am- The lift lives!! High five to my fellow mechanics!
7:50am- More lifts arrive and go up to the top of the OLM
8:18am- The remaining scaffolding on top of the OLM is coming down
8:46am- Workers working on the deluge plate?
9:00am- Raptor install stand moves under the pad
9:18am- Install stand rises up under the booster
9:45am- Here comes the engineers to look at things
9:50am- SPMT’s leaving the launch site
12:00pm- Raptor stand is still up under the vehicle and lifts have been going up and down from it. Workers have also been on top of the OLM.
1:13pm- Guy with a leaf blower blowing dust off the pad
1:37pm- Sweeper vehicle working along the edge of the pad
1:57pm- Work platform lowers on the install stand
2:49pm- Raptor install stand rolls out from under the OLM
3:00pm- Rolls all the way over to the sub orbital pads
3:24pm- Red caution tape wrapped around the bottom of the OLM
3:50pm- Workers at the SQD and on top of the OLM.
5:50pm- Workers have been inspecting something over by the tower and are still working on top of the OLM
6:30pm- Workers have set up a total station under the pad to survey/scan the area
7:04pm- Packing the scanner away. Would be interesting to know if they were just taking measurements or if they were using it to calibrate sensors
7:06pm- Power washer!! (It took 5 hours last time to clean the whole pad)
7:45pm- Lifts have come down from the top of the OLM. Workers still working under the pad though
8:14pm- Operation point lighting tower right at NSF camera is a success
(This gets synced)

S25 is on the SPMT for rollout!
Starship Gazer is live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhR8RFY6sQ

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
12:32am- Finally turn the light off. Workers checking the area
1:32am- Pressure washer truck leaves
2:10am- Pad appears clear
6:12am- Don’t see any people but there were headlights off to the right of the pad
9:00:32am- FireX test
9:04am- Sheriff at the road block
9:11am- Pope stack venting
9:36am- Tank farm activity picking up
10:34am- OLM vent (Maybe 2 to 2.5 hours away)
11:24am- OLM vent stops. Propellant load should be starting
11:26am- Methane sub coolers going
11:30am- Frost ring on the Lox tank
11:39am- Frost ring on the methane tank
11:51am- Methane load complete
12:26pm- OLM vent returns. Propellant load should be done
12:36:08- FireX
12:36:23- Deluge
12:36:27- Static fire
12:39:10- Deluge ends
12:39:29- Depress
12:59pm- SQD arm swings away
1:11pm- Chopsticks closing
1:17pm- Chopsticks lowering
1:23pm- SQD arm swings back over the booster
1:27pm- Lift up at S25 (Hurry up with those tiles)
1:31pm- Chopsticks all the way down on the stop
1:36pm- Big purge from under booster
2:21pm- Another depress vent
3:00pm- Just a tiny bit of frost left on the lox tank
3:48pm- Road open
6:27pm- Tent 1 is starting to get torn down
6:30pm- Workers return to the pad
6:36pm- Dance floor rolling back under the pad
8:43pm- Workers walking around inspecting the area
9:12pm- Red caution tape being wrapped around the base of the OLM
9:28pm- Lifts going up
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
10:49pm- Equipment being loaded on to the dance floor
2:31am- RIP tent 1
2:41am- Dance floor is being lifted. They didn’t raise it all the way up though.
3:33am- Dance floor stand rolls away
6:47am- Railing around the dance floor is up
7:02am- Welding tanks brought in
10:13am- Crane arrives in between the tower and back of the OLM
10:35am- Crane connected to something behind the doghouse.
10:40am- Lifts have been up inspecting all around the OLM. All of the welds on the staircase were checked. Workers have also been on top of the OLM. Vehicles have blocked the view of under the OLM all night.
11:07am- Crane lifts a flat metal rectangular frame to the backside of the OLM
11:16am- Lifts object up to the top back of the left chopstick (Maybe some kind of handrail?)
2:20pm- 3 lifts have been up at the pad and 1 at the chopsticks
3:02pm- Lift goes up to the back right chine
3:19pm- Stair section lifted into the new mega bay
6:20pm- 4 excavators are going to town clearing up the remains of tent 1
7:43pm- Crane lifts a similar piece of railing as earlier up to the right chopstick
9:40pm- Lifts still up at the OLM and chopsticks
11:32pm- Looks like 6 more beams still to be cut out before we may see an attempt at pulling the mid bay over.
Rover 1-
20:35- There is a sheriff at the entrance to the production site and sparks are flying at the front of the mid bay. Is it finally time?
22:20- Several beams have been removed on the side closest to Rover 1
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
4:23:30am- Pulling the legs out from under the front of the mid bay
4:29am- And down she goes in spectacular fashion
4:29:52am- Someone very appropriately yells Woo!!
4:33am- Excavators get to work clearing the mid bay
9:00am- Lifts were up under the OLM and at the chopsticks overnight. Things have been quiet this morning.
9:27am- Crane lifts something up to the chopsticks
10:40am- Lifts up on the backside of the OLM
11:59am- Lifts go down pad is quiet
2:45pm- Lift goes up on backside of OLM
3:14pm- Workers inspecting the blown over fence
9:10pm- OLM work continues. 3 lifts have been up to the OLM most of the evening.
10:19pm- Grinding and welding on the staircase. Looks like the upper crossbeams
(This gets synced)

Some Xer, Cowboy Dan @CowboyDanPaasch, wrote (Nitter link) Sep 2, 2023 · 11:58 AM UTC,
Boat #SpaceX used for ops during first orbital flight test is inbound to #Starbase atm. The former GLADYS D had been offgrid last three weeks around Pensacola FL. #SpaceXArmada
... a passenger fastboat by trade, appears she's been outfitted w/ some extra gear. Worked LZ/recon ops during first orbital test flight. Now mooring in Port Isabel Texas. (@jessica_kirsh cam) piped.video link that doesn't work for me
Kevin Mock @kevmk04 replied,
The GLADYS D's sister ship was used on the first Dragon recovery mission. The GLADYS S
I can't really find full confirmation of that. I do find an Xmission from Gav Cornwell @SpaceOffshore Apr 20, 2023 · 10:54 AM UTC,
Fast boat Gladys S departed from Port Isabel this morning to support the SpaceX launch.
Still not exactly sure what role the vessel is playing but it's confirmed to be involved based on its AIS designation of 'Texas Launch' and the fact it has two Starlink dishes mounted...
And a bit later, with pictures,
A look at the Gladys S, which appears to have been supporting the SpaceX launch in some capacity offshore.
Spot the Starlink terminals!
Retweeting Jenny Hautmann @JennyHPhoto Apr 20, 2023 · 9:35 PM UTC.
- Things seem to be progressing, also on the paperwork front.
  Wonder when S25 moves to the launch site. Expected this to happen the last few days. Will they do a full stack, WDR, unstack, FTS, restack? They might be preparing the FTS now to avoid a restack — I guess that’s how it works for Falcon as well.

According to Musk Sep 6, 2023 · 1:30 AM UTC, "Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval".
But an Other Place comment from u/space_rocket_builder here was
Aiming for launch readiness as early as next week and the launch as early as start of mid September. FAA process expected “soon” but we could still be a few weeks away.
I think they've asserted themself to be a good source, but I am not sure.
Another comment (someone else) asserted that the propellant farm has not been loaded yet, and that takes a lot of trucks.
- I think right after the last static fire, u/space_rocket_builder correctly predicted the number of engines that were lit up and ran correctly, before we got an official statement. So at least, there is that.
  I agree with other people regarding Musk's statement about Starship readiness: he's probably trying to pressure the FAA into giving a launch license as soon as possible. But that doesn't mean SpaceX is actually ready to launch.
  
  The FAA comment from him might also be to pressure the SpaceX team to finish the last little details that they know aren't actually ready.

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
2:46am- New deluge manifold lifted into place
7:00am- One lift was up at the OLM overnight. It changed places a couple of times but mainly at the top.
7:39am- S26’s SPMT’s leave the launch site
7:50am- Lift goes up to the back side of the tower
9:06am- Lift up disconnecting S26 from the lifting squid
9:33am- Squid disconnected and swung away
11:44am- A couple of mini excavators are working in between the OLM and OLT. At least one has a Jack hammer attachment. Breaking up more fondag?
2:35pm- LR11000 moves back over near the deluge tank farm
3:36pm-Spreader picked up by the LR11000. Prepping to move the 3rd tank in position
4:05pm- Spreader swung over to the deluge tanks
4:20pm- Spreader lowered down closer to the 3rd tank
5:03pm- Lowered down the rest of the way and lift goes up to attach the straps
5:15pm- Straps hooked up
5:25pm- Tension on the straps
7:00pm- Tank is still hooked up to the crane. Hard to tell through the heat haze if they’ve moved the tank or not. Definitely didn’t lift it very much if they have.
7:22pm- Crane lifts something about 1/3rd of the way up the backside of the tower and a lift then goes up to the same area.
9:00pm- Straps around the 3rd tank remain under tension. The OLM is quiet.
10:00pm- Sheriffs ready for road block. Looks like a stand is coming to the production site from Massey’s
10:50pm- Deluge tank is finally airborne
10:56pm- Deluge tank lowered, final adjustments still being made
11:06pm- Finally a good view of the booster stand heading down Hwy 4 to the production site
11:17pm- Deluge tank is airborne again
(This gets synced)

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters	More Letters
AIS	Automatic Identification System
COPV	Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FTS	Flight Termination System
GSE	Ground Support Equipment
HLS	Human Landing System (Artemis)
LOX	Liquid Oxygen
LZ	Landing Zone
NSF	NasaSpaceFlight forum
~	National Science Foundation
OLM	Orbital Launch Mount
OTF	Orbital Tank Farm
QD	Quick-Disconnect
SPMT	Self-Propelled Mobile Transporter
SSME	Space Shuttle Main Engine
WDR	Wet Dress Rehearsal (with fuel onboard)

Jargon	Definition
Raptor	Methane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX
Starlink	SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation
dancefloor	Attachment structure for the Falcon 9 first stage engines, below the tanks
powerpack	Pre-combustion power/flow generation assembly (turbopump etc.)
~	Tesla's Li-ion battery rack, for electricity storage at scale
turbopump	High-pressure turbine-driven propellant pump connected to a rocket combustion chamber; raises chamber pressure, and thrust

[Thread #4 for this sub, first seen 14th Aug 2023, 20:00] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
1:31am- Vent hose installed on the OLM
7:30am- Lots of welding on the staircase overnight. One lift was up at the dance floor and some welding flashes could be seen coming from there as well.
8:25am- Kettle boiler is lifted off a truck and sat on the ground on the lox side of the OTF
8:28am- 2nd kettle boiler arrives
8:38am- 3rd kettle boiler arrives
8:48am- Starlink box is on the move. Looks like it’s going to a storage area
9:08am- Second kettle boiler lifted off it’s truck
9:18am- Staircase section lifted into the new mega bay
9:28am- Kettle boiler lifted up on to it’s concrete base
9:48am- Second kettle boiler lifted up on to it’s concrete base
10:04am- Paint crew painting the new door on the OLM
10:25am- Staircase is getting a paint job as well
10:32am- Third kettle boiler is lifted up behind the first kettle boiler in the line starting a second row
1:03pm- Lift up at the tower (Looks like it’s inspecting the back right rail)
2:25pm- 2 more lifts up painting the OLM legs
4:28pm- The kettle boilers have been removed from their concrete stands
4:33pm- Worker on the SQD arm
4:42pm- Removing fence wreckage
5:51pm- Lift up to the chopsticks
8:25pm- Handrail like structure that was lifted up to the right chopstick a couple of days ago is removed. A worker is also grinding on the chopstick
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
10:29pm- Scaffolding coming down off the top of the OLM
10:53pm- Workers working inside of the BQD
1:29am- Pickup brought in 2 enclosed trailers and left them at the edge of the pad
1:52am- Pick up brings in a flat trailer with equipment on it (to dark to see what kind of equipment)
2:00am- Welding continues on the staircase
2:29am- B9 rolls to the middle of the megabay
4:30am- OLM seems clear of workers
7:00am- Lift going back up
7:10am- B9 rolls back into the corner of the megabay
9:14am- Lift back up at S25 lift points
12:15pm- Things are quiet at the OLM. Just a couple lifts up. At the production site an excavator is still working on clearing up debris from tent 2.
12:31pm- Shipping container is moved from behind the midbay
1:00pm- 1 lift at the chopsticks and 1 lift at the OLM
3:20pm- A couple of lifts still going up and down to the OLM
4:53pm- BQD hood closes
5:55pm- 3 lifts up at the top of the OLM.
8:45pm- Pad looks to be clear in anticipation of the storm.
9:00pm- Future radar predicts outer bands hitting around 10:30pm and main storm starts around 3am.
9:35pm- Spoke to soon. Workers are back.
9:45pm- Lifts back up. Welding on the staircase resumes
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
8:30am- Lifts were up to the top of the OLM and chopsticks overnight. A crane was also extended to the chopsticks but never lifted or lowered anything. So probably just support for whatever was being worked on. Paint crews are at work currently on the cryo leg. No lifts have gone up to the staircase in over 24 hours.
10:50am- Crane goes back up to the chopsticks
1:25pm- Literally watching paint dry. Lift has been up at the BQD as well.
2:00pm- Lift goes back up to the right rear chine. Hopefully someone will get a ground shot of what they’ve been doing because you really can’t tell on the video
3:00pm- Aerial work platform goes up near top of B9 and then starts coming down. Stopped at chopsticks
3:08pm- Stair section lifted into the new mega bay
3:48pm- Crane lifts part of the moveable rails (tank treads) on the left chopstick. Shifts it backwards
4:12pm- The LR11000 at the pad is on the move
4:36pm- LR11000 stops by deluge tank farm. Crane lowers from the chopsticks
10:05pm- Lots of workers have been walking around the top of the OLM. A scissor lift has been up under the piping to the left side of the staircase. Work also continues on the chopsticks with lifts going up and down. An aerial work platform is up by the back right rail on the tower that was inspected a few days ago. Finally a lift is up at the staircase and all is right in the world again. (Even though it looks like they just used it to lift equipment up to the doorway and they aren’t actually working on the staircase)
(This gets synced)

Afternoon (US Central time) 20 August 2023: LabPadre covering the demolition of the Mid Bay here.

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
7:39am- Staircase section lifted into the new mega bay
7:47am- Excavator with metal shears attachment starts tearing the siding off the mid bay
8:45am- 3 lifts were up and down from the OLM overnight
12:10pm- The 1st shift OLM crew seem to have taken the day off.
12:40pm- You can see orange dots spray painted on some of the beams of the midbay. Indicating where to cut?
2:15pm- One lift went up to the OLM and chopsticks for a bit.
2:31pm- Workers up at the BQD in a aerial work platform
2:50pm- Workers at the BQD working on the methane and oxygen fill lines and taping over the openings. Was weird, looked the lines had been completely disconnected from the plate and that they just reached thru the holes and pulled them back out and then taped them.
5:00pm- Worker up in a lift at the mid bay using a torch to cut some of the siding to expose the support beams more
6:09:48- Vent at the pad
6:13:25- BQD venting (So much for that tape job earlier)
7:06:25pm- RQD purge
7:53pm- Venting from the OTF
8:10pm- Venting dies off
8:39pm- Workers on top of the OLM
9:10pm- Lifts going up
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
2:11am- Crane lifts another piece of bracing up to the top of the staircase
2:33am- Crane disconnects from brace.
3:11am- There is some welding happening around the pivot point of the chopsticks
3:19am- Another piece of bracing is lifted
3:56am- Crane disconnects
8:40am- Work continues on the top of the OLM near the BQD. Welders are working on the staircase. A mini excavator worked along the edge of the pad closest to the OTF most of the night.
9:45am- The reconfigured LR11000 at the build site is being raised
10:05am- Another piece of bracing is lifted up to the staircase
1:38pm- Yet another piece of bracing is lifted up
2:26pm- More bracing lifted. ( Instead of building a framework to weld the shielding on to at the top of the staircase. They welded the shielding to the OLM and are now building the structure to support it. )
3:09pm- The LR11000 at the build site finishes raising into its new configuration
3:25pm- Concrete truck arrives to pour into the new forms along the edge of the pad
3:50pm- Another piece of bracing lifted up (That’s 11 pieces)
4:15pm- Roof panel lifted up to the staircase. Concrete truck count at 3
5:23pm- Chopsticks raising
5:33pm-Chopsticks lowering (must be testing some of the work they’ve done)
7:54pm- End panel being removed from tent 2
8:05pm- End panel partially collapses
8:16pm- End panel ripped down. Definitely not trying to save it
8:30pm- Looks like another piece of bracing lifted to the stairs. (In a small box on SBL so I might be wrong but something was definitely lifted to the top of the stairs)
8:57pm- Awesome raptor test at McGregor
9:13pm- SPMT’s headed to Masseys
10:06pm- Hot stage ring being lifted up in the megabay
10:17pm- Swings over towards B9
(This gets synced)

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase live-
10:45pm- Crane removes a piece manifold at the deluge tank farm
11:52pm- Crane removes another big chunk of the manifold from the deluge tank farm
2:48am- Forklift removes one of the light towers from around the OLM
2:54am- LR11000 picks up the lifting squid
8:58am- Crane lifts another beam up to the new mega bay
9:44am- S26 starts rolling
9:49am- Pauses at the entrance to the rocket garden
9:51am- Turns on to Remidos
10:05am- Turns on to Hwy 4
10:35am- They aren’t taking any chances today. Have an extra power pack for the SPMT’s and a forklift in the motorcade.
11:20am- Turns into the launch site
11:33am- Arrives at the sub orbital pad
11:57am- Squid lowers to just above S26
12:12pm- Lift goes up to connect the squid
12:51pm- Squid connected. Lift goes down
2:45:52pm- Ignitor test at the OLM
2:55pm- Chopsticks release S25 and open a bit
2:57pm- Chopsticks lower a few feet
3:02pm- Chopsticks open wide and lower to their launch position
3:15pm- Chopsticks raise back up and close part way again
4:46pm- Lift up at the nosecone of S20 at the rocket garden. (Reinstalling lift hooks so it can be lifted and scrapped? Or practicing installing tiles on nosecones?)
5:22pm- S26 lifted off its transport stand and swung over to pad B
5:37pm- Making final adjustments to get it lined up on the pad
5:49pm- Gap disappears. Looks like it’s down
9:04pm- Single lift goes up to the OLM
(This gets synced)

Nice pictures of Booster 9 on the Orbital Launch Mount.
SpaceX @SpaceX 7:36 PM · Aug 22, 2023
Super Heavy Booster 9 transported back to the orbital launch pad at Starbase for additional preflight testing
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
Friday-
2 stair sections installed on the OLT
1 stair section installed in the new mega bay
AWP up at B9’s FTS
Lifts up at chopsticks and the OLM
Saturday-
AWP up at the interstage of B9 (Working on an antenna?)
Staircase section lifted into new mega bay
Final corner pieces lifted up to the top of the new mega bay
Lifts up at OLM and Chopsticks
Sunday-
Looks like most of the workers got the day off
Monday-
Lifts return to the OLM around 5:30pm
8:08pm- S25 rolls to the gate at the rocket garden
8:28pm- Rolls backwards
8:30pm- Stops. (From Starship Gazers stream we can see that a lift went up and replaced a tile that fell off)
8:33pm- Rolls back up to the gate
9:36pm- Rolling onto Remidos
10:00pm- Turns on to Hwy 4
10:56pm- Ship stops on Hwy 4 (SPMT is broke down)
Tuesday-
1:08am- Ship starts rolling again
1:22am- Turns into the launch site
1:36am- Arrives just outside of the chopsticks
1:38am- Rolls in between the chopsticks
6:25am- Chopsticks rise up
6:29am- Right chopstick closes in on the ship
6:32am- Left chopstick closes in
6:37am- Chopsticks raise to engage lifting pins
7:59am- Left aft flap unfolds
8:02am- Right aft flap unfolds
8:27am- Pad clear announcement
9:42am- Lift goes up to the chopsticks
11:40am- Crane lifts the QD’s transport panel away. It was putting up quite the fight.
11:53am- Klaxon/Pad clear announcement
12:06pm- SQD arm swings away
12:41pm- Ship going up
1:17pm- Clears B9
1:18pm- SQD arm swings in
1:20pm- S25 starts rotating over
1:27pm- Over B9
1:39pm- Very slowly being lowered
2:03pm- Looks down to me
2:20pm- Stack wobbles
3:07pm- Purge of B9’s engine section
3:40pm- Workers on SQD arm prepping S25’s QD
4:40pm- QD work platform swings away
4:58pm-SQD starts to extend
5:12pm- Looks like it connected
5:32:56pm- Retract test
5:35pm- Extends and then retracts again.
5:41pm- Starting to extend again
5:48pm- Connected again
9:02pm- Lift goes up to the OLM
9:58pm- Crane lifts the metal lid back on to the deluge pipe bunker
Wednesday-
12:07am- LR11000 Moves back over to the sub orbital pad area
1:13am- Lift goes up to the back side of the tower
8:15am- Workers on top of the OLM
10:46am- Another piece of the roof structure is lifted up to the new mega bay
1:44pm- Lifts removing equipment from the dance floor
4:43pm- Pickup pulls the gray tool trailer away
4:48pm- White step van leaves
6:11pm- Dance floor lowers to the ground
8:34pm- Single SPMT heads to the launch site
8:57pm- Dance floor is raised a few feet
9:27pm- Dance floor rises up and it’s transport stand rolls underneath
9:46pm- Dance floor is driven out from under the OLM
10:16pm- S28’s methane hatch is still open and scaffolding still in place
(This gets synced)

S26 is rolling out to the launch site! Starship Gazer coverage has ended, but NSF Starbase Live is covering it.

New comment from /u/santacfan on Reddit:
Starbase Live-
11:14pm- Shielding gets lifted again
3:57am- Crane detached from the shielding
6:56am- Second crane arrives by the OLM
7:42am- Original crane leaves
8:59am- Next piece of shielding for the right side of the staircase is lifted. This will bring the shielding on both sides even
9:20am- Work continued on the BQD area overnight. The aerial work platform continued inspecting the chopsticks rail on the left side as well.
9:46am- Crane disconnected from shielding
10:21am- Next piece of shielding goes up on right side. Slanted piece that should support the roof structure over the doorway
1:25pm- Crane detached from shielding
1:33pm- Aerial work platform goes up to the SQD arm. (Workers are inspecting the bottom of the arm)
1:38pm- Crane lifts final piece of shielding to the left side of staircase.
5:26pm- Crane detaches from shielding and lowers (That’s 3 pieces for 1st shift. They’re getting it done today).
9:00pm- Lifts up at the OLM, staircase, and chopsticks
(This gets synced)
- Took a bit of work, the automation broke because of a backwards incompatible api change in the Lemmy JS client, but should be good now!

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