SpaceX Starship : Texas Prototype(s) Thread 25 : Discussion

[Chris Bergin]

New thread (25) for discussing the Starship (and Booster) prototypes being built in Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas.  Previous posts on these prototypes can be found in these threads (thousands of posts, over 100 million views):

Discussion 1

Discussion 2

Discussion 3

Discussion 4

Discussion 5

Discussion 6

Discussion 7

Discussion 8

Discussion 9

Discussion 10

Discussion 11

Discussion 12

Discussion 13

Discussion 14

Discussion 15

Discussion 16

Discussion 17

Discussion 18

Discussion 19

Discussion 20

Discussion 21

Discussion 22

Discussion 23

Discussion 24


Thread 25 - you're in it!

UPDATES:

SpaceX Boca Chica - Production Updates - MASTER Thread (5)

Also standalone threads for key vehicles and missions.

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L2 Boca Chica (intense level updates - Master Thread from Day 1 to today)
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*Also now with standalone L2 threads for Starships and Boosters, etc*

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RULES

There are 10s of millions of views on these Starship threads, so remember when you post your post is being viewed by a lot of people. Make sure you're posting something interesting:

Stay on topic (don't wander, use new or other threads). This is ONLY about discussing the prototypes
Make sure your post is useful and adding something. Failure to do so will see your post removed.

[Oersted]

Thread 25, the thread that will see Starship fly to space in less than a months time, if all goes according to plan. Now that is quite something!

Just a few years ago, a mysterious concrete cylinder slowly went up in Boca Chica, a calm backwater where SpaceX had acquired a bit of terrain. Then a stainless steel structure with ungainly legs appeared on top of the concrete cylinder. Starhopper was born.

What has happened since then absolutely blows the mind.

[alang]

Thread 25, the thread that will see Starship fly to space in less than a months time, if all goes according to plan. Now that is quite something!

Just a few years ago, a mysterious concrete cylinder slowly went up in Boca Chica, a calm backwater where SpaceX had acquired a bit of terrain. Then a stainless steel structure with ungainly legs appeared on top of the concrete cylinder. Starhopper was born.

What has happened since then absolutely blows the mind.

If all goes well then in another couple of years you might be bored by the launches and first stage landing and only be focussing on Starship re-entry and landing.

[simon82]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

[steveleach]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

Bear in mind that the first post of thread 1 back in 2019 quoted Elon thusly...

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083575233423003648

Should be done with first orbital prototype around June

[billh]

Thread 25, the thread that will see Starship fly to space in less than a months time, if all goes according to plan. Now that is quite something!

Just a few years ago, a mysterious concrete cylinder slowly went up in Boca Chica, a calm backwater where SpaceX had acquired a bit of terrain. Then a stainless steel structure with ungainly legs appeared on top of the concrete cylinder. Starhopper was born.

What has happened since then absolutely blows the mind.

Now you have me in a reminiscing frame of mind. I started following SpaceX a short while before they parked the first Falcon 1 rocket in front of the National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C. It's been a long time since then, but even so, their accomplishments have been remarkable. Now with Starship we will soon have the most advanced spaceship ever seen rising from the South Texas coast. I think it would well deserve a place in any of the Heinlein novels I read as a youth.

I'm loving it!

[RAN]

Bear in mind that the first post of thread 1 back in 2019 quoted Elon thusly...

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083575233423003648

SpaceX is years behind schedule and years (decades?) ahead of the competition 

[Robotbeat]

Well… they kind of did build one, but then scrapped it. And probably for the best.

[meekGee]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

Bear in mind that the first post of thread 1 back in 2019 quoted Elon thusly...

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083575233423003648

Should be done with first orbital prototype around June

That's like 4 months away. Sounds about right!

[litton4]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

Whatever happens (BOOM or bust?) it will be SPECTACULAR!

[SpaceTripper]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

Bear in mind that the first post of thread 1 back in 2019 quoted Elon thusly...

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083575233423003648

Should be done with first orbital prototype around June

That's like 4 months away. Sounds about right!

Elon always quotes on the conservative side.

[alugobi]

Whut?

[Sohl]

Elon always quotes on the conservative side.

Whut?

I think @SpaceTripper left out the sarcasm wink 

[mistergoblin]

In the update thread, the latest post mentions engine shields being removed, possibly for swapping out engines.

If that's the case, this would require another static fire with the new engines, right?

[Robotbeat]

In the update thread, the latest post mentions engine shields being removed, possibly for swapping out engines.

If that's the case, this would require another static fire with the new engines, right?

If it’s only a two or three, it may not be needed if they’ve already been acceptance fired in Texas.

[winkhomewinkhome]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

Bear in mind that the first post of thread 1 back in 2019 quoted Elon thusly...

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083575233423003648

Should be done with first orbital prototype around June

In fairness to Elon, no year was specified! 

[rickyramjet]

Just think, this will be the thread where the orbital launch takes place.

Bear in mind that the first post of thread 1 back in 2019 quoted Elon thusly...

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083575233423003648

Should be done with first orbital prototype around June

In fairness to Elon, no year was specified! 

And... he never said the first 'prototype' would fly!

[Asteroza]

What's probably next in the events list?

SH only static fire?
SH+SS static fire?

What actually is the current consensus for the full event list up to launch?

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

Since the HPU is being replaced on B7 there would be a "wiggle test" of all the RCs (13 of them) to show all is good to go with the "new" HPU. It would not need any prop load to perform the test.

Most of the events are the finalizing of the work around the OLM as well as on B7 itself. There is on a guess at the moment as to how many tasks there are. But as far a significant events go the most significant would be the FAA launch license. From there the launch is near at hand. 1 to 2 weeks at most or if still more work to finish up some of the pad area tasks is needed could be a little more. But that is the major one to look for.

[InterestedEngineer]

HPU means Hydraulic Power Unit, or something else?