Wiki Super Heavy/Starship - General Development Discussion

[ecarfan]

B7 was moved a short distance to near the GSE tanks. Perhaps it was removed from the OLM just to complete some modifications there.

 

[mongo]

Waiting on FAA license to announce launch timing

https://twitter.com/x/status/1636085232695746560

 

[mongo]

Starship ready in a few weeks...
Launch mid Aprilish...
Too bad 4-20 was retired, soon we'll be watching 24/7

https://twitter.com/x/status/1636515448970698752

 

[ecarfan]

LabPadre posted this photo and said “Booster 11 stacking is underway”.

 

[ecarfan]

The Rocket Garden is getting crowded. That is S26 on the left.

 

[ecarfan]

Putting the finishing touches on the OLM. Apparently the tubular legs have been encased in steel and concrete is being pumped in so that they will be much stronger.

 

[ecarfan]

More parts for the new water deluge system. It’s not clear to me if it is going to be completed before the first launch attempt or not.

 

[ecarfan]

There are activities today at Starbase indicating that B7 will be lifted back onto the OLM.

And after S26 was moved on to a new stand near the Rocket Garden, it is having its first Raptor installed. So this is being done outside, not in a bay. Photo and diagram posted on Twitter by @SpaceRhin0

 

[ecarfan]

B7 is about to get lifted back onto the OLM!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641088114197164032

 

[ecarfan]

And the second RVac is being installed in S26. The lower right image shows the engine in position below the vehicle.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641080701935140865

 

[ecarfan]

B7 has been lifted up and over the OLM and is now being slowly lowered onto the clamps.

 

[ecarfan]

Now to install the three center engines.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641329468751896578

 

[ecarfan]

FAA launch license approval getting close…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641147299257516049

 

[ecarfan]

SpaceX has scheduled a 3 hour road closure for this Saturday, could be for moving S24 back to the launch site!

 

[ecarfan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641930122813923328

 

[ecarfan]

S24 is back!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1642107344476577794

 

[ecarfan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1642028439539425283

 

[ecarfan]

Eric Berger: SpaceX moves Starship to launch site, and liftoff could be just days away

After it launches, the Super Heavy rocket will fly from SpaceX's Starbase launch site eastward, over the Gulf of Mexico. For this test, the booster will not attempt a landing. After stage separation, the Starship upper vehicle is intended to reach orbital velocity before attempting a reentry into Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. If all goes well, it will make a controlled descent and landing into the ocean just north of the Hawaiian islands.

I am assuming that a soft water landing of the booster will be attempted. It has grid fins, it has engine vectoring, with essentially no payload meaning adequate reserve fuel, why not try?

 

[mongo]

Eric Berger: SpaceX moves Starship to launch site, and liftoff could be just days away


I am assuming that a soft water landing of the booster will be attempted. It has grid fins, it has engine vectoring, with essentially no payload meaning adequate reserve fuel, why not try?

Or hovering at 30m off the surface (or whatever chopstick height would be) until it
A) runs out of fuel
B) loses control
C) gives SpaceX enough data and they soft land it

I would love to see its power slide dance moves...

 

[EVCollies]

Or hovering at 30m off the surface (or whatever chopstick height would be) until it
A) runs out of fuel
B) loses control
C) gives SpaceX enough data and they soft land it

I would love to see its power slide dance moves...

Will they attempt any ground video by navigating ships close to splash down or just rely on onboard sensors?