Transformation at Boca Chica/Starbase

Since SN15 took off for the last flight in a series of five suborbital tests (SN8-11, SN15) more than one month ago, signs are accumulating to indicate SpaceX's fast progress towards a new phase of Starship testing. With SN15 reaching the goal of demonstrating a successful landing and recovery after a nominal suborbital 10km flight, the space company is preparing to conduct orbital or nearly orbital flight testing in the coming months.

In order to make an orbital test flight possible, the launch site at Boca Chica in South Texas undergoes rapid transformation:

Launch and integration tower: Construction of the tower that will stack Starship onto the Super Heavy booster continues at a fast pace with 5 of likely 8 segments already stacked and 2 more segments nearly ready for roll out at the construction site.

Launch Mount: The mount legs have recently been extended and the launch platform/table appears to be in its final phase of assembly.

Tank Farm: The orbital launch site tank farm is growing rapidly. 2 GSE tanks for consumables are already stacked, two more tanks are nearly ready for roll out and parts for the remaining three tanks have been spotted. A water tank has been assembled and cryo tank shells that are supposed to cover the GSE tanks for insulation purposes are being constructed and rolled out. Furthermore, piping and installation of horizontal GSE tanks for subcooling liquid methane and oxygen have been installed.

While the launch site is being prepared for orbital flights, other signs also indicate the move to the next phase of testing:

Equipment: The Liebherr 1600/2 crane "Bluto/Tankzilla" that has been in use for a long time for Starship stacking and lifting had its boom removed and is likely to be disassembled as it is no longer used.

SN15 and SN16: Although Elon Musk mentioned that a second flight of SN15 was possible and the prototype was even placed back onto the launch pad, SpaceX has apparently decided to concentrate on preparation work for the orbital launch site as additional testing would always go along with long road closures and therefore delays in construction work. SN15 has been moved to the propellant production site at the end of May. On June 16th workers moved SN16 from the high bay to the propellant production site, where it joined SN15. Thus, this Starship is unlikely to be flown.

Rocket: It is expected that SN20 will be the first Starship to make a nearly orbital test flight together with "booster 2", also known as BN3. Although most parts of the upper stage have been spotted, stacking has yet to commence. However progress on the booster stacking is fast with the entire LOX section being stacked onto the engine section on June 15th.