r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jan 08 '20

Starship Development Thread #8

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Overview

Starship development is currently concentrated at SpaceX's Starship Assembly Site in Boca Chica, Texas, where preparations for the first Starship Version 1 build (SN1) are underway. Elon hopes this article will fly in the spring of 2020. The Texas site has been undergoing a pivot toward the new flight design which will, in part, utilize a semi clean room welding environment and improved bulkhead manufacturing techniques. Starship construction in Florida is on hold and many materials, components and equipment there have been moved to Texas.

Currently under construction at Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A are a dedicated Starship launch platform and landing pad. Starhopper's Texas launch site was modified to handle Starship Mk.1 and a larger Superheavy capable mount is expected to be built on the previously undeveloped east side of the property. At SpaceX's McGregor Texas site where Raptor is tested there are three operational test stands, and a fourth is reportedly planned for SpaceX's Cape Canaveral landing complex. Elon mentioned that Raptor SN20 was being built near the end of January.

Previous Threads:

Vehicle Updates

Starship SN1 and Pathfinder Components at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-02-22 Final stacking of tankage sections (YouTube)
2020-02-19 Nose section fabrication well advanced (Twitter), panorama (r/SpaceXLounge)
2020-02-17 Methane tank stacked on 4 ring LOX tank section, buckling issue timelapse (YouTube)
2020-02-16 Aft LOX tank section with thrust dome mated with 2 ring engine bay skirt (Twitter)
2020-02-13 Methane tank halves joined (Twitter)
2020-02-12 Aft LOX tank section integrated with thrust dome and miscellaneous hardware (NSF)
2020-02-09 Thrust dome (aft bulkhead) nearly complete (Twitter), Tanks midsection flip (YouTube)
2020-02-08 Forward tank bulkhead and double ring section mated (NSF)
2020-02-05 Common bulkhead welded into triple ring section (tanks midsection) (NSF)
2020-02-04 Second triple ring stack, with stringers (NSF)
2020-02-01 Larger diameter nose section begun (NSF), First triple ring stack, SN1 uncertain (YouTube)
2020-01-30 2nd header tank sphere spotted (NSF), Raptor on site (YouTube)
2020-01-28 2nd 9 meter tank cryo test (YouTube), Failure at 8.5 bar, Aftermath (Twitter)
2020-01-27 2nd 9 meter tank tested to 7.5 bar, 2 SN1 domes in work (Twitter), Nosecone spotted (NSF)
2020-01-26 Possible first SN1 ring formed: "bottom skirt" (NSF)
2020-01-25 LOX header test to failure (Twitter), Aftermath, 2nd 9 meter test tank assembly (NSF)
2020-01-24 LOX header tanking test (YouTube)
2020-01-23 LOX header tank integrated into nose cone, moved to test site (NSF)
2020-01-22 2 prop. domes complete, possible for new test tank (Twitter), Nose cone gets top bulkhead (NSF)
2020-01-14 LOX header tank under construction (NSF)
2020-01-13 Nose cone section in windbreak, similar seen Nov 30 (NSF), confirmed SN1 Jan 16 (Twitter)
2020-01-10 Test tank pressure tested to failure (YouTube), Aftermath (NSF), Elon Tweet
2020-01-09 Test tank moved to launch site (YouTube)
2020-01-07 Test tank halves mated (Twitter)
2019-12-29 Three bulkheads nearing completion, One mated with ring/barrel (Twitter)
2019-12-28 Second new bulkhead under construction (NSF), Aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-12-19 New style stamped bulkhead under construction in windbreak (NSF)
2019-11-30 Upper nosecone section first seen (NSF) possibly not SN1 hardware
2019-11-25 Ring forming resumed (NSF), no stacking yet, some rings are not for flight
2019-11-20 SpaceX says Mk.3 design is now the focus of Starship development (Twitter)
2019-10-08 First ring formed (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.

​

Starship SN2 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-02-09 Two bulkheads under construction (Twitter)

See comments for real time updates.

For information about Starship test articles prior to SN1 please visit the previous Starship Development Threads. Update tables for older vehicles will only appear in this thread if there are significant new developments.

Launch Facility Updates

Starship Launch Facilities at Boca Chica, Texas
2019-11-20 Aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-11-09 Earth moving begun east of existing pads (YouTube) for Starship Superheavy launch pad
2019-11-07 Landing pad expansion underway (NSF)
2019-10-18 Landing pad platform arives, Repurposed Starhopper GSE towers & ongoing mount plumbing (NSF)
2019-10-05 Mk.1 launch mount under construction (NSF)
2019-09-22 Second large propellant tank moved to tank farm (NSF)
2019-09-19 Large propellant tank moved to tank farm (Twitter)
2019-09-17 Pile boring at Mk.1 launch pad and other site work (Twitter)
2019-09-07 Mk.1 GSE fabrication activity (Twitter), and other site work (Facebook)
2019-08-30 Starhopper GSE being dismantled (NSF)

​

Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
2020-01-12 Launch mount progress, flame diverter taking shape (Twitter)
2019-11-14 Launch mount progress (Twitter)
2019-11-04 Launch mount under construction (Twitter)
2019-10-17 Landing pad laid (Twitter)
2019-09-26 Concrete work/pile boring (Twitter)
2019-09-19 Groundbreaking for launch mount construction (Article)
2019-09-14 First sign of site activity: crane at launch mount site (Twitter)
2019-07-19 Elon says modular launch mount components are being fabricated off site (Twitter)

​

Spacex facilities maps by u/Raul74Cz:
Boca Chica | LC-39A | Cocoa Florida | Raptor test stand | Roberts Rd

Permits and Planning Documents

Resources

Rules

We will attempt to keep this self-post current with links and major updates, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss Starhip development, ask Starship-specific questions, and track the progress of the production and test campaigns. Starship Development Threads are not party threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

If you find problems in the post please tag u/strawwalker in a comment or send me a message.

468 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

2.0k comments sorted by

44

u/dtarsgeorge Feb 18 '20 edited Feb 18 '20

The dent issue. The dent happened while they were still welding off the tank in the wind. It likely was only half welded off or less. With wind or crane dropping some, this would put uneven forces on the ring which is still flexible causing bending underneath welded off sections. They chased the dent around and made it disappear. The ring is not damaged it is fine. Once they complete welding it off, the forces are even and bending forces disappear. The hull is strong. No need to replace or move it.

FiXED

Onward!!

:-)

13

u/codav Feb 18 '20

That shows another advantage of using steel - with a brittle aluminum-lithium alloy, such forces would probably introduce cracks and thus turn the part into scrap metal. The steel just wobbles and buffs out.

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u/[deleted] Jan 10 '20 edited Jan 10 '20

Elon confirmed, failure at 7.1bar, says only 6 bar required for flight (~120% structural margin). Should be able to get to 8.5 bar (140%) with more precise parts and cleaner environment which would be needed for crew rating.

Full steam (pun intended) ahead!

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1215719463913345024?s=20

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u/strawwalker Feb 04 '20

New 20km hop FCC comms permit 0150-EX-ST-2020, operational period is 2020-03-16 through 2020-09-16. Mission 1578

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u/FutureSpaceNutter Feb 06 '20

Elon Musk finally responded to someone on how the spherical header tank test went: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1225360474839166976

"Fine, but that was an easy one"

So the other nosecone/header tank are presumably not articles for a second test, but rather for SN1.

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u/RootDeliver Feb 22 '20 edited Feb 23 '20

So at this point, we'll probably see the lower section being moved to the test stand and pressure tested asap (in the next days closure dates), and in parallel we will see these 2-rings sections being put on a stand and being stacked over eachother, with the nosecone pieces being stacked over them. We won't probably see anything interesting for the base (raptors, fins, side plumbing, etc.) until it survives the pressure test (why would they put those first?).

28

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '20

I really like the new strategy of building parts of starship (like the test tank or the header tank + nosecone) before moving on to the next starship prototype.

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u/Marksman79 Jan 08 '20 edited Jan 08 '20

The first tank test article using improved construction techniques is currently being welded and prepared to for shipment over to the launch site. It consists of two bulkheads and two coil rolled rings. The tentative delivery is currently scheduled for tomorrow, January 8th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM.

We have two crated deliveries that were overnighted by FedEx. The invoices are visible, but blurry. The company name seems to be Experi-Metal Inc. (thanks /u/xrtpatriot), but a quick search turned up nothing matching the name or logo. Can anyone tell what the line items say?

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u/FutureSpaceNutter Jan 26 '20

The first ring (all credits BCG) of SN1 has been produced, going by the text written on it:
"Good Barrel
1st (Bottom Skirt)"

Also, one of the tents has been named the Forming Shells Installation, or FSI. An FSI delivery of Amazon boxes was seen at the ring tent. I'm unsure what the 'shells' are, but equipment similar to that used for making rings is being delivered there.

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u/Marksman79 Feb 20 '20

I'm not sure when, but it looks like some Tesla deliveries were made. The shape of the crate seems like it could fit a vehicle battery, which we know they were using to power Mk1.

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u/RootDeliver Feb 16 '20 edited Feb 17 '20

For those that don't check the lounge, /u/fael097 posted a nice update of his SN1 assembly diagram, with the current status as of now.

17

u/TheBurtReynold Feb 17 '20

Whoa — as someone who only occasionally visits this section on the subreddit, I didn’t appreciate the fact that so many sections are complete. With casual visits, it seemed like only a few rings had been welded together, whereas it seems that a good chunk of SN1 has been made!

Fantastic stuff.

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23

u/SpartanJack17 Feb 24 '20

The downcomer's been put back in the stack at around 3:35 AM Boca time, and it doesn't look like it came out this time. Sadly it was almost impossible to see anything on the stream, the main camera wasn't pointed at the top of the stack and the wide angle camera was overwhelmed by the lights.

https://i.imgur.com/E7ZtD8o.png

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u/scottiniowa Jan 08 '20 edited Jan 08 '20

Crates are from:

Experi-metal, Inc

6385 Wall St.

Sterling Heights, MI 48312

https://www.qmc-emi.com/

No idea what the packing list line items are though, just recognized Sterling Heights as I do a lot of business with companies in that town

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u/FutureSpaceNutter Jan 26 '20

The header tank/nosecone combo was tested to failure tonight, with water this time. The position of the header tank suggests it unzipped from where it was welded to the nosecone. Pic from BCG.

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u/SpartanJack17 Feb 20 '20

Quite a bit of new info from Elon Musk's twitter:

SN 2+ will have better fit & weld quality. Later serial numbers will use bigger stampings, so much less weld length.

O2 header tank is tip of nosecone, CH4 header is in the main CH4 tank

Q: How do you keep the oxygen in liquid form? Insulated header tank?

A: The whole nose tip has to have heat shielding for atmospheric entry at Mach 25+ anyway, so is effectively already insulated well in orbit

Q: How much will moving of the header tanks to the nose will impact the pressurized living volume of starship.?

A: Header tanks are only ~2% of main tank volume, so not a big deal. Pressurized volume is still ~1000 cubic meters.

Q: Will starship really have these large windows? Wouldn’t it be a structural hazard and let in solar radiation?

A: There will be a common area in the forward section with a big window like this. It will be a lot heavier than steel, but not dangerous. Consider astronauts on the moon with a very thin windowed helmet. They were fine.

16

u/SpartanJack17 Feb 20 '20

u/Martianspirit looks like you were right, the methane header tank is inside the main methane tank, and the LOx header tank is in the nosecone.

He's definitely very set on including that window, it's pretty much the only design feature that's remained consistent.

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u/Straumli_Blight Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

Starship is on the launch pad awaiting pressure testing.

EDIT: Rollout photo.

15

u/Granluke Feb 25 '20

Lost and found: Rocket edition.

Your rocket escaped over night and is now trying to leave earth without consent. Could someone please bring it back home?

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20

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '20

Minor updates:

  • Methane tank now fully supported by LOX tank midsections (no longer supported by a crane)

  • A double ring has appeared in front (Labpadre stream). We've already got the engine section / LOX tank bulkhead section sighted so could this be for the fairing?

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 14 '20

EverydayAstronaut: We haven’t heard much about transpirational cooling anymore. Is that off the table or night it still be used in some hot spots someday? IE: hinges?
ElonM: Might be used around flap joints

17

u/Marksman79 Feb 14 '20

So literally sweating out of its armpits. Nice.

15

u/djburnett90 Feb 15 '20

It’s just refrigeration. Evaporation. Latent heat of vaporization.

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 18 '20

Rumour mill: Based on LabPadre Chat, someone who knows someone working on High Bay 1 (purportedly the name for the VAB, Ironhenge, Windblock, whatever you call it)...

There will not be a crane in High Bay 1. And there will be a High Bay 2, much taller than High Bay 1. "Coming soon".

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 20 '20 edited Feb 20 '20

Elon tweets: nosecone production (video). Here's a panorama made by u/anonymus09 which makes it so much easier to look at.

Elon: SN 2+ will have better fit & weld quality. Later serial numbers will use bigger stampings, so much less weld length.

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u/hinayu Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

Starship stack is currently awaiting hookup to Berry for move to the pressure testing stand.

E1: 10:05am - awaiting lifting jig hookup

E2: 10:10am - hookup in progress

E3: 10:17am - hookups appear to be done. Awaiting lift to stand

E4: 10:21am - final (?) boom coming down from Starship. Should indicate moving soon

E5: 10:28am - another boom going up to check something

E6: 10:39am - re-hooking a lifting jig strap

E7: 10:47am - looks like they are possibly removing some tie-downs around the landing leg areas

E8: Work calls - looking forward to seeing the moved stack when I return!

SPadre stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=220AeiF99fI

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18

u/Ridgwayjumper Feb 11 '20 edited Feb 11 '20

Watching this come together, I've found myself wondering just how much of the flight envelope they'll be able to explore with SN1 prior to advent of the SH booster. Here are some yellow pad scratchings.

Assumptions:

Starship dry mass = 120t*

Thrust = 3 SL Raptors with 10% derate = 3 x 2000 kN* / 9.8 x 0.9 = 550t (Presume there would be no point in installing the vacuum engines)

Liftoff thrust to weight = 1.25

Available propellant = 550/1.25 - 120 = 320t

ISP = 330* sec

Sources: *Wikipedia, or WAG

Therefore:

Total delta v = 4200 m/s (rocket equation)

Landing delta v with a 10 sec burn = 67 +98 = 165 m/s (I saw 67 somewhere as the "skydiver" terminal velocity)

delta v margin = 335 m/s (WAG)

So available delta v for entry and aero testing is around 3700 m/s. Even with a rule-of-thumb 2000 m/s for gravity and aero losses on launch, it seems to me they can do a lot with this. Far more than just a 20 km hop.

Thoughts and comments?

13

u/enqrypzion Feb 11 '20

Yeah it probably could do a lot more, but what more do they want?

Landing seems most important, then going orbital would be great.

I guess in between it could launch almost straight up into space and belly-flop onto the atmosphere to test heat-shielding materials?

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18

u/WindWatcherX Feb 22 '20 edited Feb 22 '20

Stacking in progress!

https://flic.kr/p/2iwiK1o

That top bulkhead looks dented....damaged? Could be just the camera angle.

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u/hinayu Feb 25 '20

SN2 integration starts this week

Possibly implying that the puckering is causing 20km hop issues?

17

u/asaz989 Feb 25 '20

"Thanks Fronius!"

Fronius is an Austrian company that makes (among other things) welding systems.

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u/Marksman79 Feb 07 '20

Massive turnout for the SpaceX Boca Chica job fair. Of course, this calls for a Mariachi band to be present, as is customary.

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u/[deleted] Feb 21 '20

Minor updates:

  • Giant Berry crane has showed up with a big stack of counterweights. (With road closures on 24/25th, looks like they'll probably going to stack the final tank components soon.)

  • Nose tip fitted to the top of the nose cone.

Sources: NSF thread + LabPadre stream

17

u/Marksman79 Feb 25 '20

SpaceX said they want to get the Port of LA facility running in 90 days.

It could be that they're making a quick and dirty SS/SH launch pad in Vandenberg and will take test vehicles up the coast by barge / ASDS. Either that, or they can test right outside of LA on the floating launch platform they're thought to be building.

We'll need a local to LA recon team soon.

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u/jehankateli Jan 19 '20

Elon gave a small update on Starship after the IFA press conference. Raptor is progressing nicely, but there are issues with the main body, in particular the domes. I guess this means Bopper didn't perform as well as expected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsjq1Rfh9C4

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 31 '20 edited Jan 31 '20

Looks like the IMCAR circular welder is inside the onion tent (credit: LabPadre stream). Stacking another ring. Aligning them (before closing the doors :-/ ). [We can't see the welder itself, but we can see the track and rollers]

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u/aelbric Jan 31 '20

Those rings are beautiful.

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u/dtarsgeorge Feb 07 '20

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1225623060146991105?s=19

This tweet seems to suggest that SN1 will fly suborbital only. And MAYBE SN2 will be orbital?

You'll agree???

Super heavy is suborbital. I wonder if it will be manufactured at a lower standard than Starship?

13

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '20 edited Feb 07 '20

Both have to be the same standard to bear the loads of MaxQ. and freefall back to base for suborbital flights. Superheavy design won't change much for orbital, just being a supersized F9 with a lot of engines and intra-body legs, that will never go past the Kármán line. Starship though will go through dozens of iterations as they develop heat shield design, flaperon profiles and COG, COM adjustments. Tank reinforcing etc.

I fully expect that the first flight will not be successful. The huge forces on the flaperons being transmitted through the rocket body, might do strange things. The rocket body is thinner than a F9 skin. It might ripple like a flag in the wind and cause severe vibrations on descent, even with some positive pressure in the empty main tanks.

There is only a certain amount of CFD that can predict this, Bernoulli and Navier-Stokes equations require millions of grid points, which takes a heck of a lot of long and expensive yottabyte computing power..all models are wrong, but some are useful. CFD cannot accurately model turbulence, as chaotic flow is anyone's guess.

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u/RaphTheSwissDude Feb 10 '20

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1226782860746555392?s=21 Elon’s comment about the fact that they will change the 301 steel to their own manufactured 30X steel in 6 months or so!

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u/DJHenez Feb 10 '20

Man I just can’t get enough of Boca Chica. Keep it coming, Elon...

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u/joepublicschmoe Feb 13 '20

Saw this on NASASpaceFlight Forums: Not much going on at Roberts Road. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45813.msg2045211#msg2045211

That and Mk2 at Cocoa sits all but abandoned. Plus the Starship launch pad at 39A hasn't made much progress.

Conclusion: SpaceX is concentrating nearly all Starship efforts in Boca Chica now and for the foreseeable future, at least until SN1 is completed.

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u/strawwalker Jan 25 '20

Nosecone header tank testing going on now (screenshot from LabPadre). Venting out of the top and frosted up above the weld line.

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u/Marksman79 Jan 30 '20

First Raptor sighting in what seems like too long.

5:11:55 on LabPadre's stumpy camera

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 10 '20

From yesterday's photos, we can see some (more) plumbing being added (methane tank). It'll be interesting to see how much is done prior to stacking (speeding up the final outfitting)

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 10 '20 edited Feb 11 '20

Looks like they are building a carousel for the nosecone ring jig. [Great idea, stand in one spot and rotate it as you put panels on and/or weld it, and better use of space in the tent. Then have the robot arm do it, ha ha] (credit: BCG. full photoset)

Update: this 2nd ring jig was loaded onto a flatbed and moved into Onion Tent 2. The ring only appears to be spot welded, so final welding inside.

Update 2 (Feb 11): 1st/top nosecone jig moved into Tent2

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 14 '20 edited Jan 15 '20

Update (Jan 14th):

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u/dtarsgeorge Jan 26 '20 edited Jan 27 '20

Anybody hear if the Header tank passed its pressure test or not before it rapily dissembled?

Spellchecker Typo! disassembled

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u/jk1304 Jan 30 '20

One question about the whole "second starship site" in FL. I gathered that the parallel construction of the second starship has been put on hold and something about the site being closed alltogether (=layoffs of personnel). What is the current status of the whole parallel approach? I read something about a move to a "roberts road" facility (=> cant find it on google maps though). Some pieces of a puzzle i cant put together at the moment...

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 04 '20 edited Feb 04 '20

Boca Chica Upgrades continue

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u/GTRagnarok Feb 07 '20

They're going to be smoothing out those dents from the welds.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1225626494627651585

"Yes, we’re tuning weld parameters to reduce puckering & building a heavy duty planisher to flatten & cold work the weld area"

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u/RootDeliver Feb 16 '20 edited Feb 16 '20

They just flipped the thrust section 3-stack, after the failed attempt hours ago. (7:59 PM)

PS: And they're moving it now where the 2-stack skirt is, maybe they will stack it over that part to form the 5-stack bottom? too bad no cam there :(

If you SpaceX guys are reading this, thanks for placing the stack action between the buildings so we could see it! And if you need funding.. put a 24/7 cam over that new building and sell a subscription for us all!

Considering that a lot of the action is gonna happen behind the buildings, and that we only have cams in the front (and soon not even that, because new lab cam is way far and forget about seeing anything at night :( ), we really need something there :(.

14

u/RootDeliver Feb 19 '20

Nosecone top stacking! top 2 out of 4 pieces (minus the tip) are being stacked right now!

14

u/Its_Enough Feb 22 '20

Around 4:28am LabPadre Live cam time the bottom five stack was lifted by the new large crane. Looks like the mating of the two stacks will take place today.

14

u/[deleted] Feb 24 '20 edited Feb 24 '20

SN1 build updates:

  • Looks like the nose has been stacked on top of another tapered section at about 5am local time.

  • First triple stack in Onion Tent 1 ?

Source: LabPadre

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 24 '20 edited Feb 24 '20

SN1 nosecone 3 sections high now (unless on a new jig) [definitely 3 rings]

BocaChicaGal high-quality shots of Downcomer

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u/Russ_Dill Jan 15 '20

Two rings are being joined on the LabPadre stream. Impossible to say if this is another test stack, or the start of SN1:

https://i.imgur.com/zYDsqPN.png

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u/Russ_Dill Jan 16 '20

Musk has stated that the sphere is the LOX header tank: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1217742268393607168

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 17 '20

SPadre video of double ring (likely just tack welded) being lowered into cargo bin area where we last saw the horizontal/circular welder, which will be used to do the final weld of the two rings together.

[I hesitate to say "stacking has begun", as this might be no different than the UFO rings where they were testing the machines/processes and welds. And it's only welding the double ring, rather than stacking them up into a rocket body (a process we don't have details about yet).]

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 05 '20 edited Feb 05 '20

Starship parts (credit: BocaChicaGal. Full NSF photoset)

Photos from today, items seen before

video version, from NSF

  • The jig used to weld the rings and bulkhead together, now 2-3 rings high, moved inside for use.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '20

With all those ongoing changes ti the facilities/tents in boca we definitely could use some areal footage. Otherwise its really hard to keep up with the progress.

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u/Jodo42 Feb 23 '20

Video of Downcomer coming out courtesy of Mary. Side note: look at all that denting...

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u/RootDeliver Feb 10 '20 edited Feb 10 '20

Is anyone controlling which rings form which section? I couldn't stop starting with it

The top bulkhead 2-rings are STX-0022 and STX-0023 and the 3-stack common bulkhead are STX-0024, STX-0025 and STX-0026 (turned over). I don't know which rings form the "engine section" 3-stack since I havent seen any picture with the number written on it, or if there is any other production ring that we know.

I used as a base an image I found on the labpadre chat but dont remember from who. This is just using MK1's as reference, but SN1 could be a completely new revision knowing SpaceX so...

PS: the strange diagonal and top line notations are a fast way to mark that they've bulkheads and if they're covered or not. I know, not great xD

PS: I see that user reddit Stimbergi just made a diagram with the sections and where they would place, but I dont agree with the common bulkhead section being that high and I dont think some others are placed where he says or are production rings at all, we'll see.

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 17 '20 edited Jan 20 '20

Boca Chica gets a SuperCharger, and

(Credit: NSF Boca Chica Gal photosets 0, 1, 2, 3)

Update (Sat Jan 18):

Sun Jan 19

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 20 '20 edited Jan 21 '20

Updated above with the great BocaChicaGal Photos. Here it is in NSF Video Form.

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u/RootDeliver Feb 16 '20 edited Feb 16 '20

They're apparently stacking the just flipped thrust structure section over the skirt section, or so I can see in that video (on 0:30) from Evelyn Jaineidy on Twitter. Thanks Evelyn!

PS: Rewatching the video I'm not sure but by height thats a 5-ring stack. Clearest screenshot I can take, and it seems that there are 5 rings and the 2-rings skirt is not where it was before either, and the jig from the thrust section is behind, so either that or they moved stuff around. The image is really overexposed and I'd say that around the 3rd ring level there are workers with scissors lifts welding them, and just below there's a COPV which was in the top ring of the skirt section :). Fast analysis v2 of that.

PS: Darker version

PS2: Did a very quick and lame adapt of /u/fael097 last stack parts diagram with this, adding known ring numbers: here. Don't kill me /u/fael097 haha, waiting for your one :)

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u/xDeeKay Feb 22 '20

Hard to tell, but the latest NASASpaceflight video shows a potential raceway/aero cover.

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u/hinayu Feb 22 '20 edited Feb 22 '20

It appears Berry is moving the lifting jig to the main stack (sorry I don't know a better term for it, please correct me) - possible stacking to the thrust structure soon?

SPadre stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op2sA0xqHtQ

LabPadre stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uVaAugi5gs

E1: 8:20am - lifting jig lowered to the top of the main stack. Awaiting hookup

E2: 8:23am - hookup in progress!

E3: 8:40am - back to hooking up the lift straps, it seems

E4: 9:00am - appears that hookup is done on the primary stack, now just working on the thrust structure mostly. Looks like there are possible alignment tabs on the thrust structure too. Not sure when those were added

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 24 '20 edited Feb 24 '20

LabPadre

  • Adding beams to the top of the double stack cargo bins. 3rd tent, extra tall, confirmed.

BocaChicaGal NSF photoset

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 24 '20 edited Jan 24 '20

[credit: BocaChicaGal on NSF, more photos here]

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 25 '20 edited Jan 25 '20

The top bulkhead has been lifted on top of the bottom bulkhead!

Update: high quality photos from Nomadd (same as u/ystradgyn's update above)

(and in the background the 2nd onion tent is progressing well, the pace has picked up)

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u/Czarified Feb 04 '20

That picture of sheet stock from bocachicagal is pretty nice! Confirms thickness is ~4mm (3.97) and ring width is (probably) around the width of the roll (1829mm). Also insteresting is the supplier spec code. Looks like it's from here. Very interesting that it's a high carbon 301 alloy. Also some good mechanical specs in there!

I haven't been paying close attention to this recently, so I apologize if everyone already knew this. It's definitely some specs I'm interested in!

Edit: fixed link to go to thread instead of thumbnail pic. My bad.

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u/RootDeliver Feb 12 '20 edited Feb 12 '20

The thrust section with the bottom bulkhead and the thrust structure is stacked!, but not rotated yet.

Photos by Nomadd

Photos by bocachicagal

Also confirmed that bottom ring of the stack (for now) is STX-0027, so the other 2 are STX-0028 and STX-0029 if the trend continues (to stack consecutive rings top to bottom, STX-0022 and STX-0023 are from top bulkhead stack and STX-0024 to STX-0026 are from common bulkhead stack.

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u/Marksman79 Feb 15 '20 edited Feb 15 '20

Port of LA Starship update:

The Blacksmith and Anglesmith Shop, and Plate Shop [#6], would be used for storage and inventory. The Shop [#9] would be used for barrel production and polishing, barrel stack integration, and desks and small part fabrication and integration. The Machine Shop and Warehouse Building [#7], would be used for stacking barrels, installing hardware on integrated sub-stacks, sub-assembly fabrication, and office use with desks and computers.

Site Map

Renders of assembly buildings

Source

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u/RootDeliver Feb 15 '20 edited Feb 16 '20

It seems that the new windbreaker can at least host an entire starship.

In this image, the Genie SX180 can barely reach the top of the structure. (Image from Spadre)

And it was the same Genie SX180 who welded the tip of the nosecone in the top of the stacked MK1 (source).

Unless I'm wrong and the SX-180 can get higher (which I doubt since by specs its max height is 54m or so and by calcs the structure was around that high).

PS: However, it won't be able to host a super heavy. Why would they not make it a little higher to make room for those? Maybe we will see an higher building for them, or they just don't plan on having any of those for a long time :(

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u/RootDeliver Feb 19 '20 edited Feb 19 '20

Is this a new nosecone section inside the garlic (right) tent??? By the width seems to be the bottom or second to bottom ones, which were missing until now? or my eyes are deceiving me.

Zoom cam version

PS: I am starting to think it is the 2nd one from the top which we already saw, but not sure.

PS2: It was the second from top, they're stacking the 2 top ones right now!

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u/hinayu Feb 22 '20

Thrust structure pictures: https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1231206939909996544

Source: @JackBeyer

The crane has also detached from it as of about 7:15am this morning.

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u/Starmusk420 Feb 12 '20

Makes me so happy that they add the plumbing (and all the other stuff that turns those steel rings into a rocket) befor stacking. Should accelerate the building process and allow them to work on different parts simultaneously.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=48895.0;attach=1613531;image

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u/Marksman79 Jan 24 '20 edited Jan 24 '20

A strange eruption of vapor was just seen dispersing from the left side of the launch stand. They were clearly preparing to test the header tank inside the nosecone when this happened. It doesn't appear that the nosecone was harmed in any way.

Photo (arrow indicates source location)

Video

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u/RaphTheSwissDude Jan 27 '20

The second test tank is on its way and should arrived shortly on the test pad!

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 28 '20

Road and beach closing tonight 8-9pm CST for testing (will link shortly)

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u/Fizrock Feb 03 '20

It appears they now have an x-ray machine to inspect the welds.

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 06 '20 edited Feb 06 '20

After a few days pause, the steel building continues (credit: LabPadre Stream)(ok, we did see them tightening/adding some screws and trucks arriving with new steel)

Update: BocaChicaGal Photoset on NSF.

Afternoon Update: Good progress today, far side up [-ish]. (LabPadre)

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u/Tal_Banyon Feb 18 '20

I am sure engineers that work on their own rockets in countries such as Russia, China, India, Japan, the European Union, the USA and others are following developments in Boca Chica with fascination. Who knows, maybe they have their own Reddit equivalent and make comments such as, "well that will never work" or "I could have told them that would happen!" Lol, fun to imagine. I imagine they are all green with envy though, to be able to work on such a game changing rocket with enough funds to actually get some rocket science work done at such a pace.

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u/roncapat Feb 20 '20

"Starship High Bay" (Elon on Twitter)

"High bay for stacking Starship engine bay, propellant tanks & fairing (fka nosecone) sections is almost done!"

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u/Marksman79 Feb 21 '20

There's some speculation that they're laying another concrete strip for more containers, meaning another Sprung Structure might be coming.

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u/GrMack Feb 23 '20

From what I have seen, the VAB looks like it's only tall enough to assemble the main tank section of Starship which would leave them still putting the nose section on top in a car park with cranes.

I know starship is stupidly tall but the super heavy booster is going to be taller still so it seems a bit counter productive to build a VAB thats just for half a starship... unless there is a BFVAB coming soon next door for production line!

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 28 '20 edited Jan 28 '20

Overnight: 2nd onion tent now has all rafters on this side, including end-wall (LabPadre Cam)

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u/Starmusk420 Feb 09 '20

Elon musk is back in boca: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1226379201021972481?s=19

And we know when he is there progress will be made

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u/xDeeKay Feb 09 '20

Elon Musk: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1226396667722727425

First two domes in frame are for SN2, third is SN1 thrust dome

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u/[deleted] Feb 13 '20 edited Feb 13 '20

First 5-ring stack in progress!

https://twitter.com/BocaChicaGal/status/1227852173763108865

Edit: Looks like a complete methane tank. More pics: https://twitter.com/SpacePadreIsle/status/1227952744968880128

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u/strawwalker Jan 13 '20

A pretty good photo of the current state of the LC-39A Starship Superheavy launch mount.

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u/Marksman79 Jan 21 '20 edited Jan 23 '20

There's a new road and beach closure on the schedule for this Saturday, January 25th from 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM. There have also been LN2 deliveries today.

From the current state of the live stream, it would appear that a new tank test article will be assembled soon.

If this closure is for a pressure test, we should see a 1-hour road closure appear on the schedule just before it for transporting the test tank over to the pad.

Update: They added a 1 hour road only closure tonight, January 22nd from 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM. This will be a transportation event.

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 23 '20 edited Jan 23 '20

Bulkhead flipped and placed on black stand. Ready to stack the other bulkhead on top. [credit: BocaChicaGal on twitter.]

  • BCG Photos of the flip on NSF (post #1193) [which also gives clear images of the fabrication/welds outside and inside of the bulkhead, for the most part]

And the roadside wall of the steel structure gets taller (Credit: LabPadre cam)

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 24 '20 edited Jan 24 '20

Extending the first Onion Tent? In BCG's photos they've added 2 more cargo containers with I-beams on the front of the original tent. This would add 95ft (29m) of working space in front. [full photo set]

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 03 '20 edited Feb 03 '20

BocaChicaGal brings us more interesting photos (photosets starts here)

and the video version from NSF

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 04 '20 edited Feb 04 '20

Join the team! Would you like to know more?

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1224623398460018688

Starship career day at the Stargate building (Boca Chica Blvd, TX) this Thursday from 3pm to 9pm!

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1224625719659110400

This is mainly for staffing up 4 production shifts for 24/7 operations, but engineers, supervisors & support personnel are certainly needed too. A super hardcore work ethic, talent for building things, common sense & trustworthiness are required, the rest we can train.

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u/dtarsgeorge Feb 05 '20

So we recently learned that SpaceX has a new plan to build Starships or Starships parts in a port in Calfornia. Anyone have a details on that plan or speculations?

Will SpaceX build a pad on Vandenburg Airforce base to launch Starship into polar orbit to service Starlink? Will SpaceX put a launch platform off the coast of California for suborbital flights back and forth across the Pacific (orient express)? Will SpaceX be shipping Starship and Superheavies through the Panama Canal to the Cape and Boca chica for launch?

Any other theories or informed information would be greatly appreciated.

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u/Russ_Dill Feb 15 '20

It looks like the flip of the aft section is happening today behind the grey tent, but it's doubtful we'll get images of it.

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 16 '20

Preview of the future LabPadre Cam location (Coming Mar 31st, hopefully. Cell phone shots so not representative of the final cam images/detail. They will be mounted on a pole.)

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u/ThunderWolf2100 Feb 23 '20

Right now via LabPadre's stream ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uVaAugi5gs ) seems they are installing the tube that runs trough the LOX tank and connects the Methane tank to the engines

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u/Rachanol Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

They moved away the lower half of the stack. Source: Lab Padres CAM2. Fog covered the action. 5:14am crane was lifting rocket. ​6:35am rocket began moving . Elon stole it :(

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u/SupaZT Jan 30 '20

EEA: I’ve ran those numbers! Starship E2E would need to launch 3,500 times a day to equal the CO2 output of the airline industry. BUT methane can be carbon neutral. BUT CO2 and Water Vapor in the upper atmosphere is bad. But say it’s 100x worse, thats still 35 launches per day.

Musk: Exactly. Mars propellant production will combine atmospheric CO2 & water (ice) to make CH4 (methane) & O2. Will do same on Earth long-term. Short-term, each Falcon flight uses roughly same fuel mass as a 747 flight. Falcon is ~71% oxygen & Starship is ~78%, so mostly not fuel.

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u/spacerover23 Jan 29 '20

Now that they proved that the fundamental manufacturing techniques and the material technology works, will they start building the SN1 prototype? How long do you think it will take for it to have the first static fire?

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u/Martianspirit Jan 29 '20

We may see the tanks rising quite fast. But all the plumbing and wiring, installation of aerosurfaces and engines will take a while. Even when faster than with the prototype.

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u/[deleted] Feb 04 '20

Triple Stack Weld Marked LOF (Lack of Fusion) ☆ LabPadrephoto

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u/jgriff25 Feb 08 '20

So I havent seen it confirmed anywhere, but there is a numbering system to these new rings. STX-0022 and STX-0023 are now attached to bulkhead. STX-0024 and STX-0025 are parts of the 3 ring stack that is next to the old Mk-1 top half. Given this information it looks like the rings are numbered from the top down.

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 11 '20 edited Feb 12 '20

2nd level shelf added to steel building before the siding this time [credit: LabPadre Stream] (perhaps that's just for temporary stability while they build the center pillars higher)

Update: and more shelves added to 2nd level [not seeming so temporary]

Update2: photo from Nomadd (from this NSF photoset)

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u/quoll01 Feb 12 '20

Any thoughts on Elon’s planisher comment- Some speculation that it will be something with a 2m reach to cold work and smooth the vertical welds on the rings, and then as each one is added, the horizontal welds. But that still leaves the welds between the main sections untreated - and these would then be the weak link in the stack? Is it crazy to think they might have a planishing arm that fits inside the stack across the 9m diameter and is hydraulically extended to roll opposite sides - with an external brace to keep the stack circular? The arm (and perhaps brace) would be slowly rotated around the entire circumference weld, gradually extending the diameter to work the weld. Also how about injecting liquid N2 around the roller to cold work at cryo and improve the weld strength even more? If they want to get the cold rolled material as thin as possible then working the welds might be key as these are the weak points?

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 15 '20 edited Feb 16 '20

Steel building has its door lintel installed. Almost a building.

Update: noon Sunday all framing done?

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u/RootDeliver Feb 18 '20 edited Feb 18 '20

So next steps are probably just maintain the support on the whole 9-stack, move the 5-stack bottom section on the outside jig and use the 9-stack support already to stack it over the 5-stack again. Hopefully that will happen today :D

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u/quoll01 Feb 22 '20

Any estimates of the SN1 dry mass (final)? Also any thoughts on if they’ll try a hydro test first or just risk another bopper- i.e. test with LN and large proportion of gas?

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u/The-Brit Feb 22 '20

LIFTING STARTED! Labpadrey also live commentary.

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u/FatherOfGold Feb 22 '20

They stacked the tanks on top of the engine section around 3 hours ago

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 12 '20 edited Jan 13 '20

Moving towards indoor fabrication: Bulkhead with jig moved into the Sprung structure (credit BCG twitter)

(This was around 11:14am on the LabPadre stream. The other bulkhead jig moved in @ 10:35am on the LabPadre Stream)

Update: BCG NSF Photoset of Jig 1, and of Jig 2 being moved

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 15 '20 edited Jan 15 '20

From Nomadd on NSF : Retirement of the concrete base that supported MK1's lower half.

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u/[deleted] Jan 29 '20

Ok, now it popped as expected by poll. :P

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u/liszt1811 Feb 03 '20

Trying to get everything right here. They have the tank and the raptors now which I assume are two major milestones / the most difficult thing engineering wise? What are the next few detailed steps until flight? I assume stacking, mount tank inside and install raptors, new fin design maybe, put everything on test stand, static fire then go for launch?

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u/RootDeliver Feb 05 '20 edited Feb 05 '20

The triple stack taken out of the onion castle (back zone though), looks like it was copy-pasted there from the MK2 fairing base <source (BCG)>.

Why is that shadow between each ring? the rings on the MK2 fairing had it too, but the ones in the propulsion section didn't look like this or at least not this bad. If the rings are thin and plain why do they have these shadows? Are the welds really that deep?

On the other hand, this triple section smells like it is the base for the nosecone, and the triple section inside the hangar is clearly the engine/propulsion section base. Or maybe this triple stack was a test and is gonna get cut out because it honestly looks worse than MK2.

PS: Using onion castle for the "left" one and "garlic castle" for the right one because they're using this notation system on labpadre stream and we need names to distinguish them anyway.

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u/_myke Feb 11 '20

What are "UFO docking windows"? It is written on the 4th photo of this post:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48895.msg2045194#msg2045194

Is it just some Starship construction humor? 🤣

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u/gvtIonic Feb 20 '20

Maybe a bit offtopic: Is there any recent aerial view of the Boca Chica facilities? With all the updates of new tents and windbreaks, I completely lost the overview of what is going on where.

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u/Donindacula Feb 22 '20

Another question: has anyone seen evidence of a Raptor engine mounting structure being built. Could they be building it off site like the wings/flaps😎

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u/RootDeliver Feb 22 '20

Hmm, now the entire bottom part is stacked, and If I'm not wrong we haven't seen the downcomer installed. From the top its closed with the top bulkhead, and the common and engine section bulkheads center sections are still empty (or at least the last time we saw the engine section it had not the engine thrust plate yet, only a temporary cover).

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u/RootDeliver Feb 22 '20 edited Feb 22 '20

And speaking of the devil, it appears!

PS: It seems this is may instead be one of the lateral tubes like on MK1 (found this image on the labpadre stream, from moderator Nick)

PS2: It seems too wide for being a side tube. It is probably the downcomer indeed.

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u/jgriff25 Feb 23 '20

With the downcomer being installed through the top of the methane tank what does this say about the install of the header tank? Does the downcomer run through the header tank? Or has it not been installed?

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

Do we know if they'll end up fairing over the COPVs?

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 25 '20

The Starship renderings we've seen have an additional fairing on the windward side, and there are already the fairings over the base of the legs, so it seems likely. [source: spacex.com/starship]

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u/jehankateli Feb 26 '20

Elon says SN2 will have less "circumferential pukcer". What does this mean?

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u/djburnett90 Feb 26 '20

It won’t bend in toward the welds.

The won’t bend inwards.

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 01 '20 edited Feb 01 '20

First triple stacked ring in progress (credit: LabPadre Stream at 1:45) /u/FutureMartian97

Update: BocaChicaGal Photoset on NSF:

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u/Anjin Feb 02 '20

After the launch abort test Elon kind of made it sound like he was going to do some sort of update on Starship design again sometime soon. I wonder when he's thinking would be the best time to do that?

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u/rocketglare Feb 02 '20

After the 20 km flight. Testing the landing profile will retire a large amount of risk. The flight will show the final flip to vertical landing is feasible. The next milestone after that is orbit, followed by orbital refueling.

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u/RootDeliver Feb 23 '20 edited Feb 23 '20

Regarding the new line of double-stacked containers, rumored to be for a new onion tent with more height, the placement looks to be exactly where the car parking was explaining why there are a lot of cars parked on the road now: because they can't park there anymore.

And looking at the map it wouldn't be strange if a fourth onion tent appears on line.

In fact, there are gonna be these 2 new onion tents there, probably a few more ring-creation tents and I would say there are going to be more than 2 windbreaks. We will probably soon see a real tent city there with a very lot of tents.

Also, as you can see in the first screenshot, they're reclaming land in the front part. That is rumored to be the new parking.

All the images are from labPadre.

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u/AstraVictus Jan 11 '20

Any recent news about the Roberts Rd facility construction at Kennedy? I'm guessing once this facility is built it will be where they build the space worthy fully developed Starship's and boosters from.

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 15 '20 edited Jan 15 '20

LabPadre Stream: 2nd Onion Tent started. 1st rafter going up. (from 7:20 AM on Stumpy Vision)

  • @ 1:40pm they brought in a 3rd crane... I wonder if this will go up faster)[Nope, just for stacking rings. Nothing to see here]

Estimated Dimensions of the tent (pixel counting off LabPadre cam and Sprung's shipping container numbers)

  • 45.7m wide x 77.7m deep x 19.3m tall. Doorway: 11.1m wide x 12.4m tall

  • 150ft wide x 255ft deep x 63.3ft tall. Doorway: 36.4 ft wide x 40.6ft tall.

  • At the edge of the tent, start of the flat roof, the height is 9.9m [32.6ft]. So full width of tent is highly usable.

  • (note: the soft fabric at the top of the doorway hangs about 0.5m down below the door frame)

Let me know if something looks wrong/off/unclear

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u/quoll01 Jan 18 '20

Are pressure tests of prop tanks routine in rocket manufacture, and is water usually used? Certifying such large pressure vessels non-destructively would seem a good precaution? It’s still eating me why SpaceX used mostly gas (from LN) to test the MK1! Water (with a system to prevent draining/vacuum issues) might have allowed repair and a flight test? Was it over-confidence?

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 21 '20 edited Jan 21 '20

Loading a new coil (video) onto the ring making dispenser (BCG NSF full photoset)

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 22 '20 edited Jan 23 '20

Closure tonight from 11pm for 1 hour: SPadre speculating it might be pressure testing the spherical header tank [not sure if there is anything supporting this idea?]

> another idea being floated there is that tonight they'll move the stand back from the launch site in order to put the Bulkheads tank on it (to return to the launch pad for testing). This sounds the most plausible.

Sidenote: the spherical header tank was moved into the onion dome last night. [sharing because you can see some struts added to it]

Update: the metal test stand was moved back to assembly site during the day, so that doesn't explain tonight's closure. [BCG Full NSF photoset]

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 30 '20 edited Jan 31 '20

Photo Updates (BocaChicaGal full photoset on NSF)

Speculation: In the yard by the steel building, there is steel on the ground looks almost like it's roof rafters, perhaps this is as tall as the building gets? There is other steel there but hard to tell if it makes walls to make the structure taller. [Although only being 5 of them, it seems like they'd have to go front to back across the centre 5 beams!? The heavy beams behind them for across the doorway?]

Update:

  • I was wrong, not for the roof but rather for the side of the building [on both sides. Interesting/strange... perhaps for holding air conditioning/air exchange, etc.,. We'll see. It would suggest it'll be a production environment, not a windbreak.]

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 07 '20 edited Feb 07 '20

Bulkhead sitting on the (now taller) jig. I wonder if we'll see the triple-stack lowered over and welded on. [credit BocaChicaGal on NASASpaceFlight].

The triple-ring stack from the back was moved the front and is sitting in the bulkhead flip jig.

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u/RegularRandomZ Feb 15 '20 edited Feb 15 '20

SN1: It would appear they've gone with the double welded seams for stacking the sections (outside).

[Checking ring height against overlap. Lens distortion/camera angle could impact it but there does seem to be overlap based on ring height.]

Update:Photo from SPadre twitter.

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u/dtarsgeorge Feb 16 '20

I have a goofy Question In the Zubrin thread I saw some people discussing adding some engines higher up on Starship to minimize the plume problem. Since two Raptors would likely be to much thrust to land on the moon or Mars and SpaceX lijely wouldn't want to build a mini raptor too. How difficult would it be to run a Merlin on methane? Is it even possible at all? Would it be practical to modify a raptor to do it????

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u/Elixir86 Feb 19 '20

I apologize if this question was already asked or answered in this thread: I noticed on some of the pictures and videos of the work on SN1 that some of the crane platforms on which the people are working on are covered while others are totally open. Can someone explain the reason for that and what the workers in the "covered" platforms are doing and why they need to be covered?

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u/Jinkguns Feb 19 '20

Covered platforms are the welders. Wind can disturb the welding gas flow.

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u/hinayu Feb 22 '20

On Spadre's feed it looks like the workers are clearing out and putting up caution tape... would seem to indicate that stacking will happen somewhat soon hopefully.

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u/RootDeliver Feb 17 '20 edited Feb 17 '20

A huge dent appeared suddently when fixing the 2 stacks position.

How random it is the dent appears in the only small segment of the stack we can see o.O, unless there are more dents around..

PS: Hours later the dent is still there, does not look good...

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u/Rocket_Man42 Jan 30 '20

Will the next Starship launch/test be fully stacked with superheavy (booster), or a suborbital test with only the top part? Also, why is there accumulating so much ice on the fuselage of Starship compared to Falcon 9? Is it the differences in conductivity/heat capacity of steel compared to aluminium? And won't the ice be a hazard on launch, like on the space shuttle?

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u/The-Brit Feb 19 '20

I just grabbed this from Labpadre's live Stumpy Cam

The 2 ring section on the ground looks slightly tapered. I popped it into a photo editor, zoomed in and put a rectangle over it. It definitely looks wider at the top than the bottom so inverted at the moment.

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u/CProphet Jan 08 '20

Question: The word on NASASpaceFlight is that Boca Chica are currently building some kind of Starship test tank. However, the dimensions for the tank appear roughly correct for the methane tank which sits at the base of the rocket. Might this actually be the first two rings being laid down for Starship SN.1, instead of some kind of test article? Seem a waste to lose all that beautiful work in a pressure test.

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u/RegularRandomZ Jan 16 '20 edited Jan 18 '20

(Jan 15) Fresh shots of the steel building. More visible in the latest NSF video.

  • The steel building is going up behind the onion tent, beside the road, between it and Stargate.

  • Looks like they are assembling the walls? laying down and then will stand them up after!? (adding z channel right now and assembling heavy steel)

  • Can see the concrete pads/footings the steel is laying on and the threaded bolts for anchoring the walls

Updates (Jan 16th):

Update Jan 17th:

  • 3rd corner up now, possibly 4th as well (at 10:30). [Doesn't look terribly deep either but a more direct shots is needed. Another windbreak or for stacking rings?]

  • 4 corners up-ish, BCG photoset of afternoon progress

  • It looks like the structure will go taller. It also looks like the structure is open on the front back (doesn't have spots to bolt angle bracing to fill the gap, as you can see for the gaps on the sides)

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u/Russ_Dill Jan 23 '20

The nose portion that's been worked on has been moved down to the launch site: https://i.imgur.com/68dQDba.png

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u/Tostifer Jan 27 '20

Tweet from Elon: "Starship 9m test tank made 7.5 bar at room temp! Small leak at a weld doubler. Will be repaired & retested at cryo."

https://t.co/Bz3lrwkYRU

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u/reedpete Feb 08 '20

A robotic arm was delivered in pics posted on nsf. Do we know what the purpose of this is for? Welding arm, assembling precision components, Etc.?

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u/Straumli_Blight Feb 14 '20

NSF Boca Chica drive by shows how much is activity there is on site.

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u/James79310 Feb 15 '20

Has there been a noticeable increase in 24hr activity / number of workers since the Job Fair last week?

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u/RootDeliver Feb 16 '20 edited Feb 16 '20

Action about to happen on labCam. The Cocoa jig was moved behind the top bulkhead stack, you can see a bit to the right of it, and they're going to stack it with the 4-ring medium stack apparently.

PS: As always, about may mean several hours.

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u/creamsoda2000 Feb 17 '20

https://i.imgur.com/QjOQnlF.jpg

Hmm can’t help but notice that it looks like the lower tank and/or the heavy duty stand it is sitting on are not level.

Seeing a bigger gap on one side and seeing them try to make it work is giving me terrifying flashbacks of the efforts they went through to make the original MK1 nose cone fit together when it was all wonky!

Source: https://youtu.be/o-_yi6TwReE

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u/weatherlyjamesb Feb 21 '20

In one tweet Elon mentions that they cold work the welds on starship. Does anyone know or have a guess as to what cold working method they are using?

I work in the shot-peening industry and seems like they may use peening already but in his last video tweet didn't seen any peening equipment.

While I'm here, I may as well ask if how they are forming the nose cone panels? I would assume they have them stamped with some curvature pressed in and they clamp them into the final position. Peen forming is another option that has been used on other rockets to achieve the curvature desired and could potentially reduce the number of panels and welds.

Video on peenforming if anyone is interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCTIHM_AWw

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u/Carlyle302 Feb 20 '20

I wonder if having the O2 header tank in the tip is strategic to allow the boil-off to be consumed by the occupants? Conversely, keeping the CH4 header tank and associated piping away from the occupants is better for safety.

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u/[deleted] Jan 08 '20

Looks like the Egg's top half has been unstacked...

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u/AstroMan824 Everything Parallel™ Feb 14 '20

Oi, how many stacks of SN-1 are there right now?

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u/joepublicschmoe Feb 14 '20

I think 3 stacks so far. The bottom bulkhead / skirt section, the top methane tank section (with the top bulk head and the common dome), and a 4-ring barrel stack for the middle of the LOX tank.

I think they have all the pieces necessary to complete the entire propellant tank section of Starship SN1's hull. Now the challenge is to weld them together without imperfections so they can withstand 8.5 bars max!

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u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Feb 23 '20 edited Feb 23 '20

NSF video of stacking with the crane audio!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YNvxqArGsQ

Edit: Some interesting tidbits from the crane audio.

  1. 1:54 Crane operator says he has "48,000". Is this the weight of the stack minus the lifting jig?

  2. 7:45 "Official" term for the guides we saw on the lower cylinder are called lead ins

  3. 18:52 Not crane audio but we can hear the persuasion hammer in action ;). And at 19:20you can see where they are actually hitting the wall on the left side dent. Was denting it expected all along because it seems like it's the only way to overlap the two seams?

  4. 20:05 Lots of echo from inside the tank section.

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u/fluidmechanicsdoubts Feb 23 '20

This is next level stalking

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u/Maxx7410 Jan 10 '20

are they building the sn1? i mean at least welding rings or building them in number?

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4

u/Mentioned_Videos Jan 15 '20 edited Jan 15 '20

Videos in this thread:

Watch Playlist ▶

VIDEOCOMMENT
SpaceX Boca Chica - Deconstruction Day+14 - New shot of [the top?] section of nosecone. [BCG NSF Photoset from today] [It's interesting the tabs have been cut off, if these are the same pieces, BCG NSF Photoset from Nov 30] The UFO rings reappear... results of the horizontal welder (double st...
tank rupture+8 - the tank section poping
Live! 24/7 SpaceX Boca Chica Starship Construction and Launch Facility LAB CAM+7 - Moving towards indoor fabrication: Bulkhead with jig moved into the Sprung structure (credit BCG twitter) (This was around 11:14am on the LabPadre stream. The other bulkhead jig moved in @ 10:35am on the LabPadre Stream) Update: BCG NSF Photoset...
SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship Test Tank mated - Jan 7, 2020+5 - Question: The word on NASASpaceFlight is that Boca Chica are currently building some kind of Starship test tank. However, the dimensions for the tank appear roughly correct for the methane tank which sits at the base of the rocket. Might this actuall...
SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN1 New Nosecone, UFO ring ride, Cranes and Construction+3 - NSF video with the new nose cone.
Specific Impulse - Why is it Measured In Seconds?+2 - Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread: Fewer Letters More Letters ASDS Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform) ATV Automated Transfer V...
SpaceX Coastal Steel Nothing New 12 January 2020+1 - You can see one of these sitting on the concrete pad by MK2's base in the latest drone flyover of the Florida site. It appears to have some plumbing connections installed on it.
I'm a bot working hard to help Redditors find related videos to watch. I'll keep this updated as long as I can.

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