SpaceX seems to have begun to solve some loose problems at Starship's first orbital launch site, which may lay the foundation for the main rocket test that CEO Elon Musk said may begin next month.

The list of tasks started or completed in the last week or two is important. Each task focuses on a similar goal: paving the way for SpaceX to complete the first orbital interstellar spacecraft and super-heavy booster test, and for the first time Orbital flight in preparation for the largest rocket launch attempt ever. Relative to the speed of similar work recently completed, SpaceX's progress in achieving these goals has been significantly slower in the past few months, but Musk's recent nominal timeline suggests that things may start to happen again at a dizzying speed.

The unknown new structure is being assembled at the production site: 2:33 pm 11/21/21 pic.twitter.com/TdSZMh54el

SpaceX began a two-week small-to-large finishing work, installing the rocket capture arm of the Starbase Orbital Launch Tower on the pulley system and the "winch". This process is called the "winch". Thousands of feet of rope first passed through the tower of approximately 145 meters (approximately 440 feet) from above and below, as a temporary guide for the next step. Once fully assembled, anchored and connected to the starting point of the wire rope actually used for the operating system, the tower’s "winch" is activated for the first time to wind up the guide rope-and the wire rope is installed at the same time. By November 9th, the process was more or less completed, and the steel cable was firmly fixed to the tower's huge rocket capture arm and was able to withstand its huge weight.

Thanks Ralph and @StarshipGazer! Updated the chart below. pic.twitter.com/lUvcbshKGs

SpaceX has not fully installed these arms, nor does it seem to solve the slack problem of the cables that eventually lift them up and down, but the first real movement of the arm assembly may only take a few weeks. It is worth noting that some scaffolding around the "legs" of the tower still needs to be removed before the capture arm can be freely rolled up and down to be welded to its outer rails. SpaceX also needs to complete the stability test of the weapon itself to ensure that the hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems of the large structure are working properly.

In the near future, these arms will be used to grab, lift, and install super-heavy boosters and stack interstellar spacecraft on top of them, and SpaceX hopes to eventually use them to capture boosters and spacecraft from mid-air. At least for the previous character, the separate arm visible in the half of the tower in the image above is also crucial. SpaceX, known as the Starship Quick Disconnect (QD) arm or claw of the tower, has also made significant structural progress, which was actually completed in the past few days.

Starship’s “QD arm” is designed to fuel Starship and stabilize the top of the Super Heavy with its claws. It can also swing from side to side to quickly retreat during launch and make room/help for the capture arm during rocket capture and transportation. Pusher stack operation. Last week, SpaceX technicians completed the pipe connection of the arm, which required thousands of feet of insulated steel pipe connected to the propellant tank of the cushion. This week, on November 23, SpaceX installed the last major component of the robotic arm, the actual quick disconnect (QD) mechanism, which will connect to Starship to provide power, communications, and propellant.

Some small actuators may still need to be installed, and the QD mechanism itself must be fully connected to the gasket system, but the QD arm seems to be more or less complete now and should soon be able to provide fuel boost for the Starship installed on the top of the Super Heavy Device.

Last but not least, SpaceX has conducted multiple tests on the "orbital launch frame" of the launch pad-this huge steel structure will support the Super Heavy and hold down the booster during the test and before lift-off. , And provide thousands of tons of propellant. On November 21, SpaceX completed the first test, and it appeared that an unknown gas was discharged from the mount. More likely, this is the first simultaneous test of the gas supply of Raptor Boost engines for all 20 mounts. It does not need to be re-ignited in flight and will rely on ground gas supply for ignition. Each of Super Heavy’s 20 external Raptor engines has a small umbilical cord and quick disconnect mechanism, which may be the most complicated rocket launcher ever.

The sporty super heavy booster quickly disconnects! 📹@LabPadre pic.twitter.com/P3Bo5hzWfd

On November 22, the booster quick disconnect panel of the orbital launcher was activated for the first time, showing how it will move forward to connect to the Super Heavy after installing the booster on the launcher. In order to prevent its sensitive parts from being actually burned every time it is launched, the QD panel of the mount also needs to quickly move away from the Super Heavy before lift-off.

In addition to simply avoiding the direct impact of the thousands of degrees plume generated by the 29-33 Raptor engine at full thrust, this movement will also be linked to some kind of hood, seamlessly starting the hatch, and truly protecting the equipment. The hood itself was first discovered on November 21 and is likely to be installed on the launch pad and bare QD mechanism in the near future.

#SpaceX Boca Chica Starbase Daily rendering! 🚀 The QD hood closing mechanism must have a variety of appearances. In this version, I chose a two-piece seal to protect the entire front area. Animation rendering now! @elonmusk @SpaceX 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/rmRjUE5CuY

Finally, in the past week or so, SpaceX has begun to install some new pipes on and around the launch pad, possibly assembling a water spray system, which will help manage the generation of the most powerful rocket in history in the short term. Before and after the extreme heat and sound environment lifted off. After activation, the water spray rods surrounding the entire inner circumference of the mount may release tons of water in a huge man-made waterfall every second, hoping to prevent Super Heavy from damaging itself or violently eroding surrounding cushions or violently due to the pure sound produced by its Raptor engine. Use its plume to launch the mounting leg.

Ultimately, once all the above-mentioned towers, booms and supports are completed, the only obvious thing between the orbital launch pad and the first super-heavy booster test and the first orbital starship launch is the delivery of liquid methane fuel. Maybe any day can start easily now.

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