Starbase Updates | April 2024

What's Happening at Starbase Texas in April 2024?

This page is a summary of the major highlights at Starbase Texas over the month of April in 2024. All updates are sourced from publicly available posts from the user /u/threelonmusketeers who updates the Starship Dev Threads on Lemmy and Reddit.

 

April 30th, 2024

• GSE tests at the launch site, featuring frost on LOX pipes and subcooler as well as tower venting.
• Chopstick tests continue. Close and open, open ≠ close, close and open, open close. Residual oscillation still persists after rapid movements. NSF comparison to tests from Apr 26th.
• Starfactory progress: Second row of glass panels complete. Third row nearly half done.
• S30: Ship lifting jig arrives at Megabay 2. Megabay door opens to reveal S30 (LabPadre, NSF), and lifting jig is then attached.
• Ship transport stand arrives at Megabay 2. Workers pose beside S30, and S30 lowers onto transport stand (LabPadre, Starship Gazer).
• A ship lifting jig arrives at the test pad (LabPadre, NSF). Jig attaches to LR11000 crane, and lifting jig stand moves away from the pad.
• Road delay posted for May 1st, 00:00 to 03:00, with a backup window from 12:00 to 15:00. S30 currently rolling out to the launch pad. NSF are live.

April 29th, 2024

• Starfactory progress: Installation of the second row of glass panels continues around the corner. (Timelapse)
• LR11000 crane lifts a clamp test jig into the OLM (closeup), tests at least one hold-down clamp, then lifts it out a few hours later.
• New Ryan Hansen animation of the engine clamps and quick disconnects.
• LR11000 then moves towards the ship test pad (LabPadre, NSF).
• B13 does another cryo test at Massey's, LOX tank this time. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Cargile)
• Sheriff at the launch pad for evening road delay, but no booster or ship transport occurs.

April 28th, 2024

• Malcolm continuous flight auger (CFA) rig is preparing for drilling at Pad B (VixXi, Zack).
• Work on OLM and chopsticks continues. LR11000 crane moves towards the OLM (LabPadre, NSF 1, NSF 2). Current purpose unclear.
• GSE-7 infrastructure (likely concrete/plumbing) removal continues.
• B11 hot stage ring starts the day just outside Megabay 1, then moves inside.
• Build site video tour: No observable change in Starfactory glass panel installation today.

April 27th, 2024

• B13 still at Massey's following previous night's cryo test.
• LR11000 crane moves away from orbital tank farm towards gate D2.
• Work on the OLM and chopsticks continues. Workers observed up at the top of the tower. Perlite removal from GSE-2 outer tank continues.
• Parking garage under construction.
• Starfactory glass panel installation continues. Half of the second row is complete, and they've started on the third row.

Other:

• Interesting (and long!) thread by TheSpaceEngineer on changes between Starship V1 and V2: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7, tweet 8, tweet 9, tweet 10, tweet 11, tweet 12, tweet 13, tweet 14, tweet 15, tweet 16, tweet 17, tweet 18, tweet 19, tweet 20, tweet 21, tweet 22, tweet 23, tweet 24, tweet 25, tweet 26, tweet 27, tweet 28.

April 26th, 2024

• Chopstick testing continues (LabPadre, NSF). There is an observable amount of residual oscillation after rapid movements.
• B13 undergoes a cryo test at Massey's. Nice photo of venting.
• Road delay posted for Apr 29th 19:00 to 23:00, and road closure posted for Apr 30th 07:00 to 19:00. Likely for B11 transport and testing.
• New Ryan Hansen Space animation featuring booster quick disconnect.

Other:

• New info on pathway towards on inter-ship propellant transfer. Shared by NASA in a meeting.
• Elon aiming for booster reuse, ship reuse, and orbital refilling by the end of 2025.
• IFT-4 is still expected in May.
• IFT-3 intra-ship propellant transfer was successful.
• HLS uncrewed demo mission now includes a lunar ascent test. This seems a prudent thing to do prior to the crewed flight.

April 25th, 2024

• A couple more chopstick and fire suppression tests on the evening of the 24th. Chopstick tests continue in the morning.
• Overnight, B13 moves to Massey's. LabPadre timelapse and multiple closeups: NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Doherty, Ramirez, Starship Gazer, Gomez.
• B11: Hotstage ring still outside Megabay, but signs suggest B11 rollout could be coming soon.
• Starfactory progress: Installation begins on the second row of glass panels.

Other:

• Ryan Hansen animation of OLM support arms and arm linkage mechanism.

April 24th, 2024

• Busy day at Starbase
• Overnight, booster transport stand (which is also a thrust simulator) arrives at build site and moves into the Megabay in the late afternoon. Booster cap and hotstage ring (Mary, LabPadre) are also spotted. Booster transport to Massey's road delay scheduled for Apr 25th and 26th from 00:00 to 03:00.
• S29 recent tile photo.
• Massey's: Work on flame trench deluge plumbing continues.
• Starfactory progress: Glass panel installation continues, and the first row is nearly complete.
• Launch pad B progress: A new stitcher has been erected for wick drain installation. TIL what wick drains and wick drain stitchers are.
• Launch pad A refurbishment: Rear section of booster quick disconnect hood is reinstalled on the launch mount (NSF, LabPadre). Chopsticks and fire suppression system are tested.
• GSE-7: Plumbing is scrapped. NSF timelapse of inner tank scrapping over the past couple days.
• GSE-2: Vacuum trucks continue to remove perlite insulation. The LR11000 crane lifts crew up on top of the tanks several times (closeup).

April 23rd, 2024

• Launch site: OLM clamp linkage replacements continue. A convoy of vacuum trucks continue to remove perlite insulation from GSE-2. GSE-7 inner tank is removed, and scrapping commences. Large cyro pipe is lifted.
• Build site: Elevator/work platform lowered and raised beneath S30.
• Starbase progress: Glass installation continues around the corner.
• Booster transport to Massey's road delay posted for Apr 25th and 26th from 00:00 to 03:00.

April 22nd, 2024

• Remaining section of GSE-7 outer shell is cut free, lifted away, and scrapped. Load spreader for lifting the inner tank arrives, and is attached to the inner tank.
• Next outer shell to be removed is GSE-2. Vacuum truck arrives for perlite insulation removal. Slight mishap occurred when attaching the vac truck to the GSE-2 access hatch. Starship Gazer livestream.
• Starfactory: Glass installation continues. Evening build site video tour from LabPadre Rover1, and photo from cnunezimages.
• Thunder, lightning (video, still frame), and clouds at Starbase.

April 21st, 2024

• GSE-7 (not 6) scrapping continues. Top section of outer shell is cut up (NSF timelapse of the past three days). Some welding and cutting of remaining section observed overnight. No significant further changes between morning and evening.
• RGV Aerial flyover of office construction and launch pad B.
• Starfactory progress: Pre-dawn view from LabPadre Rover1. Glass panel installation progress observed between morning and evening.
• Massey's: RGV Aerial flyover and new ChromeKiwi flame trench model.
• Possible portion of Raptor turbine found on the beach. Looks smaller than I expected. What would this have been from? IFT-1, or one of the earlier suborbital hops?

April 20th, 2024

• Scrapping of the vertical cryo tank outer shell which was removed Apr 19th continues. Closeup shots from Sean (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3) and cnunez (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3). Series of LabPadre video highlights from Vicki throughout the day: tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7, tweet 8, tweet 9, tweet 10. Only the very top section remains. Unclear at this point which tank will be scrapped next.
• Starfactory progress: Glass panel installation begins.

April 19th, 2024

• Main event: Scrapping of vertical cryo tank #7. Starship Gazer and What about it livestreams.
• LR11000 crane is connected to tank, and cutting commences. New scrapping approach, possibly due to added weight of reinforcements to the outer tank.
• Timelapse video highlights of cutting (video 1, video 2, video 3), (closeup 1, closeup 2, closeup 3), and outer tank is lifted off the inner tank (NSF, LabPadre, Starship Gazer), (closeup 1, closeup 2). Scrapping continues into the night (NSF, clwphoto1).
• Launch pad: Launch mount clamp replacements continue. Chopstick arm testing continues.
• Build site: S29 tile work continues.
• Coyotes spotted.

Other:

• In reply to a recent Tom Mueller interview, Elon states some aspirational Raptor thrust goals.

April 18th, 2024

• OLM: Rear section of booster quick disconnect hood is removed again and rolls away from the launch mount.
• Tower: Testing of new chopstick actuator continues. Ship quick disconnect receives new insulation.
• Tank farm: LR 11000 crane is prepping for vertical tank removal, load spreader is already attached, and tanker trucks are emptying the contents of the water tank (closeup).
• S30 in Megabay 2: 3/4 flaps are tethered.
• Starfactory progress: Structure now has interior lighting. Beam painting nearly complete along one wall.

April 17th, 2024

• 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.

April 16th, 2024

• Launch site: OLM clamp linkage replacements continue. New GSE equipment is active, and a brief dance break follows.
• Starfactory progress: Cladding installation and painting continues. Cladding progresses quickly through the afternoon. Wide angle from Sean.
• Massey's: One, two, three pieces of flame trench infrastructure installed. Closeup of new QD from yesterday (thanks, u/Planatus666).

Other:

• Rough math regarding momentum/torque imparted by Starlink sats deployed via pez dispenser.

April 15th, 2024

• Launch site: Testing of booster quick disconnect. Launch clamp replacements continue. Tank farm work continues.
• Concrete form disassembly begins for new wall next to the D2 gate.
• Dirt deliveries continue for soil compaction at the launch pad B.
• Starfactory progress: Many lifts and cranes. Painting continues.
• An imperial scout trooper is visiting, presumably to inspect the premises and report back to the emperor (closeup)

April 14th, 2024

• Relatively quiet day.
• Launch site: New HVAC box installation. More launch clamp arm linkages replaced.
• Build site: Peek at S29 in high bay. Still pending further tile work.
• Starfactory progress: Cladding continues, painting begins.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article on potential Starship V2 hardware.

April 13th, 2024

• Work on OLM continues. Nice NSF timelapse of the OLM work over the past couple of days.
• Video of launch clamp arm linkage replacement from yesterday (Apr 12).
• Closeups of Starfactory and chopsticks yesterday from cnunez.
• Newly installed booster quick disconnect front cover is a redesigned version.
• Plumbing work for the horizontal tanks in the tank farm.
• RGV flyovers of launch site, build site, and Massey's.
• Possible testing at Massey's of a new ship quick disconnect.

April 12th, 2024

• First 5 (at least) replacement launch clamp arm linkages lifted into place.
• Left chopstick actuator removed (NSF, LabPadre) and replaced (closeup).
• Booster quick disconnect front cover reinstalled on launch mount.
• Artistic shot of S30 in Megabay 2 from cnunezimages.

April 11th, 2024

• Launch clamps are starting to be removed from launch mount. Zack Golden is baffled.
• Build site: Starfactory progress continues with more roof and wall cladding.
• Two welding robots are delivered to and enter Megabay 2.
• Work on flame trench at Massey's. First and second pieces of flame bucket laid next to the trench.

Other:

• NSF posts a nice timelapse of Megabay 2 construction.

April 10th, 2024

• Starfactory progress. Cladding has reached the angled section on the corner.
• OLM work continues. Launch clamp arm linkages 15 through 18 removed.

Other:

• TheSpaceEngineer renders and speculation threads on IFT-3 booster behavior after stage separation: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7, tweet 8, tweet 9. TL;DR: Flamey end pointing the wrong direction may have led to significant cosine losses.
• IFT-4 reported to require a launch license modification for SpaceX to do "some different things". FAA to revamp reentry license process.
• Zack chimes in with his thoughts on the interstage in the new official renders of Starship V2 and V3.
• Japan to develop lunar rover, and fly two astronauts on future Artemis missions. I wonder if the rover will fly on Starship or H3?
• SpaceX tweets a slow-mo video of an R-vac shutdown at sea level. Flow separation is visible.

April 9th, 2024

• Metalwork on the chopsticks overnight.
• RC #269 and RVac #398 installed on S30.
• Starfactory progress continues.
• OLM work continues. Launch clamp arm linkages 2 through 14 removed.

April 8th, 2024

• B11 moves from launch site to Megabay 1 (LabPadre, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, AnthonyFGomez).
• Rover 1 build site timelapse. Starfactory progress continues. Raptor spotted near Megabay 2, likely to be installed on S30. A second and third Raptor arrive at Megabay 2 shortly after.
• Large crane labeled "High Bay" is spotted.
• OLM work continues. A launch clamp arm linkage is removed.

April 7th, 2024

• B11 lift and rollback: Chopsticks close around booster, stabilizer pins engage, and B11 is lifted off the OLM onto a transport stand (LabPadre, NSF 1, NSF 2, Mary, NSF 3, Starship Gazer). Chopsticks open and lower, ship quick disconnect arm swings back in.
• Starfactory progress continues. Frame looks complete, the roof is coming along nicely.
• S29 recent tile status from April 6th.

April 6th, 2024

• Booster transport stand moves towards the launch mount.
• New large nitrogen vaporizer positioned at the orbital tank farm, followed shortly by another.
• Starfactory progress continues.

Other:

• Official Starship update presentation from SpaceX (~45 min)
• Chris Bergin of NSF made a highlights list.
• Some overview slides and raptor slides. Comparison between Starship and Raptor versions.
• Grid fin placement may change.
• RGV Aerial photoshop of stretched stack.
• New official booster catch animation.
• Photoshop of potential non-norminal booster catch attempt

April 5th, 2024

• Overnight, detonation suppression system and igniter are tested on B11.
• Starfactory progress continues: RGV Aerial flyover photo, Rover 1 (which moved, along with Rover 2).
• S30 is lifted onto engine installation stand and crew lift rises into the skirt. Ship lifting jig leaves Megabay 2.
• Scaffolding and work platforms are removed from the OLM.
• Main event: B11 static fire (NSF livestream and timelapse): Security arrives for road closure, pad clearance announcement (LabPadre, NSF), chopsticks rise to launch position, and SQD extends. Venting, more venting, and frost on booster (LabPadre, NSF 1, NSF 2). Engine chill, siren, and static fire (LabPadre, NSF).
• Static fire angles: Nerdle, Rover 2, Sapphire, RGV 1, RGV 2, SpaceX drone photos and video. Zoom-in on possible debris.
• Chopsticks descend and SQD retracts.
• Vehicle transport road delays posted for Apr 7th 22:00 to 03:00 and Apr 8th 06:00 to 09:00.

April 4th, 2024

• Launch site: Timelapse of B11 transport (LabPadre, NSF). Chopsticks lift booster onto launch mount (LabPadre, NSF, SpaceX, Mary, Starship Gazer). Chopsticks descend and ship quick disconnect extends. Booster transport stand rolls away from launch mount. B11 likely connected to booster quick disconnect. Venting announcement followed by venting.
• Build site: S29 emerges from High Bay, S30 moves from High Bay to Megabay 2, S29 returns to High Bay, and S30 is lifted onto engine installation stand.
• April 5th road closure window shifts by 2 hours.
• Road closures posted for April 8th and 9th from 08:00 to 20:00.

Other

• SpaceX recap and teaser video for IFT-3 and IFT-4.
• New Ringwatchers article about observed changes on B11 and S29.

April 3rd, 2024

• Road delays for B11 transport posted: 14:00 to 18:00 and 21:00 to midnight.
• B11: Transport stand moves to Megabay (LabPadre, NSF). Megabay door opens (NSF, LabPadre), but nothing happens during the first road delay. A second road delay is posted for the evening, and B11 is finally lifted onto transport stand, and rolls out of Megabay (NSF, LabPadre, Starship Gazer). Transport closeups (NSF 1, NSF 2, Starship Gazer), booster arrives at launch site (NSF, RGV Aerial). Full NSF livestream. B11 has no hotstaging ring yet.
• Chopsticks: Handrail is installed (tweet 1, tweet 2). Chopsticks movement announcement. Movement of stabilization arms. Chopsticks rise and SQD retracts. Artistic shot from cnunez.
• Combination of machines (excavator + pumpcrete?) makes for an amusing sight
• Third and final section of water-cooled flame diverter arrives at Massey's.

KSC activities:

• Final remaining OLM leg at LC-39A is felled.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers Raptor tracking diagrams

April 2nd, 2024

• Water deliveries to deluge tanks at orbital pad. (LabPadre, NSF)
• Tank farm and OLM venting and more venting. (NSF timelapse)
• New road closure posted for Apr 5th from 08:00 to 20:00, likely for tank farm plumbing tests, possibly for B11 testing.
• S29: Nosecone tiles reinstalled. (Mary, Starship Gazer)
• New type of ring section spotted, potentially for Starship V2.

Other:

• Ryan Hansen Space speculates on the cause of damage to the methane hose in the booster quick disconnect during IFT-3.
• ChromeKiwi render of Massey's static fire stand.

April 1st, 2024

• OLM and chopsticks work continues. BQD purge test spotted (video). Repairs to chopstick wiring and SQD in progress.
• Closeup of new plumbing at Orbital Tank Farm. Bra off. New vaporizers still pending installation.
• S29: Some TPS tiles removed from nosecone.
• B14: Final methane section moves to Megabay 1.