Starbase Updates | May 2024

What's Happening at Starbase Texas in May 2024?

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

 

May 31st, 2024

• Build site video tour: Fairly quiet.
• S29 aft flaps are extended. Chopsticks open.
• S29 moves between the chopsticks (which close and rise), and the LR11000 is laid horizontal. Closeups of the pad from Starship Gazer, NSF, Ramirez, and Doherty.
• Disassembly begins on the "GATEWAY TO MARS" sign. Starship Gazer closeup.
• Great photo of tower sections at Sanchez from RGV Aerial. We can clearly see four full-height sections and three 2/3-height sections.

KSC:

• Empty barge heading to KSC, likely for the two remaining tower segments.

May 30th, 2024

• Better video of S29 moving away from the tower the previous day.
• Overnight, B14.1 test tank moves to Massey's.
• LR11000 crane and continuous flight auger move away from the pad in preparation for IFT-4.
• Flight termination systems are installed on both S29 and B11 (photo, video)
• LN2 vaporizer is removed from the old orbital tank farm. Corresponding cryo pumps are removed as well.

May 29th, 2024

• SpaceX tweets some nice photos of the previous day's WDR, and confirms June 5th is still the target launch date.
• S29 destacked from B11 (Starship Gazer, Rover 2, Nerdle, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Mary, cnunez).
• Stacking comparison from Elisar Priel.
• Workers in a lift remove a section of a chine on B11.
• S29 moves a short distance away from the tower.
• Workers observed on launch tower QD arm.
• Launch pad 2: RGV Aerial photo. Crane parts arrive (seven trucks, one truck), and the parts are assembled into an LTR 1220. Crane then begins moving rebar cages for the pile drill.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction progressing quickly.
• Road delay for booster transport still scheduled for May 30th 00:00 to 03:00.

May 28th, 2024

• Second WDR of S29 and B11: NSF livestream. Mary receives evac notice, klaxon and pad clear, detonation suppression system is activated, tank farm spools up, and LOX recondensers are venting.
• Chopsticks open (their arms wide), tower and launch mount start venting, stop, and start again. Chine vents are visible.
• Frost on ship and booster methane tank, frost on booster LOX tank. Nice wide shot of frost and venting.
• Full load, 30 minute hold, detonation suppression system is activated again, and depress vent.
• Deluge is activated (LabPadre, NSF, wide shot).
• Full time lapses of WDR (LabPadre, NSF).
• Chopsticks close (closeup (wide timelapse), and S29 flaps are tested.
• Concrete pump deploys at the former suborbital site, a concrete truck arrives, and concrete is poured.
• Road closures for May 29th and 30th are removed (hopefully due to good WDR), and new closures for Jun 5th, 6th, and 7th (00:00 to 14:00) have been added.
• New road delays (booster transport, 00:00 to 03:00) posted for May 30th or 31st. Likely to or from Massey's, B14 or B14.1.

Other:

• FAA determines that public safety was not in danger during IFT-3. Consequently, IFT-4 launch license is not contingent on completion of IFT-3 mishap investigation.

May 27th, 2024

• Relatively quiet day (holiday?)
• LR11000 removes the remaining section of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1).
• OLM detonation suppression system is tested.
• OLM deluge is tested. (Nerdle, Rover 2, NSF)
• Road closure scheduled for May 28th, possibly for a 2nd WDR.

May 26th, 2024

• Overnight, 2 SPMTs roll towards S29, and ship rolls between the chopsticks. Chopsticks rise to align with ship load points.
• S29 press plate is removed. (Starship Gazer livestream)
• S29 is stacked on B11 again. (ViX, NSF, NSF upskirt, Beyer, Mary, Doherty, Starship Gazer)
• Still a few tiles missing on S29.
• LR11000 crane prepares to remove another GSE outer tank. (Edit: Nope, just the remaining section of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1).

May 25th, 2024

• Slow news day compared to yesterday.
• Overnight, an SPMT rolls out to the launch site.
• Suborbital site dismantling: The GMK 7550 crane packs up and leaves the site.
• Work on chopsticks and S29 continues.
• RGV Aerial posts comparison photo of launch tower foundations.

Other:

• Some speculation on whether the hot stage ring detached (unintentionally) during IFT-3, based on shadows observed on booster cameras. Tweets from TheSpaceEngineer (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6) and Ryan Hansen (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3).

May 24th, 2024

• Overnight: GSE tank load spreader is removed from the launch site. One load spreader remains, and hooks up to the base of GSEC-5 (outer tank for GSE-1 (or maybe GSE-2 as per santa?)). Looks like there is still a small bit left.
• Booster transport stand and raptor installation platform also leave the launch site.
• Also overnight, tower section 5 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Sanchez (Cargile, Doherty). Benedikt thread on how this segment fits into the overall tower: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: Last remaining large horizontal tank is removed (Doherty).
• Tile work on S29 continues. Tile work on forward flap.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction progresses quickly.
• Massey's: Small cryo test with S26.
• Floating truck :)

Other:

• Suborbital tank farm components arrive at KSC.
• Classic "pending regulatory approval" tweet from SpaceX. IFT-4 now NET Jun 5th.
• SpaceX posts mission page for IFT-4 and report on IFT-3. Highlights:
• “six engines that shut down early in the boostback burn were disabled from attempting the landing burn startup, leaving seven engines commanded to start up with two successfully reaching mainstage ignition. The booster had lower than expected landing burn thrust when contact was lost at approximately 462 meters in altitude”
• “likely root cause for the early boostback burn shutdown was determined to be continued filter blockage where liquid oxygen is supplied to the engines, leading to a loss of inlet pressure in engine oxygen turbopumps. SpaceX implemented hardware changes ahead of Flight 3 to mitigate this issue, which resulted in the booster progressing to its first ever landing burn attempt. Super Heavy boosters for Flight 4 and beyond will get additional hardware inside oxygen tanks to further improve propellant filtration capabilities”
• “Several minutes after Starship began its coast phase, the vehicle began losing the ability to control its attitude”
• “likely root cause of the unplanned roll was determined to be clogging of the valves responsible for roll control. SpaceX has since added additional roll control thrusters on upcoming Starships to improve attitude control redundancy and upgraded hardware for improved resilience to blockage”

• Also notable: IFT-4 flight test timeline lists "landing burn". I wonder if this will be a soft-water or a hard-water landing?
• Comparison of IFT-3 and IFT-4 flight timelines.
• Zack's thoughts on the recent info: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4.

May 23rd, 2024

• Overnight, GSE-1 is scrapped.
• Work on chopsticks and S29 continues.
• Dismantling of suborbital site and construction of second orbital pad continues: Starship Gazer livestream
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, tower segments accumulating at Sanchez. 5-ring welding test article moves behind Megabay 1 towards scrapping area. A common dome enters build site, parks near Megabay 2. Two more ring segments arrive.
• Starkitty sighted :)
• Tower segment 5 of 5 prepares to move from Brownsville to Sanchez (Starship Gazer, Cargile, Gomez). This is the final segment currently at Brownsville Port. I believe two segments still remain in Florida.

Other:

• Raptor RUD at McGregor.
• IFT-4 NET about Jun 2nd/3rd.

May 22nd, 2024

• Overnight, tower segment 4 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Sanchez. (Cargile photo)
• S29 remains at the launch site, undergoing heatshield inspection and other work. (Videos from ViX and NSF, photos from Starship Gazer and Cargile)
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: Large horizontal tank is lifted, and departs the launch complex.
• Scrapping of GSE-1 proceeds slowly.
• Build site: Three plus two cycloaddition ring welding test has been completed.

KSC:

• Approval granted for second build site.

IFT-4:

• Gulf of Mexico NOTMAR is posted.
• A second WDR is possible. Thread from Alexphysics13 of NSF: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4.

May 21st, 2024

• Overnight, after a brief issue with the load spreader, GSE-1 was removed, and scrapping begins (though slightly wobbly).
• S29: SQD retracts (daylight) ahead of S29 destack, which occurs mid-morning. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Vix, DeffJeff, Starship Gazer, NSF, Mary, clwphoto1)
• S29 rolls away from the tower, but hasn't rolled back yet.
• Nice timelapse from NSF of S29/B11 WDR on the 20th.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Ship lifting jig stand is outside high bay.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: One tank leaves on an SPMT.
• New road closures posted for 28th through 30th (05:00 to 17:00, non-flight activities), and Jun 1st through 3rd (00:00 to 14:00, flight activities!).
• New road delays posted for ship transport (May 21st), and tower section transport (21st, 23rd, 24th).
• Tower segment 4 of 5 prepares to move from Brownsville to Sanchez.

IFT-4:

• Will not feature propellant transfer, Pez door opening, Raptor engine restart, or "other items that SpaceX was working to demonstrate", per Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager of HLS at NASA.

May 20th, 2024

• May 19th addendum, suborbital site dismantling: Several of the tall thin vertical tanks were removed the previous day (tank 1 and 2, tank 3, tank 4, tank 5), and transported in the evening.
• Overnight, the last piece of GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1) is removed.
• Tower segment 3 of 5 rolls from Brownsville to Sanchez. This is believed to be the bottom segment, and Benedikt posts an interesting analysis ( tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5), on what might be expected regarding cryo pipes and tower cladding.
• Main event: S29/B11 Wet Dress Rehearsal: NSF and Starship Gazer livestreams. Road is closed, tank farm venting, chopsticks open and lower (NSF, LabPadre), roadblock retreats, tower venting (NSF, LabPadre, propellant load begins and progresses quickly, chopsticks raise and close, both vehicles are fully loaded, roadblock advances ahead of detank, depress vent.
• SpaceX confirms successful rehearsal, and posts some drone photos. NSF timelapse.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: Miscellaneous equipment is removed.
• LR11000 crane prepares to remove GSE-1.

IFT-4:

• One of NASA's WB-57 planes is scheduled for Imagery Support on Jun 1st, 4th, and 5th.

Elon updates on:

• IFT-4 timeline: "2 weeks" :)
• Rocket garden may be relocated
• "Starship" launch pad plans: Two pads at Starbase, one at 39A, and one more TBD.

May 19th, 2024

• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Tower segments are accumulating at Sanchez. Starfactory roof is completed.
• GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1) scrapping continues: Sections 2 and 3, section 4.
• Tank removal from suborbital site continues.
• S26 is still sitting on the new flame trench at Massey's.
• Tower segment 3 of 5 prepares to move from Brownsville to Sanchez. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, cnunez).

May 18th, 2024

• Overnight, tower segment 2 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Starbase. (Sean Doherty)
• GSEC-5 (cover of GSE-1) is removed. In the evening, a section is cut off the bottom and scrapped.
• Suborbital site dismantling continues: One of the three large black vertical tanks is dropped while being lifted by the GMK 7550 crane (slo-mo), and then loaded onto transport, slower-mo). No signs of injury. The tank leaves the launch site later that morning. The second tank is lifted in the late morning, and transported away in the afternoon. The third tank is lifted in the mid-afternoon, then dragged away and scrapped soon after. The large horizontal methane tank leaves leaves the launch site (right edge of video clip).
• Cryo tanker convoy continues, including one with a Space Shuttle painting. Potential full stack WDR on Monday.

May 17th, 2024

• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, Starfactory cladding now looks complete.
• Remaining section of GSE-2 outer tank is removed. This is followed by the lift of a small excavator.
• Suborbital site deconstruction: Small methane tank is removed from the suborbital tank farm. This is followed a few hours later by the removal of a large methane tank, which is pending transport. NSF 5-day timelapse of deconstruction.
• New road closures posted for May 20th through 22nd, 5:00 to 17:00, amended from an original 8:00 to 20:00 closure.
• Interesting statement by the FAA to NSF regarding IFT-3 mishap investigation: https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1791600893151821827
• Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation: "If the FAA agrees no public safety issues were involved in the mishap, the operator may return to flight while the mishap investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met." https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1791611426991157438
• NSF followed up with the question if this would mean that a positive outcome of this investigation would mean the launch license will be modified before the mishap is closed? The FAA answered: "Yes, provided all other license requirements are met."

May 16th, 2024

• LR11000 crane is hooked up to remove a remaining portion of GSE-2 outer tank.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, Starfactory cladding is nearly complete.
• S29 & B11 partial tanking test: NSF livestream. GSE venting (ship methane subcooler), B11 CO2 tank venting, LOX subcoolers venting, tower venting, (alternate angle), frost on ship and booster, depress vent, and road open. NSF timelapse.
• Cryo deliveries continue.
• Tower segment 2 of 5 preps for rollout from Brownsville to Starbase. Additional photos: Doherty, LabPadre, Gomez

May 15th, 2024

• Overnight, S31 returns from Massey's to the Highbay. Closeup of raceway damage.
• GSE-2 inner tank is removed.
• Tower segment 1 of 5 moves from Brownsville to Sanchez.
• S29 moves towards the launch pad, and is stacked on B11 (LabPadre, NSF) shortly before noon (closeup). NSF and StarshipGazer livestreams.
• IFT-4 full stack photos: Starship Gazer, Beyer, Doherty 1, Doherty 2, Cargile, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2, and of course, SpaceX.
• Ship transport stand and raptor work platform move away from the OLM.
• Demolition continues on the Gateway to Mars wall and suborbital test pad.
• Build site: Two new segments arrive, joining B14.1 forward section, which then enters Megabay 1 (not Megabay 2, I think).
• Massey's: Some venting observed in the evening.
• Road closure scheduled for May 16th. (Official document). May 17th closure added.

Other:

• Aspirational Mars goals from Elon: "Less than 5 years for uncrewed, less than 10 to land people, maybe a city in 20 years, but for sure in 30, civilization secured." I'll eat my hat Beck-style if this timeline holds, but I'm glad he's still ambitious.
• IFT-4 launch license for early June should be feasible for the FAA.

May 14th, 2024

• S29: Overnight, S29 is rolled away from the launch pad (LabPadre, NSF).
• B11: Brief testing occurs in the morning: Pad clear, road closed slight venting road reopened (LabPadre, NSF)
• May 14th road closure concluded and May 15th road closure revoked.
• LR11000 crane preps with load spreader to lift GSE-2 inner tank.
• Aerial photo of the Starship Block 2 forward flap which was recently delivered. It seems to be kite-shaped whereas the Block 1 flap was more trapezoidal.
• Can't quite place where this welding is taking place, but it is too cool not to share. (Edit: It is scrapping of GSE-2 outer tank, not welding.)
• S31: Damage to raceway is visible. Ship starts rolling from Massey's. Back to the build site for repairs?
• Launch tower segment 1 of 5: Staged for rollout to Starbase during the day, ready for rollout (LabPadre, cnunez), and rollout begins.

Florida:

• FAA solicits comments regarding impact of Starship operations at KSC.

May 13th, 2024

• May 13th road closure scheduled, then revoked. No testing takes place. Similar closure scheduled for May 14th.
• S29: Chopsticks move slightly, but still no stack yet.
• GSEC-7 (a.k.a. GSE-2?) outer tank is cut free and lifted off.
• Tanker convoys continue.
• Suborbital pad: Berm removal is completed.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues, Starfactory glass installation is finally complete.
• B14.1 forward section arrives at the build site (LabPadre, Cargile).
• Starship V2 (Block 2?) forward flap arrives.
• S31 is inspected by a drone at Massey's, following yesterday's incident (likely an electrical fire).
• A pair of tower sections prep for transport from Brownsville port to Starbase. Road delay posted for May 13th 22:00 to May 14th 02:00.

May 12th, 2024

• S29: Overnight, S29 rolls out to the launch site (LabPadre timelapse, NSF timelapse, NSF livestream), and parks between the chopsticks. Forward flaps extend in early afternoon. Stack seems imminent.
• Build site: Video tour. Looks like the parking garage construction will be outwards rather than upwards at this point.
• Launch site: Video tour. LR11000 crane is still attached to GSE-2 outer tank, pending lift. Demolition of the suborbital test pad continues throughout the day with the removal of the SQD (LabPadre, NSF), the SQD support frame, and the berm. 48-hour before-and-after comparison.
• S31: Undergoes a cryo test at Massey's, and bright flashes (fire?) emanate from the side of the ship (LabPadre, NSF). This does not look norminal.

May 11th, 2024

• B11: Overnight, booster rolls out to the launch site, and chopsticks close around B11. In the afternoon, B11 is lifted onto OLM, then chopsticks release B11 and are lowered. SpaceX posts photos of B11 leaving Megabay 1, with other boosters visible.
• S31: Also overnight, ship moves to Massey's.
• Launch site: LR11000 crane moves toward orbital tank farm, and load spreader is attached. This may indicate that perlite insulation removal from the GSE-2 outer tank has been completed, and the tank will soon be scrapped. Crews working to attach load spreader to the tank.
• Starfactory: Helicopter delivers HVAC units (LabPadre, NSF). (closeup).
• S30 enters Highbay.
• Starkitty sighted (LabPadre, Doherty)
• S29: Road delay scheduled for early morning May 12th, possibly for ship roll out.
• S26: RGV Aerial posts a photo of Massey's.

Other:

• Wen IFT-4? IFT-4 is now NET June 1st. "Objective is for the ship to get past max heating or at least further than last time."

May 10th, 2024

• S30: Overnight, ship is lifted off of test stand. Lifting jig removed around midday. In the afternoon, S30 rolls back to the Highbay.
• Suborbital pad: Demolition of the test stand begins.
• S29 moves from Highbay to Megabay 2 (after some manoeuvring).
• Orbital pad: OLM legs have been recently repainted.
• Orbital tank farm had a long queue of cryogen deliveries, likely caused by competing gravel deliveries.
• New road closure scheduled for May 13th from 08:00 to 20:00, for non-flight testing. NOTMAR issued for May 16th.
• Build site: Build site video tour: Parking garage nears its final height; Starfactory cladding installation continues.
• RGV Aerial photo of the build site. I don't think I quite realized how big Starfactory is in terms of area when compared to the Highbay and Megabays.
• New booster landing tank spotted outside Starfactory.
• S31: A ship test stand arrives at the build site, likely for transporting S31 to Massey's.
• New launch tower: New road delays posted for May 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 20th (all 22:00 to 02:00 the following day). These are "to transport tower modules from Brownsville Port to Sanchez". Tower segments incoming!
• B11: Booster transport stand arrives at the build site, and later enters Megabay 1. B11 is lifted onto the transport stand, and rolls out of Megabay 1. B11 is currently rolling out to the launch site. NSF are live.

May 9th, 2024

• LR11000 crane moves toward the S30 on the test pad. Ship lifting jig rolls back out to the launch pad, and is (eventually) connected to S30 (NSF, LabPadre).
• An SPMT rolls to the launch site to retrieve the ship lifting jig stand. A different lifting jig rolls into the Highbay, and the stand returns to the test pad.
• Removal of the berm between the suborbital tank farm and the test pad begins. Likely an indication that all further ship testing will be at Massey's.
• Drilling and rebar installation for the second orbital pad continues.
• Convoy of vacuum trucks continue to remove perlite insulation from GSE-2 outer tank.
• Late-morning build site tour video: Parking garage construction continues. Workers observed at the gap in glass panels on Starfactory. Gap still present as of late afternoon.
• A ring segment enters Megabay 2, following the May 7th and 8th deliveries of a triple and single segment. It is thought that these are to test welding robots.
• May 9th road closure canceled. New road closures posted for May 14th, 15th, and 16th, all 08:00 to 20:00.
• New road delays posted for May 10th (15:00 to 17::30 and 22:00 to midnight), 11th and 12th (both 00:00 to 03:00).

May 8th, 2024

• Overnight, S26 rolls from the build site to Massey's. Photos from Starship Gazer (tweet 1, tweet 2), Doherty (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3), LabPadre (tweet 1, tweet 2), and Cargile,
• Main event, S30 testing: Overpressure notice published, road closure scheduled, NSF livestream. Tank farm venting, SQD frost, frost line (LabPadre, NSF), frost line grows, engine chill, static fire (LabPadre, NSF), and road closure concluded.
• NSF timelapse of the test, LabPadre with sound synced, photos from Cargile and Ramirez (tweet 1, tweet 2). SpaceX posts drone videos and photos, and confirms it was a six-engine static fire.
• Lab Padre shares infrasound data from static fire: Tweet 1, tweet 2.
• Mid-afternoon and late-afternoon build site video tours: Parking garage progress continues. Starfactory glass panel installation is completed slightly out of order, with a couple gaps being filled later in the afternoon.
• OLM BQD door closes and opens.
• Recent photo of a ship (S29?) in the Highbay. Tile work is looking good.

May 7th, 2024

• Overnight, the Massey's ship stand arrives at the build site (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Cargile). This stand should be capable of supporting both transport and testing. Ship stand enters Megabay 2 late-afternoon, and S26 is lifted onto it (closeup).
• Build site video tours from dawn, early morning, and mid-morning: Parking garage construction continues, glass panel installation on Starfactory nearly completed.
• B14 CO~2~ tanks arrive. Are these for the onboard fire suppression system?
• A ring segment doth enters Megabay 2, possibly to test welding robots. Mary's closeup and Zack's thoughts.
• Soft road closure in place.
• Main event, S30 testing: Grass vent, engine chill(?), frost line, detank (timelapse). Recycle, NSF livestream, frost line (LabPadre, NSF), frost line grows (but very slowly), engine chill, venting from multiple locations, detank. NSF timelapse of both tests.
• Orbital tank farm and tower plumbing are tested. Tower venting and more venting.
• Chopstick testing continues.
• Possible typo or change of plans in May 8th road closure notice. Document says "booster transport", but ship transport seems more likely.

May 6th, 2024

• Build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Final row of glass panels on Starfactory is now half completed. A nice alternate angle of Starfactory from cnunez.
• RGV non-Aerial photos indicate that Starfactory intersects with Megabay 2 (tweet 1, tweet 2).
• S26 lifted off of transport stand in Megabay 2. The mystery of S26 continues.
• Launch pad A: SQD is tested, and another excavator is lifted nearby.
• Launch pad B footprint grows. Hole drilling and rebar placement continues.
• S30: Flaps are tested. The continuous flight auger is relocated, possibly in preparation for S30 testing.
• Road closure still scheduled for "non-flight testing activities" on May 7th. Mary receives evacuation overpressure notice.

May 5th, 2024

• Morning build site video tour: Parking garage construction continues. Minimal change to glass panels on Starfactory. Alternate angle from RGV Aerial.
• S26 moves to Megabay 2 (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, NSF timelapse). The S26 mystery continues.
• New weather station installed on Starhopper.
• New "edome" spotted labeled "SHIP FWD, 34.1#18, RTC=748Mt". What's an edome?

Other:

• New Ryan Hansen twitter thread on Booster Quick Disconnect: Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5.

May 4th, 2024

• Launch pad B: Drilling continues.
• Starhopper: Modifications to Starhopper continue, likely a weather mast rather than lift points as initially assumed.
• GSE-7 outer tank base is finally removed and scrapped.
• Build site video tour (slower): Installation of the 4th (and final) row of glass panels on Starfactory continues.

May 3rd, 2024

• Overnight, B13 moves from Massey's to Megabay 1 (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Gomez). B13 is lifted off of transport/test stand, which then moves to Sanchez site.
• B11 has hotstage ring installed now. Nice closeup shot inside Megabay 1, though hotstage ring is not visible.
• Build site video tour: Parking garage progressing quickly. Third row of glass panels on Starfactory completed, 4th row just starting.
• A dome section is moved from San Martin to Remedios. Identity unclear.
• Crews detach S30 from lifting jig (NSF closeup).
• LR11000 crane moves from test pad to orbital tank farm (closeup), possibly in preparation for GSE-2 outer tank removal. Crane lifts an excavator.
• Starhopper's legs receive reinforcements. Wild speculation on future location.
• Chopstick testing continues (LabPadre, NSF).
• Official document for May 7th and 8th road delays (both 00:00 to 03:00) is published.
• Nice shots of evaporators, tower section, parking garage, and flying excavator.

Other:

• New Ryan Hansen animation of SQD mechanism.

May 2nd, 2024

• Launch Pad B: 8 confirmed continuous flight auger holes drilled so far (LabPadre timelapse). Convoy of vacuum trucks continue to remove perlite insulation from GSE-2 outer tank.
• Demolition of one end of the the "Gateway to Mars" wall continues.
• SQD extends, SQD door swings open, SQD retracts, SQD arm swings out, and SQD arm swings back in.
• Morning and afternoon build site video tours: Third row of glass panels on Starfactory more than half installed, nearing completion by mid-afternoon. Parking garage construction continues.
• New road closures for May 3rd (07:00 to 19:00, now cancelled), 7th, 8th, and 9th (all 08:00 to 20:00).
• New road delays for May 3rd (00:00 to 03:00 and 20:00 to 23:00), and 4th (00:00 to 03:00).

May 1st, 2024

• Overnight, S30 rolls out to launch site and is lifted onto the test stand. Ship lifting jig moves from Megabay 2 to Sanchez.
• Bumper pads are installed on the chopsticks.
• Launch Pad B: The first two continuous flight auger holes have been drilled. RGV Aerial posts a (now outdated) flyover of where this work is occurring. Partial demolition of one end of the "Gateway to Mars" wall.
• Build site video tour: Minimal change in Starfactory glass panel installation. New parking garage progressing quickly.
• B13 still at Massey's.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article is out, detailing changes with IFT-4 (S29) and IFT-5 (S30) flight vehicles.