BFR Developments

[Yazata]

Here's something kind of cool - it's a short 20 second video of the IFT-2 launch, that gives you the ability to pan the camera around as you wish, up/down and right/left. Used the little < > controller thing in the upper left and click and hold to make the camera view change.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wly-YFGZbvA

[Yazata]

Elon posted the photo below and said that these are the last four Version.1 ships.

When asked what the difference is between V.1 and V.2, Elon replied

Version 2 of the ship holds more propellant, reduces dry mass and improves reliability

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1728087902087717373

[Image: F_r5fNEXYAALkVG?format=jpg&name=small]

[Yazata]

Here's Zack Golden's latest super informative video explaining what is known (by outsiders in the space geek community) concerning much of the amazing engineering that went into Booster 7, which of those seemingly cool ideas proved inadaquate during the IFT-1 test flight, and the many modifications and design changes that went into Booster 9 (8 was scrapped) that proved successful during IFT-2.

It's a little intense (don't worry, there's no math). Zack is an engineer, he can't help it. He works in the oil and gas industry and stuff like fire-suppression is his bread and butter.

This is only part one, part two will address hot-staging and all the ship upgrades.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/oedjbrmk3Xw

[Yazata]

Here's an article detailing the many differences that the Ringwatchers saw between Ship 24 and Booster 7 (the IFT-1 ship and booster) and Ship 25 and Booster 9 (the IFT-2 ship and booster). While each successive ship and booster that comes out of the oven superficially looks like the one proceeding, there are lots of small design changes. (And these are just the changes that the Watchers saw, there are doubtless many more.)

https://ringwatchers.com/article/s25-b9-updates

The Ringwatchers say, "Starship's second flight was without a doubt more successful than the first, proving that this iterative process is, in fact, a properly viable method. As SpaceX moves towards the third flight test, we're going to be watching closely to see how SpaceX furthers Starship's design."

The Ringwatchers: ever vigilant...

[Yazata]

Pad upgrades are underway now that IFT-2 has flown, while waiting for IFT-3. Over the last two days, three large new cryo storage tanks have arrived at the launch site. It's believed that they will contain liquid nitrogen and LOX. Supports have been constructed for nine of these "hotdog" tanks, so six more are expected to arrive in the next few days. Then there will be lots of plumbing work as they are connected to pumps and subcoolers (that everyone calls "hippos" cuz that's what they look like).

The power poles to the left show the upgraded power supply to Starbase. The local electric utility has been working hard on that and it seems to have been completed and is up and running.

(Photo by Starship Gazer)

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In other news, workers are installing big letters on a newly constructed fence at the launch site. They started with 'R', then an 'S' to its right and an 'A' to its left. Betting is that 'M' will go to the left of the 'A'. 'Gateway to Mars' and 'Road to Mars' are favorites. Maybe 'Occupy Mars' which seems to be a worker slogan at Starbase.

(That's Hoppy over there on the other side of the wall, overseeing things as always.)

(Screenshot by Vicki Cocks from LabPadre's Labcam live stream cam.)

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[Yazata]

Another cryo tank has arrived - the fourth of nine new ones.

Edit - the fifth (of 9) has arrived as well.

And yes, as everyone expected it's 'MARS' - the betting now is on what goes to the left of it - 'Gateway to Mars' is the most popular, with 'Road to Mars' and 'Occupy Mars' still in the running.

(Photo by Starship Gazer)

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"...to Mars"

And a Y has appeared to the left, so it's gonna be 'Gateway to Mars' looks like (some of the nerds are suggesting it might be 'Highway to Mars' - that works too and it's written on the driveway at the main entrance).

Edit - now it's 'AY TO MARS' (I'm thinking pirates: 'AY, maties! TO MARS!')

(Photos below screenshots by Vicki Cocks from Lab Padre's nerdle live-stream cam)

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Expecting either 'high' or 'gate' to appear tomorrow

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[Yazata]

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[Yazata]

The sign lights up at night!

(Photo on a foggy night by Lab Padre)

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[Yazata]

They are finishing the large space on top of the new Megabay. It's still unknown what this space will be used for. (There's a similar but less tall space atop the first Megabay that's still empty I believe.) Speculation includes a launch control center or office space.

When I first saw how tall this area was, I suspected they might divide it into three stories, but it appears to be a single huge open space. (Small compared to the gargantuan booster stacking bay beneath it, but nevertheless big compared to an office building.)

[Image: GAh6p9yWkAAGN4E?format=jpg&name=small]

[Yazata]

Mind boggling IFT-2 video

Shows how much better IFT-2 was than IFT-1. The booster worked well all the way up to stage separation and only failed during boost-back when its launch task was already complete. Hot staging worked great. And the second stage worked well until it was at 90% of orbital velocity, when it mysteriously failed. (Mysterious to outside observers, I'm sure SpaceX knows the cause.)

Beautiful!

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1732824684683784516