Starbase Updates | June 2024

What's Happening at Starbase Texas in June 2024?

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

 

June 30th, 2024

• Overnight, GSE-5 is removed and scrapping begins. (reference map)
• Previous day's cryo delivery tally
• Afternoon build site timelapse: Stuff moves around, ship cryo stand arrives, and cryo pipe is installed in tower segment #2.
• Ship lifting jig is raised to S31 in the Highbay. Ship cryo stand enters Highbay.
• RGV Aerial posts photos from recent flyover: Commercial retail site, build site, Pad B and possible flame trench outline.

June 29th, 2024

• Jun 28th addendum: Launch mount testing of the raptor quick disconnects. Comparison compilation from DeffGeff/NSF.
• Cryo delivery tally
• Overnight, B14.1 moves from the launch site to Sanchez.
• Scrapping of GSE-3 continues. Load spreader is raised to the top of GSE-5. (reference map)
• Tower B: Pipes and a floor frame are installed.

IFT-5:

• Booster catch attempt: In response to a direct question, Dylan Small (Booster Final Integration at Space X) reports that the team is "feeling pretty good about it". B11 water landing was "very accurate".

June 28th, 2024

• Previous day’s cryo delivery tally (June 27th)
• Overnight, another horizontal tank arrives at Sanchez.
• B14.1 is moved from the launch mount to a transport stand (ViX, NSF).
• GSE-3 is removed for scrapping. (reference map)
• Tower segments and chopsticks arrive at Brownsville port (ViX, NSF). (Starship Gazer photo 1, Starship Gazer photo 2, Doherty photo, Gomez video, Jesus photobomb, cnunez photo, cnunez pelicans)
• Road delays posted for Jun 29th and 30th, and July 1st and 2nd, all 00:00 to 03:00.

Other:

• Slap test comparison from DeffGeff/NSF.

June 27th, 2024

• Jun 26th addendum: More tower wall sections are delivered to pad B.
• Previous day's cryo delivery tally
• Overnight, a horizontal tank arrives at Sanchez.
• LR11000 hooks up to GSE-3 (reference map). GSE-6 scrapping is completed.
• Morning chopstick testing: Slight movement, GSE tank scrapping crew arrives, chopstick closes on B14.1. Total of 3 slap tests in the morning. (NSF)
• Jun 27th closure is revoked, and a road delay is issued instead.
• CC8800-1 crane testing continues. Tower stacking is currently scheduled to be completed by August 15th.
• Afternoon chopstick testing: 2 slaps (ViX, NSF), a rail raise, and 2 catch tests (ViX, NSF), chopsticks return to resting position. Doherty photographs B14.1 afterwards, Golden shares his thoughts, SpaceX posts a highlights reel.

Other: Highlights from StarBase update with Kathy Lueders

• 3 months to completion of Starfactory
• Working with TXDOT on expanding HWY 4 to a 4 lane road eventually
• Starbase commercial retail Space on hold.
• Staff residency over 50% local to Brownsville with ~400 staff living on site.
• Permanent Orbital Fuel Depot for Moon + Mars missions
• SpaceX monitoring sound levels for Port Isabel + SPI + Brownsville during testing.
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Environmental mitigation teams in place before and after launches.
• Monthly emergency management meetings with Cameron County and local hospitals for catastrophe scenarios.

June 26th, 2024

• Previous day's cryo delivery tally
• Overnight, GSE-6 scrapping continues. Slight mishap in the early morning when attempting to remove the dome, but the situation was soon rectified.
• Main event: Chopsticks testing (NSF livestream): Road is closed, and chopsticks open and close on B14.1. Timelapse of two tests, first close, second close (slap!). Chopsticks, their arms wide.
• CC8800-1 crane undergoes some testing and inspections, then returns to vertical (alternate angle).
• S30 tile replacement and ablative shielding layer application continues. Additional recent photo from cnunez.
• Another horizontal tank is en route to Starbase.

June 25th, 2024

• Overnight, scrapping of GSEC-1 is completed. Load spreaders are swapped out and crane is hooked up to GSE-6. (reference map)
• Cryo delivery tally
• GSE-6 is removed, and scrapping begins.
• Chopsticks swing towards B14.1, road closure is revoked. Chopsticks open and lower (ViX, NSF). Montage and timelapses (ViX, NSF) of chopstick testing over the course of the day.
• CC8800-1 crane assembly complete, and the crane rises (full timelapse).
• Pad B: Entrance is widened and graded.
• Jun 25th road closure revoked. Jun 26th and 27th closures are still possible.
• Temporary road delays posted for Jun 26th, Jun 27th or Jun 28th, for transport of tower segments from Brownsville to Sanchez.

Other:

• Christian Davenport highlights Blue Origin and ULA's "concerns" regarding Starship at 39A. (Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3)
• Zack Golden article on pad B vs pad A, and some flame trench thoughts.

June 24th, 2024

• Jun 23rd addendum: GSEC-1 is removed (ViX, NSF), revealing GSE-5. Alternate angle and flexing. (reference map)
• Cryo delivery tally.
• GSEC-1 scrapping begins.
• Pad B: Overnight, a concrete pump is deployed.
• CC8800-1 crane assembly: Crane twitches several times over the course of the day (video 1, video 2, video 3), but has not risen yet.
• Amended road closure scheduled: Jun 25th 12:00 to 20:00

June 23rd, 2024

• Overnight, GSEC-3 scrapping progresses quickly, and is finished by morning.
• GSEC-1 is next to be scrapped. (reference map)
• CC8800-1 crane assembly continues: Video 1 (lines are tensioned), video 2, video 3. Zack expects the crane to rise within two days.
• Pad B work continues. Scaffolding has been erected surrounding the tower base.
• Cryo tally from Jun 22.

Other:

• "The best appendix is no appendix": Lars Blackmore (SpaceX principal landing engineer) belatedly expresses his pleasure at the success of IFT-4. Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3.
• Elon replies to Tim Dodd, and highlights upcoming changes with Raptor 3. Integrated regenerative cooling channels throughout the engine eliminates the need for engine shielding and reduces the required fire suppression system.

June 22nd, 2024

• Overnight, B14.1 is lifted onto the orbital launch mount (ViX, NSF). It looks rather silly, but also quite cute.
• GSEC-3 is lifted off of GSE-6, and positioned for scrapping (ViX, NSF). (reference map)
• RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of S30, Massey's flame trench, and pad B construction.
• More photos of S30 tile work from a couple days ago.

Other:

• Tim Dodd tour of Starbase with Elon, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqjoCbZ4ik
• SpaceRhin0 has already started updating the raptor tracking diagrams.

June 21st, 2024

• Overnight, a load spreader moves from build site to launch complex.
• GMK 7550 is erected and seems to be prepping for a lift, possibly the aforementioned load spreader.
• Massey's: Crane and B14.1 movement is noted. B14.1 moves from Massey's (ViX, (NSF) to the launch complex (ViX, NSF, LabPadre).
• B14.1 may be used in an upcoming catch test. Simulation and speculation by Ryan Hansen.
• CC8800-1 crane assembly continues.
• Tower B: More wall sections installed.
• Scrapping of GSEC-4 continues: Sections are cut and removed until none remain. Next to be removed is GSEC-3, another outer shell. (reference map)
• S30 tile replacement over the past few days: Video, photos, and more photos.
• Road closures for "non-flight testing activities" are posted for Jun 25th, 26th, and 27th, all 08:00 to 20:00.

Other:

• Alexphysics13 thread on IFT-5 communications permit: Tweet 1, Tweet 2, Tweet 3, Tweet 4, Tweet 5, Tweet 6, Tweet 7, Tweet 8, Tweet 9.

June 20th, 2024

• Another quiet day.
• No cryo deliveries the previous day.
• Sections of the road and marsh have been flooded and covered with debris.
• A pair of SPMTs depart from the build site and head towards Massey's.

June 19th, 2024

• Quiet day due to weather. Photographer Cargile reports.
• Large horizontal tank rolls from Sanchez to the launch site.
• Road delay posted for "booster" transport "from Massey's to the pad" (likely incorrect) on Jun 21st between 12:00 to 16:00.
• Jun 18th cryo deliveries, and running total since IFT-4.

June 18th, 2024

• CC8800-1 crane assembly continues: Derrick is connected to main boom. Main boom is moved towards crane body (closeup).
• Tower B assembly continues: Base entrance lintel is placed, and crossbeam is installed.
• Tower A ship quick disconnect repairs underway: Actuators are disconnected.
• GSEC-4 is lifted off GSE-3, and scrapping begins. (reference map)
• Perlite removal may be complete, as no vacuum trucks have been observed recently. 680 truck loads were removed between Apr 22nd and Jun 15th.
• Build site parking garage is being painted.
• B15 downcomer enters Megabay 1 and is lifted into position.

June 17th, 2024

• Overnight, the LR11000 lifts the load-spreader up to GSEC-4, the cover of the GSE-3 LOX tank.
• CC8800-1 crane assembly continues: Lifting straps are attached to derrick. The first section of the main body is added, and more boom sections are added over the course of the afternoon.
• Tower B assembly continues: T-pieces are added. Lengthy Starship Gazer video covering the last few days, new photos from Doherty.
• Build site: A triple ring section enters Megabay 2, followed shortly by a single ring.
• S30: Application of ablative layer and upgraded tiles begins.

June 16th, 2024

• Morning photos of the launch site from cnunez: photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5
• Tower B: Wall panel installation continues. (alternate angle photo from Doherty)
• CC8800-1 crane assembly continues. Derrick is raised.
• LR11000 moves towards the old orbital tank farm.
• Peek inside Starfactory and Megabay 1.
• S30 tile removal continues.
• New Ringwatchers article on the B14.1 test tank.
• RGV Aerial spots a thrust ram which hints at a 5-10-20 arrangement of engines for a 35-engine booster. For context, the current boosters have 33 engines in a 3-10-20 arrangement. Render and analysis from mcrs987 (TheSpaceEngineer), along with speculation on landing burn engines and redundancy.

June 15th, 2024

• Tower B: Overnight, corners 3 and 4 are erected. Starship Gazer photo 1, photo 2.
• CC8800-1 hook block arrives.
• RGV Aerial posts photos of Pad A aftermath, Massey's flame trench, S30 scaffolding, Pad B construction, and a six-year side-by-side comparison of the build site.
• Starkitty sighted :)

IFT-5

• Booster catch NET late July, per Elon.

June 14th, 2024

• Jun 13th addendum: B15 LOX barrel arrives outside the Megabay.
• Build site video tour: Work on B15 LOX barrel. Unusual water fountain/deluge test.
• S30 tile removal continues. Starship Gazer video.
• Tower B: Overnight, three wall section panels are staged near the tower corners which were erected the previous day.
• The first crossbeam is added between the tower corner sections.
• The first wall panel is installed and reinstalled a short while later.
• Continuous flight auger (right) continues work nearby.
• CC8800-1 crane assembly continues. All three main winches are installed.
• Massey's: B14.1 "hat" is removed.

June 13th, 2024

• Overnight, the 10 launch mount hold-down clamps which were removed are replaced. The first and second booster stabilization pins are reinstalled on the launch mount.
• Parts for the CC8800-1 crane continue to arrive. Aerial photo of assembly from a couple days ago.
• Chopsticks: Landing rail on the (anatomical) left chopstick (house right#Stage_directions)) is raised and lowered. The same chopstick later swings slightly. The sled on the other chopstick is fully extended.
• Tower B: Corner 1 of 4 is erected (wide shot, closeup 1, closeups 2, closeup 3). Corner 2 of 4 is erected not long after (closeup).
• The barge carrying the remaining tower hardware rounds Florida's tip on route to Brownsville.

Other:

• FAA licence modification followup: "The FAA’s most recent license modification approval for Starship Flight 4 allows for multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. If SpaceX decides to change the mission profile or make other changes that affect the safety analyses, it will need to request a license modification." It is unclear if a booster catch attempt would require a modification to the launch licence.
• Twitter thread from Benedikt summarizing the foundation for the new tower: 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. u/TwoLineElement's corrections are noteworthy.

June 12th, 2024

• Overnight road delay for "booster transport to Massey's" turns out to be "S26 transport from Massey's" (ViX, NSF). Local Sheriff tweets after transport occurs.
• Another LOX barrel for B15 arrives at the Megabay.
• S30 heat shield removal continues. (Full Starship Gazer livestream)
• More tower corner pieces arrive.
• Parts for the CC8800-1 crane continue to arrive: Boom sections, other parts (crawler tracks?), cab section. The LR11000 rolls over to move crawler tracks.
• Tank farm plumbing repairs and replacements continue.

IFT-4/IFT-5:

• No mishap investigation: "The FAA assessed the operations of the SpaceX Starship Flight 4 mission. All flight events for both Starship and Super Heavy appear to have occurred within the scope of planned and authorized activities."

June 11th, 2024

• Jun 10th addendum: Crane begins removing OLM clamps.
• Elon replies to Tim Dodd with info on how the orbital launch tower held up: "No major damage"
• Pad 2: Overnight, the continuous flight auger drill is reerected.
• Parts for the CC8800-1 crane continue to arrive: A steady stream of 30+ trucks labelled "Sarens" arrive at the launch site (trucks 31 and 32). The current LR11000 crane slews and begins laying mats on which to build the CC8800-1 crane. Zack posts an... article? on Starbase crane logistics.
• Build site: S30 heat shield removal begins.
• Starkitty is sighted :)
• Massey's: S26 is lifted from test stand to onto transport.
• Road delay for "booster" transport to Massey’s seems to have been rescheduled for Jun 12th 00:00 to 03:00.

KSC: Zack highlights notable points in the environmental impact statement for LC-39A, and posts additional thoughts.

• 35 booster engines, 9 ship engines
• Up to 44 launches per year with both pad and drone ship landings
• Separate catch and launch towers
• Liquid methane, LOX, and LN2 produced on site.
• 3.8 megalitre water deluge planned, 2.5x larger than current Starbase deluge.

June 10th, 2024

• Overnight, three concrete pumps begin concrete pour for new tower. (morning photo)
• Tower feet arrive (ViX, NSF).
• T-piece removed from orbital tank farm.
• Massey's S26 moves towards crane, likely ahead of transfer to transport stand and return to build site.
• Parts for the CC8800-1 crane begin to arrive: 3 truckloads of counterweights arrive, followed shortly by a fourth, fifth, and sixth load.
• New raptor tracking diagram from Ringwatchers (tweet with updates).

IFT-4:

• Infrasound data from LabPadre, filtered and unfiltered.
• Elon replies to Marcus House with info on S29's other three flaps: "Left flap also got very hot, but was less damaged. Rear flaps seemed to be ok, based on their control authority, but probably lost some tiles."

June 9th, 2024

• Relatively quiet day.
• Overnight, B15's A3 section enters Megabay.
• Some sort of security exercise occurs.
• Work on OLM and chopsticks continues.

IFT-5 info from Elon:

• Launch NET one month from now.
• S30 heat shield to be replaced with tiles which are twice as strong, and adding an secondary ablative protection.

June 8th, 2024

• Jun 7th addendum: LR11000 crane is reerected.
• Overnight, LOX barrel for B15 arrives. (closeup)
• Engine install stand and raptor stand move from Highbay to Sanchez. No further imminent engine swaps on S30.
• New cryo tank is parked at Sanchez.
• Second steel corner section for the base of the new launch tower arrives at the launch site.
• Tower foundation work continues.
• S31 is lifted and possibly moved onto a different stand.

KSC:

• The barge carrying the remaining tower hardware departs Port Canaveral, and is on route to Brownsville.

Other:

• SpaceX releases WB57 and buoy video of B11 landing. Buoys likely placed by GO America. I hope the Dassault Falcon 900EX got similar footage of ship landing.
• Booster landing was on target, ship landing was several km off due to flap damage.
• Plans for booster catch attempt on next flight progress from "I think we should try" to "next landing will be caught".

June 7th, 2024

• Comparatively quiet day.
• R-vac #390 arrives at the Highbay again, is lifted into the Highbay this time, and S30 is lowered onto the engine.
• Launch mount work platform returns to the launch site. Post-launch inspections have already begun.
• Another horizontal tank arrives.
• RGV Aerial post-launch flyover photos of the launch mount.
• Road delay for booster transport to Massey's seems to have been rescheduled for Jun 11th 00:00 to 03:00.

KSC:

• NSF complete timelapse of barge loading and departure.

Other:

• Recent Ringwatchers article is updated with new info on changes to the nosecone and aft sections.
• Mary posts a photo of the camera which gave us such great views of the right fore flap.
• FAA is assessing whether a mishap investigation is warranted. IFT-4 could be the first full stack flight which does not require one.
• Older Starships to be moved close to the fence for photo ops.

June 6th, 2024

• Jun 5th addendum: R-vac which arrived at Highbay leaves. An R-vac is removed from S30.
• Overnight, cars to the pad.
• Mary evacuates, OLM and tower venting (ViX, NSF), frost on ship (ViX, NSF), engine chill,
• IFT-4 happens :)
• Jun 7th and 8th road closures are revoked. No surprises there.
• Road delay for booster transport to Massey's is posted for Jun 8th 00:00 to 03:00.
• Post-launch photos of the pad from Starship Gazer and Jack Beyer.

IFT-4:

• Liftoff, hot staging, hot stage ring jettison, booster splashdown (landing coordinates), ship coast phase, reentry and partial flap disintegration, ship splashdown is confirmed.
• Chopsticks slowly close shortly after booster splashdown.
• Clear shot of disintegrated flap hinge. (annotated)
• Flap hinge was an anticipated weak point, and will be addressed on newer ships by shifting the flaps leeward.
• A WB57 was near the booster landing location, and a Dassault Falcon 900EX was near the ship landing location. RGV Aerial performed a flyover in the afternoon, likely to the booster landing location. Hopefully these planes got some good footage.

KSC:

• Barge which is carrying the chopsticks and remaining tower segments departs, but hasn't gone far yet.

Other:

• SpaceX confirms that the missing heatshield tiles are intentional experiments.
• ViX tally of recent cryo deliveries to the Starbase orbital tank farm.
• Current orbital tank farm will supply both launch pads.
• Booster catch on IFT-5 is a possibility, per Elon.

June 5th, 2024

• S29 is restacked on B11. Video and photos from ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, LabPadre, Mary, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Cargile, Beyer, Ramirez, and SpaceX.
• Missing tiles on S29 have not been replaced (clwphoto1, ViX) and no decals are present on S29. The missing tiles are intentional, per Elon (cyb3rgam3r420 is one of his known alts).
• An igniter test is audible, and S29 flaps are tested.
• A possible concrete form for the 2nd launch tower base is delivered and unloaded. Zack chimes in with his thoughts.
• R-vac stand arrives at Highbay, apparently for S30 engine removal. R-vac #390 arrives at Highbay.

KSC:

• Second chopstick is loaded onto barge, joining the first chopstick, the chopsticks carriage, and the two tower segments.

IFT-4:

• Jun 6th road closure scheduled for "possible flight".
• ElonJet is in the air. (Though Elon is not on it, it might be transporting other SpaceX employees).
• Go America and Defender 1 range security boat move into position. Hopefully no wayward boats.

Other:

• New Ringwatchers article summarizing the history of S29 and B11.

June 4th, 2024

• Jun 3rd addendum: S26 static fire slow-mo.
• Overnight, ship transport stand moves towards OLM.
• Ship lifting jig enters Highbay.
• S29 destacked: SQD retracts, SQD arm swings away, and ship is destacked (ViX, NSF). Photos from Mary, LabPadre, Cargile, clwphoto1, and Ramirez.
• A steady convoy of cryo tankers tops up the orbital tank farm. ViX tracks all.
• Build site: B15 common dome and ring section enter Megabay 1.
• New Ringwatchers article.

KSC:

• Launch tower segment #5, chopsticks carriage (SPMT crabwalk closeup), and tower segment #4 (spinning closeup) are loaded onto barge. One of the chopsticks approaches the barge.

IFT-4:

• SpaceX still targeting the morning of Jun 6th.
• Road closure scheduled for Jun 6th.
• Road closure order is amended to include Jun 8th as a backup.
• Isla Blanca Park boat ramp closure is scheduled.
• Temporary flight restrictions are posted for Jun 6th, 7th, and 8th.
• Launch license is issued! (direct link, ViX highlights relevant changes)
• Statement from FAA to NASASpaceflight regarding launch license modifications.

June 3rd, 2024

• Build site: Early morning video tour. Ship lifting jig exits the Highbay. Barrel section moves from Starfactory to near Megabay 1. B15 aft 2 section spotted.
• Former 'GATEWAY TO MARS' wall demolition continues.
• Multiple tanker deliveries to the orbital tank farm.
• S26 static fire at Massey's: NSF livestream. Road closed, venting, frost line (ViX, NSF), methane activity, header tank frost, and static fire.
• ViX video, NSF video, Rocket Ranch video (close), Rocket Ranch video (wide), Starship Gazer photo, Doherty photo, Cargile photo.
• Potentially quite a few SpaceX workers are being flown in ahead of IFT-4. (similar Cargile photo)
• Jun 5th closure revoked. No surprise there.

KSC:

• Tower segments and chopsticks still pending load onto barge.

Other:

• Christian Davenport: Barring any last-minute changes from SpaceX that the FAA would have to approve, the license should be ready for Starship's fourth launch attempt on Thursday, I'm told.
• New CSI Starbase video: Why SpaceX Plans To Jettison The Interstage On Flight 4
• IFT-4 infographic from BingoBoca.

June 2nd, 2024

• Jun 1st addendum: NSF timelapse of stacking, and ship transport stand rolls away from the OLM.
• Launch site: Excavator is lifted. Work on pad 2 is progressing (closeup of tower foundation rebar).
• Starship Gazer photo of the full stack, and closeup of missing tiles on ship.
• 'GATEWAY TO MARS' sign is loaded onto a trailer as 'ƧRAOM⅄⊥AGAEW'.
• Build site: Ship lifting jig is loaded onto an SPMT and enters Highbay. Nighttime photo of Starfactory from cnunez.
• Recent RGV Aerial photo of entire build site.
• Starkitty sighted :)
• S26 still at Massey's.
• New Ringwatchers diagram is posted. Parts spotted for S36, S37 (Starship v2), B16, and B17. Tweet with additional list of updates.

KSC

• Final tower segment and both right and left chopstick arms leave the Roberts Road site and arrive at the turning basin. Max Evans video.

June 1st, 2024

• S29 press plate is removed, and S29 is stacked on B11. Timelapse from ViX, photos from Starship Gazer, Mary, LabPadre, Doherty, cnunez, Ramirez 1 (raptor closeup), Ramirez 2.
• A couple tiles fell still off, but the vast majority are "OK".
• Workers test ship quick disconnect arm a couple of times.
• RGV Aerial spotted activity near Massey's on the Mexican side. Does SpaceX own any land there?

KSC:

• Chopsticks carriage and tower segment (#5) roll to the turning basin and are pending loading onto barge.

IFT-4:

• IFT-4 slips to Jun 6th.
• Elon: "The main goal of this mission is to get much deeper into the atmosphere during reentry, ideally through max heating."