Starbase Updates | July 2024

What's Happening at Starbase Texas in July 2024?

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

 

July 31st, 2024

• Jul 30 cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, tower module #6 arrives at Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
• Elevator section is lifted into module 4.
• Tower module 5 rolls towards tower and hooks up to load spreader. (ViX, NSF)
• Ship stand enters Megabay 2, briefly attaches to bridge crane, then disconnects and exits Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Another ship stand enters Megabay, hooks up with the bridge crane for a short spin, then disconnects. (ViX) Ring stand moves further into Megabay 2.
• B15 forward dome enters Megabay 1, then exits later in the day.

July 30th, 2024

• Jul 29th cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 29th addendum: Pez dispenser jig is removed from Megabay 2, likely indicating that dispenser installation on S33 is complete. Comparison photo.
• B15 forward dome emerges from Starfactory.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane load spreader is lowered. Crane is preparing to lift an elevator section.
• Pad A: Worker on a chopstick.
• S30 at Sanchez, S31 in the Highbay.
• Office window installation continues.
• Crab invasion continues. (NSF, clwphoto1 1, clwphoto1 2)

Other:

• TheSpaceEngineer posts a render of Starbase based on the recently released map from the FAA. (tweet 1, tweet 2)

July 29th, 2024

• Jul 28th cryo delivery tally and corrected Jul 27th tally.
• Jul 28th addenda: S30 flaps are untied, migrating crabs and more crabs are spotted, Test Tank 16 is visible in Starfactory, where it was moved following testing at Massey's.
• Hot stage ring emerges from Starfactory and enters Megabay 1. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2.
• Glass panel installation begins on new office building.
• New Ringwatchers diagram.
• Road delay for transportation operations "from Sanchez to Pad" is posted for Jul 31st 00:00 to 03:00.

Other:

• FAA release a labeled map of the future two tower Starbase launch complex. (Starship Gazer)
• ViX's tanker counting days may be numbered, due to wall construction.
• Possible future horizontal ship transport.
• Possible future Starship recovery off the coast of Australia.
• FAA are soliciting comments regarding increasing launches from Starbase. Don't send too many this time.
• Raptor relight test at McGregor. Three minutes between relights, which is unusually long.
• SpaceX post a statement on Super Heavy sonic booms.
• Photographer Cargile is taking a well-deserved break.

July 28th, 2024

• Pretty quiet Sunday.
• Jul 27th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, S30 is lifted off the static fire stand and moves to the Rocket Garden. (ViX, NSF)

Other:

• IFT-5 is now NET "late August or early September", per Elon.

July 27th, 2024

• Jul 25th and 26th cryo delivery tallies.
• Over night, a ship forward section (S33?) emerges from Starfactory and moves into Megabay 2.
• Following yesterday's static fire, S30 (not S31) moves from Massey's to Megabay 2. (ViX, Beyer, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Doherty, Gomez, TankWatchers, clwphoto1)
• S30 heat shield held up well during static fire.

Other:

• SpaceX post a slow-mo closeup of the S30 static fire, and confirm "full duration". DeffGeff syncs the video with audio.
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of Massey's, build site, and launch site.

July 26th, 2024

• Overnight, tower module #5 arrives at pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• S31 is lifted onto transport stand. Raptor covers are on and payload door is open. (LabPadre, ViX, Golden)
• S31 then moves from Megabay 2 to Highbay. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
• In the morning, S31 briefly emerges from the Highbay and retreats.
• S30 performs a static fire at Massey's: Frost ring, static fire: LabPadre, Gomez, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, Beyer, cnunez, Doherty, NickyX, clwphoto1, Ramirez.
• Road delays for transportation operations are posted:
• Jul 27th 00:00 to 03:00 "from Massey's to production pad".
• Jul 27th 12:00 to 15:00 or 21:00 to 00:00 "from Massey's to production pad".
• Jul 29th 23:00 to 02:00 "from production to pad".

July 25th, 2024

• Jul 24th cryo delivery tally, ViX)
• Pad B: Tower segment #4 is stacked on Tower B. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, NSF, Golden, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, clwphoto1 1, clwphoto1 2, clwphoto1 3)
• Pad A: The LR11000 crane removes one of a recondensers and loads it onto a truck for transport. (ViX)
• S30 still at Massey's, pending static fire.
• Road delay for transportation operations is posted for Jul 25th 23:00 to Jul 26th 01:00.

Other:

• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of S33 in the Highbay, prior to its move to Megabay 2.

July 24th, 2024

• Jul 23rd addendum: B15 aft section enters Megabay 1, and a pair of grid fins head towards Starfactory.
• Jul 23rd cryo delivery tally.
• S33 forward section emerges from the Highbay and moves to Megabay 2, likely in preparation for stacking.
• cnunez posts several photos: Pad B 1, Pad B 2, Pad B 3, office construction, Megabay 2.

Other:

• A doofus flies his drone over SpaceX property. If you ever visit Starbase (or any launch facility) don't be like this guy.

July 23rd, 2024

• Jul 22 addendum: New Pez dispenser door enters the Highbay.
• S31: R-Vac #376, RC #386, and RC unknown enter Megabay 2.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 load spreader is raised and attached to tower module #4. (LabPadre, ViX)
• B15: upgraded aft section is spotted, featuring small internal tanks mounted on the LOX landing tank.

Other:

• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the Sanchez site.

July 22nd, 2024

• Jul 21st cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 21st addendum: Following work on the Megabay 2 bridge crane hook, the new ship lifting jig is hoisted to vertical in Megabay 2.
• A flock umbrellas begin their annual migration :)
• Overnight, tower module #4 moves from Sanchez to the Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF timelapse, NSF closeup)
• One sea level Raptor (#374) and two R-Vacs (#320 and #391) enter Megabay 2, likely to be installed on S31. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Beyer)
• At Massey's, S30 is prepared for a potential static fire on Jul 23rd.

July 21st, 2024

• Overnight, S30 is lifted onto static fire stand. (NSF, Starship Gazer)
• S30 moves to Massey's. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• S30 at Massey's and closeups. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, cnunez 1, cnunez 2)
• Cnunez also posts nighttime photos of Starfactory and office construction progress.
• Starkitty sighted :)

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article: Just Don't Melt: Flight 5's Upgraded Heat Shield
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of the launch site, build site, and Massey's.

July 20th, 2024

• Jul 19th cryo delivery tally.
• New ship lifting jig briefly hoisted to vertical for laser level check.
• Old ship lifting jig and ship static fire stand arrive at the build site (ViX, Doherty). Lifting jig hooks up to Megabay 2 bridge crane, and the jig transport stand departs.
• S30 moves from Highbay towards Megabay 2 (LabPadre, ViX)
• Cnunez posts a photo of the test tank at Massey's.
• Jul 20th cryo delivery tally.

July 19th, 2024

• Jul 18th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, chopsticks carriage moves from Brownsville Port to Sanchez. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Gomez, Beyer).
• Starship V2 test tank moves from Megabay 2 to Massey's. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2).
• S30: Scaffolding has been removed from nosecone.
• New hardware spotted at build site. Possible ship lifting jig and stairs.
• A peek at the Pez dispenser loader inside the Starlink building.
• New road delays posted for "transportation operations" on Jul 21st (06:00 to 09:00 or 12:00 to 03:00) and for "operaciones de transporte" on Jul 22nd (00:00 to 03:00).

July 18th, 2024

• Jul 17th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, the remaining chopstick moves from Brownsville Port to Starbase. (LabPadre, ViX, Beyer, NSF)
• Also overnight, the second and third angled wall sections are lifted to Tower B.
• In the morning, tower module 3 is stacked. (LabPadre, ViX, DeffJeff, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF timelapse, Beyer, Starship Gazer, Doherty, )
• Lifting jig disconnects from tower.
• A large spool of some sort (Drawworks cables?) heads towards launch site. (closeup)
• The chopsticks carriage is preparing for transport from Brownsville Port to Starbase. (Doherty, cnunez)

Other:

• New annotated Starbase maps from Boca Bingo.

July 17th, 2024

• Jul 16th addendum: Starkitty sighted :)
• Jul 16th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, tower module 3 rolls out to Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
• Tower module rolls into position and the load spreader is attached in the around midday.
• At Pad B, a column to support the Drawworks flooring and an angled wall section are moved into place.
• Another elevator shaft section is installed in tower B, and the construction elevator is now operational.
• Pad A: The LR 11000 crane moves towards the launch mount.
• The remaining chopstick is preparing for transport from Brownsville Port to Starbase.

July 16th, 2024

• Jul 15th cryo delivery tally.
• Jul 15th addendum: Booster transport stand moves toward Pad A. Booster quick disconnect retracts from B12.
• Overnight, a chopstick arrives at Sanchez.
• Pad B: In the early morning, module 2 is stacked on the tower, and the load spreader is removed. Media: LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Starship Gazer, Doherty, DeffGeff, cnunez, Hammer.
• Pad A: B12 is destacked (NSF livestream, Starship Gazer, NSF timelapse, Doherty), briefly repositioned on the transport stand, rolls to the build site (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Doherty, cnunez), and enters Megabay 1.
• Transport stand for tower module 2 also rolls back (DeffGeff, Hammer).
• A grackle briefly blocks the view of the cryo deliveries.

Other:

• SpaceX headquarters are moving from Hawthorne to Starbase.

July 15th, 2024

• Jul 14th cryo delivery tally.
• B12 static fire: Sunrise and overpressure notice, NSF livestream. Road closed, tank farm spooling up, chopsticks raised, launch mount venting, prop load begins. Static fire occurs at 10:13, and lasts about eight seconds. (LabPadre, alternate angle, ViX, NSF, Gomez).
• NSF timelapse, Doherty photo, Doherty gif, SpaceX drone photos and videos.
• Build site: Ship transport stand enters Megabay 2. Cnunez posts an S30 tile progress photo.
• Pad B: Probable launch tower winch arrives.
• Brownsville Port: Chopstick rolls towards Starbase.
• Road delay posted for "transportation operations" for Jul 16th, 12:00 to 16:00, possibly for B12 rollback.

July 14th, 2024

• Jul 13th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Overnight, LTR 1220 crane lifts 2nd elevator section into tower.
• Pad A: Scaffolding is removed from launch mount. Movac trucks empty the retention pond and the detonation suppression system is tested. B12 static fire on Jul 15th seems possible.
• Build site: A Starship V2 nosecone rolls from Starfactory to the Highbay. Starship Gazer identifies it as S33.
• LabPadre comparison of Starship V1 vs V2.

Other:

• New Ringwatcher's article: What's New on Super Heavy Booster 12?
• Possible new design for launch mount hold-down arms is spotted at McGregor.

July 13th, 2024

• Overnight, final tower segment moves from Brownsville Port to Sanchez (LabPadre, ViX, Doherty, NickyX, Gomez 1, Gomez 2).
• Jul 12th cryo delivery tally.
• Nighttime tanker convoy.
• Action at Megabay 2 (LabPadre, Ringwatchers). Likely a ship v2 test tank.
• Ship v2 payload section enters the Highbay (Starship Gazer, Ringwatchers).
• S30 heat shield replacement continues.
• Pad B: Load spreader detaches from tower segment #1 and attaches to tower segment #2 (Vix, NSF 1, NSF 2).
• Pad A: Chopsticks move to either side of B12 and are lowered. SQD arm swings in. Chopsticks, their arms wide. Scaffolding is being removed from the launch mount.
• RGV Aerial posts recent photos of office construction, Pad A, Pad B, and Massey's.

July 12th, 2024

• Jul 10th and 11th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, tower segment #2 rolls out to Pad B (LabPadre, NSF, ViX).
• More B12 testing today: Raptor work table moves away from Pad A, road is closed. Still plenty of scaffolding near B12, so static fire is unlikely.
• Tank farm is active (ViX, NSF), chine venting and more venting, launch mount venting and more venting, methane recondensers are active.
• B12 spin prime test (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2). "Cowbell" venting also visible. Chopsticks lower.
• Ship quick disconnect and engine bay purge tests (LabPadre timelapse). SQD retracts and returns, engine bay purge test 1 and test 2, SQD test 2 (retract and return), SQD test 3 (retract and return)
• Build site video tour: Crews work on tower segments at Sanchez, car park painting continues.
• Massey's: Crews spotted at the top of a tower.
• Brownsville port: Final tower segment preparing for transport (Doherty, Gomez).
• Road closures for "non-flight testing" are posted for July 15th through 17th, all 06:00 to 18:00.

Other:

• FAA is assessing proposal to increase flight rate at Starbase up to 25 launches and landings per year.

July 11th, 2024

• Pad B: First tower section is installed (LabPadre, ViX). Crews working on bolts. NSF livestream, NSF timelapse, Starship Gazer photo 1, photo 2, DeffJeff timelapse, Cargile photo, Gomez timelapse, cnunez photo.
• B12 testing at Pad A: Tank farm starts up, Cowbell venting, frost on LOX tank, more cowbell venting. Tanking test, road is reopened open. Grid fin and ship quick disconnect are tested. NSF timelapse.
• Raptor work table moves towards Pad A.
• Build site: Another B15 forward section is staged outside Megabay 1.
• Road delays for tower segment transportation are posted for July 11th through 19th, all 22:00 to 03:00 the following day.

Other:

• BingoBoca posts some nice labelled maps from RGV Aerial flyovers.

July 10th, 2024

• Jul 9th addendum (ViX, NSF, Doherty): Tank farm offload area is functional again, B12 is lifted onto launch mount, and booster transport stand returns to build site.
• Jul 9th cryo delivery tally.
• S31 moves back into Megabay 2. Ship is lifted from transport stand onto turntable.
• Pad B: Tower segment #1 moves towards the tower base. CC8800-1 crane is lowered, then raised. Load spreader is attached to tower segment.
• Build site morning video tour.
• Amended road closures for "non-flight testing" are posted, and the July 10th 12:00 to 00:00 closure is scheduled.
• Booster quick disconnect retracts from B12 (not B13). Some venting from B12, followed by road reopening.
• Two July 11th closures ranging from 08:00 to midnight are possible, and one July 12th closure from 08:00 to 00:00 is possible.

Other:

• Recent Starship Gazer videos on Tower B construction and S30 heat shield replacement.
• SpaceX publicly responds to a NYT article on the effects of Starbase on piping plover populations.

July 9th, 2024

• Previous day's cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, B12 is lifted onto a transport stand and disconnected from the bridge crane in Megabay 1.
• In the morning, B12 exits Megabay 1 and rolls out to Pad A. NSF timelapse, NSF livestream, LabPadre timelapse, Starship Gazer photo, Cargile photo, SpaceX photos, SpaceX video.
• Later in the day, the chopsticks close in, but no lift onto launch mount occurs.
• Starlink terminals are spotted on B12 chines.
• The CC8800-1 crane is raised.

July 8th, 2024

• July 7th addendum: Booster transport stand arrives at Megabay 1.
• Previous day's cryo delivery tally.
• S31 rolls out of Megabay 2, then rolls back in. The ship is briefly hooked up to the bridge crane, but disconnected not long after and moved to the Rocket Garden.
• A load spreader arrives at the Highbay.
• Pad B: The LTR 1220 crane is raised, followed by the LR11000. North and south corner “feet” are reinstalled on the tower base.
• Road delays amended for July 9th. Transportation operations from 00:00 to 03:00, 09:00 to 12:00, or 12:00 to 15:00.

Other:

• Mechazilla from Temu.

July 7th, 2024

• Quiet day.
• Previous day's cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, ship lifting jig enters Megabay 2, and is hooked up to the bridge crane. Potentially for installation of engines on S31.
• Weather: Morning Pad A timelapse, ocean waves, path of Beryl misses Starbase, high tide, afternoon Pad A timelapse. Doherty photo, Rocket Ranch timelapse.

Other:

• mcrs987 (TheSpaceEngineer) analyzes the validity of the potential B11 explosion photo: 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.

July 6th, 2024

• Previous day’s cryo delivery tally
• Overnight, S31 moves from Massey's to Megabay 2 (ViX, NSF).
• RGV Aerial posts photos from recent flyover: Brownsville port, office building and Starfactory, Pad B, Massey's overhead, Massey's flame trench, and S31 at Massey's.

Other:

• Boca's Brain shares a potential photo of B11 explosion. Comparison with released SpaceX footage.
• Construction of a new raptor vertical test stand at McGregor is observed in a recent NSF flyover.
• New Ringwatchers article on propellant distribution systems on Super Heavy.

July 5th, 2024

• July 4th addendum: Tower section #1 moves, likely to clear space for lowering of the CC8800-1 crane.
• Previous day’s cryo delivery tally
• Pad B: A corner "foot" is removed and reinstalled on the tower base. Another removal and reinstallation later in the day. NSF alternate angle photo.
• CC8800-1 crane is lowered. The LTR 1220 crane retracts not long after.
• July 6th road delay (00:00 to 03:00) is posted for transportation operations "from Massey's to Production Pad".

Other:

• Closeup of S30 tile removal process. Edit: "Simple tooling to make this fast and repeatable", is in the works, per Elon.
• Flight 5 in 4 weeks, per Elon. This gives us a new NET date of Aug 2.

July 4th, 2024

• July 3rd addendum: S31 completes another cryo test (minimal loading on each tank). NSF timelapse comparison.
• Previous day's cryo delivery tally
• LR11000: Overnight, the crane rolls away from the location of the old tank farm. In the afternoon, it is lowered to horizontal.
• Pad B: Tower section #1 is on the move.

Other:

• SpaceX posts an IFT-4 recap and flight 5 teaser video. Final shot indicates booster RTLS on flight 5.

July 3rd, 2024

• July 2nd addendum: S31 completes a seemingly successful cryo test (partial load on each tank) and detank at Massey's. Elevator cab is installed in Tower B.
• Previous day’s cryo delivery tally
• Overnight, tower section #1 rolls out to Pad B (ViX, NSF, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Doherty).
• By the afternoon, all four lifting jig attachment points have been installed on the tower section.
• Floor beam installation still in progress on tower base.
• CC8800-1 crane rolls towards the tower foundation.
• Two of the four corner "feet" have been reinstalled on the tower base.
• Peek into Megabay 1.
• S30 tile replacement and ablative shielding layer application continues in the Highbay.
• Road closures for "non-flight testing activities" are posted for July 9th, 10th, and 11th (all 08:00 to 20:00).
• Road delays for "transportation operations" are posted for July 8th (00:00 to 03:00 and 12:00 to 15:00) and July 9th (00:00 to 03:00).

July 2nd, 2024

• Previous day’s cryo delivery tally
• Build site: Overnight, Booster load spreader arrives outside Megabay 1. In the afternoon, a two-ring section appears and enters the Highbay.
• Pad A: The remaining tank bases are removed from the old tank farm, and scrapped.
• Pad B: A second floor section is installed in the tower base.
• Massey's: S31 prepares for cryo testing.
• Brownsville port: Chopsticks and tower segments are unloaded from barge (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)

July 1st, 2024

• Overnight, S31 is lifted onto cryo/transport stand, and heads to Massey's.
• Previous day's cryo delivery tally
• GSE-5 scrapping continues throughout the night, concluding shortly before noon. Load spreader is disconnected, and the old tank farm is no more.
• Tower B: The four "feet" which the first tower section would sit upon are removed from the tower base.
• CC8800-1 crane testing continues.
• Tower A: Crews remove the LOX feed from the ship quick disconnect and a replacement is installed.
• New road delays posted for vehicle transport to pad, July 2nd and 3rd, 00:00 to 03:00. B12 to the pad?
• Jun 27th addendum: Evening rail test of the (anatomical) right chopstick.

Other:

• Elon shares a booster catch render.