Starbase Sunday #11
This article was written by Magnum, logan_sx27, Onemarsyboy, and Phantime.
22nd December 2024 - 28th December 2024
Welcome to our 11th article of Starbase Sunday! This was not a busy week, as it contained Christmas, so the pace was slow. But it doesn’t mean we don’t have anything to cover! Sit back and enjoy this article as we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Sunday 22nd
Starbase
The main activities today were ground work at Pad B, inspections at Pad A, and work on the chopsticks assembly jig!
• 02:35am - Groundwork starts at Pad B.
• 07:37am - Work resumes at Pad B for the construction of the chopstick assembly jig: this is a support structure on which the chopsticks will be connected to the carriage on the ground before being lifted into place. Today, the 2 side structures were completed and the central horizontal support structure was installed.
• 08:30am - Inspections start on the chopsticks.
• 08:56am - Booster 14’s Hot Staging Ring (HSR) rolls out the Starfactory and is parked in front of Mega Bay 1.
McGregor Raptor tests
There were no Raptor tests conducted today.
Monday 23rd
Starbase
We could say there was a lot of… cement.
• 03:45am - Inspections continue on the chopsticks.
• 04:44am - Cement pouring starts at Pad B.
• 08:15am - Construction of the chopsticks assembly jig continues at Pad B.
• 08:46am - Booster 14’s Hot Staging Ring is moved inside Megabay 1 for installation on Booster 14.
• 08:57am - Scaffolding is moved from the OLM (Orbital Launch Mount).
• 11:15am - The cement pouring operations stop.
• 13:20pm - Some more cement is poured near the base of Tower 2.
• 13:57pm - More cement is poured in the same location as this morning.
• 16:35pm - Cement pouring work stops for the day.
McGregor Raptor tests
• 14:41:37pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 10s
• 15:07:35pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 1s
Tuesday 24th
Starbase
Today was mostly quiet since it was Christmas Eve!
• 11:40am - Some minor ground work is conducted at Pad B.
McGregor Raptor tests
No Raptor tests were conducted today.
Wednesday 25th - Christmas!
Starbase
For the first time ever in this article series: no work was conducted today at Starbase.
McGregor Raptor tests
No Raptor tests were conducted today.
Thursday 26th
Starbase
The pace picked up immediately at Starbase! There was a lot of work, and new hardware was seen.
• 07:30am - Ground work, tower 2 inspections, and cement pouring start at Pad B.
• 09:28am - The PEZ dispenser for Ship 35 is moved into Megabay 2.
• 10:19am - A single piece of scaffolding is lifted on the OLM.
• 11:39am - The 4PL (4 Point Lifter) is moved from the Rocket Garden. This is a piece of hardware used to lift the Block 2 ships.
• 16:50pm - Ship 35’s nosecone and payload section are rolled from the Starfactory to Megabay 2.
McGregor Raptor tests
• 12:22:11pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 10s
Friday 27th
Starbase
Today, Booster 15 completed its first cryogenic proof test.
• 1am onwards: lifts go up inspecting Booster 15 ahead of its cryogenic test campaign.
• 08:30am - Ground work starts at Pad B.
• 12:05pm - Booster Quick Disconnect door closes.
• 12:19pm - Nitrogen (LN2) tanks start venting at Massey’s.
• 14:11pm - LOX tanks start venting.
• 14:40pm - Propellant load starts on the CH4 tank, starting Booster 15’s first cryogenic proof test.
• 15:22pm - Propellant load ends on the CH4 tank, with it being completely filled.
• 16:14pm - The chopsticks’ landing rails are heightened.
• 17:00pm - Detanking starts.
• 20:33pm - Detanking is completed on the CH4 tank.
Note: today, an FAA advisory came out, saying Starship Flight 7 is scheduled for NET January 10th, 2025, in a window between 4pm and 5:37pm CDT. We will wait for additional confirmation, but there are already closures in place for the next few days that may be for vehicles rollout. This advisory was cancelled a few hours later, but we’ll have to wait just a few days to know the confirmed date.
McGregor Raptor tests
Sorry, we didn’t cover today’s tests.
Saturday 28th
Starbase
Booster 15 completed its second cryogenic proof test.
• 09:11am - Nitrogen tanks start venting at Massey’s.
• 09:22am - Scaffolding is removed from the Orbital Launch Mount, a signal that Flight 8 is nearing.
• 10:05am - LOX tanks start venting at Massey’s.
• 10:41am - A small CH4 load is loaded on the Booster’s tank, however it is detanked by 11am. This kicks off Booster 15’s second cryogenic proof test.
• 10:45am - Propellant load starts on Booster 15’s LOX tank.
• 11:55am - Propellant load ends on Booster 15’s LOX tank.
• 18:30pm - We don’t know when CH4 loading started, but at this point Booster 15 had a full CH4 tank along with its full LOX tank.
• 18:49pm - Detanking starts on the CH4 tank.
• 18:55pm - Detanking starts on the LOX tank.
• 20:23pm - Detanking ends on the CH4 tank.
• 21:48pm - Detanking ends on the LOX tank.
McGregor Raptor tests
There were no Raptor tests conducted today.
References
Starbase Live: 24/7 Starship & Super Heavy Development From SpaceX's Boca Chica Facility
