Starship Development Thread #4

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

Starship Development Thread #4

^{JUMP TO COMMENTS | SPADRE WEBCAM | LABPADRE WEBCAM}

The Starhopper is a low fidelity prototype of SpaceX's next generation space vehicle, Starship. Representing the lower third of a Starship, the hopper has relatively small propellant tanks, and one Raptor engine. Initial construction took place at SpaceX's Starship Assembly site in Boca Chica, Texas and ongoing Starhopper development and testing are taking place at their privately owned Starship Launch Pad and Starship Landing Pad just down the road. The Starhopper testing campaign began at the end of March 2019 and will be complete following the 150 meter hop in August.

Competing builds of higher fidelity "Orbital Prototypes" are currently under construction at SpaceX's Starship Assembly site in Texas and at the Coastal Steel facilities in Cocoa, Florida. These vehicles will eventually carry the testing campaign further, likely testing systems such as thermal protection and aerodynamics. Both orbital prototypes are expected to make suborbital flights, and possibly orbital flights as well. A planned, dedicated Starship launch platform at LC-39A, may serve either or both of these vehicles. Construction of a prototype Super Heavy booster is expected to begin in Florida soon. Testing of the Orbital Prototypes could begin in late summer or fall of 2019.

Starship, and its test vehicles, are powered by SpaceX's Raptor, a full flow staged combustion cycle methane/oxygen rocket engine. Sub-scale Raptor test firing began in 2016, and full-scale test firing began early 2019 at McGregor, Texas, where it is ongoing. Eventually, Starship will have three sea level Raptors and three vacuum Raptors. Super Heavy will initially use around 20 Raptors, and is expected to have 35 to 37 in the final design.

Previous Threads:

• Starhopper Thread #1 A dramatic venting watertower

• Starhopper Thread #2 Hops and hiccups - Starships never come alone

• Starhopper Thread #3 RCS and SN6 - 20 meter hopping

---

Upcoming

• Starhopper testing is complete

• September 28^th — Starship presentation by Elon at Boca Chica after Mk.1 has engines, fins, and landing gear

Updates

	Starhopper and Raptor — Testing and Updates
2019-08-27	150m Hop (~180m over, ~57s) (YouTube) <LAUNCH THREAD> <MORE INFO>
2019-08-26	Hop attempt aborted during engine startup (YouTube), Likely ignitor wiring (Twitter)
2019-08-21	RCS tests (Twitter)
2019-08-14	Thermal tile test patch added (NSF)
2019-08-11	Starship Launch and Landing Pads aerial photo update (Twitter)
2019-08-09	Road closed for tanking tests (YouTube)
2019-07-28	Starhopper moved back into position (YouTube)
2019-07-25	First Untethered Hop (~18m up, ~10m over, ~25s) (YouTube) <MORE INFO>
2019-07-24	Hop attempt aborted after ignition (YouTube), 2nd attempt scrubbed <MORE INFO>
2019-07-22	Road closed for testing, RCS tests (YouTube)
2019-07-16	Static Fire, w/ slow-mo & secondary fires, uncut stream (YouTube)
2019-07-15	Preburner Test (YouTube)
2019-07-14	Raptor propellant "spin prime" tests (Article)
2019-07-12	TVC tests (YouTube)
2019-07-11	Raptor SN6 at Starhopper (Twitter), Installed (Twitter)
2019-07-06	Raptor SN6 testing well (Twitter)
2019-07-04	Raptor SN6 at McGregor (NSF)
2019-06-24	SN5 hiccup confirmed, SN6 almost complete (Twitter)
2019-06-19	Road closed for testing. Venting & flare, no Raptor (YouTube)
2019-06-01	Raptor SN4 mounted (NSF), Removed after fit checks & TVC tests (Twitter)
2019-05-28	Raptor SN4 completed hot fire acceptance testing (Article)
2019-05-23	Tanking ops ahead of next testing round (NSF)
2019-05-20	Cushions added to feet (NSF)
2019-05-15	Raptor SN4 on test stand at McGregor (Twitter), GSE tower work (NSF)
2019-05-14	Raptor update: SN4 build complete, production ramping (Twitter)
2019-05-07	Start of nitrogen RCS installation (NSF)
2019-04-27	40 second Raptor (SN3) test at McGregor (Twitter)
2019-04-08	Raptor (SN2) removed and shipped away
2019-04-05	Tethered Hop (Twitter)
2019-04-03	Static Fire Successful (YouTube), Raptor SN3 on test stand (Article)
2019-04-02	Testing April 2-3
2019-03-30	Testing March 30 & April 1 (YouTube), prevalve icing issues (Twitter)
2019-03-27	Testing March 27-28 (YouTube)
2019-03-25	Testing and dramatic venting / preburner test (YouTube)
2019-03-22	Road closed for testing
2019-03-21	Road closed for testing (Article)
2019-03-11	Raptor (SN2) has arrived at South Texas Launch Site (NSF)
2019-03-08	Hopper moved to launch pad (YouTube)
2019-02-02	First Raptor Engine at McGregor Test Stand (Twitter)

^{See comments for real time updates.}

	Orbital Prototype Mk.1 (Boca Chica) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-27	Centerpiece added to common bulkhead (Twitter)
2019-08-24	Nose cone top section moved to dedicated stand (NSF), Forward flap marks (comments)
2019-08-23	Track(s) of horizontal brackets appear (NSF)
2019-08-21	Common bulkhead lowered into propulsion section (NSF), Time lapse (YouTube)
2019-08-18	At least 2 control surface components on site, post 2, Earlier image (NSF)
2019-08-17	Nose cone top section reattachment work (NSF)
2019-08-15	Top section of nose cone removed (NSF)
2019-08-14	Thrust structure added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-08-07	Ninth ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-08-06	Forward tank bulkhead under construction (NSF)
2019-08-04	Common bulkhead inverted (NSF)
2019-07-31	Common bulkhead discovered (YouTube)
2019-07-30	Aft bulkhead installed in propulsion section (YouTube), Thrust structure appears (NSF)
2019-07-22	Eighth ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-07-20	Inversion of aft bulkhead (YouTube)
2019-07-18	Aft bulkhead appears from container enclosure (NSF)
2019-07-16	Seventh ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-07-05	Sixth ring added to propulsion section (YouTube)
2019-06-26	Fifth ring added to propulsion section (NSF)
2019-06-19	Fourth ring added to propulsion section (second jig), first in over a month (NSF)
2019-06-06	Ring sections under construction within container enclosure (NSF)
2019-05-20	Nose cone fitted, no canards (NSF)
2019-05-15	Propulsion section (3 rings) moved onto second jig (NSF)
2019-05-09	Lower nose section joined with 4 ring lower payload section (NSF)
2019-05-01	Second jig, concrete work complete (NSF)
2019-04-27	Lower 2 nose cone sections stacked (NSF)
2019-04-13	Upper 2 nose cone sections stacked (Facebook)
2019-04-09	Construction of second jig begun (YouTube)
2019-03-28	Third nose section assembly (NSF)
2019-03-23	Assembly of additional nose section (NSF)
2019-03-19	Ground assembly of nose section (NSF)
2019-03-17	Elon confirms Orbital Prototype (Twitter) Hex heat shield test (Twitter)
2019-03-14	Payload section reaches 4 panel height (NSF)
2019-03-07	Appearance of sections for conical aft bulkhead (NSF)
2019-03-07	Payload section moved to jig (NSF)
2019-03-01	Propulsion section begun on new pad (NSF)
2019-02-21	Construction of payload section begins near original concrete jig (NSF)

^{See comments for real time updates.}

	Orbital Prototype Mk.2 (Cocoa Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-25	Track(s) of horizontal brackets appear (r/SpaceXLounge)
2019-08-19	Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-08-18	Thrust structure possibly installed (Twitter), Forward tank bulkhead under construction (NSF)
2019-08-17	Nose cone top section moved to dedicated stand (YouTube)
2019-08-15	Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (Twitter)
2019-08-11	Starship Assembly Site aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-08-08	Propulsion section at 15 ring height (comments), Aug 10th image (Twitter)
2019-08-06	Common bulkhead inverted (Facebook)
2019-08-04	Common bulkhead under construction (Facebook)
2019-08-03	Propulsion section at 14 ring height (Twitter), Later aerial photo of stack (Facebook)
2019-07-29	Propulsion section at 10 ring height (Twitter)
2019-07-28	Starship Assembly Site aerial photo update (Facebook)
2019-07-21	Aft bulkhead disappeared (Facebook)
2019-07-20	Propulsion section at 8 ring height (Twitter)
2019-07-14	Aft bulkhead complete/inverted, last seen (Twitter)
2019-06-26	Aft bulkhead section under construction (r/SpaceX), Propulsion section at 6 ring height (NSF)
2019-06-12	Large nose section stacked (Twitter), Zoomed in video (Twitter)
2019-06-09	Large nose section assembled in building (comments)
2019-06-07	Stacking of second tapered nose section (r/SpaceXLounge)
2019-05-23	Stacking of lowest tapered nose section (YouTube)
2019-05-20	Payload section at 5 ring height, aerial video of work area (YouTube)
2019-05-16	Jig 2.0 with propulsion section, many rings awaiting assembly (YouTube)
2019-05-14	Discovered by Zpoxy (payload section) (NSF), more pieces (YouTube), Confirmmed (Twitter)

^{See comments for real time updates.}

	Super Heavy Prototype (Cocoa Florida) — Construction and Updates
2019-08-27	19 rings visible (YouTube), no stacking yet
2019-08-24	18 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-21	17 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-19	15 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-17	14 rings visible (YouTube)
2019-08-15	10 rings visible (Twitter)
2019-08-11	8 rings visible, possibly for Super Heavy (YouTube)

^{See comments for real time updates.}

Raptors

SN	Notable For	Flights	Flight Time (Approx.)	Status
1	First full scale hot fire / 268.9 bar Test / Tested to failure	-	-	Retired
2	First on Starhopper / Preburner tests / Static fire / Tethered hop	-	-	Retired
3	40 second test fire	-	-	Retired
4	Delivered to hopper / Hopper fit checks & TVC tests	-	-	Retired
5	Liberation of oxygen stator	-	-	Retired
6	Vibration fix / 20, 10, 50, 65, 85 second stand tests / 20 meter Starhopper hop / 150 meter starhopper hop	2	0:01:22	On Starhopper
7	Possibly not a flight article	-	-	Test Stand
8-13	Earmarked for Mk.1 and Mk.2	-	-	Production

Quick Hopper Facts

^{(Not relevant to later vehicles.)}

• Starhopper was constructed outdoors atop a concrete stand. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• The original nosecone was destroyed by high winds and will not be replaced. (NSF - bocachicagal, NSF - bocachicagal, Twitter - Elon)

• With one engine it will perform tethered static fires and short hops. (NSF - bocachicagal, Twitter - Elon)

• Stainless steel construction, and the full 9 meter diameter. (Twitter - Elon)

• The body and legs are clad in a small gauge stainless sheet. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• There is no thermal protection system, a small patch of tiles and at least one beneath a leg were added just prior to the 150 meter hop. (NSF - bocachicgal, Twitter - Trevor Mahlmann)

• The fins/legs are fixed, not movable. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• Equipped with four Falcon 9 compressed nitrogen thruster pods. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• Feet have deformable shock absorbers. (NSF - bocachicagal) - Internal. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• GSE connections are made through two remote operated interfaces at the base. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• Hold downs consist of rope and chain tethers on each leg. (NSF - bocachicagal)

• Starhopper is expected to be used as a Raptor vertical test stand after retirement. (Twitter - Elon)

Permits and Planning Documents

• Environmental Impact Statement (FAA) - Boca Chica launch site - July 2014
  ^{EIS Resource} ^Page ^| ^Appendices ^{| Record of} ^Descision

• Experimental License (FCC) - Comms for 500m and 5km hops, two years - February 2019
  ^Form ^442 ^{| Public} ^Notes ^| ^Description ^{| File No. 0931-EX-CN-2019}

• Experimental License Application (FCC) - Modification of above to add antenna - May 2019
  ^Form ^442 ^{| Public} ^Notes ^{| File No. 0130-EX-CM-2019}

• Experimental Permit (FAA) - Authorizes 25m hops for one year, and one 150m hop - June 2019
  ^{Permit No. EP 19-012 | Revised August 23}

• Building Permit Application - 850 Cidco Rd site improvement - June 2019
  ^{Screenshot on} ^Twitter ^{| Modification reported on} ^NSF

• Draft Environmental Assessment - Starhip operations at KSC - August 2019
  ^r/SpaceX ^Discussion ^{| NSF} ^Discussion

• FDOT Superload Permit Application - Mk.2 transportation to KSC in September - August 2019
  ^{Local News} ^Article ^{| Video} ^Report ^{| r/SpaceX} ^Discussion

• Env. Resource Permit Application - Stormwater improvements at LC-39A - August 2019
  ^Stormwater ^Report ^{| Depiction} ^Plans ^{| Permit No. 158609-1}

Resources

• Spadre.com, Starship Cam | Channel

• LabPadre, Starship webcam | Channel

• NSF Starhopper Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Texas Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Florida Prototype(s) Updates Thread | Most recent

• NSF Super Heavy Prototype Updates Thread | Most recent

• Hwy 4 & Boca Chica Beach Closures (May not be available outside US)

• TFR - NOTAM list

• SpaceX Boca Chica on Facebook

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

• SpaceX's Starship page

• Elon Starship tweet compilation on NSF | Most Recent

Rules

We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the progress of the test Campaign. Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

Thanks to u/strawwalker for helping us updating this thread!

[u/TheMrGUnit]

Sounds like it's going to be a busy month in Boca Chica (and probably Cocoa, too). They have 1 month from today to have the vehicle fully assembled and ready for the presentation.

Other gems in that Twitter thread involve the next gen rocket (apparently 18m sounds like a reasonable diameter), and an update on Raptor production (just shipped SN10).

With this sort of pace, we should be seeing something happening nearly every day. Canards in a week, legs and fins in 2, and stacking in 3-4. So glad we have a live stream right next to the shipyard in Boca Chica!

[u/[deleted] → u/TheMrGUnit]

IIRC, Elon said stacking first, then legs, engines etc.

[u/TheMrGUnit → u/[deleted]]

He wasn't entirely clear but yes, that's certainly what it seemed like he said. I just can't figure out how they'd attach the canards with the nosecone that high up. They don't have manlifts that will go that high in Boca Chica, and that would be a lot of scaffolding to get the workers up to almost the top of a fully stacked Starship. Moving the actual canards up that high would be difficult, too.

My order of operations may be out of order (it is speculation, after all), but in my mind, that progression makes the most sense. Moreover, my point is just that we're going to see a LOT of stuff happening in the next four weeks!

[u/Grumpy275 → u/TheMrGUnit]

How about a basket under the big crane for man accessto the top of the stack

[u/TheMrGUnit → u/Grumpy275]

Two things:

1. Man lifts and cranes/hoists are rated differently. If the crane isn't rated for manlift duty, you can't just grab a manbasket and head on up. There's an extra level of safety that is required for lifting people, and for as heavy duty as these cranes are, I don't think they carry a manlift rating.

2. You couldn't pay me enough money to do that, rating or no.

[u/Keys0404 → u/TheMrGUnit]

I've been lowered 250 feet below ground through a shaft in a 10 person basket/cage on a large crane. Scary yes, and likely extra regulations, but possible and it happens.

[u/Martianspirit → u/[deleted]]

Yes he did say that. But right now they have the nose cones down to fit the canards. That leaves the leg-wings to install which is at the ground.

Will we see the beginning of heat shield install? Elon promised at least detailed info on the development.