Starbase Sunday #4
This article was written by logan_sx27, Magnum , OneMarsyboi and Phantime
03 November 2024 - 09 November 2024
Welcome back for our 4th instalment of Starbase Sunday. As usual, a great week for starbase and starship so lets jump straight in!
Sunday 3rd
Starbase
Today was a pretty dull day at Starbase; the only operations of the day were some inspections of Pad A and the dismantling of CC8800-1.
07:20am - Dismantling of the CC8800-1 crane continues at Pad B.
18:23pm - Inspections of the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) legs.
McGregor Raptor Tests
There was no tests at McGregor today.
Monday 4th
Starbase
Today, much work was conducted at Pad B.
06:35am - Assembly of OLM2 continues at Sanchez.
08:28am - Cement pouring and ground work continues at Pad B where the Flame Trench is being built.
12:35pm - Disassembly of the CC8800-1 resumes.
20pm onwards -work in Mega Bay 2
McGregor Raptor Tests
09:22:50am - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
15:04:34pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 90s / 1m30s
15:08:34pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
Tuesday 5th
Starbase
Same work as the past few days was conducted.
06:45am - The CC8800-1 disassembly is continued.
07:49am - Construction of OLM2 resumes at Sanchez.
19:16pm onwards: inspections of OLM.
McGregor Raptor Tests
10:25:08am - Raptor Vertical Stand - 30s
10:25:43am- Raptor Vertical Stand - 46s
12:39:09pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
15:24:11pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 12s
Wednesday 6th
Starbase
Big day today down at Starbase! CC8800-1 parts started leaving Starbase, and Flight 6 details and date were announced!
01:05am - Lift on OLM plumbing, followed by a couple of hours of welding work until 03:54am.
08:00am - A crane section of CC8800-1 is lifted.
08:22am - A reinforcement plate is lifted on the OLM tower base.
08:58am - Another reinforcement plate is lifted on the OLM tower base.
09:05am - A support is lifted to the position of the reinforcement plates, after which their installation begins.
09:47am - Another crane section from CC8800-1 is lifted; it’s then put on a truck at 10:13. The first section that was lifted earlier is then put on the ground next to the truck at 10:24.
10:40am - The truck with the crane section departs, followed by another carrying equipment. At the same time, ground work and cement pouring start at Pad B.
11:18am - 1st delivery of CH4 to Pad B… the others will occur at 11:29, 14:47 and 19:00.
11:47am - 2 other trucks with crane equipment depart Pad B.
12:30pm onwards: a great moment: the FAA releases the NOTAMs for Flight 6 and SpaceX releases the Flight 5 recap video a few minutes later, confirming an attempt Not Earlier Than (NET) November 18th at 4pm CDT.
13:25pm - 2 truck loads of Sarens parts leave Pad B.
13:30pm - 2 truck loads of Sarens parts leave the StarFactory.
4pm onwards: much work on the OLM, chopsticks, carriage, tower and Booster Quick Disconnect in view of Flight 6.
Flight 6 flight timeline
Credit: SpaceX
McGregor Raptor Tests
09:29:18am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 20s
09:46:36am - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
14:00:59pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 20s
14:03:52pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - PB (Pre-Burner)
14:21:46pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - PB (Pre-Burner)
14:32:36pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - PB (Pre-Burner)
14:50:31pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - PB (Pre-Burner)
Thursday 7th
Starbase
Lot of work on OLM2 today, as the first preparations were made for Booster 13 and Ship 31 rollout.
01:22am - Lift of the 1st side section of OLM2.
03:55am - The side section is released.
09:52am- A semicircular platform is delivered to Mega Bay 2.
10:49am - Another semicircular platform is delivered to Mega Bay 2.
11:21am - Counterweights are added to SPMTs, most likely in preparation for Booster 13 rollout.
11:27am - 6 trucks loaded with parts of the CC8800-1 crane leave Pad B.
11:51am - Subcoolers are lifted into place in the Orbital Tank Farm (OTF).
12:46pm - Booster CO2 tank moves to Mega Bay.
14:55pm - The 2nd side section of OLM2 is lifted at Sanchez, then released at 15:01pm.
19:30pm - Scaffolding is removed from the forward section and nosecone of Ship 31, in preparation for its rollout.
21:54pm - Booster 13’s Hot Staging Ring is staged in the Ring Yard and then moved in front of Mega Bay 1.
22:22pm - The 3rd section of OLM2 is lifted at Sanchez.
22:43pm - The 3rd side section is released.
McGregor Raptor Tests
09:02:55am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 35s
09:26:00am - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
12:57:51pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 35s
15:05:05pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
15:17:24pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
19:30:24pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - Spin Prime (SP)
Friday 8th
Starbase
Some tests of the chopsticks were conducted today, as preparations for rollouts continued.
13:31pm - CO2 tank is lifted for installation.
15:13pm - An SPMT arrives at the Ring Yard, along with another at 15:15pm.
17:00pm - The first SPMT enters the High Bay, followed by the other at 17:18pm.
17:41pm - The Ship Quick Disconnect (SQD) is retracted.
18:05pm - Chopsticks fully open as the SQD arm swings back.
18:28pm - A quick test of the chopsticks happen, where they close quickly in a catch-like situation.
•18:45pm - Chopsticks are lowered.
McGregor Raptor Tests
09:13:12am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - Spin Prime (SP)
10:01:35am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 19s
13:23:05pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 9s
20:43:03pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 9s
Saturday 9th
Starbase
The major activity of the day was the delivery of Raptor engines for installation on Ship 33, the first Block 2 Ship.
02:28am - RV275 was moved inside Mega Bay 2.
03:23am - RV305 was moved inside Mega Bay 2.
10:56am - RC385 was moved inside Mega Bay 2.
12:28pm - RC345 was moved inside Mega Bay 2.
14:19pm - RC316 was moved inside Mega Bay 2.
McGregor Raptor Tests
There were no Raptor tests conducted today at McGregor.
Thanks for reading this weeks edition of Starbase Sunday! As we are now in the week leading up to launch of Flight 6, be ready for some new articles and mini series’ leading up to launch!