Starbase activities (2025-04-25):

• Apr 24th cryo delivery tally.
• Build site: Ship lifting jig and the ship thrust simulator stand arrive at Megabay 2, suggesting a move of S36 to Massey’s is up next. (ViX, HarvardRogerS)
• Another launch mount clamp arm is delivered to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Crews perform a second attempt at fitting a clamp arm in the Pad B launch mount. (ViX, Starship Gazer)
• Clamp arm animation from Killip.
• Launch site: “A new fire suppression system installed on the Pad A Launch Tower. This will either be for spraying down the tower before the booster returns for landing, or extinguishing fires on the vehicle after touchdown.” (Golden)
• Work on the Pad B gantry structure continues. (Starship Gazer)
• Road closures: 2-hour road delay is posted for Apr 26th between 12:00 and 16:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s.
• 2-hour road delay is posted for Apr 28th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s.
• 2-hour road delay was posted for Apr 29th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from Massey’s to factory, and subsequently ammended to between Apr 28th 22:00 and Apr 29th 06:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s.

McGregor:

• There is a possibility the vacuum engine spotted a couple days ago could be a Raptor 2, not a Raptor 3 as initially suspected. There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer.

Starbase activities (2025-04-24):

• Apr 23nd cryo delivery tally.
• Apr 23rd addenda: Pad A ship quick disconnect is retracted and extended. (ViX)
• Pad B chopsticks simulated catch tests. (ViX)
• Chopsticks are squeaky. (megagoose11 / Starship Gazer)
• Build site: Another grid fin (2 of 4? 3 of 4) is installed on B16. (ViX)
• Highbay demolition continues. (ViX)
• Destructive removal of glass panels from Starfactory begins. (ViX, Anderson / NSF)
• More brackets are being installed on the Pad B launch mount, to hold a water manifold pipes. (Killip)
• A clamp arm is lifted into the launch mount at Sanchez and then removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the production site.
• Killip posts new renders of Test Tank 17, featuring new hold-down clamp interfaces.
• 2-hour road delay is posted for Apr 26th between 00:00 and 04:00 for transport from factory to Massey’s, possibly for S35 or Test Tank 17.
• Launch site: Installation of wall sections in the flame trench continues. (NSF)
• The flame diverter cap piece is installed. (NSF, ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2)

Elon regarding Raptor 3:

“Many improvements still to come. The ugly, unreliable and heavy bolted flange between the thrust chamber and hot gas manifold will become a welded joint.”

Starbase activities (2025-04-23):

• Apr 22nd cryo delivery tally.
• Apr 22nd addenda: Pad B launch mount leg erection (#1 and #2). (NSF, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2)
• S37 now visible in Megabay 2. (Starship Gazer)
• Closeup of the flame diverter top piece and additional 4k video from Starship Gazer.
• mcrs987 spent 3 hours counting the holes in the above photo an came to a total of 15,898 holes (possibly +309). 7994 large ones, 7904 small denser ones in the centre.
• Build site: A grid fin is lifted up to B16 in Megabay 1. (ViX)
• Scaffolding around the launch mount for Pad B is being dismantled. (Gisler)
• Test Tank 17 (booster version 3 prototype) is visible in Starfactory. (clwphoto1)
• Starbase Gigabay will be 117.3 m tall, which is 1.5 m taller than the Florida Giga Bay. (Caton / FAA)
• Pad B: RGV Aerial post a flyover photo.
• Installation of wall sections in the flame trench continues. (ViX)
• The Y-pipe is installed in the deluge system. (ViX)
• Chopsticks testing. (Anderson / NSF)
• Launch mount legs #3 and #4 are erected. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer, Gisler)
• New Pad B render in a twitter thread by Ashley Killip. (Apr 18 #1, Apr 18 #2, Apr 23)
• Tank farm: Inlet pipe is installed at pump #4. (ViX)
• Other: Reconfiguration of the SpaceX LR11000 crane continues, main hook block is reeved. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Construction of the roundabout continues. (Gisler)
• Mystery delivery wrapped in blue. (Gisler) (Edit: They are cryo pump sumps)

McGregor:

• First sighting of a vacuum Raptor 3. (NSF, Caton) (Edit: There is a possibility the vacuum engine spotted a couple days ago could be a Raptor 2, not a Raptor 3 as initially suspected. There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer.)

Starbase activities (2025-04-22):

• Apr 21 cryo delivery tally.
• Apr 21st addenda: Pad B chopsticks are raised and lowered. (ViX)
• Another hold-down arm for the Pad B launch mount is on its way to Sanchez. (ViX)
• Build site: A Pez dispenser moves from Starfactory to the right side of Megabay 2, presumably for installation in S38. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• S37 is transferred to the centre work stand in Megabay 2. (ViX)
• The LTM11200 crane is laid down. (ViX)
• Launch site: Flame diverter top piece arrives at Pad B. (NSF, ViX)
• Shake tests are performed on Pad A chopsticks. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2)
• The remaining two launch mount legs arrive at Pad B. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• The first two Pad B launch mount legs are erected. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, SubstantialWall/NSF)

Starbase activities (2025-04-21):

• Apr 20 cryo delivery tally.
• Build site: Highbay demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• The LTM11200 crane is laid down briefly, then raised back up. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
• A test tank for booster version 3 emerges from Megabay 1 and moves towards Starfactory. (NSF, ViX)
• Launch site: The SpaceX LR11000 crane reconfiguration continues. Reeving process is underway. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
• 15-minute road delay is posted for Apr 23rd between 01:00 and 02:00 for transport from pad to factory.

KSC activities:

• Scaffolding is erected around the chopsticks at LC-39A. (pewpewturtle69, Killip, starship_34

Starbase activities (2025-04-11):

• Apr 10th cryo delivery tally.
• Massey’s: B17 remains at Massey’s. The 00:00 to 04:00 road delay went unused. (ViX)
• Build site: Overnight, demolition of the Stargate building continues. (NSF, ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, clwphoto1)
• Highbay demolition continues. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, cnunez)
• A section of the Pad B flame deflector is on the move at Sanchez, likely pending rollout to the launch site. (LabPadre, Starship Gazer, Beyer)
• Both halves of the Pad B flame deflector depart for the launch site. (NSF, Gomez)
• Launch site: Work on the Pad B gantry continues. (Gisler)
• New miscellaneous 4k video of the launch site from Starship Gazer.

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)

Starbase activities (2025-04-01):

• Mar 31st cryo delivery tally. Cryo deliveries continue.
• Busy day!
• 1-hour road delay is posted for Apr 1st between 04:00 and 10:00 for transport from the factory to the pad.
• Pad A: B14-2 rolls out to the launch site. (NSF 1, NSF 2, LabPadre, ViX)
• B14-2 is lifted onto the launch mount. (NSF 1, NSF 2, NSF 3, LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3, Gisler)
• B14-2 has a “flown hardware” sticker. (Anderson / Starship Gazer)
• Pad B: Gantry construction continues, and a manifold has been installed. (Starship Gazer, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4)
• Chopsticks work continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Flame trench construction continues. Scaffolding is lowered into the flame trench, we get a peek at a stringer, and the final flame diverter frame is lowered. (Gisler)
• Tank farm: Construction and plumbing work continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4, Gisler 5, Gisler 6, Gisler 7)
• Blast wall is poured. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• Other: A pink crane is sighted. (Gisler)
• Reassembly of the black LR11000 crane begins. (Gisler)
• Concrete for the roundabout is poured. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Large pipes are being entrenched on Highway 4 opposite the pad. (Gisler)
• Build site: Raptors are moved from Sanchez to Starfactory, presumably for S35. (Ringwatchers, ViX 1, ViX 2)
• Highbay deconstruction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• Large plumbing parts destined for Sanchez are delivered to the pad. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2 (closeup))
• Launch mount B and flame diverter are still at Sanchez.
• Massey’s: Multiple boom lifts of workers are observed at the mystery circular test structure. (Gisler)

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.

When next launch? (Flight 8) NET April, “4 to 6 weeks” after Flight 8. (Elon)
When previous launch? (Flight 7)? Booster 15 and Ship 34 launched on 2025-03-06.

I think the numbers in the parentheses need incrementing.

Starbase activities (2025-04-12):

• Apr 11th cryo delivery tally.
• Pad B: Overnight, both halves of the flame deflector arrive at Pad B. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer, Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the flame trench.
• The first half of the flame deflector is lowered into the Pad B flame trench. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer)
• The second half of the flame deflector is lowered into the flame trench. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2)
• A y-shaped pipe for the deluge system is delivered and lifted into the flame trench. (ViX)
• Tank farm: Pump motor #5, pump sump #6 and pump #6 are installed. (ViX)
• Build demolition site: Stargate building entrance sign is demolished. (NSF, ViX)
• Highbay demolition continues. (ViX, Gisler, RGV Aerial)
• A raptor center engine is delivered to Megabay 2, presumably for S35. (Video)
• Other: New miscellaneous 4k video from Starship Gazer: Views of a Wide Variety of Activities and Construction

KSC:

• More space is cleared at LC-39A, thought to be for an air separation unit. (Anderson)

Starbase activities (2025-04-13):

• Apr 12th cryo delivery tally.
• Apr 12th addenda: A second raptor engine (R499, an R-vac) and a third engine (R-center) enter Megabay 2, presumably for installation on S35. (Ringwatchers, ViX)
• Starship Gazer posts a closeup photo of the second half on the flame diverter being lowered into the flame trench. (4k video)
• Build site: A fourth engine (R519, an R-vac) and fifth engine (R-center) enter Megabay 2. (Ringwatchers, ViX)
• A sixth engine (R-vac) enters Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Megabay 2 now contains a set of six engines, presumably for S35.
• Highbay demolition continues with a chequerboard pattern. (ViX)
• Pad B: More pipes for the deluge system are delivered. (ViX)
• Killip posts a few diagrams, renders, and photos of the Pad B deluge plumbing. (Killip 1, Killip 2, Killip 3, Killip 4, Killip 5)

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:

• Possible flame trench excavation activity at LC-39A. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2)

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:

• Work on the LC-39A flame trench continues. (Stranger 1, Stranger 2, Stranger 3, soar.earth)

Starbase activities (2025-04-16):

• Apr 15th cryo delivery tally.
• Apr 15th addendum: B17 moves from Megabay 1 to the Rocket Garden. (NSF, ViX, RoughRidersShow, cnunez)
• Build site: Hotstaging adapter emerges from Starfactory. (video)
• Hotstaging adapter enters Megabay 1. (video)
• B14 receives its hotstaging adapter. (video, Starship Gazer)
• Highbay demolition continues. (ViX, cnunez)
• Starfactory cladding panel reinstallation begins. (Gisler)
• Launch site: Roundabout construction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, cnunez)
• Pad B plumbing work continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• More pipes for the deluge system are delivered. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of the flame trench.
• Pad B gantry construction continues. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Gisler 3, Gisler 4)

Starbase activities (2025-04-17):

• Quiet day, nothing major reported.
• Apr 16th addendum: Starship Gazer posts miscellaneous 4k video.
• Reconfiguration of the SpaceX LR11000 crane continues. (Planatus666).

Starbase activities (2025-04-19):

• Apr 18th addendum: The hotstage adapter is removed from B14 and exits Megabay 1. (Video)
• Overnight, a second launch mount leg arrives at Pad B. (NSF, Starship Gazer, Planatus666)
• The hotstage adapter reenters Megabay 1. (Video)
• Potential launch mount B clamp arm is spotted. (Anderson, Starship Gazer)
• RGV Aerial post additional photos of the Pad B flame trench (photo 1, photo 2)

KSC activities:

• Satellite timelapse of work at LC-39A. (Anderson 1, Anderson 2, copernicus.eu)