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Starship Development Thread April 2025 (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/spacex@sh.itjust.works
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SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When next launch? (Flight 8) NET April, "4 to 6 weeks" after Flight 8. (Elon)
  2. When previous launch? (Flight 7)? Booster 15 and Ship 34 launched on 2025-03-06.
  3. What was the result? Booster lands on chopsticks, ship experiences an RUD shortly before SECO.

Quick Links

Nerdle Cam | Lab Cam | Sapphire Cam | Sentinel Cam | Rover Cam | Rover 2.0 Cam | Rocket Ranch Cam | Plex Cam | NSF Starbase Live

Starship Dev March | Starship Dev February | Flight 7 launch thread | Starship Dev January | Starship Dev December | Starship Dev November

Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)

Road closures and road delays

Cameron County website - @bocaroad Mastodon bot

  • Road closures are posted for Apr 3rd and 4th, from 07:00 to 19:00, for non-flight testing activities.

Vehicle Status

*As of 2025-04-08

Ship Location Status Comment
SN2 Rocket Garden Pending scrapping?
S20 Rocket Garden Pending scrapping?
S31 Indian Ocean Successful splashdown Cryo tested May 12th, suffers small electrical fire. Underwent repairs in the Highbay, rolls back to Massey's Jul 1. Cryo tested Jul 2nd and 3rd. Engines installed by Jul 26th. Rolls to Massey's Sep 6th. Partial (aborted) cryo test Sep 8th. Static fired Sep 18th. Preflight checkouts completed Nov 17th. Launched as IFT-6 on Nov 19th. In-space raptor relight was successful, ship survived reentry and performed soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Test Tank 16 Sanchez Resting Cryo tested four times between July and September. Sliding plates added to the catch points on Jan 27th. Moved to Sanchez Mar 15th.
S34 Caribbean Destroyed Methane header tank spotted Aug 14th. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Sep 20th. Stacking completed around end of November. Cryo tested Jan 17th. Static fired Feb 11th. FTS installed Feb 24th. Launched Mar 6th, experienced an RUD shortly before SECO.
S35 Megabay 2 Pending engine install Parts spotted Sep 20th. Forward flap installation Dec 3rd. Nosecone stacked on payload bay Dec 11th. Stacked by Feb 7th. Cryo tested Mar 11th.
S36 Megabay 2 Stacking Parts spotted in December. Stacking began Jan 30th. Moved to Megabay 2 Feb 12th. Stacking completed Mar 11th.
S37 Megabay 2 / Starfactory Stacking / nose cone tiling Parts spotted in December. Forward dome section moves to Megabay 2 Mar 24th.
S38 Starfactory Nose cone tiling Parts spotted in December. Nosecone stacked on payload bay as of Mar 28th.
S39 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted sighted (Apr 9th).
S40 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Apr 10th).
Booster Location Status Comment
B12 Rocket Garden Resting Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched as IFT-5 on Oct 13, returned to launch site for successful chopstick catch. Moved to Megabay 1 Oct 15th.
B14 Megabay 1 Pre-launch checkouts Stacked Apr 26th, Cryo tested Oct 4th and 5th. Static fired Dec 9th. FTS installed Jan 3rd. Wet dress rehearsal performed Jan 10th. Launched and landed Jan 16th. Static fired Apr 3rd.
B15 Rocket Garden Resting Stacked from July to September. Methane tank cryo test Dec 27th, full cryo test Dec 28th. Static fired Feb 9th. Launched and landed Mar 6th.
B16 Megabay 1 Pending engine install Stacking completed by Dec 26th. Cryo tested Feb 28th.
B17 Massey's Cryo testing Parts spotted. First two sections moved to Megabay 1 Jan 4th. Fully stacked by Apr 7th. Cryo tested Apr 9th.
B18.1 Build site Assembly Likely a test article for Block 2 boosters. Parts spotted Feb 24th.

Resources

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[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

Starbase activities (2025-04-11):

McGregor:

  • Horizontal Raptor test stand beats its previous record of 385 seconds with a 460 second test. (Hayden / NSF)

KSC:

  • Launch mount for LC-39A is under construction. (NSF)
[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

April 9th addenda:

Starbase activities (2025-04-10):

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Starbase activities (2025-04-09):

  • Apr 8th cryo delivery tally.
  • Apr 8th addenda: Cryo test performed on B17 methane tank. (NSF)
  • The black LTR1220 crane lifts an aft flap into Megabay 2 in the direction of S35. (ViX)
  • Launch site: The last remaining (6 of 6) vertical vaporizer is removed from the Pad B end of the tank farm. (ViX)
  • Pad A chopstick landing rails are raised and lowered. (ViX)
  • A large elbow pipe for the Pad B water deluge is lifted into place. (ViX)
  • Roundabout construction continues. (Gisler)
  • Build site: Highbay demolition continues. Roof mostly gone, wall removal begins. (NSF, ViX, Gisler)
  • Starfactory cladding removal continues. (Gisler)
  • S38 nosecone receives its first forward flap. (Starship Gazer)
  • S39 nosecone is spotted. (Starship Gazer)
  • B15 moves from the Rocket Garden to Megabay 1. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler)
  • Massey's: B17 performs its 2nd cryo test, mainly the LOX tank this time, possibly a small fill on the methane tank. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • 2-hour road delay is posted for Apr 11th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from pad to factory. Not sure what this would be for, as there aren't any vehicles currently at the pad. ViX speculates that it may be for B17 rollback from Massey's.
  • RGV Aerial post a couple recent flyover photos of Massey's, confirming that the new booster quick-disconnect has two ports, and noting a potential booster thrust simulator.
  • Other: Photos of alleged hold-down arms for Pad B are posted. (mcrs987, OliverNerd7)
[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-04-08):

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-04-07):

  • Apr 6th cryo delivery tally.
  • Launch site: B14 is lifted from the launch mount to the transport stand. (LabPadre, ViX)
  • A LOX pump motor and a vapourizer are removed from the tank farm. (ViX)
  • The pump beneath the motor is lifted out and swapped over into sump #5. (ViX)
  • Chopsticks at Pad B perform some lateral tests. (ViX)
  • Work on the Pad B flame trench and gantry continues. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
  • The green pipes for the water deluge have now been buried. (Gisler)
  • Grackles and gulls. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Build site: Demolition of the Highbay resumes. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, Roger S / NSF, Gisler)
  • S39 header tank is sighted in Starfactory. (Beyer)
  • A Booster cryo test stand and a booster cap arrive outside Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Booster cap and cryo test stand enter Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • B17 is lifted onto the cryo test stand. Rollout to Massey's is expected. (ViX)

KSC:

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-04-06):

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Starbase activities (2025-04-05):

  • Apr 4th cryo delivery tally.
  • Pretty quiet Saturday.
  • The Berry LTM11200 crane (which had been moved off to the side to facilitate booster rollout) has now been relocated to the rear of the Highbay, possibly to resume demolition work. (ViX)
[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago

Starbase activities (2025-04-04):

  • Apr 3rd cryo delivery tally.
  • Scaffolding outside of the Highbay is dismantled. (ViX)
  • B14 still on the launch mount. (Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2)
  • 2-hour road delay is posted for Apr 8th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey's. (S35 rollout?)
  • 1-hour road delay is posted for Apr 8th between 10:00 and 14:00 for transport from pad to factory. (B14 rollback?)

KSC:

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago

Starbase activities (2025-04-01):

Note for Piefed users: Post pinning doesn't seem to consistently federate from Lemmy to Piefed, but you can click "notify about replies" (on the original post, not this comment) to stay up to date with this thread.

[-] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

I enjoy the format of these threads, they're packed with juicy details, but you can also quickly skim over and still get a useful overview, if you've had too much caffeine. Thank you for the enthusiasm you put in to these, I can tell that it's from the heart. My favorite is the Rocket Garden update and location data, Starbase is expanding so quickly!

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks! It's nice to know that people appreciate these threads :)

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Starbase activities (2025-04-02):

[-] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Starbase activities (2025-04-03):

Flight 9:

  • SpaceX confirm B14 will be the booster for this flight.
this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2025
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