Zack Golden Profile picture
Mar 8, 2022 10 tweets 8 min read Read on X
(1/8) #StarshipAddicts, I think we have a major update for you about one of the #Starship variants we have been expecting to see at #Starbase!

It has been speculated that this nose cone barrel section was to be used for the #CargoVariant.
(2/8) Thanks to @RGVaerialphotos, we now know what it looks like from above. In this image you can see in interior structure which is most likely used to open the "payload bay"
(3/8) If you watched the most recent episode from @RGVaerialphotos flyover review you will remember us mentioning that the size of this payload door makes a lot more sense for #HLS #LunarStarship than it does for #Cargo version.

(4/8) Its tough to do anything speculate until there is more solid evidence.

That evidence came sooner than expected today, when a very interesting looking structure was lifted into the nosecone barrel section. It was very hard to make out on #Sentinel cam.

📷@LabPadre
(5/8) Luckily @jessica_kirsh was in the right place at the right time today! She ALWAYS catches important deliveries during her livestreams. This is a close up view of the structure being lifted into the payload section.

Link to the original livestream
(6/8) This might look pretty familiar to some long time #StarshipAddicts out there.

Although they are slightly different. This is more than likely the same elevator expected to be used in the #LunarStarship to get cargo and astronauts from the ship, to the Lunar surface! Elevator prototype as seen in the SpaceX HLS update
(7/8) If this is the case, then it is exciting to finally see some long awaited #HLS progress. Looking at this #SpaceX render, I think everything lines up just about perfectly. Even though this is the older version of the #LunarLander concept.
(8/8) This makes me feel a lot less crazy for believing that the new #Starship transport/test stand that #S20 is sitting on... is actually a #HLS #LunarLaunchMount pathfinder.

When I get some time I'll post a deeper explanation on this one.
I'll reserve the possibility that this structure could also be for ejecting #Starlink Satellites out of the little payload bay door. Which is less exciting, but far more important/relevant when it comes to recent events.
Not going to delete this post, but it appears that it actually went into the newer barrel section and not the pathfinder!

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More from @CSI_Starbase

Jan 29, 2023
1/11) Hey #StarshipAddicts, I just wanted to take some time to correct some misconceptions I have seen floating around about this event during the WDR. Hopefully this thread will clear the confusion. At the end, I will suggest a possible solution to this issue.

🎥@Labpadre
2/11) To start off, we should all be able to agree that Wet Dress Rehearsal involves Liquid Methane, and Liquid Oxygen. There is zero nitrogen involved, other than for super chilling of propellants and various gas purges (interstage & OLM/OLIT)
3/11) Now, lets take a look at the depressurization vents on top of the methane tank of the booster. There are no pipes on the inside of the tank that connect to these valve. So when they open...you can literally stick your arm inside of the booster methane tank
📸@ChameleonCir
Read 11 tweets
Dec 1, 2022
(1/4) Hey #StarshipAddicts, here's a little update about the status of exterior cladding on the Orbital Launch Integration tower.

As of today, the first 3 levels of the OLIT have been covered on the sides facing the Launch Mount.

What is the status for the rest of the tower?
(2/4) More paneling for the tower has been spotted by @RGVaerialphotos at the Massey's site which is owned by @SpaceX.

As shown in this image, there are 18 bundles of tower cladding. Each bundle has 9 panels. There are a total of 162 center panels on site already.
(3/4) Each level of the tower requires 4 center panels. Doing a little math...

Panels Available =162
Number of sublevels on OLIT = 24
Remaining levels without cladding = 21
Panels Needed for each side OLIT after bottom 3 levels are covered = 84
Read 6 tweets
Jul 17, 2022
Hey #StarshipAddicts It's been a while since I've done this but here's a short thread explaining what is about to happen at the Starbase Orbital Tank Farm Image
1) Last week this trailer arrived to the Sanchez Gas site. As of yesterday it appears that SpaceX has started to move these items over to the Launch Complex, which is something I wasn't expecting until after the first Orbital Test Flight. Here's why... Image
2) At the OTF there are currently two active liquid oxygen pumps (green). To the left of those are two additional inactive pumps which were delivered back in March (red). So why weren't these ever fully installed? Image
Read 12 tweets
Mar 9, 2022
(1/11) Why didn't #SpaceX use #Mechazilla to lift #Booster4 onto the #OrbitalLaunchMount?

This piece of equipment is the main reason for using the #LR11000 Super crane to lift the booster, instead of the #Chopsticks. I'm going to refer to it as the Locator Pin.
(2/11) When fully extended, the locator pin is inserted into this position on the starship #StarshipSuperHeavy's Hydraulic Power Units (#HPU's). There are two of these located on either side of the booster.

📸:@considercosmos
(3/11) I'm not sure if the aero cover actually makes contact with this hard point on the booster, but its not meant to take much force either way. In order to not damage the booster, these locator pins are designed to have a relatively light tough.

📸:@StarshipGazer
Read 14 tweets
Feb 16, 2022
(1/10) Hey #StarshipAddicts! If you didn't get a chance to check out the latest @RGVaerialphotos Flyover review livestream then you missed some interesting details about new progress around #Starbase. Here's a summary of last weeks top finds. A lot of info in this image alone! Image
(2/10) CH4 Storage Tanks:
The tanks shown in this picture are assumed to be the additional Methane storage tanks needed in order to fully fuel a #Starship/#SuperHeavyBooster for orbital launches and also suborbital WDR / Cryo testing on the new staging pads. ImageImage
(3/10) CH4 Storage Tanks:
@LabPadre #Gatorcam caught these four tanks rolling into the port on a barge on the morning of Feb 15, 2022 at KSC. These are identical tanks to the four tanks that we have seen at the Sanchez site.

@LabPadre
Read 11 tweets
Jan 17, 2022
(1/14) Hey #StarshipAddicts , @CSI_Starbase has concluded that #B4 is NEVER going to leave the ground under its own power & #B5 is just a massive lawn ornament.

#StarshipSuperHeavy #B7 is up next, lets look at some of the difference we have noticed so far!

📷:@RGVaerialphotos
(2/14) Fwd Dome Section:

On the FWD dome we see a new design for the stage separation clamps. These may have not been completed yet on #B7 but the initial shape of them is a departure from the previous boosters.

📷:@StarshipGazer | @CosmicalChief
(3/14) Fwd Dome (cont):

Autogenous pressurization lines have been moved higher up towards the top of the #CH4 tank dome instead of below the stringers like the #Block1 #SSH's (Sorry not sorry for making new acronyms)

Anyone else wish this was related to Hot Gas Thrusters?
Read 14 tweets

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