BFR Developments

[Yazata]

Things are slow at Starbase right now. While construction of the new Megabay-2 and the huge Starfactory spaceship factory continue at a fast pace, the fully-stacked ship at the launch site still awaits the necessary launch license from the FAA. It appears now that the license won't be coming for at least a month.

But yesterday Zeus was out and about. He was obviously aware that the live-streams could see him and he put on a little show for the cameras. Vicki Cocks caught him shaking his ass on Lab Padre's Rover-2 camera. (video in the link below)

https://twitter.com/VickiCocks15/status/...2846371968

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[Yazata]

Lab's latest update video:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/A9_4sqH5yNk

Mauricio's latest short update video:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/v9c2Q1ut43A

[Yazata]

A Tesla Cyber-truck has been spotted for the first time at Starbase.

Cyber-trucks haven't gone on sale to the public yet (very soon) but there's talk that somebody at SpaceX knows somebody at Tesla.

(Screenshot from Lab Padre's Rover-1 livestream camera)

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Cybertruck pulling a vacuum raptor on a flatbed. Maybe the rocket engine is the Cybertruck "ludicrous" performance-package. (Just the thing for the freeway. It would teach the driver behind you not to tailgate.)

(Video by Anthony Gomez of Rocket Ranch)

https://twitter.com/AnthonyFGomez/status...9253735688

Edit: It does appear to have been a promotional photo-shoot for the upcoming Cybertruck delivery event when the vehicles go on sale to the public. Perfect aesthetic match between angular steel truck (with full-self-driving etc.) and giant steel spaceships straight out of science fiction.

(Photo of the Cybertruck and the Rvac by Starship Gazer)

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[Yazata]

The Cybertruck is continuing to drive around Starbase with a big-belled vacuum raptor in tow, looking for the perfect camera angle with the stacked Starship visible behind it.

Photo by the lovely Jessica Kirsch

I like to think that this is the Cybertruck's crazy Elon-inspired performance package! Just think of the acceleration! (And the surprise for tail-gaters.) Eat your heart out Corvette owners.

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[Yazata]

This morning they destacked the Starship again. It isn't clear why, but speculation is that weather front is incoming with possible thunderstorms, so destacking it ahead of possible high winds might be a good idea. It would have to be destacked anyway before flight, for installation of the Flight Termination System explosive charges. Apart from the FTS installation, the thing is said to be ready for flight, and is just waiting on the FAA launch license.

Before the destacking, Mauricio snapped this photo of his sister Irma who has joined him in his Starbase photography. That's her standing in the dunes with the still-stacked Starship behind her.

In the left background is Ship 26, the finless & tileless 'Silver Bullet'. Its twin S27 has been scrapped, but S 26 has engines installed and is getting preflight workups, so it appears destined to fly. There's lots of speculation about its purpose. The lack of fins and tiles says it isn't intended for reentry. Speculation seems to center around propellant transfer experiments in orbit. It may be the prototype of a 'depot' ship, a gas-station in space for refueling ships in orbit.

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[Yazata]

As predicted, rain and wind have started at Starbase.

And here's a 230 megapixel image of Starship that Irma shot! Pick any spot on the image and zoom in for details.

https://www.easyzoom.com/imageaccess/455...c8ca926c29

[Yazata]

While SpaceX awaits its perhaps mythical FAA launch license, they are planning some sort of test next week that apparently involves some significant explosion risk. Road closures have been announced and a Marine Safety Information Bulletin has gone out from the Coast Guard.

http://msib.bocachica.com/

[Yazata]

Article by Eric Berger of Ars Technica based on his conversations with "several senior SpaceX officials" "on background", about SpaceX's difficulties with the FAA. I don't typically give much credence to articles based on anonymous sources, but Eric is a very reliable reporter and I trust him.

https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/10/ci...ing-staff/

Excerpts:

"In a remarkably frank discussion this week, several senior SpaceX officials spoke with Ars Technica on background about how working with the Federal Aviation Administration has slowed down the company's progress not just on development of the Starship program, but on innovations with the Falcon 9 and Dragon programs as well...

...The discussion with Ars was convened by SpaceX in advance of a hearing on Wednesday before the US Subcommittee on Space and Science, at which William Gerstenmaier, vice president of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX, will be one of the people testifying. SpaceX hopes that Congress will provide guidance to the FAA on how to operate more efficiently...

...In terms of efficiency, SpaceX also said the FAA should lean on NASA, the US Space Force, and other federal agencies for support with the regulatory burden it faces.

For example, when SpaceX sought to move its tank farm at Launch Complex 39A in Florida, it submitted paperwork and received approval from both the US Space Force and NASA's Kennedy Space Center...

...However, it also had to get approval from the FAA, and this, again, diverted resources away from reviewing Starship activity. Was this the best use of FAA resources when the Space Force and NASA had already signed off on the plans?...

..."The range has an operational bent, and they’ve been very supportive about being able to support our launch rate," one of the SpaceX officials said... What we'd like to do is establish that same kind of positive relationship with the FAA. It's not saying that the relationship is negative, it's just not as efficient as it could be."

During his testimony, Gerstenmaier will urge Congress to have the FAA prioritize programs of national interest, which includes development activities for Starship, which NASA is counting on to land humans on the Moon later this decade. At present, all licensing activities are treated the same, with no accelerated review for activities such as the Artemis Program...

...“Licensing at this point for Starship is a critical path item for the Artemis program, and for our execution," one of the SpaceX officials said. "Certainly looking forward into next year, we really need to operate that program at a higher cadence of flights. Six to eight month turns, that's not great for the program.”

[Yazata]

The ever-vigilant Ring Watchers are always watching... "We are the Watchers, eternal and true"

Here's the current state of play for ships

S25 is ready to fly in IFT-2. S26 the finless and tileless 'silver bullet' is complete. (S27, another silver bullet, was scrapped), S28 is complete except for its engines which are being installed now. S29 is complete except for engines. S30 is largely complete except for its rear fins, engines and finishing touches. S31 is nearing completion except for its engines, rear fins, thrust dome and aft skirt. And parts for 32, 33 and 34 have been spotted.

That's nine ships, in various stages of completion. If the FAA would just give them the green light, they are ready for a fast cadence of development flights.

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And for boosters

B9 is ready for IFT-2. B10, B11 and B12 are complete except for engines. Parts for B13, B14 and B 15 have been spotted.

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[Yazata]

The Coast Guard has released a notice to mariners announcing "space launch operations" on november 1.

I personally think that a launch that soon is exceedingly unlikely. But there it is. (pp 4 and 5):

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/defaul...2g2023.pdf

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