Starbase activities (2024-10-29):

• Oct 28th cryo delivery tally.
• Oct 28th addenda: Concrete pour at Pad B. (ViX)
• Timelapse of chopstick tests. (Priel)
• Large diameter cryo-pipe is delivered to the launch site, likely for the new LOX subcoolers. (LabPadre)
• Pad A: Work on the launch mount continues. (cnunez)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane lowers, and the derrick winch line is retracted, and the derrick is removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5)
• Construction on passage between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler)
• Workers at Starhopper. (Gisler)
• Build site: B16’s LOX tank section is staged outside Megabay 1. (ViX)
• Sanchez: The first section of the second level of launch mount B is slowly stacked. (ViX, Golden)
• Massey’s: S33 cryo test. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Gomez)
• RGV Aerial post a comparison between 2023-04-20 and 2024-10-13.

McGregor:

• Flame diverter for the new south Raptor vertical stand is lowered into its flame trench. (Swartz/NSF)

Starbase activities (2024-10-28):

• Pad A: Chopsticks slew slewing tests. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 main boom is disassembled. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4)
• Build site: B12 moves from Megabay 1 to Rocket Garden. (ViX, Priel, NSF)
• A booster CO2 tank enters the Megabay. (ViX)
• Booster quick disconnect hardware arrives. (NSF)
• Massey’s: Venting observed near S33. (Roger S)
• RGV Aerial post another photo of the recovered B12 hotstage ring.

McGregor:

• Another Raptor 3 is spotted, this time on a horizontal test stand. (Anderson/NSF)

Starbase activities (2024-10-27):

• Oct 26th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane reassembly begins. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Build site: Booster transport stand enters Megabay 1, and B12 is transferred onto it. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• S33 still at Massey’s. (ViX, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, cnunez 4, cnunez 5)
• Hammer posts a recent closeup of S33 from just prior to rollout.
• RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Starfactory, B13 at Pad A, and Pad B flame trench.
• ChromeKiwi posts a new render of Pad B flame trench based on new parts spotted at Sanchez.

Starbase activities (2024-10-26):

• Oct 25th cryo delivery tally.
• Oct 25th addenda: ViX timelapse of chopstick lowering and B13 rollback. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Overnight, S33 rolls out to Massey’s. (ViX, LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Priel, Beyer, Gomez)
• Megabay 1: B13 is transferred from transport stand to work stand. (ViX)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane back mast is lowered, then raised. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of the launch site, B13 at Pad A, Pad B flame trench, and the recovered B12 hotstage ring at Massey’s.
• BingoBoca posts an infographic highlighting changes in propellant tank size and location.

IFT-5:

• A post from Marcus House receives a reply from Elon, in regards to the nearly-aborted booster catch: “A second is a long time to a rocket. Said another way, it was 1000ms or ~50 control cycles away from hitting the tower. Not actually that close.”

Starbase activities (2024-10-25):

• Oct 24th addenda: NSF timelapse of B13 static fire testing. Following static fire, ship quick disconnect retracts, chopsticks lower and close B13, booster transport stand and raptor work platform return to Pad A. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Oct 25th road closure is revoked.
• Crew-8 streaks through the sky over the Gulf of Mexico. (LabPadre, NSF)
• Launch site: Raptor work platform is raised up under launch mount A. (ViX)
• Booster quick disconnect retracts from B13. (ViX)
• Booster stabilization pin retracts, and B13 is lifted onto the transport stand. (cnunez, Gisler, ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• Cones are deployed for B13 rollback. (ViX)
• B13 rolls back to Megabay 1. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Roger S, Gomez, Ramirez)
• Build site: Overnight, the Starlink Pez loader is moved to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Ship thrust simulator arrives at and enters Megabay 2.
• Construction continues on the chopsticks carriage for Tower B. (Gisler)
• S33 (first v2 ship) prepares for rollout to Massey’s. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF, Hammer)
• S34 first LOX section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)

IFT-5/IFT-6:

• Elon shares Diablo gameplay… accompanied by audio of a conference call with Booster engineers. Landing burn came one second away from aborting due to an insufficient pressure reading from a sensor. The chine cover which blew off also exposed several single-point-failure valves. Flight 6 timeline will be dictated by “a reasonable balance of speed, and risk mitigation on the booster”.

Starbase activities (2024-10-24):

• Oct 23rd cryo delivery tally.
• Pad A: Overnight, the raptor work platform is lowered and moved away from launch mount A. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• B13 venting is observed, the detonation suppression system is tested, and engine gimbaling is observed.
• Early morning photo from cnunez.
• Raptor work platform is raised, and overpressure notice is issued. (ViX, Mary)
• Cryo deliveries and retention pond water removal continue. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Transport stand arrives to pick up the raptor work platform., and moves it away from the launch mount
• Chopsticks raise and open. (LabPadre, ViX)
• Oct 24th road closure is extended from 20:00 to 23:00.
• B13 propellant load begins. Non-subcooled at first, then subcooled. (NSF 1, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5, NSF 2)
• B13 performs a static fire. (NSF livestream, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, NSF, Golden, Doherty 1, Doherty 2, Doherty 3, Gomez)
• Build site: Launch mount B construction continues. (ViX)
• Current photo of S32 from cnunez.
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 25th (22:00 to 00:00) and 26th (12:00 and 15:00) for transport from pad to factory.
• 2-hour road delays are posted for Oct 26th (00:30 to 03:30) and 27th (00:00 and 03:00) for transport from factory to Massey’s.

McGregor:

• “Another day, another multi firing test of a Raptor engine, this time 12 firings in around 3 minutes.” (Priel)

Starbase activities (2024-10-23):

• Oct 22nd cryo delivery tally.
• Oct 22nd addenda: ViX and Priel timelapses of B13 lift, Ramirez photo.
• Overnight, chopsticks open, raise, translate, and lower. (ViX, Starship Gazer)
• Scaffolding removal begins on launch mount A. (ViX, Hammer)
• Evening road closure has a late start due to cryo deliveries and Movac trucks emptying the retention pond. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Roger S)
• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of S31 in the Highbay.

Maritime:

• Starship Gazer posts 4k video of hotstage ring recovery on Oct 22nd.
• HOS Ridgewind returns to Port Fourchon. (Cornwell)

McGregor:

• Busy afternoon with two multiple firings tests of Raptor: 5 consecutive firings, followed by a test consisting of a record of 34 consecutive firings. (Priel, Prehis2oricman)

Other:

• Elon: “Starship will lengthen in the next few years. 10 years from now, there will probably be a much wider diameter Starship too.”

Starbase activities (2024-10-01):

• Sep 30th cryo delivery update.
• Sep 30th addendum: LabPadre and NSF timelapses of hotstage ring removal from B12.
• Overnight, booster transport stand moves from the launch site to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Crew lift goes up to the top of B12. (ViX)
• Two corner segments for launch mount B arrive. One is lifted onto an assembly stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Mary)
• Booster “puck shucker” test/transport stand moves from Sanchez to build site. (ViX)

Other:

• All of S30’s Raptor engines have now been identified. Centers are R269, R319, and R334. Vacuums are R368, R384, and R390. (SpaceRhin0)

Starbase activities (2024-10-02):

• Oct 1st cryo delivery update.
• Build site: Overnight, booster “puck shucker” test/transport stand moves into Megabay 1 and B14 is lifted onto it, likely in preparation for transport to Massey’s. (ViX, LabPadre, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF, Gisler)
• Sanchez: Gisler posts a photo. Chopsticks carriage is still surrounded by scaffolding.
• Pad A: Chopstick wiggle tests performed in the early morning and afternoon.
• Tank farm active in the evening, chopsticks rise, and drones are spotted. (Anderson)
• Pad B: The CC8800-1 crane is laid down, and dismantling begins (ViX, NSF).
• Load spreader for chopsticks testing moves to the launch site. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)

Maritime:

• Two more cryo tanks en route to Brownsville port. (Cornwell)

McGregor:

• Possible HLS thruster test spotted. (NSF/Nerdplysgames)

Other:

• NOTMAR for “rocket launching activities near Boca Chica” are spotted for Oct 12th through 19th. These are likely just placeholders, as the official word from the FAA is still NET November. Berger has heard rumours to the contrary, but nothing is finalized. A NASA WB-57 is listed for imagery support in mid-October, but those are also just placeholder dates.

Starbase activities (2024-10-03):

• Oct 2nd cryo delivery update.
• Overnight, B14 and ship test stand move to Massey’s. (ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, Gomez)
• Also overnight, some chopstick testing and cryo pipe cleaning. (ViX)
• Pad A: Workers inspect S30. (LabPadre, House/Gisler)
• Water bags are delivered for chopstick testing. (Mary)
• Build site: Megabay 2’s 4-point lifting jig is lowered (ViX). Another lifting jig arrives at Starfactory in the afternoon (LabPadre).
• Massey’s: The “top hat” portion of the “can crusher” testing rig is removed. (ViX)
• Road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted for Oct 7th (10:00 to 22:00), and for Oct 8th and 9th (08:00 to 20:00).

Starbase activities (2024-10-04):

• Oct 3rd cryo delivery update.
• Pad A: Telehandler unfurls large water bags, which are then mounted on the chopsticks. (Phillips, LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, Starship Gazer, Hammer)
• Bags are then filled. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer, Hammer 1, Hammer 2, Ramirez)
• Chopstick deflection comparison and weight estimates (ViX, Anderson 1, Anderson 2).
• Bags are placed further out on the lever arm than in 2022. (Anderson)
• B12 grid fin photo with humans for scale. (Gisler)
• Evening preparations underway to lift hot stage ring back on B12. (Anderson)
• Pad B: Disassembly of the CC8800-1 crane continues. (ViX)
• Build site: 4th and final corner of launch mount 2 is spotted heading to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Pez dispenser emerges from Starfactory and moves to Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• New cladding is being added to the garage. (Gisler)
• Massey’s: B14 is cryo tested. (ViX, cnunez)
• 1-hour road delays are posted for Oct 6th and 7th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Brownsville Port to Massey’s.
• Oct 7th road closure (10:00 to 22:00) is scheduled.

Other:

• Additional angles and closeups of B11 recovery at sea. (Joe Tegtmeyer)
• NOTAM are posted for IFT-5 Ship reentry in Indian Ocean. (RGV Aerial)

Starbase activities (2024-10-19):

• Methane deliveries: 3 on Oct 18th, 14 total since IFT-5.
• LR11000 crane is lowered and raised. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Pad A: Raining on the on launch mount. (ViX)
• Cable tray belt/chain moves towards Tower B. (ViX)
• Heatshield work continues on S31. (Doherty, NSF)

Maritime:

• HOS Ridgewind is 10 km offshore from Starbase, likely for B12 hotstage ring recovery. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2, Hayden)

Starbase activities (2024-10-05):

• Oct 4th cryo delivery update.
• Oct 4th addenda: NSF timelapse of B14 methane tank cryo test at Massey’s. NSF timelapse of chopstick testing with water bags.
• Pad A: Overnight, hot stage ring is restacked on B12. (LabPadre)
• Water bags are removed from the chopsticks. (ViX)
• S30 flaps are deployed, ship is positioned between chopsticks, and stabilizer pins are deployed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, LabPadre, ViX 3, Hammer (closeups))
• S30 is restacked on B12. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, NSF full livestream)
• Massey’s: B14 performs another cryo test, filling the LOX tank this time. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Rocket Ranch full livestream)
• Brownsville Port: HOS Ridgewind arrives, presumably with another load of salvaged B11 hardware. (Cornwell)

Starbase activities (2024-10-13):

• Busy day for some reason.
• Overnight, pad is cleared. (LabPadre)
• Chopsticks open up and landing rails are deployed. (LabPadre)
• Tank farm spools up. (ViX)
• A helicopter briefly lands at the road closure. (ViX)
• Starbase village is evacuated. (ViX)
• Surrounding waters are evacuated. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2)
• NASA WB-57 plane is in position. (Manley)
• Launch mount and tower venting, followed by propellant load. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Evans, NSF)
• Frost lines on B12 and S30. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• A few wayward boats push T-0 from 08:00 to 08:25. (Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2, Summer Wise)
• IFT-5 occurs. B12 returns to launch site and is caught by the chopsticks at Tower A. S30 survives reentry and landing burn for an on-target splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
• Minor burn-through on one flap, but a marked improvement over IFT-4. (TankWatchers)
• Minor damage on a chine is spotted. (Interstellar Gateway, Tibininin)
• Residual propellant / frost. (Golden)
• Chopstick conveyor belts move B12 outwards. (Golden)
• B12 is lowered back down onto the launch mount, despite the absence of stabilizer pins. Booster quick disconnect connects. (Golden, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2, Priel, )
• B12 is refilled with a small load of cryogens? (LabPadre)
• Booster stand pending rollout to the launch site. (LabPadre, ViX, Fediverse Starbase Tracker)
• Party observed in the high bay. (NSF)
• Elon report on B12 health: “A few outer engine nozzles are warped from heating & some other minor issues, but these are easily addressed.”
• Flight-proven raptor engines to be sent to McGregor, confirmed by Elon.
• Road closure is amended to include the period from Oct 13th 14:00 to Oct 14th 14:00. (ViX 1, ViX 2)

IFT-5:

• Launch: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, Priel, Evans 1, Evans 2, Beyer, Cosmic Perspective, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2
• Catch: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2 (slowmo), LabPadre, SpaceX 3, Space Sudoer 1, Space Sudoer 2, ViX, Starship Gazer, Mary, Evans 1, Evans 2, Evans 3, Evans 4, Beyer, D Wise, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, Reed, Golden, Elon 1, Elon 2, Kimbal, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2, RGV Aerial 3, RGV Aerial 4, RGV Aerial 5, Cosmo_556, Kraus 1, Kraus 2, John William Cargile, Beff, Austin Barnard, Cosmic Perspective, John Pisani, clwphoto1, EverydayAstronaut, Redline Helicopter Tours
• Reentry and splashdown: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Berger, Cornwell 1, Cornwell 2
• Miscellaneous: SpaceX 1, SpaceX 2, SpaceX 3, Gomez, Kraus

Starbase activities (2024-10-06):

• Oct 5th cryo delivery update.
• Pad A: Overnight, S30 is restacked on B12. (LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, Priel, Gisler, Hammer 1, Hammer 2)
• Chopstick testing equipment leaves the launch site. (ViX)
• Build site: Water-cooled “top deck pancake” plates for the new launch mount are delivered. (Mary/NSF, ViX)
• A large launch mount piece is delivered. (Starship Gazer, Beyer)
• Golden concludes that the launch mount will still have 20 hold-down clamps, but no raptor quick disconnects.
• Brownsville Port: Salvaged aft dome from B11 is offloaded and transported. (Beyer 1, Beyer 2, Gomez)
• Summary of recent B14 cryo tests. (Priel, cnunez)

Starbase activities (2024-10-09):

• Oct 8th cryo delivery update.
• Pad A: B12 flight termination system is installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF 1, NSF 2)
• S30 flight termination system is installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3, Tank Watchers, Evans)
• New test tiles spotted on the port side of S30. (Starship Gazer)
• Chopsticks are tested. (NSF)
• Pad B: CC8800-1 crane disassembly continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler)
• Build site: Parking garage cladding is revealed to be a mural. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Gisler, Hammer)
• Massey’s: Test tank 16 is lifted out of the test stand. (Gisler)
• 2-hour road delay is posted for Oct 11th between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Massey’s to factory.

IFT-5:

• Oct 13th 00:00 to 14:00 road closure is scheduled.
• Temporary flight restrictions are posted.
• Isla Blanca County Park and boat ramp will close one hour earlier on Saturday, Oct 12th.

Other:

• Launch mount B render is posted by ChromeKiwi.
• Foust highlights comment by Bill Gerstenmaier (SpaceX VP of build and flight reliability), who stated B11 landed in the ocean “with half a centimeter accuracy”. What this was measured with respect to is unclear. (Military GPS?)