Daily News Updates for SpaceX Starship

30th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN8 lifted on to Launch Mount....view. Starship SN8 has been lifted on to the launch mount at SpaceX Boca Chica ahead of a test series that will open with proof testing over the coming days.
29th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN8 Rolled Out to Launch site - SN9 Forward Dome Readied for Stacking....view. With Starship SN8's lift on to the launch mount delayed by high winds, SpaceX Boca Chica focused on future preps, including for Super Heavy and on the crane that will potentially stack it.
28th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Super Heavy LOX Tank Section - Liebherr LR1600/2 Crawler Crane Delivered....view. A section of the first Super Heavy booster's LOX tank (labeled "LOX STACK - 4 BOOSTER") was spotted by Mary today and a crane worthy of stacking it was delivered, a Liebherr LR1600/2 Crawler Crane [Max. Load Capacity: 600 t (1322773 lbs) / Max. Hoist Height: 187 m (613 ft)]. Also delivered were a thrust puck, a downcomer, and some LN2.
27th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN9 Forward Section Stacked - SN8 Waits for Lift....view. As Starship SN8 waited to be lifted onto the mount at Pad A, the forward section of SN9 was stacked (off camera). New weather stations were installed, work on and around the launch site continued, and some scrap rolls of stainless steel were moved.
26th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN8 Rolled Out to Launch site - SN9 Forward Dome Readied for Stacking....view. Starship SN8 was rolled to the launch site ahead of a cryo testing campaign and eventual static fires and flight. SN9's forward bulkhead was prepared for stacking on top of the rest of the vehicle, a tank was moved from the tank farm to the gas well lot, and work on the High Bay continued.
25th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Baby Starships, Assemble!...view. As the High Bay continues its roof installation, lots of baby Starships (and a Super Heavy) are gathering at the Production Site.
24th: SpaceX McGregor, Texas - Full duration test fire of the Raptor Vacuum engine completed....view. The vacuum engine has a much larger bell nozzel than the sea-level raptor for propulsion in space.
-do- SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN8 Folds Its Fins....view. While High Bay work continues, SN8 is worked on while its flaps remain folded back from an earlier test (not pictured). A header tank for SN11 was spotted and the tank farm gets some modifications....What next?
23rd: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN8 Gets Fins - SN7.1 Burst Test Aftermath....view. SN8 now has both AFT Flaps installed, and the view is stunning. SN7.1 successfully failed last night, and the aftermath of the burst test is evident in the stellar footage captured this morning by Mary. Also, Roof work on the High Bay, and work around the Build Site continued.
-do- SpaceX Boca Chica - SN7.1 Tested to Failure - Slow Motion Replay....view. Starship Test Tank SN7.1 was pressurized to bursting point - on purpose - to aid data into the construction of future Starships made from 304L Steel Alloy. Replay video at various speeds, plus comparison views to SN7's burst test.
22nd: SpaceX Boca Chica - First Super Heavy Booster Parts - SN8 Flaps Installed....view. An amazing day of progress at SpaceX Boca Chica as Starship SN8 rolled out of the Mid Bay for Aft Fin installation while the first section of the Super Heavy prototype was spotted.
21st: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN11 Leg Skirt Spotted - High Bay Roof Work....view. Starship SN11's Leg Skirt, the portion of the vehicle that sits below the thrust puck/aft bulkhead, and contains/shrouds the Raptor engines and legs, was spotted by Mary being moved into a production tent. High Bay roof work was in full swing with Bluezilla barely breaking a sweat and SN7.1 was prepared for its imminent doom.
20th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN9 Forward Dome Details - Thrust Simulator Moved to Pad A....view. Starship SN9's Forward Dome was outside its fabrication tent and Mary caught some exquisitely detailed video and photos. SN10's Common Dome section was outside briefly, the Nosecone family was moved back outside, the Thrust Simulator was moved from Pad B to Pad A and work on the High Bay continued.
19th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN8 Gets Aerodynamic Surfaces - SN9 Fwd Dome Gets Tesla Battery....view. SN8's aerodynamic surfaces continued to take shape today, as SN9 patiently waited next to it in the Mid Bay for its next section to be stacked. Speaking of, SN9's Forward bulkhead (aka FWD Dome) was spotted by Mary in a fabrication tent with a Tesla battery installed. Work on the High Bay and Launch Pads as well as on SN7.1 continued, and the nosecone family was moved inside the nosecone tent.
18th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN7.1 Recap. Following arrival at the launch site on its mobile test stand early in the week, test tank SN7.1 was hooked up for a cryogenic proof test. Following that test, the tank was installed on launch mount B and pressure tested to simulate the force exerted by additional raptor engines. Test completed, the tank was moved back to the mobile mount and welded down. Overnight 17th/18th, a tank test was conducted which was expected to result in a 'pop' (test to destruction). However, after this test the vehicle is still intact so we await news of further tests.
-do - SpaceX Boca Chica - SN7.1 Burst Test Attempt - SN5 and 6 Moved Into High Bay....view. SN7.1's burst test that failed to end in failure of the test tank and so it gets to live a bit longer. SN5 and 6 were moved into the High Bay, potentially due to high winds, new legs and a new downcomer were delivered. Work on the High Bay continues and a common dome section was prepared for flipping.
17th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN9 Gets Legs - SN7.1's Last Day....view. SN9's Aft Skirt (aka Thrust Skirt) was spotted with legs installed. SN7.1 tried to enjoy its last day on Earth before tonight's expected burst test. Body Flaps and potential associated actuation hardware also made an appearance, while Bluezilla gets back in action after a short break.
16th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Huge New Tank Delivered - SN7.1 Burst Test Preps....view. A massive new propellant tank was delivered to the launch site, and it's not one of the three that have been stored at the old gas well lot for a while now. A common dome was sleeved overnight, a beautiful new thrust dome was outside briefly, and SN7.1 was readied to be moved off of Pad B ahead of its potentially destructive burst test.
15th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN8 Aerocovers Installed....view. Preparations for SN8's test flight continue with the installation of aerocovers where the aft body flaps attach to the vehicle. Meanwhile, SN9 continues to grow, with another section stacked- Orbital Pad and High Bay construction continue, and the tank farm takes delivery of some Liquid Nitrogen.
14th: SpaceX Boca Chica - New Legs and Thrust Puck Delivered....view. New legs were delivered along with a fresh Thrust Puck. The SN7.1 Test Tank is hooked up for testing, SN9's Thrust Section was flipped ahead of stacking, and work around the entire site continued.
13th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN9 Stacking Begins....view. The build site continues to get more crowded with the first section of Starship SN9 moved into the Mid Bay for stacking. A thrust section, probably for SN9, was readied to be flipped ahead of stacking. Lead-ins are visible on SN8 to aid in nosecone installation. A New set of fins are on site, and work on SN7.1, the Orbital Pad, and the structures near Pad A continued.
12th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN6 Moved Out Of Mid Bay - High Bay Roof Work Continues....view. Starship SN6's post flight inspections appear to be complete with it being moved out of the Mid Bay, next to its twin SN5. Work on the roof of the High Bay continued, some new unknown parts were delivered, and SN7.1 had been mounted on Starship Pad B.
-do- SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship Test Tank SN7.1 readied for Burst Test....view. The Starship SN7.1 Test Tank has been moved on to the test mount with the hydraulic rams ahead of an expected burst test as a pathfinder for upcoming Starships.
11th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Rainy Day Drive Past....view. While we wait for more Starship SN7.1 action and the weather to clear up, an overview of the entire Boca Chica site, courtesy of Mary.
10th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship Aerocover Sighted....view. An aerocover, the surface that will provide aerodynamic shaping to the areas between the fins and body of Starship was sighted by Mary. What could be parts for a new launch mount were delivered, and work on the High Bay, SN7.1, and Orbital Launch Pad continued.
9th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN11 Parts Spotted....view. Starship SN11's Aft Dome Section, the three ring stack that will eventually go over the Aft Dome was spotted by Mary today, that makes at least SN8, SN9, SN10, and SN11 all in production simultaneously. Work on the Orbital Pad, Starship Pads, High Bay and SN7.1 continued.
8th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN10 Forward Dome Sleeved - SN7.1 Test Preps....view. Starship Serial Number 10's forward dome was sleeved with a 4 ring stack, large pieces of the High Bay's roof were lifted into place, SN7.1 was readied for its test campaign and work continued around the entire facility.
7th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN7.1 Test Tank Rolled Out For Testing....view. Following SN6's return to the build site, SN7.1 was rolled out to the launch site for testing. SN7.1 uses a new type of steel and newer manufacturing techniques than its predecessor test tank, SN7. It is expected to be tested to destruction, similarly to SN7.
-do- SpaceX Boca Chica - SpaceX’s second flight-proven Starship makes way for next ‘test tank’....view. Four days after the rocket’s hop debut, SpaceX has safely returned its second flight-proven Starship prototype to an assembly building for refurbishment, making way for a new ‘test tank’ at the launch pad.
6th: SpaceX Boca Chica - SN6 Lifted, Legs Removed, and Prepared for Transport - Work on SN7.1 Continues....view. SN6 is lifted onto pipe stands for leg retraction and removal, then onto a Roll lift ahead of being transported back to the launch site. Work on Pad B, SN7.1, and the Super Heavy High Bay continues.
5th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Serial Number 6 Post Hop Closeups - SN7.1 Gets Its Vents....view. SN6 stands triumphantly on the landing pad following its 150m hop. Mary (@BocaChicaGal) provides some excellent closeup imagery showing what the legs and entire vehicle look like after flight. The SN7.1 test tank got its vents, High Bay construction continued and crane weights and a Starship mount were moved.
-do- The first Raptor Vacuum engine (RVac) for Starship has shipped from SpaceX’s rocket factory in Hawthorne, California to the development facility in McGregor, Texas. The huge bell nozzle (right) will be needed for propulsion in space. Three will be required along with the three smaller sea-level raptors for vertical take off to high altitude and landing (VTOL).
4th: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN9 preparations. SN7.1 readies for test....view. Following Starship SN6's successful hop, Test Tank SN7.1 is next up, ahead of a "test to pop". Meanwhile, SN9 is taking shape with the sleeving of its Thrust Dome.
3rd: SpaceX Boca Chica - A second Starship prototype has completed a successful 150 hop. According to Elon Musk, 'Starship SN6 flew a similar hop to SN5, but it was a much smoother & faster operation'....view. 'Turns out you can make anything fly haha' tweets Elon Musk.
2nd: SpaceX Boca Chica - Starship SN10 parts arriving as SN6 looks forward to hop....view. Multiple current/future Boca Chica efforts in work as Starship SN6 prepare to hop. SN10 parts have now started to arrive, while work on the Super Heavy mount continues.
1st: SpaceX Boca Chica - The steel rings line up for future vehicles....view. A sign of future intent as a huge amount of steel that will make up future Starships - and possibly allocated to the prototype Super Heavy - was on show at Boca Chica. Includes checking in with SN7.1 and the soon-to-hop SN6, the latter view a drive past.