FAQ
- When next launch? (Flight 8) NET April, “4 to 6 weeks” after Flight 8. (Elon)
- When previous launch? (Flight 7)? Booster 15 and Ship 34 launched on 2025-03-06.
- What was the result? Booster lands on chopsticks, ship experiences an RUD shortly before SECO.
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 February | Flight 7 launch thread | Starship Dev January | Starship Dev December | Starship Dev November | IFT-6 launch thread | Starship Dev October
Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)
Road closures and road delays
Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot
Vehicle Status
*As of 2025-03-24
| 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. |
| Test Tank 16 | Sanchez | Resting | Cryo tested four times between July and September. Sliding plates added to the catch points on Jan 27th. Moved to Sanchez Mar 15th. |
| S34 | Caribbean | Destroyed | Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. Stacking completed around end of November. Cryo tested Jan 17th. Static fired Feb 11th. FTS installed Feb 24th. Launched Mar 6th, experienced an RUD shortly before SECO. |
| S35 | Megabay 2 | Pending engine install | Parts spotted Sep 20th. Forward flap installation Dec 3rd. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Dec 11th. Stacked by Feb 7th. Cryo tested Mar 11th. |
| S36 | Megabay 2 | Stacking | Parts spotted in December. Moved to Megabay 2 Feb 12th. |
| S37 | Megabay 2 / Starfactory | Stacking / nose cone tiling | Parts spotted in December. Forward dome section moves to Megabay 2 Mar 24th. |
| S38 | Starfactory | Nose cone tiling | Parts spotted in December. |
| Booster | Location | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| B12 | Rocket Garden | Resting | 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. |
| B14 | Megabay 1 | Post-flight inspection | Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th. Static fired Dec 9th. FTS installed Jan 3rd. Wet dress rehearsal performed Jan 10th. Launched and landed Jan 16th. |
| B15 | Rocket Garden | Resting | Stacked from July to September. Methane tank cryo test Dec 27th, full cryo test Dec 28th. Static fired Feb 9th. Launched and landed Mar 6th. |
| B16 | Megabay 1 | Pending engine install | Stacking completed by Dec 26th. Cryo tested Feb 28th. |
| B17 | Build Site | Assembly | Parts spotted. First two sections moved to Megabay 1 Jan 4th. |
| B18.1 | Build site | Assembly | Likely a test article for Block 2 boosters. Parts spotted Feb 24th. |
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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This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:
Starship Development Thread April 2025
Starbase activities (2025-03-31):
- Mar 30th cryo delivery tally.
- Another Grackle sighting at the launch site :) (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Recent photo of S38 nosecone in Starfactory. (cnunez)
McGregor:
- Block 2 booster header tank prototype seems to have survived can-crusher and pressure tests. (Anderson / NSF)
KSC:
- LC-39A: Installation of sheet piling for the flame trench continues. (Anderson / NSF)
- Preparation for the Gigabay continues. (Anderson / Copernicus Browser)
Flight 7:
- Mishap investigation is closed. (FAA, via NSF)
Starbase activities (2025-03-30):
- Mar 29th cryo delivery tally.
- Slow news day, likely due to weather.
- Launch site: Roundabout construction continues. (cnunez)
- Grackle at the launch site :) (ViX)
- Rocket Garden: S20 in its new spot. (Starship Gazer)
Starbase activities (2025-03-29):
- Mar 28th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
- Mar 28th addendum: Potential new booster header tank is spotted next to the S38 nosecone inside Starfactory. (Starship Gazer)
- Rocket Garden: S20 moves for the first time in ~3 years. (RoughRidersShow / NSF, TrackingTheSB 1, TrackingTheSB 2)
- Pad B: Chopsticks open, gantry construction continues. (Starship Gazer)
- Steel parts, are delivered to the launch site and lifted into the flame trench. These are likely the first of five supports for the flame diverter. (AshleyKillip, Anderson / NSF)
- New video from Starship Gazer: Launch Complex Construction, Cryo Pump Testing, Booster Header Test Tank
Starbase activities (2025-03-28):
- Mar 27th cryo delivery tally and thunderstorm. (ViX)
- Thunderstorm continues. (Cameron County, NSF, RGV Aerial)
- Road closures are posted for Apr 3rd and 4th, from 07:00 to 19:00, for non-flight testing activities.
Other:
Starbase activities (2025-03-27):
- Mar 26th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
- Mar 26th addendum. Tank farm and new ventilation fans are tested. (ViX, Golden 1, Golden 2)
- Pad B chopsticks testing. (Priel)
- RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of flame trench progress.
- Roundabout construction continues. (Gomez)
KSC activities:
- LC-39A: Following an extended period of maintenance work and upgrades, the chopsticks return to the closed position. (NSF)
Starbase activities (2025-03-26):
- Mar 25th cryo delivery tally. (ViX)
- Build site: Overnight, a cryo tank is delivered from Brownsville Port to the tank farm. (ViX)
- Tank farm is still under construction, but testing of some of the new fluid systems for Pad B begins. (Golden 1, Golden 2)
- Roundabout road construction continues. (Starship Gazer, Gisler)
- Pad A: A new pipe is installed on the tower. (ViX)
- Pad B: Lateral chopsticks testing. (ViX)
- A boom lift is lowered into flame trench. (NSF)
- Gisler posts recent video of concrete pouring and gantry construction work.
- Concrete deliveries continue. (Gisler)
- The new deluge manifold has been welded, despite possibly being installed backward. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, booster_10)
- Build site: Starfactory internal wall construction continues. (ViX)
- Highbay deconstruction continues, and the first segment of wall is removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF, LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, ViX 3, Gisler)
- Starship Gazer posts a photo of B14 in Megabay 1.
- Massey’s: RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the Block 2 booster cryo test stand.
I just wanted to say thanks for running this community, and not by just linking to the other place. Much appreciated.
Thanks for your comment, it’s nice to know my efforts are appreciated! Hope to see you around. Sometimes I feel like I’m shouting into the void…
not by just linking to the other place
Of course. I link from The Other Place to here :)
@threelonmusketeers @friek Not a void, just a very small room in comparison where people don’t shout as much. +1 for appreciation of the content.
Starbase activities (2025-03-21):
- Mar 20th cryo delivery tally.
- Build site: Overnight, B16 moves from Massey’s to Megabay 1. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
- A Berry LTM11200 is assembled in the ring yard, reportedly the same crane which built Starship MK1 back in 2019. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Highbay deconstruction continues with more cutting work on the roof, which results in a rather pretty shower of sparks inside the Highbay. (cnunez, ViX, Anderson / NSF)
- Launch site: Three new wall sections for the Pad B flame trench are delivered bringing the total to six. (ViX, Render from Killip)
- Two wall sections have been installed in the flame trench so far. (ViX)
- Pad B chopsticks are raised to the top of the tower for the first time. (LabPadre, ViX, Anderson / NSF)
- Other: RGV Aerial conduct a flyover, and post a picture of another shipment of cryo tanks pulling into port. This is likely explains the Mar 23rd transport notice.
Starbase activities (2025-03-01):
- Feb 28th cryo delivery tally.
- Overnight, B16 cryo tests continue at Massey’s. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Build site: S34 is transferred to the transport stand. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5)
- Miscellaneous closeups of S34. (ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, Evans)
- Starlink simulators are loaded onto S34. (NSF 1, NSF 2)
- Car park mural has been removed. (cnunez)
- S37 tile work is progressing in Starfactory. (cnunez)
- Launch site: Another tank arrives for the Pad B water deluge system. (ViX)
- A stop block on the Pad B chopsticks is removed and reinstalled, then removed again. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
Flight 8:
- Both LR11000s have been lowered, as is typical prior to launches. (ViX)
Maritime:
- Two cargo ships carrying cryo tanks are en route to Canaveral and Brownsville ports. (Cornwell)
Starbase activities (2025-03-06):
- Mar 5th cryo delivery tally.
- Launch site: Ship stand rolls back from the launch site. (ViX)
- Detonation suppression system is tested. (ViX)
- Helicopters refuelling near the roadblock. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
- Tank farm venting. (ViX)
- Pad is clear. (LabPadre)
- Chopsticks open. (NSF, LabPadre)
- Chopsticks are tested. (ViX)
- Fast Ship Hannah Ray is on duty. (Cornwell)
- Tower and launch mount venting. (ViX)
- Propellant is loaded. (SpaceX, ViX)
- Helicopters on duty. (ViX)
- Flight 8 happens.
- B15 is caught and lowered onto the Launch Mount A. (Priel)
- Road is reopened, booster transport stand rolls out to the launch site. (ViX)
- Build site: S36 downcomer is lifted in Megabay 2, likely moved onto a fitting jig for later installation. (ViX)
- Three smaller transfer tubes are also lifted into the installation jig. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Golden, Astronomy Live (tracking with an 11" telescope))
Flight 8:
- Nominal liftoff and staging. (NSF 1, NSF 2, SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2)
- Only 11/13 engines on the boostback burn, but landing burn and chopsticks catch is successful. (Golden, NSF, SpaceX)
- S34 experiences multiple engine failures/shutdowns and spins out of control. (NSF, ViX, Golden Cdtj3 (engine skirt view), SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2)
- S34 breaks up near Florida and reenters near Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. (Mahlmann, briancjackson, NStewWX, MrGilyard, SeeClickFlash, VictorOnX, NorcrossUSA, GeneDoctorB, )
- Update on SpaceX website. (Current, archive)
- FAA to require a mishap investigation, as expected. (Beil)
- Ryan Hansen speculates that the engine failures may have been due to an issue with a glowing orange area on one of the regenerative cooling manifolds. (Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4)
McGregor:
- A raptor engine is tested to destruction. (NSF)
Starbase activities (2025-03-16):
- Mar 15th cryo delivery tally.
- Build site: Video tour: Construction of the launch mount and flame bucket for Pad B continues. Temporary fencing has been erected across gate B2, blocking traffic from the road. (ViX)
- Preparation for Highbay demolition continue. Scaffolding is installed around the base, and it seems that power to the building has been shut off. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
- RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Massey’s and Rio West.
- Launch site: Concrete trucks for Pad B flame trench begin to arrive. (Starship Gazer, Golden, BocasBrain)
Starbase activities (2025-03-18):
- Mar 17th cryo delivery tally.
- Mar 17th concrete delivery tally (294 truckloads so far).
- Launch site: Concrete pour for the Pad B flame trench continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
- RGV Aerial post a pre-pour flyover photo.
- Another large pipe and a manifold for the Pad B deluge system are delivered. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Fluid panels are delivered, much to the excitement of (PjMichael8, Fluid System Designer at SpaceX)
- Grackles :) (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- Build site: S36 has moved to the centre workstand in Megabay 2. (ViX)
- One of the Highbay windows has been removed. (ViX, Anderson)
- The LTR1220 crane delivers a booster cap to Megabay 1. (ViX)
- A booster transport stand arrives near Megabay 1. (ViX)
- Construction of launch mount B and flame diverter, continues. (ViX / Gisler / House, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, RGV Aerial)
- S38 is partially tiled in Starfactory. (cnunez)
- Other: Thoughts on Starship development from Shana Diez (Director of Starship Engineering). They’re having a tough time at the moment.
Starbase activities (2025-03-19):
- Mar 18th cryo delivery tally.
- Launch site: A Y-manifold for the Pad B deluge system is delivered and lifted into place. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
- A new pump motor is fitted at the tank farm expansion area, just inside Gate D2. (ViX)
- Build site: Construction of a new end wall inside Starfactory begins. (ViX)
- A crane is delivered, presumably to assist with Highbay demolition. (ViX)
- A small structure near the base of the Highbay is knocked down. (ViX)
- Highbay roof removal begins. (Anderson, ViX, cnunez)
- Booster transport stand enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
- B15 moves from Megabay 1 to the Rocket Garden. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, RoughRidersShow)
- Massey’s: RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo.
- 2-hour road delay is posted for Mar 21st between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from “the Massey’s” to factory, presumably for B16.
Starbase activities (2025-03-10):
- Mar 9th cryo delivery tally.
- Massey’s: Overnight, S35 rolls out to Massey’s. (NSF, LabPadre 1, ViX, Starship Gazer, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, cnunez)
- Closeups of S35 structural catch pins. (Mary / NSF)
- Build site: Multiple deliveries including Starlink simulators, loads of steel, and a white mystery torus. (ViX)
- The booster press pipe install jig moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
- Starkitty is sighted :) ViX
- Car park mural is returning. (Gisler)
- New B15 raptor tracking diagram from Ringwatchers.
- A pipe is being run from the build site to the pad. (Gisler) Would this be for water? Propellant? Electrical conduit?
- Launch site: Maintenance on the black LR11000 crane continues. (ViX)
- Pad A: following some inspection work, the Chopsticks return to their normal rest position. (ViX)
- Pad B: Concrete is poured for the flame trench. (Gisler)
Berger suggests that “another launch before this summer seems unlikely”.
I think that’s speculation rather than reporting, but it’s nice to have a non-CEO reference point. Hopefully employees get a breather during this redesign, somehow.
