Starbase Sunday #3
This article was written by logan_sx27, Magnum , OneMarsyboi and Phantime
27 October 2024 - 02 November 2024
Welcome back for another week of Starbase action. We had another exciting week at the Gateway to Mars, including a new round of testing for the first block 2 ship.
Sunday 27th
Starbase
There were lots of inspections today, and Booster 12 was rolled out MB1.
01:13-02:08am: welding is conducted in the Booster Quick Disconnect area.
06:18-07:20am: additional welding work is conducted in the Booster Quick Disconnect area.
07:30am - CC8800-1 lowered, then heightened again.
08:38-09:05am - CC8800-1 crane is moved and parked.
09:08-10:14am - Counterweights are added to CC8800-1 crane.
12:33pm- The Booster Transport Stand is rolled inside MB1.
16:15pm- Booster 12 is lowered on the Transport Stand
17:23pm - Lift on the top of Booster 12.
17:45-18:00pm - Small venting around Ship 33.
20:52pm - Grid fins of Booster 12 are inclined to allow the egress from Mega Bay 1.
22:59-23:11pm - Booster 12 is rolled outside Mega Bay 1.
23:56pm - A lift goes up to inspect the top of Booster 12.
McGregor Raptor Tests
There was no raptor tests at McGregor today.
Monday 28th
Starbase
Today, SpaceX moved Booster 12 to the Rocket Garden. At the Sanchez Lot, construction of the OLM2 began, while more work continued both at Pad A and Pad B, where the CC8800-1 crane has been packed.
•12:44am - Booster 12’s grid fins roll into horizontal position following its egress from MB1.
•01:40am - A lift goes down after inspecting Booster 12’s forward dome and top.
•01:59am - Booster 12 is on the move.
•02:11am - Booster 12 reaches the Rocket Garden but is parked several times before reaching its final resting position at 03:47am. Its damaged chine seems to have been repaired.
•06:43am - Welding in the Booster Quick Disconnect area following nightly inspections.
•8am onwards: after the rebar has drilled holes during the night, the usual ground work starts at Pad B. A crane starts working on CC8800-1.
•10:56am - A lift goes up to the chopsticks’ tanks.
•11:22am - Lift on landing rails.
•13:40pm - A CO2 tank is taken inside Mega Bay 1.
•17:15-17:48pm - The chopsticks rise at maximum height and open wide.
•18:05pm - Chopsticks close a little.
•18:31pm - Chopsticks close to catch width, then they open wide again, and then they close a little.
•18:43pm - Chopsticks go down at resting position.
•19:32-22:00pm - Venting around Ship 33 but no prop load; possible ambient pressure test.
McGregor Raptor Tests
19:21:02pm - Raptor Horizontal - 110s / 1m50s
20:41:46pm - Raptor Horizontal - 110s / 1m50s
Tuesday 29th
Starbase
Today Ship 33 performed its first partial cryo test!
•01:02am - Lift on OLM for inspections.
•04:02am - Lifts on Ship 33; they’re going to make inspections and work all day.
•05:16am - Lift on Booster Quick Disconnect.
•08:32am - Operations on CC8800-1 crane resume.
•14:50pm - Construction of the OLM2 at Sanchez resumes.
•15:05pm - Tank farm is active ahead of Ship 33’s cryo.
•18:06pm - Partial loading of liquid nitrogen in Ship 33.
•18:21pm - Chopsticks landing rails go down.
•19:34pm - Frost line recedes on both tanks of Ship 33.
•19:37pm - Booster 16’s LOX (liquid oxygen) barrel section is parked outside Mega Bay 2.
McGregor Raptor Tests
09:04:05am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 110s / 1m50s
12:27:41pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 30s
12:29:51pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 8s
15:20:46pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 4s
20:40:08pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 90s / 1m30s
Wednesday 30th
Starbase
Ship 33 performed its first full cryo test!
8am onwards: packing of CC8800-1 continues.
11:31am - small venting at the base of Ship 33.
12:31pm - vaporizers are active at Massey’s, indicating an upcoming full cryo test.
12:44pm - Tank farm is active at Massey’s.
13:11pm - liquid nitrogen loading on Ship 33’s CH4 (liquid methane) tank.
13:30pm - liquid nitrogen loading on Ship 33’s LOX (liquid oxygen) tank.
Ship 33 cryo test
Credit: Starship Gazer
13:59pm - CH4 (liquid methane) tank completely filled with LN2 (liquid nitrogen).
14:15pm - LOX (liquid oxygen) tank completely filled with LN2 (liquid nitrogen).
14:36pm - Venting stops.
16:33pm - Depress vent.
17:28pm - Frost on both tanks starts receding.
18:37pm - Booster 16’s A3 section is rolled into MB1 for stacking.
20:30pm - Tank farm is active indicating another cryo test of Ship 33.
20:57pm - Liquid nitrogen loading starts on Ship 33’s CH4 tank.
22:25pm - Vent #1.
22:49pm - After reaching peak loading (a few rings), LN2 starts receding.
23:19pm - Vent #2.
McGregor Raptor Tests
09:00 am - Raptor Vertical - 30s
09:03 am - Raptor Vertical - 8s
09:27 am - Raptor Horizontal - 4s
10:06 am - Raptor Horizontal - SP (Spin Prime)
15:30 pm - Raptor Vertical - 30s
15:32 pm - Raptor Vertical - 6s
19:07 pm - Raptor Horizontal - 3s
19:44 pm - Raptor Horizontal - 60s / 1m
Thursday 31st
Starbase
Today, inspections and chopsticks tests were conducted briefly as Ship 33 performed its second full cryo test!
12:31am - Detanking was completed on Ship 33 following its second cryo test last night.
07:10am - Lifts on Starhopper.
09:15am - Big CC8800-1 section is taken away as work continues on the OLM2 at Sanchez.
11:25am - Construction of OLM2 resumes at Sanzhez.
17:51pm - Small movements of chopsticks.
18:21pm - Chopsticks rise slightly.
18:30-18:44pm - Chopsticks translate to the side of the tower.
18:37pm - Vaporisers are active at Massey’s.
18:41pm - Tank farm is active at Massey’s indicating a cryo test.
9:12-19:27pm - Chopsticks return to their position over the OLM.
19:15pm - Loading of LN2 begins on both tanks.
19:36pm - Chopsticks descend.
19:51pm - LOX (liquid oxygen) tank is completely filled.
20:25pm - CH4 (liquid methane) tank is completely filled.
21:24pm - Detanking starts.
23:45pm - Detanking completed.
McGregor Raptor Tests
Again, due to unavailability, we missed todays test. We have a new member helping out so hopefully we don’t forget again, apologies.
Friday 1st
Starbase
Much work was conducted on both Pads and related hardware, and late at night Ship 33 began rolling towards the Production Site. Also, a few parts of CC8800-1 started leaving.
01:35-03:22am: welding work is conducted on the chopsticks.
01:39am - Inspections of the OLM pipes.
02:21am - Ship 34’s aft section is moved from Starfactory to MB2.
06:30am - Welding is conducted at the base of the OLM legs.
06:45-07:30am - Welding work is conducted on the OLM2 at Sanchez.
10:05am - Construction of OLM2 continues.
21:37-22:39pm - Welding on the chopsticks.
23:20pm - Ship 33 is on the move from Massey’s to the Production Site ahead of an intermittent closure at 12am-3am.
McGregor Raptor Tests
08:56:33am - Raptor Vertical Stand - 30s
08:57:12am - Raptor Vertical Stand - 46s
08:59:23am - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 10s
09:57:57am - Raptor Vertical Stand - SP (Spin Prime)
10:15:57am - Raptor Vertical Stand - SP (Spin Prime)
14:22:30pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 20s
19:21:05pm - Raptor Horizontal Stand - 35s
19:59:31pm - Raptor Vertical Stand - 9s
Saturday 2nd
Starbase
Ship 33 arrived at the Production Site and was rolled inside Mega Bay 2, and a morning full of inspections was followed by a quiet afternoon.
01:50am - Ship 33 arrives at the Production Site.
02:08am - Ship 33 is rolled inside Mega Bay 2.
03:00am - Ship lifting jig is lifted and put around Ship 33.
03:52-04:00am - The Ship lifting jig’s lift points are inserted into the lift points of Ship 33.
05:02am - Mega Bay 2 door is mostly closed, leaving visible just the bottom section of Ship 33.
05:22am - Ship 33 is lifted.
06:48am - The Ship’s transport stand is moved outside Mega Bay 2.
9am onwards: packing of CC8800-1 continues.
09:30am - Lift on Starhopper.
09:44am - Ship’s lifting jig is lowered.
10:15am - The Ship’s lifting jig is transported to the Rocket Garden.
11:02am - Lift and inspections of the chopstick carriage.
Nothing much happened the rest of the day.
McGregor Raptor Tests
Starbase
There were no Raptor tests conducted today.