SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship updates

By DocM
in Science News & Discussion

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

DocM

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It. Is. Happening....

 

Brownsville Herald...

 


>
SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson said in an email that the Starship prototype was moved to the launch pad in preparation for testing, though the public won't be able to see the first tests. 

"SpaceX will conduct checkouts of the newly installed ground systems and perform a short static fire test in the days ahead," he said. 

"Although the prototype is designed to perform sub-orbital flights, or hops, powered by the SpaceX Raptor engine, the vehicle will be tethered during initial testing and hops will not be visible from offsite. SpaceX will establish a safety zone perimeter in coordination with local enforcement and signage will be in place to alert the community prior to the testing."
>

  • Nogib and Blue-Vision
  • Like 2
Grand Master

DocM

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Aerial view of the Starship Prototype test launch site, which still needs a few items for high altitude tests. The square pad has heavily reinforced hard points for the legs.

 

 

Another angle showing the full launch site, looking towards the Gulf of Mexico.

 

1591311837_IMG_20190309_145554-2048(1).thumb.jpg.28244ae984db16226126bc0b9a6031a1.jpg

 

Same source, overview of the build site.

 

In front of the Sprung structure is the original build jig. Between it and the Sprung is the first new cylinder. 

 

To the right background, surrounded by shipping containers,  is a second build site with another cylinder.

 

The Starship Hopper at center is now at the pad, moved there by a transporter rig similar to those used for moving large items and houses

 

IMG_20190309_143558-2048.thumb.jpg.9bbf24e90b7f7df193ab6117e11e12ce.jpg

 

Edited by DocM
  • Blue-Vision
  • Like 1
Grand Master

TrevorLahey

Posted
Posted
On 3/8/2019 at 7:11 PM, DocM said:

Now we know why the Starship Hopper was moved today!

 

 

 

Are they still working on the nose cone?  I could see them sending this up without.  In my non-engineer opinion, I'm not sure it does a whole lot for them other than it makes it look more like a rocket.

  • Blue-Vision
  • Like 1
Grand Master

DocM

Posted
  • Author
Posted

There are two build sites at Boca Chica, and they're working on new cylinders at each. The steel is much shinier, thicker and they're being seam welded by machine.

 

One may well be a nose cone, but it wouldn't surprise me if Starship Mk 1 is also being built - or soon will be. 

  • TrevorLahey and Blue-Vision
  • Like 2
Grand Master

DocM

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Raptor SN2 installed today, tests very soon. 

 

KRGV News...

 

Quote


SpaceX Confirms Test Launch of Rocket Prototype Days Away

EAR BROWNSVILLE SpaceX officials confirm that a test launch of the rocket prototype at the Boca Chica Beach site is just days away.

SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson confirmed in a statement:

SpaceX will conduct checkouts of the newly installed ground systems and perform a short static fire test in the days ahead. Although the prototype is designed to perform sub-orbital flights, or hops, powered by the SpaceX Raptor engine, the vehicle will be tethered during initial testing and hops will not be visible from offsite."

Terry Heaton, a Boca Chica Beach Village resident, says with the test launch approaching he is worried about access to the area during testing. 

Heaton says he hasn't received any word from county officials or SpaceX about any plans for them to leave their home, road closures or access to the area. 
>

Yes, he has, and per the EIS village residents will be allowed in and out. Beach access is restricted.

Grand Master

DocM

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

:woot:

Austin Barnard🚀 @austinbarnard45
Do y'all think #SpaceX will attempt some sort of test, With only one raptor or wait for the other two to arrive. It's honestly been boggling my mind.
|
Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk
First (really short) hops with one engine. Suborbital flights with three.
|
Hopefully. Always many issues integrating engine & stage. First hops will lift off, but only barely.
|
Raptor is *very* complex, even for a staged combustion engine. Were simplifying as much as possible with each iteration. Throttling down to ~50% is hard, but manageable. Going to 25% would be extremely tough, but hopefully not needed.
|
Working on regulatory approval for both Boca Chica, Texas, and Cape Kennedy, Florida. Will also be building Starship & Super Heavy simultaneously in both locations.
|

 

So the two new build sites in Texas are Starship Mk 1,and they'll be flying from the Eastern Range!!

Edited by DocM
  • TrevorLahey
  • Like 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • U.S. delegation throws away all burner phones and gifts from China before takeoff

      By AsherGZ · Posted

      Oh, of course not. The real "victims" are the people who snipe kids in the head, have killed more journalist than all the worlds wars combined, do double tap strikes on medical personnel, claim history started on October 7th, have a $700 million dollar annual Hasbara budget and pay influencers $7k a post to spout exactly this kind of propaganda. How dare you question the most moral army in the world. Victimhood belongs to these genocidal freaks alone. Anyone who denies that is literally Hitler. If you're going to support a terrorist state, the least you could do is come up with better talking points.
    • Gears of War: E-Day brings 12-player co-op, smoother traversal mechanics, and more

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Gears of War: E-Day brings 12-player co-op, smoother traversal mechanics, and more by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Right as the Xbox Games Showcase came to an end today, The Gears of War developer The Coalition took over to show off its next project: E-Day. This prequel project was announced back in 2024, but now we have a lot more details about its campaign, new gameplay mechanics, and even a release date. The studio says this is the first time it has managed to get the time to build the entire game in a new engine, as it had worked non-stop on new titles for years while porting classic code and assets. With Unreal Engine 5 now powering Gears of War: E-Day, The Coalition says it started completely anew, with all assets, animations, environments, and others being built from scratch. The campaign will take place across three days in the city of Kalona. The story will follow the events through the eyes of Bravo Squad. This is made up of the returning classic duo Marcus and Dom, as well as the new characters Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes. Watch the trailer below to see Marcus in action without his iconic armor and gear, just as the Locust invasion kicks off. The story will draw on classic Gears novels like Aspho Fields as well, with the studio even collaborating with author Karen Traviss. "That continuity is what makes the destruction land," says the studio. "In E-Day, you watch a living city torn apart—homes still lit, meals half-finished—while people abandon their cars and run for cover. Small details—a child’s toy, an uneaten dinner—make the loss real as everyday places collapse under the Locust assault." The movement system is getting a big overhaul here. Players will be able to slide while running, jump across gaps, climb head-height covers, and even crawl on the ground to avoid fire from enemies. As for the returning horde mode, The Coalition teased a new 12-player PvE mode. This will involve three squads of Gears going up against the incoming Locusts in larger city maps than usual. The studio says that it is going to reimagine the classic formula just as co-op games are going through a resurgence. Multiplayer was touched on today too, where Versus is coming back touting four versus four Gears PVP action set across Kalona maps. More details about multiplayer will be revealed later. Open beta weekends are kicking off this August for fans wanting to jump in early too. Gears of War: E-Day is releasing on Xbox Series X|S and PC on October 6 with pre-orders available now. It will also be a part of Xbox Game Pass on day one. Microsoft has confirmed this as an Xbox platform exclusive, as there are no plans to bring it to PlayStation or Switch.
    • This Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 32GB RAM with RGB is a great deal for limited time

      By neufuse · Posted

      I paid less than that for 128GB of DDR5......
    • Microsoft announces the return of Xbox exclusives with Gears of War and Clockwork Revolution

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Microsoft announces the return of Xbox exclusives with Gears of War and Clockwork Revolution by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Microsoft had plenty of announcements to make today at the Xbox Games Showcase celebrating 25 years of the gaming brand. Now, under the leadership of the new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Xbox games are going back to their original release methods. She appeared in the livestream itself to announce the return of Xbox console exclusives. This means two major upcoming games from first-party studios won't be coming to PlayStation or Nintendo consoles: Gears of War: E-Day from The Coalition and Clockwork Revolution from InExile. Both titles will only be coming out on Xbox Series X|S consoles and Windows PCs, ditching any plans they had for PlayStation. "These are not timed exclusives," confirmed Microsoft. "We’re committed to investing in and growing XBOX both on console and beyond." The company confirmed that any already announced Xbox titles for PlayStation, under previous leadership, will continue to arrive for the rival platform. This means games like the new Halo remake, Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and State of Decay 3 will still be available on PlayStation, either at launch or later. It sounds like any new projects announced by the company will avoid other consoles in the same way. Microsoft first opened the floodgates by bringing titles like Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, and Pentiment to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles back in 2024. Since then, almost every new game release from Xbox Game Studios has arrived for rival consoles alongside Xbox and PC. This decision follows Sony's plans to ditch its own multiplatform releases too. Outside of multiplatform live service titles, the PlayStation maker is even abandoning its PC porting endeavors that started years ago.
    • This Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 32GB RAM with RGB is a great deal for limited time

      By xMorpheousx416 · Posted

      I'm missing the beginning part of this equation... but for the sake of the convo, you don't get to take a $250(?) set of normally priced RAM, jack it up to over $500/600/800 just because of a market shift, then lower it back down to more than what it was originally and call that a "sale". Not the author of this post... the manufacturer/seller.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Proficient
      Eric Biran went up a rank
      Proficient
    • Dedicated
      Conjor earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Week One Done
      Windows Guy earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Dedicated
      Mark Spruce earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Collaborator
      conkir earned a badge
      Collaborator

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      479
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      243
    3. 3
      Steven P.
      72
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      66
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      65
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!