Portions of this thread copied from a Starship Dev thread on r/SpaceX.
FAQ
- When next launch? (Flight 7) NET Jan 11th, likely a “3 or 4 days” further. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Cadena OIS (archive), Elon)
- When previous launch? (Flight 6)? Booster 13 and Ship 31 launched on 2024-11-19.
- What was the result? Booster catch attempt aborted, performed soft splashdown in the Gulf. Ship performs in-space raptor relight, survives reentry, and makes an on-target splashdown.
Quick Links
Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live
Starship Dev December | Starship Dev November | IFT-6 launch thread | Starship Dev October | IFT-5 launch thread | Starship Dev 57
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Road closures and road delays
Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
*As of 2025-01-01
- 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).
Vehicle Status
*As of 2025-01-01
Follow Ring Watchers on Twitter and Discord for more.
| Ship | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| SN2 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | |
| S20 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | |
| S31 | Indian Ocean | Successful splashdown | Cryo tested May 12th, suffers small electrical fire. Underwent repairs in the Highbay, rolls back to Massey’s Jul 1. Cryo tested Jul 2nd and 3rd. Engines installed by Jul 26th. Rolls to Massey’s Sep 6th. Partial (aborted) cryo test Sep 8th. Static fired Sep 18th. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. In-space raptor relight was successful, ship survived reentry and performed soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. |
| S32 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | Fully stacked, fore flaps installed but not aft flaps |
| Test Tank 16 | Rocket Garden | Pending scrapping? | Cryo tested four times between July and September. |
| S33 | Megabay 2 | Pending rollout | First V2 Starship. Nosecone spotted Jul 14th. Forward section spotted Jul 27th. Stacking completed Aug 23. Cryo tested Oct 29th (partial), 30th (full), and 31st (full). Raptor installation begins Nov 9th. Spin prime Dec 12th. Static fired Dec 15th and 16th. Starlink simulators loaded Jan 7th. Catch hardware installed Jan 8th. |
| S34 | Megabay 2 | Pending cryo test | Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. Stacking completed around end of November. |
| S35 | Megabay 2 | Assembly | Parts spotted Sep 20th. Forward flap installation Dec 3rd. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Dec 11th. |
| S36 | Starfactory | Assembly | Parts spotted in December. |
| S37 | Starfactory | Assembly | Parts spotted in December. |
| S38 | Starfactory | Assembly | Parts spotted in December. |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B12 | Megabay 1 | Post-flight inspection | Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched as IFT-5 on Oct 13, returned to launch site for successful chopstick catch. Moved to Megabay 1 Oct 15th. |
| B13 | Gulf of Mexico | Successful splashdown | Cryo tests Apr 26th (methane tank) and Apr 29th (LOX tank). Static fired Oct 24th. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. Chopsticks catch attempt was aborted, performed soft splashdown in the Gulf. |
| B14 | Launch Mount A | Pending wet dress rehearsal | Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th. Static fired Dec 9th. FTS installed Jan 3rd. |
| B14.1 | Sanchez | Resting | Multiple catch simulation “slap tests” performed on Jun 26th and 27th. |
| B15 | Megabay 1 | Pending engine install | Stacked from July to September. Methane tank cryo test Dec 27th, full cryo test Dec 28th. |
| B16 | Megabay 1 | Pending cryo test | Stacking completed by Dec 26th. |
| B17 | Build Site | Assembly | Parts spotted. First two sections moved to Megabay 1 Jan 4th. |
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
- Everyday Astronaut 2024 Elon Musk Interviews: Starfactory tour | Pad tour and post-IFT-4 interview
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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)
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 (2025-01-06):
- 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 (2025-01-05):
- 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 (2025-01-04):
- 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 (2025-01-03):
- Jan 2nd cryo delivery tally.
- Pad A: Overnight, the flight termination system is installed on B14. (Golden, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2)
- Launch mount work continues. (Starship Gazer)
- Booster stabilizer pins are removed. (ViX, Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
- Pad B: Panelling is added to the roof of the tower base. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Build site: Starkitty is sighted. (ViX)
- Video tour. (ViX)
- An owl is sighted. (ViX)
Flight 7:
- Mexican NOTAM is posted. (ViX 1, ViX 2, RGV Aerial, FAA (PDF))
- NASA5, the Gulfstream V, is scheduled to fly to Brisbane. (ViX, rocketjunkie94)
- Lars Blackmore is excited to see the results of the forward flap redesign.
- SpaceX publish an update on their website (current, archive). Highlights:
- “Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight”
- Multiple metallic test tiles on S33, including one with active cooling.
- “non-structural versions of ship catch fittings are installed”
Flight 6:
- SpaceX post a recap video, including a brief drone shot of S31 after splashdown.
- Cause of Flight 6 booster offshore divert: Sensors on the tower chopsticks were damaged at launch. Additional protections to the sensors have been added.
Starbase activities (2025-01-02):
- Jan 1st cryo delivery tally.
- Build site: An interesting cart is spotted leaving Starfactory. (LabPadre)
- Pez dispenser installation jig exits Megabay 2, likely implying that the S35 pez dispenser is installed. (ViX)
- Launch site: Booster transport stand moves from the launch site to the build site. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- B14 performs grid fin wiggle tests. (ViX)
- Launch mount closeup from cnunez.
Flight 7:
- Elon confirms that Raptor 314 which flew on B12 during flight 5 will be reflown on B14 for flight 7. (spacesudoer, Elon)
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.