Starbase activities (2024-07-11):

• Pad B: First tower section is installed (LabPadre, ViX). Crews working on bolts. NSF livestream, NSF timelapse, Starship Gazer photo 1, photo 2, DeffJeff timelapse, Cargile photo, Gomez timelapse, cnunez photo.
• B12 testing at Pad A: Tank farm starts up, Cowbell venting, frost on LOX tank, more cowbell venting. Tanking test, road is reopened open. Grid fin and ship quick disconnect are tested. NSF timelapse.
• Raptor work table moves towards Pad A.
• Build site: Another B15 forward section is staged outside Megabay 1.
• Road delays for tower segment transportation are posted for July 11th through 19th, all 22:00 to 03:00 the following day.

Other:

• BingoBoca posts some nice labelled maps from RGV Aerial flyovers.

Starbase activities (2024-08-24):

• Aug 23rd cryo delivery tally.
• Aug 23rd addendum: B14.1 is outfitted with two load point arms. S33 is connected to aft section and heads towards welding station. (LabPadre timelapse, Starship Gazer closeup)
• Not too much action reported on the 24th.
• Test Tank 16 still at Massey’s. (cnunez, Gisler)
• Pad A: Work on chopsticks continues. (Gisler)
• RGV Aerial post photos of the build site and Pad B flame trench construction from their recent flyover.

Starbase activities (2024-08-22):

• Aug 21st cryo delivery tally. (Yes, 21st)
• Aug 21st addendum: Move video of ship quick disconnect extension and retraction tests. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Pad A: Chopsticks work continues. Nice clear photo of actuator pistons.
• Pad B: Load spreader disconnects from tower. Work on flame trench is under way. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• S30 receives a Mechazilla decal. Unknown if B12 will receive one too. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Mary, Gisler (sort of))

Starbase activities (2024-07-14):

• Jul 13th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Overnight, LTR 1220 crane lifts 2nd elevator section into tower.
• Pad A: Scaffolding is removed from launch mount. Movac trucks empty the retention pond and the detonation suppression system is tested. B12 static fire on Jul 15th seems possible.
• Build site: A Starship V2 nosecone rolls from Starfactory to the Highbay. Starship Gazer identifies it as S33.
• LabPadre comparison of Starship V1 vs V2.

Other:

• New Ringwatcher’s article: What’s New on Super Heavy Booster 12?
• Possible new design for launch mount hold-down arms is spotted at McGregor.

Starbase activities (2024-07-17):

• Jul 16th addendum: Starkitty sighted :)
• Jul 16th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, tower module 3 rolls out to Pad B. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
• Tower module rolls into position and the load spreader is attached in the around midday.
• At Pad B, a column to support the Drawworks flooring and an angled wall section are moved into place.
• Another elevator shaft section is installed in tower B, and the construction elevator is now operational.
• Pad A: The LR 11000 crane moves towards the launch mount.
• The remaining chopstick is preparing for transport from Brownsville Port to Starbase.

This thread maybe, next thread definitely!

Starbase activities (2024-07-10):

• Jul 9th addendum (ViX, NSF, Doherty): Tank farm offload area is functional again, B12 is lifted onto launch mount, and booster transport stand returns to build site.
• Jul 9th cryo delivery tally.
• S31 moves back into Megabay 2. Ship is lifted from transport stand onto turntable.
• Pad B: Tower segment #1 moves towards the tower base. CC8800-1 crane is lowered, then raised. Load spreader is attached to tower segment.
• Build site morning video tour.
• Amended road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted, and the July 10th 12:00 to 00:00 closure is scheduled.
• Booster quick disconnect retracts from B12 (not B13). Some venting from B12, followed by road reopening.
• Two July 11th closures ranging from 08:00 to midnight are possible, and one July 12th closure from 08:00 to 00:00 is possible.

Other:

• Recent Starship Gazer videos on Tower B construction and S30 heat shield replacement.
• SpaceX publicly responds to a NYT article on the affects of Starbase on piping plover populations. It is somewhat unusual to see an official SpaceX social media account used in this manner. Anyone else remember any similar examples?

Starbase activities (2024-08-05):

• Aug 4 cryo delivery tally.
• Lowering of the CC8800-1 crane main boom is completed. (LabPadre, ViX, DeffGeff)
• Crane masts are lowered, and unreeved. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, clwphoto1)
• Some sort of utility pole structure is erected.
• Static fire stand arrives at the build site and enters Megabay 2 (LabPadre, ViX).
• S30 is set for transport to Massey’s, presumably to test the engine which was replaced.
• 2 hour road delay is posted for 2024-08-06 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to Massey’s.
• 1 hour road delay is posted for 2024-08-07 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from production to pad.
• RGV Aerial post a recent photo of the entire area.

McGregor:

• SpaceX likely running Superheavy catch profiles. Relight test had a 3m 13s gap, same as B11 between boostback and landing burns.

Starbase activities (2024-08-06):

• Aug 5th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, S30 rolls out to Massey’s. (LabPadre, ViX, tibininin, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• Reconfiguration of the CC8800-1 crane is underway (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, NSF)
• cnunez posts an image of the build site.
• B14.1 is on the move, likely to the launch mount.

Starbase activities (2024-08-07):

• Aug 6th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, B14.1 rolls out to the launch site. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF)
• B14.1 is lifted onto the launch mount. (LabPadre 1, LabPadre 2, ViX, Mary, NSF, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• New entrance to launch site is under construction.
• CC8800-1 crane reconfiguration continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Gisler)
• S30 at Massey’s. Tank farm venting, and spin prime completed.
• 2-hour road delay is posted for August 9th or 10th, for transport from Massey’s to pad. (Return of S30?)
• Starkitty sighted :)

Starbase activities (2024-08-08):

• Aug 7th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, a 3 ring LOX section moves from Starfactory to MB2, and is mated with existing S33 nose. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Test tank 16 and a nosecone spotted in Starfactory. (ViX)
• CC8800-1 crane reconfiguration continues. Looks like it is nearing completion. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5, Roger S, ViX 6, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• Office construction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• NSF fly over Starbase, and note that SpaceX now has full access to the patch of land between Starfactory and the new offices.

Other:

• First Raptor 3 test fire (Elon 1, Elon 2, NSF)
• Frost comparison from TheSpaceEngineer.
• Gwynne fires a shot at Tory. You might even say she shot well.
• SpaceX states that IFT-5 vehicles are “ready to fly, pending regulatory approval”.
• NSF summary reading between the lines.

Starbase activities (2024-08-21):

• Aug 20th cryo delivery tally.
• Continuous flight auger drill moves from pad B to Sanchez. (ViX, Golden 1, Golden 2, Golden 3)
• Pad A: Ship quick disconnect is extended. All 3 bumper blocks are removed from both starboard and port chopsticks. Chopstick movement observed in the evening. Newly installed “acuter” (actuator) piston is spotted by Gisler.
• Pad B: The 9th and final tower module is stacked. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, NSF 4, NSF timelapse, NSF livestream, Golden, cnunez 1, cnunez 2, cnunez 3, Gisler 1 (pre-lift safety meeting), Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4, Gomez 1, Gomez 2, clwphoto1, SpaceX)
• LR11000 crane is on the move.
• Massey’s: The “can crusher” jig is placed on Test Tank 16. Horizontal tank 2 of 3 arrives from Brownsville port. (ViX, Gisler)
• Starkitty sighted :) (ViX 1, ViX 2)

Other:

• Compilation of Tower B stacking. (LabPadre)

Starbase activities (2024-08-31):

• Not too much action reported today.
• Chopsticks work continues. (NSF (lightning!))
• New attachments added onto Starhopper prior to potential relocation. (Mary, RGV Aerial, Hammer)
• RGV Aerial post recent photos of Test Tank 16 at Massey’s, Rocket Garden (labelled), Pad A (chopsticks work), and Pad B (flame trench).

Other:

• New CSI Starbase episode: How To Prevent Raptors From Destroying Superheavy Pt.2

Starbase activities (2024-08-30):

• Aug 29th cryo delivery tally.
• Aug 29th evening addendum: S33 is moved to the centre work stand in Megabay 2. (cnunez closeup)
• Pad A: Chopsticks work continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Construction of passageway between Starfactory and offices continues. (Gisler)
• Partially tiled nosecone in Starfactory has been turned around. (Gisler)
• B15 final forward section still outside Megabay 1.
• Zack Golden’s thoughts on the upcoming booster catch tests. (TL;DR: “be patient”)
• 1 hour road delay is posted for 2024-09-04 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from pad to parking lot.

Starbase activities (2024-09-04):

• Sep 3rd cryo delivery tally.
• Sep 3rd addendum: Starhopper relocation timelapse. (ViX)
• Overnight, chopstick rails are tested again. (ViX)
• Chopsticks work continues. (cnunez) Ship lifting pin is reinstalled on the port-side chopstick. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Starboard-side pin may have been reinstalled. (ViX)
• Welding on chopstick bumpers. (Hammer)
• Documentary interview being filmed on chopsticks? (Hammer)
• Starhopper’s new home. (ViX)
• SPMTs arrive at the build site, likely for S31.
• 2-hour road delay is posted for 2024-09-06 between 00:00 and 03:00 for transport from Megabay to Massey’s.

Starbase activities (2024-07-12):

• Jul 10th and 11th cryo delivery tally.
• Overnight, tower segment #2 rolls out to Pad B (LabPadre, NSF, ViX).
• More B12 testing today: Raptor work table moves away from Pad A, road is closed. Still plenty of scaffolding near B12, so static fire is unlikely.
• Tank farm is active (ViX, NSF), chine venting and more venting, launch mount venting and more venting, methane recondensers are active.
• B12 spin prime test (LabPadre, ViX, NSF 1, NSF 2). “Cowbell” venting also visible. Chopsticks lower.
• Ship quick disconnect and engine bay purge tests (LabPadre timelapse). SQD retracts and returns, engine bay purge test 1 and test 2, SQD test 2 (retract and return), SQD test 3 (retract and return)
• Build site video tour: Crews work on tower segments at Sanchez, car park painting continues.
• Massey’s: Crews spotted at the top of a tower.
• Brownsville port: Final tower segment preparing for transport (Doherty, Gomez).
• Road closures for “non-flight testing” are posted for July 15th through 17th, all 06:00 to 18:00.

Other:

• FAA is assessing proposal to increase flight rate at Starbase up to 25 launches and landings per year.