Zack Golden Profile picture
♦ Alias: #StageZeroZack ♦ Lead Investigator of #Starship Development ♦ Starbase Weekly Host w/ @RGVAerialPhotos ♦ Support us at https://t.co/0uyv8aa6cF
Jan 29, 2023 11 tweets 6 min read
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)
Dec 1, 2022 6 tweets 3 min read
(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.
Jul 17, 2022 12 tweets 5 min read
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
Mar 9, 2022 14 tweets 12 min read
(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
Mar 8, 2022 10 tweets 8 min read
(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"
Feb 16, 2022 11 tweets 10 min read
(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
Jan 17, 2022 14 tweets 15 min read
(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
Dec 28, 2021 38 tweets 25 min read
(1) Hey #StarshipAddicts...I have a feeling that a lot of you have heard various things here and there about possible issues with the #OrbitalTankFarm at the #Starbase launch complex. Check out this thread if you want the FULL story starting from the very first signs of trouble (2) This is a break from my normal style, I'm going to tell you all a story.

At the end of May 2021, I took my first ever trip to Starbase as a treat to myself after quitting my job as an Engineer in the Oil & Gas industry.
Nov 25, 2021 4 tweets 7 min read
1. I'm thankful @SpaceX chose #BocaChica for the #Starship program. I'm thankful @LabPadre was allowed to set up cameras and livestream history in the making. A lot of us should be thankful we found those livestreams when the #StayAtHome orders started. 2. I think there are a lot of people out there who agree with this. I also think that a good portion of those people may have not made it through #COVID without #Spacex and #Labpadre. Whether #Starship makes it to Mars or not...its already saved a large number of human lives.
Nov 21, 2021 30 tweets 22 min read
Finally! Ive been waiting for this thing to show up for 2 months. Searched high and low in @RGVaerialphotos photos 8 weeks straight hoping I would see signs of it before anyone else.

If you are confused at what this is or want to learn more about it check out the thread below Before we start:

I had a feeling this would happen. It sucks to have to skip ahead in the Orbital Launch Mount series cuz its going to be impossible to keep the whole thing in one thread now. Might have to come up with a better way of organizing this stuff.

One more thing! Image
Nov 21, 2021 21 tweets 17 min read
@elonmusk No joke, I put in zero physical labor on but just being a spectator as @SpaceX workers fabricated this engineering marvel was exhausting!

Check out the thread below to see how the most advanced launch mount on the planet was constructed! @StarshipGazer The original image Elon was... Before we start

#250wordcount sucks. Make sure u check the alt descriptions. This could easily turn into a 200 pager. I plan to do it in phases because there are even more interesting #Starship topics I want to cover. Make sure to follow if u want to see future updates on this
Nov 19, 2021 11 tweets 8 min read
#Starship addicts! Ever wondered how @SpaceX plans to deliver more than 1000 LOADS of cryo fluids to the Orbital Tank Farm?

Well, offloading 17 tankers simultaneously might speed things up! Check out this thread to see how it all works & preview some major changes to come! The white lines at the "parking lanes" represent p 1. Shown in the @RGVaerialphotos photo from above, there are (3) LOX, (2) LN2 tanks, and (2) CH4 tanks that need to be filled. There are (~12) stations/ports to offload LOX & (5) for CH4.

*LN2 is able to be offloaded at any of these ports which I will explain next.