Starbase activities (2024-11-11):

• Nov 10th cryo delivery tally.
• Build site: S31 emerges from the Highbay, counterweights are the SPMTs, S31 retreats back inside. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, NSF)
• Closeup photos from Starship Gazer: Nose, aft.
• Heatshield comparisons from Ringwatchers and mcrs987.
• Construction on passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the build site.
• In the evening, S31 rolls out to the launch complex. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Gisler, cnunez, Gomez, clwphoto1 1, clwphoto1 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, NSF 5, NSF livestream)
• Pad A: Flame deflector is tested. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
• A large spool of orange arrives at the launch complex. (Gisler)
• Pad B launch mount and flame trench renders from ChromeKiwi. (Tweet 1, tweet 2)

Starbase activities (2024-11-10):

• Nov 9th cryo delivery tally.
• Nov 9th addendum: S31 moves out of the corner of Highbay. (ViX)
• Sanchez: Launch mount B construction continues. The fourth and final side sections is delivered. (ViX)
• Build site: All six of S33’s raptors have now arrived at Megabay 2. “In sequence, we had RV275, RV305, RC385, RC345, RC316 and RV398.” (ViX)
• cnunez posts recent photos of S31 and chopsticks carriage for Pad B.
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of Pad B / Pad West.

Other:

• Chinese launch startup Cosmoleap are already testing their own prototype tower and chopsticks hardware. (CNSpaceflight)

Starbase activities (2024-11-09):

• Nov 8th cryo delivery tally.
• Sanchez: RGV Aerial post a recent photo of launch mount B construction.
• Build site: Vacuum raptors SN275 and SN305 arrive at Megabay 2, presumably for installation on S33. SN305 was the engine which was struck by a drone during the filming of a promotional video on 2023-10-04. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, Starship Gazer, NSF 1, NSF 2, Gisler, SpaceRhin0)
• Starkitty sighted. (ViX)
• Sea level raptor SN385 arrives at Megabay 2. (NSF, cnunez, SpaceRhin0)
• Construction on passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler)
• Pad A: Work continues on the launch mount and chopsticks. (Priel, RGV Aerial)
• Tower closeup from cnunez.

Other:

• Kathy Lueders (Starbase General Manager) states that they are targeting ship recovery within 6 months, and 25 launches in 2025. (Felix Space Time, Jack Kuhr, Hacia el Espacio)

Starbase activities (2024-11-08):

• Nov 7th cryo delivery tally.
• Sanchez: Launch mount B construction continues. The third (of four) side sections is lifted into position. (ViX)
• Build site: Overnight, scaffolding is removed from S31. (ViX)
• Hot stage adapter moves from Starfactory towards Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• CO2 tank is lifted, presumably up to B13. (ViX)
• Boxes labeled SN1 and SN2 are spotted. (LabPadre)
• Two SPMTs arrive at the build site. The LTR1220 crane shifts some of the counterweights, and the SPMTs enter the Highbay. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• cnunez posts a recent photo of a partially tiled nosecone in Starfactory.
• Pad A: The chopsticks and the ship quick disconnect are tested. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• Pad B: The LR11000 crane removes a net from Tower B. (ViX)
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Nov 13th (00:00 to 03:00 or 12:00 to 15:00) and 14th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to pad, either backups for B13 rollout or for S31 rollout.

McGregor:

• Final tank is removed from the tripod stand. (Adam Cuker / NSF)
• Tom Mueller is sad to see it go.

Other:

• mcrs987 posts a render of booster v2, based on the 39A Environmental Impact Statement. (Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4)
• Chine placement is likely not accurate. (Tweet 1, tweet 2)

Awesome post, OP. Thank you!!

Starbase activities (2024-11-07):

• Nov 6th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad A: The remaining subcooler is lifted into position. (ViX, Gisler)
• Work on chopsticks continues. Workers observed on the booster quick disconnect. (cnunez, ViX)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 disassembly continues. Six truckloads depart from the launch site. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Build site: Scaffolding is delivered, glass installation continues on the passageway between Starfactory and offices. (ViX)
• Two new semi-circular work platforms arrive at Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Booster CO2 tank moves from Starfactory towards Megabay 1. (ViX)
• Hotstage ring spotted outside Megabay 1. (Anderson / LabPadre)
• S31 receives a “banana for scale” sticker. (Starship Gazer, Mary, Gisler, cnunez, Ramirez)
• Sanchez: Launch mount B construction continues. The GMK 7550 crane lifts the first and second (of four) side sections into position. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• Rocket Garden: Counterweights are added to SPMTs, likely in preparation for B13 rollout. (ViX)
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Nov 11th (19:00 to 22:00) and 12th (10:00 and 13:00) for transport from factory to pad, likely B13 rollout.

McGregor:

• The tripod stand is being retired. Some tanks are removed. (NSF)

Starbase activities (2024-11-06):

• Nov 5th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane disassembly continues. Two more truckloads of parts depart. (ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the launch site.
• Some sort of box/cover is lifted into place at the tank farm. (clwphoto1)
• Construction on passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. Window installation in progress. (Gisler)
• Build site: The A4:4 LOX section for B16 moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
• Sanchez: Construction continues on launch mount B. All four corner sections are in place. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• The pez load has shrunk. (ViX)

IFT-6:

• FAA NOTAMN is posted for Nov 18th through 26th. (LabPadre)

• SpaceX announce November 18th as the NET date for flight 6, and post info on mission objectives and changes since flight 5. Highlights:

  Hardware upgrades for this flight add additional redundancy to booster propulsion systems, increase structural strength at key areas, and shorten the timeline to offload propellants from the booster following a successful catch. Mission designers also updated software controls and commit criteria for the booster’s launch and return.

  An additional objective for this flight will be attempting an in-space burn using a single Raptor engine, further demonstrating the capabilities required to conduct a ship deorbit burn prior to orbital missions.

  The flight test will assess new secondary thermal protection materials and will have entire sections of heat shield tiles removed on either side of the ship in locations being studied for catch-enabling hardware on future vehicles. The ship also will intentionally fly at a higher angle of attack in the final phase of descent, purposefully stressing the limits of flap control to gain data on future landing profiles. Finally, adjusting the flight’s launch window to the late afternoon at Starbase will enable the ship to reenter over the Indian Ocean in daylight, providing better conditions for visual observations.

Starbase activities (2024-11-05):

• Nov 4th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, four new curved work platforms are delivered to Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• Transfer tube spotted in Megabay 2, likely for S34. (ViX)
• Starkitty is sighted :)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 disassembly continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, NSF)
• Flame trench construction continues. (ViX)

McGregor:

• A Raptor 3 undergoes an RUD on the vertical test stand. (_jaykeeganN_ / NSF)

Other:

• mcrs987 notes that one of the aluminum-coated tiles on IFT-5 was glowing/melting. (Tweet 1, tweet 2)

Starbase activities (2024-11-01):

• Oct 31st cryo delivery tally. ViX shares an outdated but useful infographic on how many deliveries are required for launch.
• Oct 31st addendum: NSF timelapse of S33 cryo test at Massey’s.
• Pad B: The disassembled CC8800-1 crane begins to depart, starting with crane mats and counterweights. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Build site: S34 aft LOX section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of office construction.
• Massey’s: S33 prepares for rollback. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer)

Other:

• NSF article on pending upgrades to Starship facilities in Florida.
• Additional highlight summaries on Starship HLS mockup from Kirtland, Bickmore, and Li. Two floors, five bedrooms, laboratory, airlock, life support, four control seats, and a 40-foot ceiling in one area.

Starbase activities (2024-11-04):

• Not too much action reported today.
• Pad B: Concrete pouring for the flame trench. (ViX)
• Sanchez: More sections are delivered for launch mount B. (NSF)
• cnunez posts recent photos of launch mount parts (tweet 1, tweet 2), nosecone (S35?) in Starfactory, and S31 in the Highbay.

Other:

• Assembly animation of launch mount B. (Spacex 3D Creation Eccentric)
• Tweet thread from mcrs987 with selected Starship-related internal emails within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, reportedly acquired by a Freedom Of Information Act request: 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.
• As the above tweet thread may have some bias against the FWS, I am including a link to the original FOIA here: https://www.fws.gov/media/doi-fws-2023-004473-2nd-reponse-records

Starbase activities (2024-11-03):

• Nov 2nd cryo delivery tally.
• Quiet Nov 3 Sunday.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane disassembly continues. (ViX)
• RGV Aerial post photos from Friday’s flyover: Office building, S33 at Massey’s prior to rollback, Pad B flame trench construction, Sanchez launch mount B construction (closeup).

Cape Canaveral activities:

• Possible hardware for upgraded launch mount for 39A is spotted. (mcrs987 1, mcrs987 2, mcrs987 3, NOAA)

Starbase activities (2024-11-02):

• Nov 1st cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, S33 rolls back from Massey’s to Megabay 2. (LabPadre, ViX, Priel, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Build site: Starfactory and office construction continues. (Gisler)
• A couple peeks through the windows of Starfactory. (Gisler 1 (nosecone), Gisler 2)
• Pad A: Refurbishment of the launch mount and chopsticks continues. (Starship Gazer)
• Sanchez: Work on launch mount and chopsticks carriage for Pad B continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Massey’s: Work on the “can-crusher” test stand continues. (Gisler)
• RGV Aerial post a photo of S33 at Massey’s (prior to rollback), and a comparison photo of the launch site between 2019-01 and 2024-10.

Other:

• mcrs987 posts renders of the HLS mockup. (Tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6, tweet 7, tweet 8, tweet 9, tweet 10, tweet 11)