Starbase Sunday #1
This article was written by logan_sx27, Magnum and OneMarsyboi
14 October 2024 - 19 October 2024
What is Starbase Sunday?
Welcome to the latest addition to The Weekly Spaceman’s website. Join us every Sunday at 6pm CDT to get yourself up to date with all the Starbase action. We will cover everything we can from Saturday to Saturday from vehicle movements to Raptor firings we will have you covered.
Just for this week, we will only be covering from 00:01 Monday until Saturday 23:59 due to Flight 5 of Starship, which we have covered in previous articles.
Monday 14th
Starbase
Monday was the day following the incredible success of Starship Flight 5, parties and celebrations were in full swing. Mega Bay 2 hosted a party into the early hours of Monday morning to celebrate, as observed in this screenshot from NasaSpaceFlights' Starbase Live’. (Top right box)
Starbase party observed post Flight 5
Credit: NasaSpaceFlight
8:10am - the road was reopened and leading the entourage of vehicles heading back to the pad was the booster transport stand. The transport stand made its way to the launch site to bring Booster 12 back to the production site.
11:25am - the FTS crew came to remove the FTS and started working on the FTS located near the booster’s chines.
14:57pm - The first workers back on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) since launch were observed inspecting the Booster Quick Disconnect (BQD) area and the OLM deck.
15:07pm - Just under 4 hours on from the chines FTS removal work, the team ascended up Booster 12 and worked on removing the FTS located near the common dome.
17:18pm - FTS was completely removed from Booster 12.
From this point nothing much really happened besides more crew embarking onto the OLM for inspections and refurbishments.
20:50pm - Booster 16’s first barrel section were spotted moving around starfactory.
23:23pm - Booster 12's transport stand was moved over towards the OLM indicating a move was imminent.
McGregor Raptor Tests
14:06pm - Raptor Tripod Stand - 120s / 2m
14:12pm - Raptor vertical Stand - 3s
Tuesday 15th
Starbase
Tuesday was an exciting day for Starbase as Booster 12 was lowered onto the transport stands and made its way back to its home at the production site! Greeted by crowds of technicians and engineers to welcome their baby back home. Within all this excitement, a new booster (Booster 16) was preparing for stacking!
So lets dive in to this action packed day.
4:50am - The Booster Quick Disconnect (BQD) was retracted ahead of Booster 12’s removal from the OLM.
7:20am - SpaceX drones were spotted examining Booster 12 just prior to the lift, these are to check for any risks to the lifts and for additional views.
8:18 - The chopstick stabiliser pins were engaged and connected to Booster 12, indicating a lift was imminent.
10:24am - Booster 12 began its journey home, by being lifted off the OLM just 51 hours after liftoff. It raised and translated over to the awaiting transport stand.
10:50am - Booster 12 was lowered into the transport stand awaiting the road closure that was scheduled for 12pm.
12:44pm - Ship Quick Disconnect (SQD) was observed moving to its resting positing above the OLM.
12:56pm - The chopsticks opened slightly, leaving Booster 12 standing freely on its transport stand ready to roll back to the production site.
13:26pm - 30 minutes after the chopsticks disconnected, Booster 12 began its journey down Highway 4.
Booster 12 roll back
Credit: Max Evans NSF
14:40pm - Booster 12 arrives at the production site greeted with crowds of workers who built the flight proven booster. One of the most beautiful moments of the program so far. Booster 12 was parked outside mega bay one as crews were seen inspecting the boosters grid fins and catch points.
16:17pm - The grid fins were rotated in preparation to move into Mega Bay 1
16:26pm - Booster 12 rolled into Mega Bay 1, being the first flight proven booster to do so. History.
19:10pm - Booster 16’s common dome section rolled into Mega Bay 1 for stacking.
19:30pm - Crews started to get back onto the OLM for inspections, repairs and refurbishments following Booster 12’s launch, and return to the production site. Huge amounts of scaffolding was placed on the OLM.
19:40pm - Booster 16’s A2 section was moved into Mega Bay 1 to be mated and stacked with the common dome section.
8pm Onwards - Crews really started to get to work on the OLM legs, BQD and chopsticks.
21:09pm - Booster 12’s transport stand was rolled out of Mega Bay 1 and moved away to the rocket garden.
23:10pm - Booster 16’s forward section with the stringers and cowbell vents was moved into Mega Bay 1 for stacking.
23:57pm - To wrap up the day, another Booster 16 barrel section rolled into Mega Bay 1 ahead of more stacking operations.
McGregor Raptor Tests
8:51am - Raptor tripod Stand - 80s / 1m20s
12:34pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 46s
12:57pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 50s
16:03pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - PB (Pre Burner)
Wednesday 16th
Starbase
Following the busy, exciting Tuesday at Starbase, was a rather dull and boring Wednesday. Nothing major happened besides the start of Booster 16s stacking.
7:45am - LR11000 crane began to rise and was up and ready an hour later.
LR11000 pictured on LabPadre 24/7 stream
Credit: LabPadre
Nothing major happened from this point onwards. We got some views of Ship 31’s tile work from NasaSpaceFlights Starbase Live. Booster 16 also began its stacking on this day (not sure what times exactly). Apart from that, Wednesday was mainly just crews working on the OLM.
McGregor Raptor Tests
9:17am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - PB (Pre burner)
10:31am - Raptor Tripod Stand - 192s / 3m12s
16:25pm - Raptor Tripod Stand - 190s / 3m
Thursday 17th
Starbase
Thursday again, wasn’t very jam packed with action, but there was still some more things that happened that are worthy of note. So lets just jump straight in.
13:00pm / 14:00pm - The OLM booster guide pins were re installed onto the OLM deck.
14:50pm - A new Ship lifting jig was rolled out and staged outside of Mega Bay 2, construction of the jig the started soon after.
17:20pm - Chopsticks were raise and then opened wide to allow crew to work on the chopsticks easier.
Again just like Wednesday, most of the day involved OLM work. However, there was a lot of McGregor tests that made the day a little bit more exciting.
McGregor Raptor Tests
11:39am - Raptor Tripod Stand - 153s / 2m33s
12:50pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 1s
12:55pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 1s
15:05pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 90s
18:15pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - PB (Pre Burner)
20:33pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
Friday 18th
Starbase
Friday was a little more exciting as we observed a lot more movement of things compared to the previous 2 days.
9:05am - 2 new sub-coolers were seen driving down Highway 4 and making their way to the launch site. This could be for the new Pad B as its due to come online early next year. But, leading these sub-coolers down the highway, is what is believed to be the cable chains for Pad Bs chopsticks.
Sub-coolers and cable chains rolling down Highway 4
Credit: NasaSpaceFlight
10:24am - The Ship lifting jig was finished and raise in Mega Bay 2.
10:48am - The Ship lifting jig was then lowered after some inspections.
13:32pm - Test Tank 16 leaves starfactory
14:20pm - Test Tank 16 arrives at the rocket garden and is parked there.
15:07pm - The moment everyone was itching for, SpaceX release the incredible landing footage of Ship 30 from the buoy. (https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1847368836947071496)
18:10pm - The chopsticks then closed and were lowered after opening just over 24 hours ago.
McGregor Raptor Tests
13:12pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 10s
(sorry we missed this one) - Raptor Tripod Stand -85s
Saturday 19th
Starbase
Some pretty cool things happened today, but still nothing crazily busy happening at Starbase.
2:00am - In these early hours, there was inspections of the base of the OLM and the water deluge steel plate.
8:00am - We saw more work being done on Pad Bs flame trench.
10:45am - LR11000 was lowered for unknown reasons.
11:12am - Rebar work was being done on Pad Bs grounds.
14:20pm - LR11000 crane raises again after being lowered a few hours ago
15:08pm - The Pad B tower’s cable chains were moved over towards Pad B.
Nothing note worthy was observed. However, later in the night, HOS Ridgewind was captured out at sea. It was positioned 10km East of the launch site and was likely fishing for the hot stage ring.
McGregor Raptor Tests
There was no Raptor tests at McGregor on Saturday.
Thank you for reading this weeks article. Come back the same time next week for your weekly Starbase catch up!
Big thanks to the NasaSpaceFlight and LabPadre teams for giving the public these 24/7 views!