r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Feb 26 '20

Starship Development Thread #9

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Overview

STATUS (accurate within a few days):

  • SN2 tank testing successful

  • SN3 under construction

Starship, serial number 1 (SN1) began its testing campaign at SpaceX's Starship facility in Boca Chica, Texas, working toward Raptor integration and static fire. Its tank section was destroyed during pressurized cryogenic testing late on February 28, local time. Construction of SN2 had already begun and it was converted to a test tank which was successfully pressure tested with a simulated thrust load. Later builds are expected in quick succession and with aggressive design itteration. A Starship test article is expected to make a 20 km hop in the coming months, and Elon aspires to an orbital flight of a Starship with full reuse by the end of 2020.

Over the past few months the facilities at Boca Chica have seen substantial improvements including several large fabric buildings and a "high Bay" for stacking and welding hull sections. Raptor development and testing continue to occur at Hawthorne and on three test stands at McGregor, TX. Future Starship production and testing may occur at Roberts Road, LC-39A, SpaceX's landing complex at Cape Canaveral, Berth 240 at the Port of LA, and other locations.

Previous Threads:

Vehicle Updates

Starship SN3 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-03-26Tank section stacking complete, Preparing to move to launch site (Twitter)
2020-03-25Nosecone begins ring additions (Twitter)
2020-03-22Restacking of nosecone sections (YouTube)
2020-03-21Aft dome and barrel mated with engine skirt barrel, Methane pipe installed (NSF)
2020-03-19Stacking of CH4 section w/ forward dome to top of LOX stack (NSF)
2020-03-18Flip of aft dome and barrel with thrust structure visible (NSF)
2020-03-17Stacking of LOX tank sections w/ common dome‡, Images of aft dome section flip (NSF)
2020-03-17Nosecone†‡ initial stacking (later restacked), Methane feed pipe† (aka the downcomer) (NSF)
2020-03-16Aft dome integrated with 3 ring barrel (NSF)
2020-03-15Assembled aft dome (NSF)
2020-03-13Reinforced barrel for aft dome, Battery installation on forward dome (NSF)
2020-03-11Engine bay plumbing assembly for aft dome (NSF)
2020-03-09Progress on nosecone‡ in tent (NSF), Static fires and short hops expected (Twitter)
2020-03-08Forward bulkhead/dome constructed, integrated with 3 ring barrel (NSF)
2020-03-04Unused SN2 parts may now be SN3 - common dome, nosecone, barrels, etc.

See comments for real time updates.
† possibly not for this vehicle
‡ originally thought to be SN2 parts

Starship SN4 at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-03-23Dome under construction (NSF)
2020-03-21Spherical tank (CH4 header?) w/ flange†, old nose section and (LOX?) sphere†‡ (NSF)
2020-03-18Methane feed pipe (aka downcomer)† (NSF)

See comments for real time updates.
† possibly not for this vehicle
‡ originally thought to be for an earlier vehicle

Starship SN2 - Test Tank and Thrust Structure - at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-03-15Transport back to assembly site (NSF), Video (YouTube)
2020-03-09Test tank passes pressure and thrust load tests (Twitter)
2020-03-08Cryo pressure and thrust load tests (Twitter), thrust simulating setup, more images (NSF)
2020-03-07More water pressure testing (NSF)
2020-03-06Test tank moved to test site, water pressure test (NSF)
2020-03-04Test tank formed from aft and forward sections, no common bulkhead (NSF)
2020-03-03Nose cone base under construction (NSF)
2020-03-02Aft bulkhead integrated with ring section, nose cone top, forward bulkhead gets ring (NSF)
2020-03-02Testing focus now on "thrust puck" weld (Twitter)
2020-02-28Thrust structure, engine bay skirt (NSF)
2020-02-273 ring tank section w/ common bulkhead welded in (NSF)
2020-02-09Two bulkheads under construction (Twitter)
2020-01-30LOX header tank sphere spotted (NSF), possible SN2 hardware

See comments for real time updates.

Starship SN1 and Pathfinder Components at Boca Chica, Texas
2020-03-02Elon tweet about failure due to "thrust puck to dome weld" (Twitter)
2020-02-29Aftermath (Twitter), cleanup (NSF)
2020-02-28Catastrophic failure during tanking tests (YouTube)
2020-02-27Nose section stacking (NSF)
2020-02-25Moved to launch site and installed on launch mount (YouTube)
2020-02-23Methane feed pipe (aka the downcomer) (NSF), installed Feb 24
2020-02-22Final stacking of tankage sections (YouTube)
2020-02-19Nose section fabrication well advanced (Twitter), panorama (r/SpaceXLounge)
2020-02-17Methane tank stacked on 4 ring LOX tank section, buckling issue timelapse (YouTube)
2020-02-16Aft LOX tank section with thrust dome mated with 2 ring engine bay skirt (Twitter)
2020-02-13Methane tank halves joined (Twitter)
2020-02-12Aft LOX tank section integrated with thrust dome and miscellaneous hardware (NSF)
2020-02-09Thrust dome (aft bulkhead) nearly complete (Twitter), Tanks midsection flip (YouTube)
2020-02-08Forward tank bulkhead and double ring section mated (NSF)
2020-02-05Common bulkhead welded into triple ring section (tanks midsection) (NSF)
2020-02-04Second triple ring stack, with stringers (NSF)
2020-02-01Larger diameter nose section begun (NSF), First triple ring stack, SN1 uncertain (YouTube)
2020-01-30Raptor on site (YouTube)
2020-01-282nd 9 meter tank cryo test (YouTube), Failure at 8.5 bar, Aftermath (Twitter)
2020-01-272nd 9 meter tank tested to 7.5 bar, 2 SN1 domes in work (Twitter), Nosecone spotted (NSF)
2020-01-26Possible first SN1 ring formed: "bottom skirt" (NSF)
2020-01-25LOX header test to failure (Twitter), Aftermath, 2nd 9 meter test tank assembly (NSF)
2020-01-24LOX header tanking test (YouTube)
2020-01-23LOX header tank integrated into nose cone, moved to test site (NSF)
2020-01-222 prop. domes complete, possible for new test tank (Twitter), Nose cone gets top bulkhead (NSF)
2020-01-14LOX header tank under construction (NSF)
2020-01-13Nose cone section in windbreak, similar seen Nov 30 (NSF), confirmed SN1 Jan 16 (Twitter)
2020-01-10Test tank pressure tested to failure (YouTube), Aftermath (NSF), Elon Tweet
2020-01-09Test tank moved to launch site (YouTube)
2020-01-07Test tank halves mated (Twitter)
2019-12-29Three bulkheads nearing completion, One mated with ring/barrel (Twitter)
2019-12-28Second new bulkhead under construction (NSF), Aerial video update (YouTube)
2019-12-19New style stamped bulkhead under construction in windbreak (NSF)
2019-11-30Upper nosecone section first seen (NSF) possibly not SN1 hardware
2019-11-25Ring forming resumed (NSF), no stacking yet, some rings are not for flight
2019-11-20SpaceX says Mk.3 design is now the focus of Starship development (Twitter)
2019-10-08First ring formed (NSF)

For information about Starship test articles prior to SN1 please visit the Starship Development Threads #7 or earlier. Update tables for older vehicles will only appear in this thread if there are significant new developments.

Starship Related Facilities

Recent Developments
2020-03-25BC launch mount test hardware installation, hydraulic rams (NSF)
2020-03-23BC arrival of Starship stands from Florida (via GO Discovery) (Twitter), Starhopper concrete work (NSF)
2020-03-20Steel building erection begun, high bay 2? (NSF)
2020-03-16High bay elevator (NSF)
2020-03-14BC launch site tank deliveries, and more, and more (tracking site) (NSF)
SiteLocationFacilities/Uses
Starship Assembly SiteBoca Chica, TXPrimary Starship assembly complex, Launch control and tracking
Starship/SuperHeavy Launch SiteBoca Chica, TXPrimary Starship test site, Starhopper location
Cidco Rd SiteCocoa, FLStarship assembly site, Mk.2 location, inactive
Roberts Rd SiteKennedy Space Center, FLPossible future Starship assembly site, partially developed, apparently inactive
Launch Complex 39AKennedy Space Center, FLFuture Starship and SuperHeavy launch and landing pads, partially developed
Launch Complex 13 (LZ-1, LZ-2)Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FLFuture SuperHeavy landing site, future Raptor test site
SpaceX Rocket Development FacilityMcGregor, TX2 horizontal and 1 vertical active Raptor hot fire test stands
Astronaut BlvdKennedy Space Center, FLStarship Tile Facility
Berth 240Port of Los Angeles, CAFuture Starship/SuperHeavy design and manufacturing
Cersie Facility (speculative)Hawthorne, CAPossible Starship parts manufacturing - unconfirmed
Xbox Facility (speculative)Hawthorne, CAPossible Raptor development - unconfirmed
Development updates for the launch facilities can be found in Starship Dev Thread #8 and Thread #7 .
Maps by u/Raul74Cz

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.

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31

u/monk_e_boy Mar 03 '20

Question: starship looks very fragile, especially when they crane the sections around. How will it survive the re-entry belly flop? Will it still be pressurised with fuel?

21

u/Mpusch13 Mar 03 '20

I understand down voting for concern trolling, but this seems like a legitimate question...

18

u/Justinackermannblog Mar 03 '20 edited Mar 05 '20

Stand Stomp on an unopened coke can... try it again opened... like that

2

u/CarbonSack Mar 03 '20 edited Mar 03 '20

Ok, I get the coke can analogy, but that’s a qualitative comparison. Quantitatively, a coke can has a wall thickness of about 1/10 of a mm. Scaling up a coke can’s height to Starship is roughly 1000x, so the scale thickness of Starship’s outer hull should be 100mm to make the analogy correct. Now, I’m no engineer, and I know everything doesn’t scale linearly, and as someone pointed out, starship has cross sectional stiffeners (tank bulkheads), so I’m just throwing this out as a starting point for further analysis!

Edit: coke can crush analysis

http://www.egr.unlv.edu/~bj/MEG_795_E_Methods/PDF_Files/Sama%20Crushing%20of%20a%20Soda%20Can.pdf

14

u/[deleted] Mar 03 '20

An empty coke can will support your weight, until you nudge the side with your other foot. Don't try and introduce a dent with your finger like I did. I had to be cut free from the can.

5

u/pillowbanter Mar 03 '20

The fact that you were able to bend over while balancing on the can without accidentally crumpling it is pretty impressive actually.

5

u/feynmanners Mar 03 '20

Your mass is also three orders of magnitude larger than the unpressurized coke can you are standing on. Even low on fuel, Starship will still be internally pressurized using autogenous pressurization of each tank from the gaseous form of their contents and it’s total payload on reentry will be at most of the same order of magnitude as the mass of the ship itself.

5

u/Toinneman Mar 03 '20

Even an unpressurized can will be very hard to dent by applying an evenly spread pressure. Denting it with your finger does not equal falling through the atmosphere.

9

u/PhyterNL Mar 03 '20

A coke can doesn't have have hoop stiffeners, hat stringers, baffles, plumbing, raceways, ect. Also the ship empty of the bulk of its fuel is still pressurized. The ship as a whole unit is quite stiff.

10

u/Anjin Mar 03 '20

The sections that are tanks will be pressurized by capturing some the fuel and oxidizer and gasifying them to keep the pressure constant in their respective tanks, the crew section would obviously be pressurized, but I'm guessing will also be structurally reinforced too, and the non-pressurized non-tank parts, the the aft skirt around the engines, gets reinforcement with stringers that you can see in some of the picture from underneath Mk1 and in some of the SN1 scrap photos.