SpaceX Starship - IFT-4 - Starbase TX - Pre-Launch Preparations Thread

[JB47394]

SpaceX just completed partial propellant loading of the stack, some engine chill activity, and detanking. It looks like they wanted to work out all the new plumbing prior to trying for a wet dress rehearsal.

 

[ecarfan]

 

[JB47394]

https://www.faa.gov/space/compliance_enforcement_mishap

So I guess the purpose of a mishap investigation is two-fold

1. Determine if there are any public safety issues, and come up with corrective actions
2. Determine what was off-nominal to the planned flight, and come up with corrective actions

The FAA is saying that SpaceX can fly again once the first is addressed, but they still have to tell the FAA what they're doing about the off-nominal aspects of things. I assume the second part is the bit that's dragging on, and I'm guessing that it's primarily issues around reentry.

 

[scaesare]

 

[JB47394]

Kathy, Lueders, the Starbase general manager, said that they hope to get a launch license in the last week of May or the first week of June. I assume that SpaceX would then hustle to get IFT-4 off the ground.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1790701780621222176

 

[ecarfan]

From a new NSF video:

Quite a few missing tiles at the base of S27. I don’t think these can be reached when the the ship is stacked, so assume it will be de-stacked before IFT-4.

Good sign.

 

[scaesare]

From a new NSF video:

Quite a few missing tiles at the base of S27. I don’t think these can be reached when the the ship is stacked, so assume it will be de-stacked before IFT-4.

View attachment 1048582

Good sign.

View attachment 1048583

Interesting not individual tiles, but one of 2 pattern groups.

 

[mongo]

From a new NSF video:

Quite a few missing tiles at the base of S27. I don’t think these can be reached when the the ship is stacked, so assume it will be de-stacked before IFT-4.

View attachment 1048582

Good sign.

View attachment 1048583

Yeah, they need to destack for FTS install anyway.

 

[JB47394]

Yeah, they need to destack for FTS install anyway.

Have they ever installed tiles at the launch site? I assume the vehicles will go back to the build site. They've got at least a couple weeks before launch. I think this stacking was focused on ground support equipment testing more than anything else.

Besides, it doesn't have its ship numeric label. I wish they'd go really big with those, and put them on earlier. It would make it easier to keep track of which is which. For example, this is Ship 29.

Also, I hope there's no correlation between the uniform shape to the tile gaps and the arrival of explosives. We may have spotted a new FTS installation technique; explosive tiles.

 

[TunaBug]

From a new NSF video:

Quite a few missing tiles at the base of S27. I don’t think these can be reached when the the ship is stacked, so assume it will be de-stacked before IFT-4.

View attachment 1048582

What are the white dots that coincide with the tiles?

 

[JB47394]

What are the white dots that coincide with the tiles?

Each one is the word "OK", which is penciled by the technician after inspection.

 

[JB47394]

NASASpaceFlight expects a wet dress rehearsal on Monday.

 

[Electroman]

Kathy, Lueders, the Starbase general manager, said that they hope to get a launch license in the last week of May or the first week of June. I assume that SpaceX would then hustle to get IFT-4 off the ground.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1790701780621222176

Hmm my recollection of Kathy Lueders is, she is a senior NASA official. When did she join SpaceX ?

 

[mongo]

Hmm my recollection of Kathy Lueders is, she is a senior NASA official. When did she join SpaceX ?

About a year ago (IIRC, after the NASA re-org)

Kathy Lueders joins SpaceX to help develop Starship

https://twitter.com/x/status/1658127208932679681

 

[ecarfan]

NASASpaceFlight expects a wet dress rehearsal on Monday.

Yep, it’s happening now.

 

[ecarfan]

Tank farm has been active for over an hour but no sign of prop loading yet.

 

[scaesare]

Also, I hope there's no correlation between the uniform shape to the tile gaps and the arrival of explosives. We may have spotted a new FTS installation technique; explosive tiles.

That would make the superheated plasma engulfing the ship a bit... worrisome...

 

[ecarfan]

NSF just noted that for IFT-3 prop loading started at about T-53:00 and they are expecting it to start soon.

 

[ecarfan]

Tanks now about 1/2 full, WDR seems to be progressing well.

 

[ecarfan]

The tank farm activity looks spectacular!