https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021...ity-increases/
OLS grows ahead of Super Heavy debut Current Starship Status:
The fate of Starship SN15, following its milestone success with a smooth test flight and landing last month, is still unknown. It is likely awaiting preparations to go on display at Starbase. It is already sitting on display stands.
SN16 continues to reside in the High Bay, all but ready for rollout to the suborbital pad. However, that appears increasingly unlikely, as SpaceX focuses on the upcoming orbital attempt from the launch site next door to where SN15 completed its momentous test.
SN17’s fate is known, with sections of what was to become that Starship now observed as being scrapped at the Production Site.
Meanwhile,
SN20’s aft dome has also been spotted by Mary (@bocachicagal), sporting three mounts for RVacs, indicating SN20 may be the first Starship to fly with both sea level and vacuum optimized engines. SN20 has yet to begin stacking, which will take place inside the Mid Bay. The facility was recently vacated by the Super Heavy Test Tank 2.1.
The Test Tank has since made the journey down Highway 4 to the suborbital launch site for proof testing, a key test series that will provide important data for similar tests conducted with the first full-stack Super Heavy.
Named “Booster 2” by Elon Musk– likely because this is the second Super Heavy to become a full-stack booster
following the pathfinder stacking operations with BN1 – the sections
labeled BN3 continue to be stacked inside the High Bay, behind Starship SN16.
Additional preparations on Sunday saw the large downcomer being transported to the High Bay for installation. It will eventually become the first Super Heavy to take a road trip to
the Orbital Launch Site (OLS), which continues to be a hive of activity.
Orbital Launch Site:
A large workforce continues to work on construction activities at the OLS, with the most dominant feature being the rise of the Launch Integration Tower required to host
Super Heavy. Three sections are now installed in-situ, with additional prefabricated sections – residing at the Propellant Production site – preparing to roll to the launch site.
The sections are being lifted into place by the LR11350 crane, which the SpaceXers nicknamed “Frankencrane” due to its variety of boom extensions from various other cranes. It recently gained an extension as the tower height continues to grow.
The tower already has the support beams for an elevator system, allowing its inner staircase to be removed.
Next to the tower,
the Launch Mount now has its six extensions installed. The launch table – currently being prepared at the Production Site, is also being prepared for transport and installed on the extensions.
During this time, the third segment of the integration tower has been lifted, then fixed to the rest, thanks to the Frankencrane crane……