Progress toward the second flight of the world’s strongest launch vehicle continues to happen at Starbase. With Ship 25 passing its six-engine Static Fire test, the main target has returned to completing upgrades to the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM), with the installation of a steel plate water deluge system now happening.
That may set the stage for Booster 9 to undergo its pre-launch testing, including Static Fire tests that may even provide validation of the brand new groundwork under the OLM.
Concrete and Steel
A wave of over 100 trucks of concrete late last month marked the opening salvo in SpaceX’s efforts to fill in the opening that was left after Booster 7’s launch with Ship 24 on the maiden flight of Starship.
This was followed by the rollout of the central steel plate, which was positioned near the launch site together with a jig that rolled ahead of the plate.
A second wave of concrete trucks then arrived for the ultimate major pour under the OLM, with around 300 trucks being utilized in total throughout the two waves of deliveries.
It didn’t take long for that massive amount of concrete to cure, as July 5 saw the jig undertaking a test roll under the OLM on top of the Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT). That confirmed the surface was ready for the steel plate, whose installation occurred just hours later.
This technique – together with a faster ignition-to-launch duration for the 33 engines on the Booster – is required after lessons learned from the maiden launch.
“It’s two layers of very thick plate steel which can be also form of perforated on the upper side in order that you might have what is largely a large, super strong steel showerhead pointing up. It’s a mega steel pancake. This thing’s a beast,” noted Elon Musk during a Twitter Spaces event.
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Steel plate installed under the OLM – via SBL
The massive central piece of this water deluge system – aimed to avoid a “rock tornado” seen throughout the first test flight – was lifted onto the jig after which rolled under the OLM, before it was translated horizontally and placed into the bottom.
This plate was lifted after which lowered several times throughout the night, likely a part of fit checks and final work to create channels for the manifold pipes. While some standalone tests are expected, the foremost validation of this method will occur throughout the Booster 9 Static Fire test.
The ultimate parts of the deluge system began to reach on the pad on Thursday, with notices for 2 “rolling roadblocks” posted by the local authority.
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Deluge manifold pipes heading to the pad, via Nic Ansuni for NSF
This wasn’t the one work that has taken place on the launch site of late, with the Booster Quick Disconnect (BQD) hood reinstalled and the Ship Quick Disconnect (SQD) returning, with its plate housed barely higher on the tower to cater for the extra height of the stack.
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SQD on its “booster seat” on the arm, via Jack Beyer for NSF
The rise in height for what’s already the world’s tallest rocket is expounded to the additional ring that will probably be installed atop Super Heavy, starting with Booster 9. This can allow for decent staging to be employed; Elon Musk’s self-proclaimed late change that may allow the vehicle to “never stop thrusting” during ascent.
Booster 9 stays on the Production Site, as a part of a growing family of Boosters and Ships. It just isn’t currently known when Booster 9 will roll to the launch site, but given the pace of the water deluge system installation, this event could happen in a matter of weeks.
All eyes will probably be on the Mega Bay to identify the attachment of hot staging rings to the Boosters which can be in residence on the construct site.
Ship 25 is now technically ready to participate within the second test flight, having accomplished its full-duration six-engine Static Fire test, with apparently-positive results per Elon Musk.
Looks good to date
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 27, 2023
A number of Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles were liberated throughout the test – although this was expected as a result of additional vibrations induced when firing up the engines whilst the Ship is bolted to the test stand. The tiles will probably be replaced ahead of Ship 25 being stacked on Booster 9.
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SBL view of the work on the High Bay
Ships 28 and 29 are currently stablemates contained in the High Bay with the previous receiving a payload bay door that permits for Starlinks to be “Pez Dispenered” out into space.
Additional capability continues to be built on the Production site, with the second Mega Bay making great progress via the assembly of prefabricated sections. StarFactory also continues to grow, and can eventually replace the production tents at the location.
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