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Starship Development Thread #51

SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When is the next Integrated Flight Test (IFT-2)? Booster 9 + Ship 25 launched Saturday, November 18 after slight delay.
  2. What was the result? Successful lift off with minimal pad damage. Successful booster operation with all engines to successful hot stage separation. Booster destroyed after attempted boost-back. Ship fired all engines to near orbital speed then lost. No re-entry attempt.
  3. Did IFT-2 Fail? No. As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.
  4. Next launch? IFT-3 expected to be Booster 10, Ship 28 per a recent NSF Roundup. Probably no earlier than Feb 2024. Prerequisite IFT-2 mishap investigation.

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Quick Links

RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE

Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49 | Starship Dev 48 | Starship Dev 47

Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread

Status

Road Closures

TypeStart (CDT)End (CDT)Status
Primary Date2023-12-08 16:002023-12-08 21:00Possible Closure
Alternative Date2023-12-11 08:002023-12-11 20:00Possible Closure
Alternative Date2023-12-12 08:002023-12-12 20:00Possible Closure

Up to date as of 2023-12-08

Vehicle Status

As of 2023-12-08

Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.

ShipLocationStatusComment
Pre-S24, 27Scrapped or RetiredS20 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped.
S24Bottom of seaDestroyedApril 20th (IFT-1): Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
S25Bottom of seaDestroyedMostly successful launch and stage separation
S26Rocket GardenTestingStatic fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, plus other changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10.
S28High BayPending heatshield completionCryo test on July 28. Raptor install began Aug 17. Completed 2 cryo tests.
S29High BayFully stacked, completed 3x cryo tests, awaiting engine install.
S30High BayUnder constructionFully stacked
S31Rocket GardenFully stacked, awaiting flapsStacking in progress.
S32High BayUnder constructionStacking in progress.
S33-34Build SiteBeing scrappedTo be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2

 

BoosterLocationStatusComment
Pre-B7 & B8Scrapped or RetiredB4 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped.
B7Bottom of seaDestroyedDestroyed by flight termination system after successful launch.
B9Bottom of seaDestroyedSuccessfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt.
B10Rocket gardenEngine install?Completed 4 cryo tests. Moved to Massey's on Sep 11, back to Megabay Sep 20.
B11MegabayFinalizingCompleted 2 Cryo tests.
B12MegabayFinalizingAppears complete, except for raptors, hot stage ring, and cryo testing.
B13MegabayStackingLower half mostly stacked.
B14+Build SiteAssemblyAssorted parts spotted through B15.

Resources

Link to IFT-2 Launch Party Thread

46 comments

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

    Fewer LettersMore Letters
    CST(Boeing) Crew Space Transportation capsules
    ~Central Standard Time (UTC-6)
    FAAFederal Aviation Administration
    FTSFlight Termination System
    IspSpecific impulse (as explained by Scott Manley on YouTube)
    ~Internet Service Provider
    N1Raketa Nositel-1, Soviet super-heavy-lift ("Russian Saturn V")
    NETNo Earlier Than
    NOAANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, responsible for US generation monitoring of the climate
    NSFNasaSpaceFlight forum
    ~National Science Foundation
    OLMOrbital Launch Mount
    QDQuick-Disconnect
    RUDRapid Unplanned Disassembly
    ~Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly
    ~Rapid Unintended Disassembly
    SECOSecond-stage Engine Cut-Off
    SPMTSelf-Propelled Mobile Transporter
    SSTOSingle Stage to Orbit
    ~Supersynchronous Transfer Orbit
    TFRTemporary Flight Restriction
    TPSThermal Protection System for a spacecraft (on the Falcon 9 first stage, the engine "Dance floor")
    JargonDefinition
    RaptorMethane-fueled rocket engine under development by SpaceX
    StarlinkSpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation
    cryogenicVery low temperature fluid; materials that would be gaseous at room temperature/pressure
    ~(In re: rocket fuel) Often synonymous with hydrolox
    dancefloorAttachment structure for the Falcon 9 first stage engines, below the tanks
    hopperTest article for ground and low-altitude work (eg. Grasshopper)
    hydroloxPortmanteau: liquid hydrogen fuel, liquid oxygen oxidizer
    iron waffleCompact "waffle-iron" aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large; also, "grid fin"

    [Thread #16 for this sub, first seen 12th Nov 2023, 05:55] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

46 comments