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Starship Development Thread February 2025

Starbase activities (2025-01-31):

• Jan 30th cryo delivery tally.
• Launch site: Steel support beams are delivered to Pad B. (ViX)
• Chopsticks B closeup from Starship Gazer.
• Work on the tank farm continues. (Gisler)
• Temporary gate is installed. (Gisler)
• A storage/parking/communications hub is being set up near Starhopper. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• Build site: S35 aft section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX, NSF)
• Work on S36 nosecone and Test Tank 16 continues. The black LTR1220 crane moves a three rings to the scrap yard. Some piping/ductwork is spotted. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• S37 tile application has begun, S38 is still bare (Gisler, cnunez 1, cnunez 2)
• Potential new Starlink loader box spotted under construction inside the Highbay. (Beyer)
• RGV Aerial post a comparison of flyover photos taken two years apart.
• Sanchez: Work on Launch Mount B and flame bucket continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4 (water feed lines), Gisler 5 (flame deflector pipes), Gisler 6)
• RGV Aerial post a labeled flyover photo of Sanchez.
• 2-hour road delay has appeared is posted for Feb 4th from 00:00 to 04:00 for transportation from factory to Massey’s (no accompanying document). Potential candidates would be for S34 static fire, Test Tank 16 cryo test, B15 static fire, or B16 cryo test.

Flight 8:

• Esteemed spaceflight journalist convicted war criminal Eric Berger reports hearing “end of February” as the current target date.

Starbase activities (2025-01-30):

• Jan 29th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad A: Refurbishment continues. (cnunez)
• Pad B: A hole is opened in the base of Tower B, and an existing hole is covered with a roofing panel. (ViX)
• Starship Gazer posts 4k videos of chopsticks assembly and lift.
• Build site: S36 nosecone has been stacked on payload bay. (NSF, Gisler)
• Work continues on Test Tank 16. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Mystery box is delivered. (Gisler)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the office building and Starfactory. (RGV Aerial)

Flight 8:

• SpaceX have applied for the FCC (not FAA) license, launch NET Feb 24th. (Starship Gazer, FCC)

Starbase activities (2025-01-29):

• Jan 28th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Disassembly of the chopsticks assembly jig is completed. (ViX)
• Closeups of the chopsticks on Tower B. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Sanchez: Work on launch mount B continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Other: Comparison of all three Starship launch towers. (Priel)
• RGV Aerial post a labeled flyover photo of the launch site.

Starship lunar Human Landing System:

• “NASA’s Kent Chojnacki says on the same panel that for the HLS uncrewed demo mission, SpaceX will have to demonstrate landing, surviving on the surface for a couple hours, and then take off. He adds SpaceX will then attempt a second landing.” (Foust 1, Foust 2)

Starbase activities (2025-01-16):

Launch site:

• Road closure is scheduled. (BocaRoad)
• Road closure is in place. (ViX)
• Helicopter flyby. (ViX, NSF)
• Chopsticks open and landing rails rise. (LabPadre, ViX, Priel)
• Pad is cleared. (ViX)
• Two fast boats are on duty to chase away wayward boats. (Cornwell)
• Tank farm venting. (ViX, Priel)
• CEO arrives. (elonjet)
• Launch mount and tower venting. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, NSF)
• T-0 is pushed to 16:37 CT. (SpaceX)
• Propellant load. (ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• Flight 7 happens, B14 is lands on the chopsticks. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, NSF, Mary, Gray, Gisler, Doherty, Dodd, clwphoto1, SpaceX)
• B14 is lowered back onto launch mount. (LabPadre, Priel)
• Compared to Flight 5, Flight 7 shortened the quick disconnect reconnect time from T+6h9m to T+2h26m. (Caton)
• Booster vapour cone. (Beyer, GroundTruthPics, cnunez, Cosmic Perspective, Kraus)

Flight 7:

• S33 experiences a RUD shortly before SECO. (SpaceX)
• S33 reentry videos. (deankolson87 (Turks and Caicos), timmaayd (Turks and Caicos), realcamtem (Dominican Republic), FlyerXT (Caribbean Sea), _thatonedolphin (Airplane, possibly Jet Blue or Iberia, xrae (Disney Treasure cruise ship), adavenport354 (Turks and Caicos))
• Compilation of debris videos, (Scott Manley)
• Flights are diverted. (Manley)
• FAA state that some debris fell “outside of the identified closed aircraft hazard areas”. SpaceX state that “Any surviving pieces of debris would have fallen into the designated hazard area”. (Beil, SpaceX (current, archive))
• Fire observed coming from aft flap hinge. (Manley, Golden 1, Golden 2)
• Elon: “Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity. Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area. Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month.”

Build site:

• Raptor installation platform moves to the scrap yard. (ViX)
• Booster transport stand moves to the ring yard. (ViX, Starship Gazer)
• Booster transport stand moves to the roadblock. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• RGV Aerial post a recent (Jan 11th) flyover photo of Launch Mount B at Sanchez.

Starbase activities (2025-01-06):

• Jan 5th cryo delivery tally.
• Quite a bit reported on Jan 6th.
• Build site: Mystery flat-packed delivery to Starfactory. (ViX)
• Ten Starlink simulators are spotted in Starfactory. (Starship Gazer photo, Starship Gazer video)
• The black LTR1220 crane slightly reconfigures the ship transport SPMTs. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Explosion warning signs are spotted on Megabay 2, suggesting that S33 flight termination system is being installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer)
• Ship lifting jig stand arrives outside Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Ship transport stand enters Megabay 2. (ViX)
• S33 is lifted onto the transport stand in Megabay 2. (ViX, LabPadre)
• Megabay 2 door opens, revealing S33 with new catch point tiles, an open Pez door, and Crew Dragon stickers on the flaps. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, TheRedstoneHive)
• Launch site: The transport stand for the hot staging adapter moves from the build site to the launch site. (ViX, NSF)
• An afternoon attempt to remove B14’s hot staging adapter is aborted, likely due to wind conditions (LabPadre, ViX). Another attempt is made in the evening (NSF).
• The yellow LR11000 crane moves towards Pad B, where it will likely lie down prior to Flight 7. (ViX)
• Parts for a new crane begin arriving at the launch site, and are assembled. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• A small crane is also delivered. (ViX)

Other:

• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of Starfactory.
• TheSpaceEngineer posts a flow schematic for Raptor 3. Unclear what information this is based on, likely somewhat speculative.

KSC:

• Expansion of the Roberts Road facility continues. (Stranger)

Starbase activities (2025-01-09):

• Jan 8th cryo delivery tally.
• Build site: B12 moves from Rocket Garden to Megabay 1, and S35 forward dome moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, NSF, DeffGeff)
• S33 emerges from Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Beil, NSF, clwphoto1)
• S33 and Mechazilla decals are spotted. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Mary, cnunez)
• B14.1 moves from Sanchez to Highbay, likely to swap with B12’s transport stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Priel, cnunez)
• Launch site: Cones are deployed in preparation for S33 rollout. (ViX)
• S33 moves from Megabay 2 to the launch site. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Elon, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, clwphoto1)
• Lift pins deploy, the chopsticks take the weight of S33, stabilizer pins engage, aft flap deploys. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Beil, ViX 4, ViX 5)
• Workers in a lift inspect the left area of the TPS. (Beil)
• Klaxon sounds at the pad, chopsticks take the weight of S33.
• S33 is stacked on B14. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2, Gomez, NSF full livestream)
• Jan 10th road closure is amended, now 10:00 to 22:00 instead of 05:00 to 17:00.

Flight 7:

• NOTAM seemingly corrected to NET Jan 13th. (ViX, Beil)

Starbase activities (2025-01-10):

• Jan 9th cryo delivery tally.
• Jan 9th addendum: SpaceX post photos of stacking.
• Priel comparison of V1 and V2 stacking, Beyer and Hansen comparison of V1 and V2 full stacks.
• Launch site: Detonation suppression system is tested. (ViX)
• S33 flaps are tested. (ViX, NSF)
• Chopsticks are tested. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• B14 and S33 perform a wet dress rehearsal. (NSF full livestream)
• Road is closed, patrol boats are present. (Beil 1, Beil 2, Cornwell / SpacePadre)
• Tank farm venting. (ViX, Beil)
• Cars return to the pad. (Beil)
• Chopsticks open. (Beil)
• Launch mount venting. (Beil, Beil)
• Tower venting. (ViX, Beil)
• Engine chill venting. (ViX)
• Ship LOX tank frost. (ViX, NSF, Beil 1)
• Full propellant load. (NSF, Mary, Beil 1, Beil 2)
• Detonation suppression system is tested. (NSF)
• Timelapses: (LabPadre, ViX, Priel)
• SpaceX photos and video.
• Shana Diez (Director, Starship Engineering) report: “Lots learned and lots of data to work through this weekend. But only a few things left before flight test.”
• Build site: 2-hour road delays are posted for Jan 13th and 14th from 00:00 to 04:00 for transportation from factory to Massey’s.

Flight 7:

• 13.5-hour road closures are posted for Jan 13th through 15th from 09:00 to 22:30 for flight testing activities.
• NOTMAR, NOTAM, and MSIB notices are issued for Jan 13th. (ViX, Gomez)
• Two navigational warnings for the Indian Ocean are cancelled. (Beil 1, Beil 2)
• An amusing typo (ViX, Edwards) was present in the FAA advisory, now corrected, but archived here.

Starbase activities (2025-01-17):

• Jan 17th road closure is revoked. (BocaRoad)
• 1-hour road delay is posted for Jan 18th from 00:00 to 04:00 for transportation from pad to factory (presumably B14 rollback).
• 2-hour road delays are posted for Jan 19th and 20th from 00:00 to 04:00 for transportation from factory to pad (possibly for chopsticks carriage B).
• Launch site: Overnight, the booster transport stand arrives at the launch site. (ViX)
• Post-launch photos of launch mount and B14. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, GroundTruth)
• Engineers are sighted inspecting booster and chopsticks. (Starship Gazer)
• Both the black and the yellow LR11000 cranes are raised. (ViX)
• The yellow LR11000 begins reassembling the chopstick assembly jig. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Anderson)
• Booster quick disconnect disconnects. (ViX)
• B14 is moved from launch mount to transport stand. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, Mary, NSF)

Massey’s:

• S34 performs a partial and a full cryo test. (ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel)

Flight 7:

• FAA and SpaceX to perform mishap investigation. (Foust, Beil, FAA)
• Reports of debris falling / washing up in Turks and Caicos. (Robinsmdoka, JevonWilson3, ColeWZY, GraceBayFan)
• mcrs987 speculates that asymmetric engine failure may have altered the trajectory of S33.

KSC:

• Expansion of the Roberts Road facility continues, and parts for constructing a new launch mount are visible. (Stranger)

Starbase activities (2025-01-28):

• Jan 27th cryo delivery tally.
• Jan 27th addendum: Timelapses of chopsticks lift from LabPadre Sapphire, Nerdle, and VR cameras.
• Overnight, the arms of the chopsticks carriage are attached to the skates on Tower B. (Priel)
• In Starfactory, sliding plates have been added to the catch points on Test Tank 16. (ViX)
• Pad B: Chopsticks are lowered and the yellow LR11000 crane is disconnected. (LabPadre, ViX)
• Workers are connecting up the cableway. (Anderson)
• Disassembly of the chopsticks assembly jig begins. (ViX)
• Build site: Two raptors enter Starfactory, a S35 LOX section and a transfer tube jig with tubes enter Megabay 2. Within Megabay 2, a raptor moves towards S34, and another transfer tube moves towards S35. (ViX)
• Other: RGV Aerial post a flyover photo of a tank being loaded/unloaded. Exact location not specified, possibly Brownsville Port, as a rail line is visible in the top left.
• Updated Knaggs render of Pad B with chopsticks, launch mount, and flame trench.

Starbase activities (2025-01-04):

• Jan 3rd cryo delivery tally.
• Build site: The first two sections (common dome and aft 2) of B17’s LOX tank enter Megabay 1. Shorter stringers are observed. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, NSF)
• Pad A: B14 closeup from Starship Gazer.
• Pad B: The upper crossbeam of the chopsticks assembly jig is removed. (ViX)
• Two excavators perform a choreographed rebar-shifting ballet. (ViX)
• Golden’s thoughts on Starship’s launch cadence in 2025.
• Beil comparison of Falcon Heavy and Starship launch cadence.

Starbase activities (2025-01-05):

• Jan 4th cryo delivery tally.
• Jan 4th addendum: A load spreader is moved from the build site to the launch site, possibly for hot stage adapter removal. (ViX)
• Pad A: Scaffolding is removed from the top of the tower. (clwphoto1 1, clwphoto1 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2)
• The yellow LR11000 crane moves around into position for hot stage adapter removal. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Build site: Ship transport stand moves in front of Megabay 2, presumably for S33 rollout. (Starship Gazer)
• RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos: B14 on launch mount, launch site, Pad B, flame trench, and launch mount B at Sanchez)

Flight 7:

• Infographic from Vikranth Jonna summarizing new objectives and changes.

KSC:

• Recent satellite photo of LC-39A: (Stranger 1, Stranger 2)

Starbase activities (2025-01-01):

• Happy New Year, folks!
• Dec 31st cryo delivery tally.
• Not much action reported on New Year’s Day. All is quiet.
• Photos of the launch site. B14 still on launch mount A. (cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, cnunez 4, Robert Opal)
• Photo of the build site: cnunez
• Launch Mount B: Some potential water feed pipes for the water cooled pancake are spotted. ChromeKiwi renders and thoughts.

Starbase activities (2025-01-07):

• Jan 6th cryo delivery tally.
• Jan 6th addendum: B14 hot staging adapter is removed. (ViX, Priel)
• Build site: Overnight, S33 is revealed, and the Starlink simulators are loaded. (Mary, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer photo, Starship Gazer video, Priel 1, Priel 2, Gisler)
• In the early afternoon, the payload door is closed. (ViX 6x, ViX 3x, ViX real-time)
• S33 aft flap is tested. (ViX)
• S36 tiling in Starfactory continues. (cnunez)
• Launch site: Following the removal of B14 the hot staging adapter, the black LR11000 crane offloads the spreader and straps. (ViX)
• Load spreader is reattached, and the hot staging adapter is lifted back onto B14. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Priel 1, Priel 2, Doherty)
• 1-hour road delay is posted for Jan 8th from 04:00 to 05:00 for transportation from launch pad to factory.
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Jan 8th from 14:00 and 17:00 or Jan 9th from 00:00 to 03:00 for transportation from factory to launch pad (likely S33 rollout).

Flight 7:

• Jan 10th no longer the target date. NET Jan 11th, likely a “3 or 4 days” further. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Cadena OIS (archive), Elon)

Starbase activities (2025-01-08):

• Jan 7th cryo delivery tally.
• Jan 7th addendum: More video of PEZ dispenser and loading process. (Starship gazer, ViX)
• Launch site: Overnight, the chopsticks are extensively exercised. (ViX)
• B14 “cowbell” vent covers have been removed. (ViX)
• 12-hour road closures are posted for Jan 10th and 11th from 05:00 to 17:00 for non-flight testing activities.
• Build site: Catch hardware is installed on S33. (ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Mary)
• It looks like multiple tiles have been intentionally omitted. (rocketjunkie94)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the rocket garden.

Flight 7:

• SpaceX indicate NET Jan 13th.
• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency indecate NET Jan 13th. (ViX)
• Mexican NOTAM indicates NET Jan 14th. (ViX)