FAQ
- When is the next Integrated Flight Test (IFT-2)? Booster 9 + Ship 25 launched Saturday, November 18 after slight delay.
- What was the result? Successful lift off with minimal pad damage. Successful booster operation with all engines to successful hot stage separation. Booster destroyed after attempted boost-back. Ship fired all engines to near orbital speed then lost. No re-entry attempt.
- Did IFT-2 Fail? No. As part of an iterative test programme, many milestones were achieved. Perfection is neither expected nor desired at this stage.
- Next launch? IFT-3 expected to be Booster 10, Ship 28 per a recent NSF Roundup. Probably no earlier than Feb 2024. Prerequisite IFT-2 mishap investigation.
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Quick Links
RAPTOR ROOST | LAB CAM | SAPPHIRE CAM | SENTINEL CAM | ROVER CAM | ROVER 2.0 CAM | PLEX CAM | NSF STARBASE
Starship Dev 50 | Starship Dev 49 | Starship Dev 48 | Starship Dev 47
Official Starship Update | r/SpaceX Update Thread
Status
Road Closures
| Type | Start (CDT) | End (CDT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Date | 2023-12-08 16:00 | 2023-12-08 21:00 | Possible Closure |
| Alternative Date | 2023-12-11 08:00 | 2023-12-11 20:00 | Possible Closure |
| Alternative Date | 2023-12-12 08:00 | 2023-12-12 20:00 | Possible Closure |
Up to date as of 2023-12-08
Vehicle Status
As of 2023-12-08
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-S24, 27 | Scrapped or Retired | S20 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped. | |
| S24 | Bottom of sea | Destroyed | April 20th (IFT-1): Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| S25 | Bottom of sea | Destroyed | Mostly successful launch and stage separation |
| S26 | Rocket Garden | Testing | Static fire Oct. 20. No fins or heat shield, plus other changes. Completed 3 cryo tests, latest on Oct 10. |
| S28 | High Bay | Pending heatshield completion | Cryo test on July 28. Raptor install began Aug 17. Completed 2 cryo tests. |
| S29 | High Bay | Fully stacked, completed 3x cryo tests, awaiting engine install. | |
| S30 | High Bay | Under construction | Fully stacked |
| S31 | Rocket Garden | Fully stacked, awaiting flaps | Stacking in progress. |
| S32 | High Bay | Under construction | Stacking in progress. |
| S33-34 | Build Site | Being scrapped | To be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2 |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-B7 & B8 | Scrapped or Retired | B4 in Rocket Garden, remainder scrapped. | |
| B7 | Bottom of sea | Destroyed | Destroyed by flight termination system after successful launch. |
| B9 | Bottom of sea | Destroyed | Successfully launched, destroyed during Boost back attempt. |
| B10 | Rocket garden | Engine install? | Completed 4 cryo tests. Moved to Massey’s on Sep 11, back to Megabay Sep 20. |
| B11 | Megabay | Finalizing | Completed 2 Cryo tests. |
| B12 | Megabay | Finalizing | Appears complete, except for raptors, hot stage ring, and cryo testing. |
| B13 | Megabay | Stacking | Lower half mostly stacked. |
| B14+ | Build Site | Assembly | Assorted parts spotted through B15. |
Resources
- LabPadre Channel | NASASpaceFlight.com Channel
- NSF: Booster 7 + Ship X (likely 24) Updates Thread | Most Recent
- NSF: Boca Chica Production Updates Thread | Most recent
- NSF: Elon Starship tweet compilation | Most Recent
- SpaceX: Website Starship page | Starship Users Guide (2020, PDF)
- FAA: SpaceX Starship Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
- FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions NOTAM list
- FCC: Starship Orbital Demo detailed Exhibit - 0748-EX-ST-2021 application June 20 through December 20
- NASA: Starship Reentry Observation (Technical Report)
- Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)
- Production Progress Infographics by @RingWatchers
- Raptor 2 Tracker by @SpaceRhin0
- Acronym definitions by Decronym
- Everyday Astronaut: Starbase Tour with Elon Musk, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
- Everyday Astronaut: 2022 Elon Musk Interviews, Starbase/Ship Updates | Launch Tower | Merlin Engine | Raptor Engine
Link to IFT-2 Launch Party Thread
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Starbase activities (2023-11-23):
- S28 moved from Rocket Garden to High Bay, likely for work on completing the heatshield
- S28, S29, and S32 are inside the High Bay, S30 is just outside, S20, S26, and S31 are in the rocket garden.
- OLM work continues
Starbase activities (2023-11-27):
- Pipework delivered for the tank farm
- Long SPMT (26 axles) moved to the Launch site, likely for tank installation operations.
- Huge cryo tank delivered (video)
- Arrival at the launch site
- Tank transferred from delivery trailer to SPMT
- SPMT moves tank into position
- TPS work on S28 continues
- OLM work continues, and a lift was observed near the chopsticks.
Unsourced rumour that a large spherical tank will be moved from Florida to Starbase.
Starbase activities (2023-12-05):
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Weird-looking ring spotted. Purpose unclear. Any guesses?
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Booster transport stand moved to Megabay 1
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B10 exits Megabay 1
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B10 rolled out to the Sanchez site
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Chopsticks raised and lowered
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NASA astronauts spotted at Starbase
Might make sense to post space_rocket_builder’s words here as well, given his past record.
Good idea! I’ve added it their comment to the 12-06 update.
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Starbase activities (2023-11-22):
- S30 moved out of High Bay
- SPMTs then left for the Rocket Garden, possibly to retrieve S28.
- Close-up of S30 and overview of Starships in production.
- Mystery stand moved out of the build site.
- Starbase’s cat is still around after IFT-2.
- Lifting squid was removed and reattached to S28.
Could make them faster, but engine production is not the limiting factor.
I’m very excited about the next-gen Raptor engine that is robust enough not to require a heat shield. Will also have more thrust, higher Isp and many other improvements.
Starbase activities (2023-11-24):
- S28, S29, S30, and S32 are all nestled in the High Bay.
- Workers cleaning S28 ahead of remaining TPS installation
- Starkitty sighted
- OLM work continues
New CSI Starbase video: Superheavy’s Massive Fire Suppression System Dramatically Increases Performance
Ringwatchers article: What Changed on Starship 25 & Booster 9?
Elon tweets:
- Four more Starships, the last of V1
- Version 2 of the ship holds more propellant, reduces dry mass and improves reliability
- Re: N1, importance of engine isolation: If an engine failure is isolated, then many engines greatly increases reliability (Starship only loses <3% of thrust). If not, then reliability is terrible. The difference is at least 2 orders of magnitude.
- Starship is intended to carry a lot of people on tens of thousands of flights, so needs to be extremely reliable over time. It will be.
- Re: CSI Starbase: Good video
Starbase activities (2023-11-30):
- No new cryo tank deliveries. The 26-axle SPMT is taking a break.
- S33 aft section was scrapped a few days ago. With S32 being the last V1 Starship, it is expected that all components of S33+ will be scrapped in preparation for Starship V2.
- “Gateway to mars” sign was completed. (timelapse video)
- Installation of top windows for Megabay 2 has begun
- TPS work on S28 continues
- OLM work continues
- Chopstick work continues
McGregor:
- Shockwaves from Raptor testing: https://nitter.net/AdamCuker/status/1730407352325538096#m
Bonus:
- Tesla finally released the footage of the drone collision with an R-Vac a while back. (timestamp 1:37)
Starbase activities (2023-11-21):
- Testing performed on SQD and chopsticks
- S29, S30, and S31 were shuffled in and out of the High Bay.
- Mystery structure rolled into the build site, possibly a new transport stand.
IFT-2:
- astroferg uploaded stabilized tracking video of S25’s nose cone after FTS was triggered
- SpaceX has updated their IFT-2 page. Nothing too surprising. They verified that S25 FTS was triggered, but have not said the same for B9.
Starbase activities (2023-12-02):
Not too much action today:
- Storage structure at the launch site was dismantled, likely to free up space for a new wall surrounding the orbital tank farm.
- Ongoing work on the chopsticks, OLM, and S28 TPS
Starbase activities (2023-11-28):
- 2nd cryo tank arrives (video)
- 2nd cryo tank installed (video)
- 3rd cryo tank arrives (video)
- 3rd cryo tank installed (video)
- Large letters delivered for a new sign at the launch site, likely reading “gateway to mars”. For some reason, they installed the “R” first, then “ARS”…
- TPS work on S28 continues.
- Welding work observed on the OLM and the chopsticks.
Starbase activities (2023-11-29):
- 4th cryo tank arrives (video)
- 4th cryo tank installed (video)
- The letters “WAY TO M” in “gateway to mars” were installed
- 5th cryo tank arrives (video)
- 5th cryo tank installed (video)
- Raptor truck delivering to Massey’s
- TPS work on S28 coming along nicely
- Work continues on the chopsticks
- Booster stabilization pins reinstalled on OLM
Starbase activities (2023-11-25):
- Scrapping of SN15 continues.
- OLM work continues. (lifts go up, lifts go down)
- Some concrete being torn up by orange digger in the vicinity of the OLM. (~11:00 CST on Starbase Live)
Elon on SSTO: Yeah, wrong planet for SSTO. No problem on Mars with ~37% Earth gravity.
Thanks for the daily updates, much appreciated.
You’re welcome! Glad to know they are appreciated!
Starbase activities (2023-12-03):
- Window installation continues on Megabay 2
- Concrete being torn up near the orbital tank farm, likely in preparation for constructing a new wall.
- Several boom lifts observed at the chopsticks
Starbase activities (2023-11-26):
- Not much happened today.
- TPS work on S28 continues.
- Fog rolled in mid-afternoon, so I guess we should be glad they aren’t launching anything like SN11 :)
Starbase activities (2023-12-01):
- Starkitty sighted
- Rear cover of Booster QD removed and placed on an SPMT (video)
- “Gateway to mars” sign illumination testing. At least the letters “TO MA” work.
- TPS work on S28 continues
- Chopstick work continues (4+ lifts working simultaneously, welding observed)
Rumour is that IFT-3 (B10, S28) is NET Feb 2024.
Starbase activities (2023-12-04):
- B10 hot stage ring was lifted and installed
- Forward section for unknown booster spotted in the Starfactory
- Progress on the Starfactory building itself is coming along nicely
- Megabay 2 window installation continues
- OLM booster clamps were swapped out and reinstalled
- “Gateway to mars” sign illuminated.
Other Starship news:
- IFT-3 will include an internal cryogenic propellant transfer
