Starship Development Thread November 2025

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SpaceX Starship page

FAQ

  1. When next launch? (Flight 12) NET 2026.
  2. When previous launch? (Flight 11) Starship flight 11 launched on 2025-10-13 at 23:23 UTC.
  3. What was the result? All mission objectives fulfilled. Ship performs successful landing burn and splashdown, despite intentional missing tiles on heatshield. Second successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested a 13-5-3 engine landing profile.

Previous Flights

Click to expand

- Flight 1: S24 and B7. First full stack launch, RUD before stage separation.
- Flight 2: S25 and B9. Successful stage separation, booster RUD during boostback burn, ship RUD shortly prior to scheduled SECO.
- Flight 3: S28 and B10. Booster performs a successful boostback burn, but experiences RUD during landing burn. Ship makes it past SECO, but loses attitude control and is destroyed on reentry.
- Flight 4: S29 and B11. First successful booster water landing. Ship survives reentry despite burn-through on forward flap, and performs a successful water landing.
- Flight 5: S30 and B12. First booster catch with chopsticks. Ship performs successful water landing.
- Flight 6: S31 and B13. Booster offshore divert due to damage to catch tower during launch. Ship performs successful water landing.
- Flight 7: S33 and B14-1. First V2 Ship launch. Harmonic oscillation on ship causes RUD before SECO. Booster is caught by chopsticks.
- Flight 8: S34 and B15-1. Engine failure on ship causes RUD before SECO. Booster is caught by chopsticks.
- Flight 9: S35 and B14-2. First booster reflight. Ship makes it past SECO, but loses attitude control and is destroyed on reentry. Booster RUD upon landing burn startup prior to planned splashdown.
- Flight 10: S37 and B16. All mission objectives fulfilled. First V2 ship to make it through reentry to landing burn and splashdown. First successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested landing without one centre engine, using an engine on the middle ring to compensate.
- Flight 11: S38 and B15-2. All mission objectives fulfilled. Ship performs successful landing burn and splashdown, despite intentional missing tiles on heatshield. Second successful deployment of Starlink simulators. Booster successfully tested a 13-5-3 engine landing profile.

Quick Links

Nerdle Cam |
Lab Cam |
Sapphire Cam |
Sentinel Cam |
Rover Cam |
Rover 2.0 Cam |
Rocket Ranch Cam |
Plex Cam |
NSF Starbase Live

Starship Dev October | Starship Dev September | Starship Dev August | Flight 10 launch thread | Starship Dev July | Starship Dev June | Starship Dev May

Official SpaceX Starship Update Video (2024-04-06)

Road closures, road delays, and beach closures

Vehicle Status

*As of 2025-10-21

Ship Location Status Comment
S20 Rocket Garden Pending scrapping?
Test Tank 16 Sanchez Resting Cryo tested four times between July and September. Sliding plates added to the catch points on Jan 27th. Moved to Sanchez Mar 15th.
S38 Indian Ocean Destroyed Parts spotted in December. Nosecone stacked on payload bay as of Mar 28th. Rolls to Massey’s Jul 28th. Cryo tested Jul 30th. Rolls back to Megabay 2 Aug 1st. Aft flap installed Aug 25th. Static fired Sep 22nd. Launched on Oct 13th, destroyed on impact following a successful landing burn and splashdown.
S39.1 Megabay 2 Assembly Parts spotted (Aug 25th)
S39 Megabay 2 Stacking Parts spotted (Apr 9th). Forward flaps installed July 29th and 31st. Stacking began Oct 20th.
S40 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Apr 10th).
S41 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (May 10th).
S42 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Jul 4th).
S43 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Jul 4th).
S44 Starfactory Assembly Parts spotted (Jul 4th).
S45 Starfactory Assembly
Booster Location Status Comment
B12 Rocket Garden Pending scrapping? Cryo x2, Static fire Jul 15th. Full stack cryo tests Sep 23rd and Oct 7th. FTS installed Oct 9th. Launched as IFT-5 on Oct 13, returned to launch site for successful chopstick catch. Moved to Megabay 1 Oct 15th. Moved to Rocket Garden Sep 27th.
B15-2 Gulf of Mexico Destroyed Stacked from July to September 2024. Methane tank cryo test Dec 27th, full cryo test Dec 28th. Static fired Feb 9th. Launched and landed Mar 6th. Static fired Sep 7th. Moved to Rocket Garden Sep 26th. Launched on Oct 13th, destroyed on impact following a successful landing burn.
B16 Gulf of Mexico Destroyed Stacking completed by Dec 26th 2024. Cryo tested Feb 28th. Static fired Jun 6th. FTS potentially installed Jun 18th. Hot staging adapter removed Jun 19th. FTS installed Aug 17th. Rolled out to launch site Aug 21st. Launched on 2025-08-26, destroyed on impact following a successful landing burn.
B17 Rocket Garden Pending engine install Parts spotted. First two sections moved to Megabay 1 Jan 4th. Fully stacked by Apr 7th. Cryo tested Apr 9th.
B18.1 / Test Tank 17 Massey’s Cryo testing Test article for Booster v3. Parts spotted Feb 24th, Apr 21. Cryo tests start Jun 2nd and 3rd, continue until tank bursts Sep 18th.
B18.3 Massey’s Testing Parts spotted Aug 27th. Moved to Massey’s Sep 20th.
B18 Megabay 1 Stacking Parts spotted May 19th.
B19 Starfactory Stacking Parts spotted Aug 11th.

Resources

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2025-11-17 Starbase activities:

Florida:

  • A subcooler is offloaded from a ship at Port Canaveral, likely destined for the tank farm at LC-39A. (wvmattz)
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2025-11-23 Starbase activities:

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2025-11-22 Starbase activities:

McGregor:

  • Three Raptors of unknown identity depart the testing area. (Rhin0)
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2025-11-25 Starbase activities:

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2025-11-24 Starbase activities:

  • Nov 23rd addendum: The actuator for the Pad 2 ship quick disconnect arm was lifted, installed, and arm movement was tested. (Video 1, Video 2) (Thanks, Twigling, for the timestamps!)
  • Production site: B17 scrapping is completed, which will free up space in Megabay 1 for work on B19. (ViX 1, ViX 2, wvmattz)
  • Gigabay construction continues. Priel posts a 1-month timelapse.
  • Pad 2: Testing of the newly installed ship quick disconnect arm continues. (ViX, wvmattz)
  • The gas generators for the top deck of of the launch mount are tested. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
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2025-11-07 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: Overnight, S39 is lifted and placed over the transfer tube install jig. (ViX)
  • The aft and forward sections of test tank 39.1 move from Starfactory to Megabay 2 for stacking. The V3 quick disconnect design is visible. (ViX, Starship Gazer)
  • Gigabay construction continues. (ViX)
  • The second mystery white box moves from Sanchez to Starfactory. (ViX)
  • Another mystery delivery. Possibly a ship aft flap? (Gisler)
  • Pad 1: Launch mount demolition continues. (ViX)
  • The booster quick disconnect is removed from the launch mount. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • The Drawworks is removed from the rear of Tower 1, and departs from the launch site. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad 2: The LR11000 crane is lowered, then raised. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • The clamp testing jig for is installed on the launch mount. (ViX, TrackingTheSB)
  • Two tests of the flame trench deluge system are performed. (NSF)
  • Trees and shrubs are install along the road. (ViX)

2025-11-07 Florida activities:

  • Storage tanks are offloaded from the barge at the KSC turn basin, and moved to LC-39A. (NSF, Priel 1, Priel 2)

2025-11-08 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: Test tank 39.1 moves from Megabay 2 to Starfactory. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: The bottom of the booster quick disconnect door mechanism is removed. (ViX)
  • A large segment of the launch mount ring is removed. (ViX)

2025-11-09 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: S39 is back on a work stand, and the transfer tube installation jig is empty, presumably indicating that the transfer tubes have been installed. (ViX)
  • Transfer tube installation jig moves from Megabay 2 to Starfactory. (wvmattz)
  • Pipe cleaning is performed on the Pad 2 ship quick disconnect arm. (ViX)
  • One of the tower cranes goes for a spin, likely not under human control. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Pad 1: Some photos from RGV Aerial of the pieces removed from the launch mount. (ViX)
  • The deluge plate has been covered with dirt. (Anderson)
  • Pad 2: Drawworks photo. (Sorensen)
  • RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Pad 1 and Gigabay.
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2025-11-10 Starbase activities:

  • Pad 1: Demolition of the launch mount ring continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, cnunez, Killip)
  • Pad 2: The methane side of the ground support equipment bunker is purged. (ViX)

2025-11-10 McGregor activities:

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2025-11-11 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: Overnight, a new nosecone lifting jig enters Starfactory. (ViX)
  • B17 protective cap is removed, and the booster is moved a short distance. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad 1: Launch mount demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Tank farm cryo plumbing is piled for scrap. (Gisler)
  • Pad 2: The LR11000 is laid down and raised multiple times. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
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2025-11-13 Starbase activities:

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2025-11-12 Starbase activities:

  • Massey’s: Road delay is posted for Nov 12th 23:59 to Nov 13th 04:00 for “Masseys to Production”. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
  • Build site: The LR1300 crane which built the tower crane departs. (ViX)
  • B17 chine removal begins. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: Launch mount demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)
  • Pad 2: Another test of the flame trench deluge and ground support equipment purge systems is performed. (ViX, wvmattz)
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2025-11-18 Starbase activities:

  • Launch site: Road delay is posted for Nov 18th 23:59 to Nov 19th 04:00 for “Production to Pad”. (starbase.texas.gov, archive)
  • Pad 1 demolition continues. Shielding is removed from two of the legs. (ViX)
  • Leg 2 of 6 is knocked down. Killip posts a comment on how this is achieved. (mymatrixplug, ViX, NSF, Killip)
  • The clamp testing device is lifted out of the Pad 2 launch mount. (TrackingTheSB)
  • Production site: B17 scrapping continues. Two CO2 tanks are removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Massey’s: Road delay is posted for Nov 19th 11:45 to Nov 19th 14:30 for “Production to Masseys”. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, Anderson)

McGregor:

  • R3.65, R3.66, R3.67, and R3.68 depart the test area. (Rhin0)
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2025-11-15 Starbase activities:

  • Massey’s: Overnight, test tank B18.3 performs a cryo test. (ViX)
  • Pad 2: Overnight, the booster methane quick disconnect hood is installed. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: Launch mount demolition continues. (ViX)
  • An excavator removes the shielding from one of the launch mount legs with impressive precision. (NSF, ViX, Jordanguidry6)
  • The shielding of another leg is removed. (ViX)
  • Build site: In Megabay 2, S39 is lifted off the work stand and placed on a ring stand. Transfer tubes are visible. (ViX, Sorensen, wvmattz)
  • S39 aft section enters Megabay 2. (wvmattz)
  • The barrel work stand, which had been parked outside Megabay 1, has moved for the first time in several months. (ViX)
  • Removal of composite overwrap pressure vessels from B17 begins. (ViX)
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2025-11-14 Starbase activities:

McGregor:

  • Four more Raptor 3 engines depart the testing area. R64, R60, R62, and R6-. (Rhin0)
  • A Raptor explodes on the test stand during startup. (Hayden)
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2025-11-16 Starbase activities:

Florida:

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2025-11-19 Starbase activities:

  • Pad 2: Overnight, the ship quick disconnect arm is moved from the build site to Pad 2. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2)
  • The clamp testing device moves from Pad 2 back to the build site. (NSF, ViX)
  • The LR11000 crane is hooked up to the ship quick disconnect arm. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Sorensen)
  • Pad 1: Overnight, the landing rail from the top of the left chopstick is removed. (ViX, Anderson)
  • Launch mount leg 3 of 6 is knocked down. (NSF, ViX)
  • Launch mount leg 4 of 6 is knocked down. A bright flash was visible at the base of the launch tower, likely not norminal. (NSF, Golden, Anderson 1, Anderson 2)
  • Build site: Booster thrust simulator stand arrives and enters Megabay 1. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Road delay is scheduled for Nov 19th 23:59 to Nov 20th 04:00 for “Production to Masseys”. (ViX)
  • B18 emerges from Megabay 1. (LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2, Starship Gazer)
  • Zack Golden speculates that we may see a full cryo test (both tanks) performed, as a result of upgrades to Massey’s.
  • B17 moves from the Rocket Garden to Megabay 1, likely for continued scrapping. (ViX)
  • Test tank S39.1 emerges from Starfactory. (LabPadre)
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2025-11-20 Starbase activities:

2025-11-21 Starbase activities:

  • Massey’s: Overnight, B18 ruptures during its first cryo test. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX 1, ViX 2 (slow-mo))
  • Aftermath photos and videos of Massey’s. (NSF 1, NSF 2, Starship Gazer 1, Starship Gazer 2, Starship Gazer 3, Starship Gazer 4, Gisler, Schlang)
  • Zack Golden notes that the transfer tube remains intact. (Golden 1, Golden 2)
  • SpaceX statement: “Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site.”
  • All four chines contain composite overwrap pressure vessels. One of these could have been the cause of the RUD. (Anderson, Hansen)
  • A murmuration of Starlings (not Starlinks) fly past the site. (ViX)
  • The V3 booster lifting jig moves towards the site. No lift yet. (RoughRidersShow, ViX)
  • Two high-reach elevated work platforms are staged at Massey’s. (RoughRidersShow, Killip)
  • Build site: Raptor delivery truck is sighted. (Anderson)
  • Pad 2: The LOX booster quick disconnect hood is removed. (ViX)
  • Crews continue to work on the crane rigging to balance the ship quick disconnect arm. (ViX)
  • The LOX booster quick disconnect performs 17 extension-retraction tests. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad 1: Launch mount leg 6 of 6 is knocked down. (ViX, NSF, Anderson, mymatrixplug 1, mymatrixplug 2)
  • Montage of all six. (Anderson)
  • The right chopstick’s catch rail is removed. (Anderson)
  • The continuous flight auger drill which was at the air separation site is dismantled and removed. (ViX)

Florida:

  • All nine sections of the launch tower for SLC-37 are nearing completion. The second half of Gigabay has begun construction at Roberts Road. (Anderson, Stranger 1, Stranger 2)
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2025-11-28 Starbase activities:

  • B18 scrapping continues. (tobewobemusic)
  • Gigabay construction continues. (ViX)
  • B19’s A3:4 section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • S41 nosecone has received both forward flaps. (CyberguruG8073)

2025-11-29 Starbase activities:

  • RGV Aerial show recent flyover photos of Pad 2 and B18. Killip highlights internal stiffeners, stringers, and access ladder in the methane transfer tube, and the new dedicated LOX header tank.

Florida:

  • Gigabay construction continues, with all four tower cranes now active. (Bergeron)
  • The Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship operations SLC-37 is complete. (NSF)
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2025-11-26 Starbase activities:

  • Pad 1: A brace from the left chopstick is cut free and lowered to the ground. (ViX)
  • Build site: The ship header tank observed the previous day returns to Starfactory. (ViX)
  • B19 common dome moves from Starfactory towards Megabay 1, in preparation for stacking on the section (A2:4) which rolled out the previous day. (TrackingTheSB, Golden)
  • Gigabay construction continues. RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo. The second level of framing is under way.
  • Massey’s: B18 scrapping continues. More sections of the LOX tank and methane transfer tube are removed. (ViX)
  • Another murmuration of starlings (not Starlinks) is observed over the site. (ViX)

Florida:

  • Harry Stranger posts recent satellite imagery of LC-39A and SLC-37.
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2025-11-30 Starbase activities:

  • B19’s A4:4 section moves from Starfactory to Megabay 1. (ViX)
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2025-11-27 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: Overnight, the B19 common dome (CX:3) enters Megabay 1. (ViX)
  • Pad 1: Overnight, the cross brace on the right catch arm is removed. (ViX)
  • RGV Aerial post flyover photos and weekly video.
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2025-11-02 Starbase activities:

  • Fairly quiet Sunday.
  • Pad 1 demolition continues. (Priel)
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This thread is no longer being updated, and has been replaced by:

Starship Development Thread December 2025

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2025-10-31 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: The first tower crane is now operational. More columns for Gigabay are erected, and crossbeams are installed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, Anderson)
  • Launch site: Pad 1 demolition continues. (ViX 1, ViX 2)
  • Pad 2 booster quick disconnects perform multiple extension and retraction tests. (ViX, Anderson)

McGregor activities:

  • More activity observed at the mystery tent. (Anderson)

2025-11-01 Starbase activities:

  • Overnight, demolition of Pad 1 launch mount continues with cutting of launch mount shielding and booster quick disconnect housing. (LabPadre, ViX, efraser77)
  • Build site: Boom is installed on tower crane 3 of 4. (ViX)
  • More crossbeams are installed for Gigabay, four at a time. (wvmattz, Killip)
  • An S39 aft section (A2:3) moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX, wvmattz, lewisknaggs42)
  • Launch site: The first panel of the Pad 1 launch mount cover is cut away and removed. (NSF, ViX)
  • Pad 1 chopsticks cut location is marked. (Anderson)
  • RGV Aerial post recent flyover photos of Pad 1 demolition, Pad 2 construction, and Gigabay construction. (RGV Aerial 1, RGV Aerial 2, RGV Aerial 3, RGV Aerial 4, RGV Aerial 5)
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2025-11-03 Starbase activities:

  • Overnight, the roof of the Pad 1 drawworks structure is removed. (ViX, NSF)
  • Pad 1: All eight LOX subcoolers from the tank farm have been removed, and have departed from the launch site. (ViX)
  • Launch mount demolition continues. (ViX)
  • A small fire breaks out inside the launch mount, and is quickly extinguished. (Hayden)
  • Pad 2: The water-cooled top deck of the launch mount is purged for the first time. (ViX, rocketjunkie94, lewisknaggs42)
  • Other: “Raptor 3 will probably be 2 to 4 times better than Merlin in $/ton of thrust and will exceed Merlin in thrust to weight ratio. Raptor 4 should beat Merlin by >10X in $/ton of thrust, with further improvement in TWR and ISP. (Elon)

Florida:

  • Harry Stranger posts recent satellite images of LC-39A and SLC-37. LC-39A gains more Starship infrastructure, SLC-37 demolition appears complete.
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2025-11-04 Starbase activities:

  • Pad 1: Launch mount cladding is removed. (NSF 1, NSF 2, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, ViX 4, ViX 5, ViX 6, Golden)
  • Pad 2: Testing of the top deck water cooling system continues. (NSF, ViX)
  • Build site: The tower cranes refuel each other. (ViX)
  • Gigabay construction continues. Tower crane 4 of 4 is nearing completion. (ViX)
  • Mystery item, possibly a shroud for a conveyor belt is delivered. (ViX, cnunez)

2025-11-04 McGregor activities:

  • R3.54 (new highest serial number) and three other Raptor 3 engines are spotted. (Rhin0)
  • Five LOX subcoolers are delivered, presumably the ones removed from the Starbase Pad 1 tank farm. (wvmattz)

2025-11-04 Florida activities:

2025-11-05 Starbase activities:

  • Build site: Overnight, S39 aft barrel (A3:4) moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (LabPadre, ViX, NSF, Golden)
  • Pad 1: Booster quick disconnect and housing are removed. (ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3)

2025-11-05 McGregor activities:

  • R3.30, labelled “DEV ONLY” leaves the testing area at McGregor. (Rhin0)

2025-11-05 Florida:

  • LC-39A: The launch mount is hooked up to the LR13000 crane and lifted into position. (NSF, LabPadre, ViX, Golden)
  • KSC Turn Basin: SPMTs are assembled, suggesting that more propellant tanks may arrive soon. (NSF)

Flight 12:

  • NET January, per Kiko Dontchev via Jeff Foust. B18 will be rolling out to the pad for tests in “days to weeks”. (Foust 1, Foust 2)
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2025-11-06 Starbase activities:

  • Massey’s: New design Starship V3 quick disconnect is visible. (Starship Gazer)
  • Build site: Test tank 39.1 moves from Starfactory towards Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • S43 common dome briefly emerges from Starfactory. (ViX)
  • Transfer tube installation jig for S39 moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (ViX)
  • Gigabay construction continues. (ViX)
  • S40 nosecone section is lifted onto a stand inside Starfactory prior to being stacked onto the payload section. (LabPadre, ViX)
  • Launch site: Mystery structure labelled “ibeproofin’”, thought to be the breakover fixture for boosters, moves from the build site to Pad 2. (NSF, ViX, Killip)
  • The LR11000 crane is raised, lowered, and raised again for the first time in a few weeks. (NSF, ViX 1, ViX 2, ViX 3, CeaserG33)
  • Pad 1 demolition continues. (Gisler)
  • Decorative trees are relocated. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2)

2025-11-06 McGregor activities:

  • Four Raptor-3 engines depart from the test area. R5-, R56, R-2, and R30. (Rhin0 1, Rhin0 2)
  • Four Raptor-3 engines arrive at the test area. R47, R-0, R-9, and R-2. (Rhin0 2)

2025-11-06 Florida activities:

  • Storage tanks arrive by barge at the KSC Turn Basin. (NSF, Cornwell)
  • Gigabay construction continues. (Bergeron)
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