Starship Development Thread December 2024
(sh.itjust.works)
submitted
1 week ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)
by
threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works
to
c/spacex@sh.itjust.works
Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? (Flight 7) NET Jan 11th according to recent documentation NASA filed with the FAA. (Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera 1, Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera 2)
- When previous launch? (Flight 6)? Booster 13 and Ship 31 launched on 2024-11-19.
- What was the result? Booster catch attempt aborted, performed soft splashdown in the Gulf. Ship performs in-space raptor relight, survives reentry, and makes an on-target splashdown.
Quick Links
Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live
Starship Dev November | IFT-6 launch thread | Starship Dev October | IFT-5 launch thread | Starship Dev 57 | Starship Dev 56 | IFT-4 launch thread
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Road closures and road delays
Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
*As of 2024-12-12
- 1-hour road delay was posted for Dec 5th (21:00 to 00:00) for transport from factory to pad.
- 2-hour road delay is posted for Dec 6th (00:00 to 04:00) for transport from Massey's to factory.
- 8-hour road closure is scheduled for Dec 7th (08:00 to 16:00) for non-flight testing activities.
- 12-hour road closures are posted for Dec 9th and 10th (08:00 to 20:00) for non-flight testing activities.
- Dec 7th and 9th closures are scheduled.
- 2-hour road delays are posted for Dec 9th and 10th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (desde la fabrica hasta Massey's)
- Road delay is posted for Dec 10th from 08:00 to 11:00 for tank installation.
- Dec 10th road closure is revoked, likely indicating that the static fire of B14 on Dec 9th went well.
- 2-hour road delays are posted and revoked for Dec 11th (10:00 to 14:00) and 12th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to Massey’s.
- A road delay is posted for Dec 11th from 16:00 to 19:00 for tank installation.
Vehicle Status
*As of 2024-12-12
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S20 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | |
| S31 | Indian Ocean | Successful splashdown | Cryo tested May 12th, suffers small electrical fire. Underwent repairs in the Highbay, rolls back to Massey's Jul 1. Cryo tested Jul 2nd and 3rd. Engines installed by Jul 26th. Rolls to Massey's Sep 6th. Partial (aborted) cryo test Sep 8th. Static fired Sep 18th. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. In-space raptor relight was successful, ship survived reentry and performed soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. |
| S32 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
| S33 | Massey's | Pending static fire | First V2 Starship. Nosecone spotted Jul 14th. Forward section spotted Jul 27th. Stacking completed Aug 23. Cryo tested Oct 29th (partial), 30th (full), and 31st (full). Raptor installation begins Nov 9th. Spin prime Dec 12th. |
| S34 | Megabay 2 | Pending cryo test | Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. Stacking completed around end of November. |
| S35 | Highbay | Assembly | Parts spotted Sep 20th. Forward flap installation Dec 3rd. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Dec 11th. |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Post-flight inspection | Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched as IFT-5 on Oct 13, returned to launch site for successful chopstick catch. Moved to Megabay 1 Oct 15th. |
| B13 | Gulf of Mexico | Successful splashdown | Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank). Static fired Oct 24th. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. Chopsticks catch attempt was aborted, performed soft splashdown in the Gulf. |
| B14 | Megabay 1 | Pending hotstage ring install | Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th. Static fired Dec 9th. |
| B14.1 | Sanchez | Resting | Multiple catch simulation "slap tests" performed on Jun 26th and 27th. |
| B15 | Megabay 1 | Stacked | Stacked from July to September. |
| B16 | Megabay 1 | Assembly | Parts spotted |
| B17 | Build Site | Assembly | Parts spotted |
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
- Everyday Astronaut 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: Starfactory tour | Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview
