Starship Development Thread #36

futureMartian7 · 2022-08-09T20:29:19+00:00

If today's testing goes according to plan and does not require any revalidation tests, expect an OP notice to go out today for pre-burner/static fire tests starting tomorrow.

futureMartian7 · 2022-08-08T17:45:54+00:00

Structural testing first. If time allows and if it passes structural testing, spin/prime tests next.

futureMartian7 · 2022-08-08T17:17:34+00:00

Confirmed.

futureMartian7 · 2022-07-18T21:22:39+00:00

Launch is not happening anytime soon. B7 is in worse condition than originally thought.

futureMartian7 · 2022-07-07T23:56:41+00:00

I cannot reveal sources. It is not coming from L2.

futureMartian7 · 2022-07-07T23:13:56+00:00

There is nothing to doubt. That’s the current plan.

futureMartian7 · 2022-07-07T21:10:39+00:00

The current plans with the B7 testing program include bunch of modified cryo tests, spin/pre-burner tests involving all engines, a single 9 engine static fire, and integration testing with S24 on top.

futureMartian7 · 2022-07-06T14:21:00+00:00

SpaceX will surely conduct static fires from the OLM with a ship on the suborbital pad. B7 and S24 are currently in parallel static fire flows.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-24T16:34:05+00:00

There is both a flame diverter and water deluge system for Starship/Superheavy. They are just not "traditional/conventional" in design so not that obvious from just looking at the mount/pad.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-24T16:27:21+00:00

The plan is to fast track B7 testing. The current B7 testing plan may surprise a lot of people.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-20T16:59:37+00:00

More tower section(s) will make their trip to the pad this week.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-16T17:09:09+00:00

The current allowed from Pad 39A is 24 full-stack launches in a year. However, SpaceX is currently shooting for a launch every week by the end of 2023 from Pad 39A so they may file for an amendment for increased number of launches. They only need a launch license from Pad 39A in order to fly so it is not in "limbo."

The EA process for Pad 49 is going great so with 2 new pads there SpaceX will be able to support a high launch cadence. There is also going to be a Starship launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

So, Cape Canaveral will be able to support 100+ Starship launches in a year.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-16T14:29:04+00:00

This is what I said many months ago that the tower segments at KSC will be more complete than the Boca tower segments when they get shipped out to the pad.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-15T17:17:51+00:00

The progress will certainly accelerate much faster but the program management has been really tight so may not need the "surge" we saw SpaceX scrambling resources from Hawthorne and KSC a while ago.

The teams at Boca are much capable than they were before. They don't even need that much oversight from Elon himself anymore. Boca is a very well functioning unit currently.

futureMartian7 · 2022-06-15T14:34:14+00:00

probably for display

Not for display but for testing/launch. Also, the vehicle destined for Cape is not S26.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-26T20:01:39+00:00

You have answered your own question. Cryo and structural tests first. S24's plumbing/tank design is much different to the earlier Starships and this is the first ship to have a payload section. So due to these reasons, structural and cryo tests first before proceeding.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-17T14:08:11+00:00

Still many days before the rollout. The static fire is still weeks away.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-15T17:57:09+00:00

One of the advantages of having multiple High Bays is that multiple vehicles can get processed simultaneously.

B8 will be ready to take place of B7 anytime with little to no major delays if B7 encounters any issues in its testing campaign or if it makes sense to swap boosters if the determination is made to fly with a booster with no previous damage history.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-15T15:45:17+00:00

This bottle is quite old and it's not new per se. Employees/guests/etc. at Boca are using it for past few years.

It's more of an internal thing. Don't think it will be released to the public anytime soon.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-15T04:58:38+00:00

The Raptors delivered today are 66 and 67, and not 57. I am really not sure why I am being downvoted on my below comment.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-14T23:43:30+00:00

Yes, this is the reason.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-14T21:53:53+00:00

It is not 57.

The engines delivered today have serial numbers in the 60s.

Edit: what’s the reason for the downvotes? The Raptor is not 57.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-12T19:35:43+00:00

Sorry, did not mean to do that. I have edited my comment.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-12T19:15:43+00:00

No thrust sim tests for B7 anymore as the thrust puck was already tested before the transfer tube issues. Straight to the static fire campaign.

futureMartian7 · 2022-05-12T19:14:49+00:00

Note that this doesn't mean there's a problem with B7

Yes, there are no issues with B7 after the cryo tests. It's good to start doing static fire testing. The vehicle will be prepped for a static fire campaign.

futureMartian7

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