Starbase activities (2024-12-25):

• Not much activity on Christmas day. For the most part, all is quiet. (cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, clwphoto1)
• Chopsticks assembly jig is partially assembled. (cnunez)
• RGV Aerial post their latest flyover update video, covering Nov 21st to Dec 19th.
• New Ringwatcher’s article (3 of 5): The Business End: Starship’s Upgraded Aft Section

Starbase activities (2024-12-24):

• Dec 23rd cryo delivery tally.
• Not too much action reported on Christmas Eve.
• Early morning build site tour, featuring chopsticks and launch mount for Pad B. (ViX)
• Marcus House shares some photos by Shaun Gisler of Launch Mount B and the tank farm.
• cnunez shares a recent photo of S35 in Starfactory.
• RGV Aerial share a recent flyover photo of launch site.
• Updated infographics on the evolution of Starship internals from Mark 1 to Block 2. (BingoBoca)
• New Ringwatcher’s article (2 of 5): Bigger is Better: Starship’s Extended & Optimized Tanks

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Starbase activities (2024-12-23):

• Dec 22nd cryo delivery tally.
• Massey’s: B15 still there. (cnunez)
• Build site: Hot Stage Ring staged outside Megabay 1 and then moved inside. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Ship aft flap is delivered to Starfactory. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Chopsticks and ship quick disconnect arm for Pad B are still at Sanchez. A few chopstick skates are spotted nearby. (Starship Gazer, ChromeKiwi / RGV)
• Launch site: Concrete is poured at the D2 gate. (ViX)
• Launch Mount A repainting begins. (Starship Gazer)
• New design of ship-lifting pins are installed on Chopsticks A. (Starship Gazer, Hansen)
• Assembly of the chopstick assembly jig continues. (Starship Gazer)
• Work on upgrading the tank farm continues. (Starship Gazer)

Other:

• Zac Aubert, founder and creator of The Launch Pad YouTube channel is ill.
• New Ringwatcher’s article (1 of 5): It’s About Damn Time: Starship’s Upgraded Flaps & Nosecone

Starbase activities (2024-12-22):

• Dec 21st cryo delivery tally.
• Dec 21st addendum: Gisler timelapse of B15 move to Massey’s.
• Overnight, the ship stand moves to Massey’s. (ViX)
• Build site: Hot Staging Ring emerges from Starfactory, likely for B14. (NSF / Mary, ViX)
• Movement of the ship lifting jig within Megabay 2 is noted. (ViX)
• Knaggs updated render of launch mount B.
• Launch site: Assembly of the chopstick assembly jig continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• Brownsville Port: In the recent RGV Aerial flyover photos, Zack Golden identifies components for an air separation unit, likely for producing LN2 and LOX at the launch site. (Golden 1, Golden 2, RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2)

Starbase activities (2024-12-21):

• Dec 20th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, B15 moves from build site to Massey’s. (LabPadre, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, Gomez, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3)
• Reinforcement stringers are added B14. (Starship Gazer)
• cnunez posts photos of Starfactory featuring S35 and S36, S37, and S38 nosecones.
• cnunez posts photos of Sanchez, Pad A, Pad B.
• RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Launch Mount B and Pad B flame trench.

Starbase activities (2024-12-20):

• Dec 19th cryo delivery tally.
• Dec 19th addendum: The 2nd piece of the water deluge “pancake” is lifted onto Launch Mount B. (ViX)
• Build site: Overnight, a dome moves from one Starfactory door to another. (ViX)
• Load spreader enters Megabay 1, and B15 is lifted onto the cryo test stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• In the evening, B15 emerges from Megabay 1. (NSF)
• Launch site: Additional parts for the chopstick assembly jig arrive at Pad B. (Roger S)
• RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of the Pad B flame trench construction.
• ChromeKiwi renders of flame trench retaining wall construction.

Starbase activities (2024-12-19):

• Dec 18th cryo delivery tally.
• Launch site: The gate crossbeam is removed. (ViX, Phillips)
• Parts of the chopstick installation assembly jig for Pad B arrive. (ViX, Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
• Chopsticks at Pad A receive new ship lifting pin housings. (ViX, Anderson)
• Build site: Work on the launch mount and chopsticks for pad B continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• The booster thrust/test stand replaces the transport stand in the ring yard, likely for B15 transport to Massey’s. (ViX)
• 2-hour road delays are posted for Dec 21st and 22nd from 00:00 to 03:00 for transportation from factory to Massey’s.

Flight 7:

• FAA clarification on the RCC-324-11 requirement. (NSF)

KSC:

• Scrapping of the LOX tank at LC-39A continues. (RoughRidersShow / NSF)

Starbase activities (2024-12-08):

• Dec 7th cryo delivery tally.
• Dec 7th addenda: Launch mount work platform returns to the launch site. (ViX) Drone show timelapse. (Priel / NSF)
• Checkouts complete, the work platform transport stand heads back to the launch mount. (ViX)
• Work platform leaves the launch site. (ViX)
• Potential scaffolding mount points are installed on B14. (ViX)
• Pad A announcement: “Loud checkouts for booster” (ViX)
• B14 undergoes an igniter test. (ViX)
• Traffic cones are deployed, likely in preparation for the delivery of a new cryo tank. (ViX, Gomez)
• The Starfactory cladding on the highway side is complete. (ViX)

KSC:

• Roberts Road facility expansion continues. (Stranger)

Starbase activities (2024-12-12):

• Dec 11th cryo delivery tally.
• Dec 11th addendum: S35 nosecone and payload section moves from Highbay to Starfactory. (ViX)
• Launch site: Overnight, Pad A chopsticks are tested. (ViX, NSF)
• Also overnight, a the second horizontal methane tank at Sanchez moves to the tank farm, and a vertical tank arrives at the launch site. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Road delays are posted for Dec 12th and 13th (07:00 to 10:00) for tank installation. The associated document appears to be a duplicate of the Dec 11th document, but other sections of the website indicate the existence of the closures.
• Mid-morning, the methane tank is lifted into position. (ViX, RogerS, Golden)
• After the lift, the yellow LR11000 crane rolls a short distance. (ViX)
• Build site: Two ring sections move from Starfactory to the scrap yard. (ViX)
• The first piece the Pad B water-cooled flame-deflector pipe is spotted at Sanchez. (Starship Gazer)
• Massey’s: Venting is observed. S33 flaps are opened. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3)
• Comparison of v2 and v1 flaps, and comments from Elon: “Major design improvement. Lighter, easier to manufacture and less susceptible to high heating.”
• S33 performs a spin prime test. (Hayden / NSF)
• Cameron County Space Port Development Corporation meeting notice is posted.
• SpaceX requests special election to make Starbase newest Cameron County city

KSC:

• Potential info on Roberts Road northern expansion from a meeting agenda from Space Florida. (Stranger 1, Stranger 2)

Starbase activities (2024-12-01):

• Nov 30th cryo delivery tally.
• The long weekend of low activity continues with a quiet Sunday.
• cnunez posts recent photos of the yellow LR11000 at Pad B, and a nosecone with orange dots in Starfactory.
• Pad A launch mount work continues. (StarbasePulse / NSF)

Other:

• BocasBrain posts a photo of the interior of a vehicle propellant tank. I think it’s a ship, not sure which one.

Starbase activities (2024-12-02):

• Dec 1st cryo delivery tally.
• Two 16-axle SPMTs move to Massey’s. (ViX)
• Gisler posts photos of Sanchez: Photo 1, photo 2, photo 3 (includes S26 scrap)
• S34 raceway segments are raised to vertical inside Megabay 2. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Work on the passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler)

Starbase activities (2024-12-06):

• Dec 5th cryo delivery tally.
• Dec 5th addenda: Priel, LabPadre and ViX timelapses of B14 rollout. A new booster forward section emerges from Starfactory.
• Build site: Ship static fire stand moves from Massey’s to build site. (ViX)
• Gisler photos of ship nosecones in Starfactory: S35 (with flaps) and later ships.
• Launch site: B14 is lifted onto launch mount A. (ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Priel, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, SpaceX)
• R366 is spotted on B14 (not B12).
• Booster transport stand leaves the launch site and is parked near Starhopper. (ViX)
• Excavators are observed to be creating some piles of dirt. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Road delays: 2-hour road delays are posted for Dec 9th and 10th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (desde la fabrica hasta Massey’s)

KSC LC-39A:

• Scrapping of the LOX tank begins. (RoughRidersShow / NSF)

Starbase activities (2024-12-07):

• Dec 6th cryo delivery tally.
• Build site: Overnight, an extension is installed on the black LTR1220 crane. (ViX)
• An interesting strainer/funnel is delivered. (ViX)
• Robot welder works on nosecones, humans inspect tiles. (NSF / Mary, cnunez)
• Ring load spreader and S35 payload section enter the Highbay. (ViX, Starship Gazer)
• Launch site: A 16-axle SPMT arrives at the launch site. (ViX)
• B14 testing: Road is closed, NSF livestream starts.
• Frost and propellant load.
• B14 conducts a spin-prime test. (LabPadre, NSF, ViX, Priel)
• Other: A holiday drone light show occurs. (NSF / Anderson timelapse, Gomez full livestream)

KSC LC-39A:

• Scrapping of the LOX tank continues. (NSF, ViX)

Starbase activities (2024-12-10):

• Dec 9th addenda: Raptor work platform and booster transport stand return to the launch site. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Launch site: Overnight, two cryo tanks (one CH4, one LOX) roll out to the launch site. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer)
• The yellow LR11000 counterweight tray is loaded onto an SPMT and driven to the awaiting crane at the tank farm. (ViX)
• B14 is transferred from the launch mount to the transport stand. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, NSF)
• Build site: B14 rolls back to the build site, is fitted with brackets for scaffolding, and enters Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gomez 1, Gomez 2, Priel, NSF 1, NSF 2, Cphillips_03 / NSF, Mary)
• S35 nosecone rolls into the Highbay and is stacked on its payload section. (ViX, Starship Gazer, cnunez)
• A 4-ring barrel section moves from Starfactory to the scrap yard. (ViX)
• Recent photo of launch mount B. (cnunez)
• Recent photo of chopsticks B. (RGV Aerial)
• Dec 10th road closure is revoked, likely indicating that the static fire of B14 on Dec 9th went well.
• 2-hour road delays are posted and revoked for Dec 11th (10:00 to 14:00) and 12th (00:00 to 03:00) for transport from factory to Massey’s.

Flight 7?:

• Bananas are loaded for a classified destination. (Chiquita)

KSC:

• Roberts Road facility expansion continues. (Stranger)
• Scrapping of the LOX tank at LC-39A continues. (RoughRidersShow)

Starbase activities (2024-12-09):

• Dec 8th cryo delivery tally.
• Launch site: In the early morning, a new cryo tank is delivered to the launch site. (LabPadre, ViX)
• Tank transporter departs from the launch complex. (ViX)
• Road delay is posted for Dec 10th from 08:00 to 11:00 for tank installation.
• One lone human at the launch site. (ViX)
• B14 testing: Road is closed. (Roger S / NSF)
• Venting, propellant loading
• B14 performs a static fire. (LabPadre, ViX 1 (timelapse), ViX 2, ViX 3, Starship Gazer, Priel, NSF, Mary, Golden, Doherty, Gomez, SpaceX including an upskirt shot)
• Launch site cont’d: In the afternoon, the new cryo tank is moved into position. (ViX)
• The yellow LR11000 crane moves to near the entrance of the D2 gate. Ramps and cribbing are laid down, and the crane moves towards the tank farm. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• Evening photos of the launch mount and Starhopper site from cnunez.
• Additional recent launch site closeups from RGV Aerial.
• Build site: A single ring is moved from Starfactory to the scrap yard. (ViX)
• One of two methane tanks at Sanchez moves slightly, likely pending rollout to the launch complex overnight. (ViX)
• S35’s nosecone is staged near the Starfactory door, likely pending a move to the Highbay. (ViX)

Flight 6:

• Apparently the banana payload was Chiquita brand (or so they claim).

Flight 7?:

• Chiquita also seem to be alluding to possible future payloads.

KSC LC-39A:

• Scrapping of the LOX tank continues. (ViX)