Starbase Updates | March 2024

What's Happening at Starbase Texas in March 2024?

This page is a summary of the major highlights at Starbase Texas over the month of March 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.

 

March 31st, 2024

• Another quiet day with no vehicle testing or transports. It seems many Starbase photographers took the day off as well.
• Work on OLM and chopsticks continues. Lifts went up and down.
• Hoppy Easter from Nic Ansuini.

March 30th, 2024

• Relatively quiet day with no vehicle testing or transports.
• Work on OLM and chopsticks continues.
• BQD rear cover is moved back to the OLM and reinstalled.
• Cool picture of steelwork. Not sure the exact location. Maybe some part of Starfactory or the new office building?

Other:

• NSF discussion/interview with Dr. Phil Metzger on his recent paper: A new launch pad failure mode: Analysis of fine particles from the launch of the first Starship orbital test flight.

March 29th, 2024

• S29 is moved from launch site to High Bay. Timelapses (LabPadre, NSF), closeups (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, SeanKD).
• Work on OLM and chopsticks continues. BQD hoses (number 1 and number 2) are reinstalled.
• Build site: Work final two tower segments and Starfactory continues. Interesting framework spotted. SPMT rolls towards storage area.
• Meteor spotted on NSF Starbase Live

March 28th, 2024

• OLM and chopsticks work continues.
• S29: Flaps are folded. Ship lifting jig rolls to launch site. S29 connected to LR11000 crane (LabPadre, NSF) and lifted from test stand to transport stand (LabPadre, NSF). Ship disconnects from crane, and lifting jig leaves launch site.
• Build site: Slight ship shuffle in the High Bay. Installation of glass panels on Starfactory continues.
• Mar 28th road closure revoked. Mar 29th road delay still possible (00:00 to 03:00).

KSC activities:

• 4th OLM leg is felled.

March 27th, 2024

• Starfactory progress continued overnight. Mystery tower under construction.
• S29 single-engine static fire: (NSF livestream) Road closed, final checkouts at the pad, tank farm venting, LOX load, frost line (LabPadre, NSF), engine chill, siren, and static fire.
• Various angles: Nerdle, Lab, Sapphire, Rover2, NSF, LabPadre/NSF overlay, NSF timelapse, RGV Aerial (zoom), and SpaceX drone.
• B14: Another segment rolls into Megabay 1, and is stacked.
• New Ringwatchers diagram.
• Road delay posted for Mar 29th.

Elon on IFT-4 goals:

Goal of this mission is for Starship to get through max reentry heating with all systems functioning.

March 26th, 2024

• B4 scrapping continues: Overnight, another section emerges from Megabay, aft section departs, and another section emerges. Scrapping continues throughout the day with the final section emerging mid-afternoon.
• OLM and chopsticks work continues. A couple lifts spotted under S29.
• S31 tile work is in progress.
• Build site timelapse: Starfactory frame nearing completion, with major progress compared to just a few days ago (RGV aerial, cnunez).
• Road closures: Mar 26th revoked, Mar 27th possible, Mar 28th possible.
• Mary receives overpressure notice for Mar 27th. Potentially another static fire!

March 25th, 2024

• Main event: Static fire of S29: NSF livestream. Road closed, Mary receives overpressure notice. LOX load, venting, engine chill, and static fire.
• Various angles: Nerdle, Rover2, Lab, Nerdle slowmo, Rover2 slowmo, Sapphire, NSF, Mary, and SpaceX drone.
• SpaceX confirms "full duration" static fire of 6 engines. NSF timelapse of entire tanking, static fire, and detanking process.
• OLM and chopsticks work continues.
• Build site: Tower segments coming along nicely (cnunez closeup from Saturday). Starfactory frame looks almost complete. Glass panel installation continues.
• B14 stacking continues.

March 24th, 2024

• Quiet day.
• OLM and chopsticks work continues.

March 23rd, 2024

• S29: Ship unhooked from LR 11000 crane. Crane then rolls away from the test stand, towards D2 gate. Ship lifting jig leaves the launch site. S29 flaps deployed.
• OLM and chopsticks work continues.
• Launch Pad B: Steady convoy of dump truck deliveries, possibly for soil compaction.
• Starfactory progress continues: Frame nearing completion. More wall panels and windows added.
• B4 scrapping continues.
• Massey's static fire flame trench: Deluge manifold spotted on its way to Starbase, and arriving at Starbase (StarshipGazer, LabPadre). Aerial photo of trench from RGV aerial.

KSC activities:

• "Timber!" One of the launch mount legs is felled, followed shortly by another.

March 22nd, 2024

• S29 rolls out to the pad, and is lifted onto test stand. SpaceX confirms upcoming static fire tests.
• Booster stabilization pins #1 and #2 reinstalled on chopsticks.
• B4 scrapping begins. Forward tank section rolls out of Megabay 1.
• Second half of the Massey's flame bucket spotted near Fayetteville, Texas.

March 21st, 2024

• Work on OLM and chopsticks continues.
• B4: Scaffold brackets installed and scaffolding installation begins. Ringwatchers speculates that B4 will be scrapped soon. B4 moves from the Rocket Garden to Megabay 1 (timelapse).
• S29: Ship transport stand arrives and is lifted onto SPMT. S29 lifted onto transport stand and rolls out of Highbay.
• The first and second door sections are installed on Megabay 2.
• Road delay scheduled for Mar 22nd from 00:00 to 03:00. Potentially for S29 rollout.
• Road closures posted for Mar 25th, 26th, and 27th from 08:00 to 20:00.
• RGV Aerial flyover analysis video.

March 20th, 2024

• Rear section of BQD cover is removed. BQD methane and LOX hoses are removed. NSF closeup and removal.
• Build site: Starfactory progress continues.
• Crane is rigged up to the ship engine install stand.
• B4: Workers inspect the top and midsection. Scaffold points sprayed white. Scaffold bracket installation begins.
• Sometime during the fog between 12:12 and 14:39, the top of the engine installation stand at Sanchez is removed.
• Megabay 2 prep for door installation :(

Other:

• Phil Metzger paper on dust from IFT-1 is released on ArXiv.

March 19th, 2024

• Raptor service platform (NSF, LabPadre) and ship lifting jig (NSF, LabPadre) roll out to launch site.
• Launch tower inspected/serviced.
• Starfactory progressing nicely: Much wall cladding progress and window installation. More beams installed.
• Starkitty sighted trotting to and fro :)

Future launches:

• Gwynne Shotwell comments: IFT-4 NET 6 weeks (early May). Flight plan and more or less identical to IFT-3 (no Starlink sats). Satellite deployment and recovery of both stages are still goals for this year.
• FAA working with SpaceX to approve launches in batches (Part 450).

March 18th, 2024

• Another fairly quiet day. OLM work continues.
• Teams checking the surrounding dune area for debris.

Other:

• New ChromeKiwi render of test stand at Massey's.

IFT-4+:

• April, Hopefully (Elon Time).
• FAA representative says "no major issues" with IFT-3. SpaceX still aiming for 6 to 9 more Starship launches this year.

March 17th, 2024

• Another quiet day, somewhat foggy.
• Inspection and work continues on the OLM, chopsticks, and pad. Some excavation near the orbital tank farm.
• Black LR11000 crane rises again.
• New RGV Aerial flyover: Massey's test stand, Launch Tower B foundations, Launch Pad A post-launch (alternate angle), (full video).

March 16th, 2024

• Relatively quiet day yesterday.
• Inspections and work continues on the OLM, chopsticks, and pad.

IFT-3:

• Rhin0 posts a list of all known raptor engines on booster and ship.
• Pockn_CG posts a render of Starship orientation and camera angles on reentry.

March 15th, 2024

• Workers continue to inspect the pad and OLM. Reported damage is minimal.
• Starfactory expansion nears the western end.
• Nice shot of S31 in High Bay.

KSC activities:

• Orbital Launch Mount possibly prepping for rollout to 39A.

IFT-3:

• Ringwatchers speculation on results of the payload door test.
• Side-by-side comparison to IFT-1 and IFT-2.

Other:

• Elon on current and future Starship capabilities.
• Elon on timelines

March 14th, 2024

• During the night, orbital tank farm starts venting.
• Slight delays due to wayward boats and wind.
• IFT-3 happens.
• Chopsticks close.
• Road open, cars to the pad. The little convoy included the ship transport stand and the OLM work platform.
• Starship Gazer photos of the pad.
• Road closures for Mar 15th and 16th are revoked.

IFT-3:

• SpaceX report.
• 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". (Is that equivalent to "successful"?)
• S28 rotation stabilized.
• Webcast views matched with Madagascar coast.
• Tim Dodd may have indirectly been responsible for the fate of S28

March 13th, 2024

• Overnight, booster and ship transport stands removed from launch complex.
• Black LR 11000 crane is lowered.
• S28 flaps tested.
• B10 grid fins tested. (zoom in)
• Jared Isaacman flies by.
• An OV-10 arrives, likely to fly the outline of the TFRs.
• S29 rolls into the High Bay, stops for a bit, then rolls the rest of the way in.

IFT-3:

• Launch license received: https://www.faa.gov/media/69476 (PDF warning)
• FAA Finding of No Significant Impact for Indian Ocean Landings: https://www.faa.gov/media/76841 (PDF warning)
• FAA Environmental Assessment for Indian Ocean Landings: https://www.faa.gov/media/76836 (PDF warning)
• Gav Cornwell summarizes.
• Mary receives evacuation notice.
• SpaceX tweet.
• Elon's jet (N628TS) does a quick tour of Europe: Austin, Berlin, Paris, London, currently heading to Teterboro New Jersey.
• New Ringwatchers article: Onward to Flight 3: The Complete History of S28 & B10

March 11th, 2024

• Overnight: Suborbital pad closes for operations. Pad is clear.
• S29 spin prime test: NSF livestream. Road closed, suborbital tank farm venting, condensation visible, frost line (LabPadre, NSF), engine chill, and spin prime (LabPadre, NSF, alternate Nerdle angle). NSF timelapse. Road open.
• S29 prepping for rollback: March 12th and 13th road closures have been canceled, and replaced with temporary road delays from 14:00 to 16:00 and 00:00 to 03:00, respectively. Rollback of S29 seems likely. The black LR 11000 moves into position and S29 flaps close. Ship lifting jig rolls over to the crane, crane picks up jig, jig attaches to S29.
• B10 grid fin wiggle test. OLM scaffolding is removed (LabPadre, NSF). "After" photo.
• Build site: Prep for another grid fin removal from B4. Starfactory progress continues.
• Massey's: A new LR1600/2 crane is erected. Pipe for water sprayer during static fires is spotted, similar to hardware at Stennis.

IFT-3:

• Marine Safety Information Bulletin posted.
• Range security marine assets at Starbase have started to chime into tracking services.
• Launch license "not expected to be an impediment", per Eric Berger.
• Short IFT-2/IFT-3 comparison video from Tim Dodd.

March 10th, 2024

• Overnight: Dance floor leaves the launch complex. Loud venting from S28. GMK 7550 crane rolls up and is positioned for press plate removal.
• S28 stacked on B10: Press plate is removed, SQD retracts, timelapse of lift (LabPadre, NSF). Seems like alignment of ship and booster is an issue (Chris Bergin, Zack Golden). Nice shot of S28 and S29 from Starship Gazer.
• SQD: Work platform extends, SQD ports on S28 are uncovered, work platform retracts, SQD attaches, detaches, then reattaches. Work platform re-extends.
• Water deluge test (LabPadre, Sean Doherty, Elisar Priel, SBL). LabCam video combined with Rover2 audio.
• Starkitty closeup

March 9th, 2024

• Chopsticks: "Winch moves are now complete" announcement, chopsticks rise and close around S28 (daytime closeup).
• Raptor stand returns to production site.
• Build site: Starfactory progress continues. More glass panels installed.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article on Starlink PEZ dispenser.

IFT-3:

• Still no launch license from the FAA yet, but they include "STARSHIP OFT-3" in their Current Operations Plan Advisory.

March 8th, 2024

• Flight Termination System team shows up (close up). Placeholder "dummy" FTS boxes are removed. Top and bottom boxes are installed. Installation complete.
• S28 tile work touch-ups continue.
• Build site: Starfactory progress continues. More glass panels are installed. A peek into Megabay 1.
• March 11th road closure shifts from 08:00 to 20:00 to 06:00 to 18:00.

IFT-3:

• No launch license yet.

March 7th, 2024

• S29 testing: NSF livestream. Pad cleared for testing, likely attempting a spin-prime. A few tiles come off (close up). Timelapse of testing (LabPadre, NSF). Partial fill, engine chill, attempted spin-prime, abort/depress.
• Build site: Starfactory progress continues, glass panel installation begins (suction lift rig, panel lift). Mystery structure is transported.

IFT-3:

• Mexican NOTAM posted.
• New road closures posted for Mar 14th, 15th, and 16th.
• The orbital police posts the estimated planned trajectory.

March 6th, 2024

• S28: TPS work and more TPS work, closeup, timelapse.
• OLM stabilization pins are removed (first pin, second pin). A chine cover is removed (NSF angle).
• S29: Black LR 11000 crane moves away. Flaps are tested.
• Build site: B14 aft section moves into Megabay 1. Some shuffling was required. A grid fin is removed from B4. Starfactory progress continues.
• More cryo tanks inbound for and arrive in Brownsville.
• New road closures posted for Mar 11th, 12th, and 13th from 08:00 to 20:00.

IFT-3:

• SpaceX officially announces March 14th as the NET date for IFT-3.
• Mission page with countdown and flight test timeline is posted on SpaceX website.
• NOTMAR for Gulf of Mexico is posted (PDF). Image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4.
• FAA is "very close" to approving the license modification.

Other:

• HLS speculation renders from mcrs987 (TheSpaceEngineer), (direct links to each tweet in the thread): Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7.

March 5th, 2024

• Overnight: Loud venting from Ship QD arm.
• Main event, S28 destack: Ship pressurization trailer arrives at launch complex. Ship quick disconnect arm is disconnected from S28 (NSF closeup). S28 destacked from B10 (LabPadre, NSF).
• Ship quick disconnect arm extends towards the now-exposed hot stage ring on B10. Workers spotted on the arm shortly after.
• Slight movement of the black LR 11000 crane and the chopsticks.
• Build site: Two booster segments emerge from Starfactory. These include B14's aft section per LabPadre. Weld marks for additional slosh baffles not observed on this segment. Progress on Starfactory itself continues.
• Coyote sighted.
• Road closures for Mar 4th and 5th finally revoked.
• New road closures posted for Mar 7th and 8th from 08:00 to 20:00.
• Possible internal IFT-3 date of Mar 14th. WB-57 plane also scheduled for Mar 14th.

March 4th, 2024

• SpaceX tweet regarding WDR. Sounds like it went well. Next up would be FAA launch license, destack, arm the FTS, restack, then launch.
• S29 unhooked from black LR 11000 crane.
• B10 grid fins tested.
• Tower venting.
• Construction of second orbital launch pad continues: Excavators with stitchers on their booms installing wick drains.
• More cryo tanks inbound for Brownsville.
• Land swap approved with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

March 3rd, 2024

• S29 still connected to black LR 11000 crane.
• Main event: Full stack WDR of S28 and B10
• D2 gate is closed.
• New siren and pad evacuation announcement. Regular klaxon and pad clearing announcement. Village also evacuated, per Vicki and Mary.
• Chopsticks open and lower. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
• Tower and OLM venting. Multiple angles from LabPadre Rover 2, Nerdle, Lab, and Plex. Tower vent (LabPadre, NSF). OLM vent. OLM vent stops, and propellant load begins. (NSF livestream)
• Ship frosty, booster frosty, both nearly full. Propellant loading timelapse from Zack/NSF.
• FireX is tested.
• Detanking underway.
• New Ringwatchers diagram.
• Road closures still listed as possible (archive) for Mar 4th and 5th, but since Mar 3rd is still listed as "possible" not "scheduled", I suspect the website has not been updated.

March 2nd, 2024

• Quiet day.
• Overnight, S29 moves from orbital pad back to suborbital pad and is lifted onto test stand.
• LOX valve testing at the orbital tank farm.
• Road closure still possible for this afternoon (Mar 3rd).

March 1st, 2024

• S29 rolls out to launch complex (LabPadre timelapse, NSF livestream), and moves towards... the orbital pad? (NSF) S29 eventually starts rolling back towards suborbital site. S29 pez dispenser closeup.
• Ship lifting jig is connected to the Black LR 11000 crane.
• Main event: S28 is lifted up with the chopsticks (noisy) and placed on B10 with a clunk (LabPadre, NSF). LabPadre/Vicki timelapse. Workers spotted on SQD arm. Mid-lift picture (LabPadre), and glamour shots (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4) from StashipGazer, Sean Doherty, and Mary. Ship quick disconnect deployed with some difficulty, connected, disconnected, and reconnected.
• B10 hot stage ring, and ship QD arm closeup.
• Build site: Work on tower segment and Starfactory continues. Window installation on Starfactory.
• New possible road closures scheduled for Mar 3rd, 4th, and 5th.