The SpaceX Starship program is the development of a fully reusable, two-stage super heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to transport crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, it aims to revolutionize space access by reducing launch costs, with capabilities for in-space refueling and rapid reusability

SpaceX Starship is developed, manufactured, and launched at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. Located at the southernmost tip of Texas near the Mexican border and Brownsville, this facility includes a dedicated production site, rocket factory, and an orbital launch site. A full production facility is under construction at Florida's Cape Canaveral. Both sites will be used to launch supplies and eventually astronauts not only to the moon but to Mars, the main objective

Launch pad 2 has been completed. It is fully functional and will be used to launch its first flight, test flight 12, on the May 15th. The booster was placed on the pad May 6th for a static test. With the booster locked down to the pad it was fueled and a test of the Raptor 3 engines was run firing up 33 engines. Many tests were run to make sure it was ready for flight. Stacking of Starship was completed today placing the "ship" on top of the booster

There are two Orbital Launch and Integration Towers (OLIT) at each site, Texas and Florida. They are 500 feet tall and are fully robotic making them the "world's largest robots" nicknamed "Mechazilla". Starship once stacked is 400 feet tall making it not only the tallest rocket but is also the most powerful ever developed. The towers are also designed to catch the boosters on their return from flight and will eventually catch Starship - Test flight 8 launch and catch of the booster! All has to be perfectly aligned or the booster will be landed in the gulf offshore. You gotta watch this!


Starship


! LIVE- Starbase Live - 24/7 Starship & Super Heavy Development From SpaceX's Boca Chica Facility. You can run the slider back


Booster 19 Rollout to Pad 2

ADDED: Daytime Booster Rollout to Pad 2

Booster Static Fire Test for this flight

Starship 39 Rollout and Stack - Pad 2 - exit out of sign in and enlarge

ADDED: Daytime Stack of Starship 30- Pad 2


Developing New Launch Tower For Starship Block 3 - Block 3(V3) is latest ship and booster design, its first launch


NASAspaceflight(NSF)_Latest Update

NASASpaceflight


Launch Date

Thanks, Orion.

Thanks Orion.

Thank you, Orion 😬😬😬

Thank you Orion

The Orbital Launch and Integration Tower (OLIT)

Starship Pad 2's gantry (OLIT-3) is designed to rapidly increase launch capacity, featuring upgraded, shorter "chopstick" arms for quicker, more precise catches of the Starship upper stage, especially for V3 vehicles. It supports, stacks, fuels, and catches both Super Heavy and Starship, with integrated deluge, improved structural, and faster turnaround capabilities - Pad 2 with booster


Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) - The main launch pad structure that the SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster sits on. It has a number of functions:

Booster Hold-Down Clamps - Enlarge. These clamps secure the booster to the pad. Mounted lasers make sure the booster is properly positioned for propellant Quick Disconnects

Ship Quick Disconnects(SQD) and Deluge System - SQD's are located on the OLM and on the tower. The 2 QD's on the launch mount load the booster with propellants. There is another QD on the tower that fuels Starship. It sits on a SQD arm that swings out of the way after disconnecting from Starship for launch. These QD's can also de-tank both Starship and booster - Both QDs retracting. Scroll to 2:37 for a 1 1/2 minute look at the OLM Quick Disconnects

Image of the Chopsticks and Quick Disconnect Arm

Fueling


The OLIT's Mechanical Arm also know as "Chopsticks"(Video) - these lift the booster on to the OLM and stack Starship on top the booster


How SpaceX Catches Rockets


NSF Latest Update

Wow, another awesome update! Thank you Orion

Thanks for the updates Orion.

This morning at 4 am EST May 12th Starship was removed from the booster for what reason it is not yet known. Starship's Quick Disconnect was retracted and plugged back into Starship a number of times pryor this de-stack. It retracted and the SQD arm was swung off to the right for Starship de-stack. At this time it sits on a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT) next to the pad. Launch Pad Technicians on the ground were using a manlift taking a look at the area where the propellants are loaded into Starship


NSF latest update- update pryor Starship de-stack

New Launch Date - May 19th


* Starbase Live


EDITS May 12th:

1. Starship 39 is going back to the Starbase Factory. The move back to the factory started at 10:30 am EST

2. Starship arrived at the factory and was rolled into Mega Bay 2

3. Booster 19 is now being pulled out of the Launch Mount. The pull started at 3 pm EST landing it on it's transporter. We have an empty launch pad

4. The booster started its roll back to the factory at 5:45 pm EST. It too went into a Maga Bay. They roll the booster standing straight up on it's transporter. It's quite the site

A later update should explain this de-stack


I'm guessing there is a problem with the fuel intakes on the booster and Starship having mating issues with their Quick Disconnects. I have seen Launch Pad Technicians climbing all over these areas after the full stack. Their first attempt at a Wet Dress Rehearsal was cut short. A WDR is a dry run test launch loading propellants into both booster and Starhip at the same time eventually de-tanking both. It is a practice launch. This new Starship design,V3 series, and new launch tower may be having issues working together

Timelapse of a WDR

Thanks Orion, for keeping us updated and explaining what they are doing.

* Starbase Live - With both Starship and booster in Mega Bays Launch Pad Technicians are taking this time to work on launch complex 2. They've been working on several areas of the tower and on the Orbital Launch Mount, the structure the booster sits on. Here is a video of Booster 19's removal from the OLM landing it on it's transporter - Booster De-stack

Workers on the SpaceX Starship launch pad are primarily called Launch Pad Technicians. These technicians are responsible for fabricating, installing, and maintaining critical fluid system components, including valves, regulators, and gauges on the launch mount and orbital integration tower


SpaceX's Starship Launch Coverage

Great information Orion ... thank you

Starship Test Flight 5 - This has to be the best launch, booster catch and a ride back into Earth's atmosphere. Great video, nice views of Earth and a ride on starship entering atmosphere. Plazma surrounds the ship then it gets hot, it's an amazing site

Watch the launch to booster catch, towers first catch, and be sure to watch the re-entry starting 45 minutes in

Test flights up to this point have been trying to get Starship back to earth unscathed. Test Flight 4 landed in the Indian Ocean. It was seriously damaged. Flight 5 experienced minor heat shield damage to its flaps during re- entry. Every flight has a new heat shield configuration and possible body upgrades - flight 12 is version 3

* Starbase Live