SECO, nominal orbital insertion.

Stage 1 landing confirmed!

MECO, stage separation, M-vac ignition, and fairing separation.

Liftoff!

RIP EOS-N1.

2026-01-11:

• Massey’s: A chopstick test simulator (old photo) has been moved from storage to near the new static fire stand. (Killip)
• Build site: Removal of scaffolding surrounding S39 begins. (ViX)
• Modified heat shield tiles are spotted on one half of S39. (Anderson)
• Test tank S39.1 emerges from Megabay 2. (Sorensen, wvmattz, TrackingTheSB)
• Ship production status diagram. (CyberguruG8073)
• RGV Aerial post a recent flyover photo of Gigabay construction progress.
• Launch site: A small tank is lifted at the air separation site. (ViX)

2026-01-09:

• Massey’s: Overnight, Test Tank 17 (B18.1) undergoes its 15th round of testing. (ViX, Priel)
• The LR11000 has lifted the ship aft section back onto the B18.3 test tank and added the “can-crusher” structure. (ViX, Gisler 1, Gisler 2)
• The first tie rod for the crush test is fitted to the B18.3 test tank and then removed. (ViX)
• Build site: The whiffletree lifting jig is moved to the left side of Megabay 2. (ViX)
• S39.1 moves from Starfactory to Megabay 2. (NSF 1, NSF 2, ViX, Gisler)
• S39.1 is attached to the bridge crane via the whiffletree lifting jig. (ViX, cnunez 1, cnunez 2)
• S39.1 is transferred to the ship cryo test stand. Docking hardware is visible on the side of the tank. (ViX 1, ViX 2, TrackingTheSB, cnunez)
• Launch site: Clamp arm doors #16 through #18 are installed in the Pad 2 launch mount. (ViX)
• Crane matting is delivered and laid out at the air separation site, likely indicative of a new crane arriving soon. (ViX)
• Rebar for a wall is erected near the D1 gate, and a brief chopsticks test is conducted at Pad 2. (ViX)
• A set of composite overwrap pressure vessels depart from Starbase. (Gisler 1, Gisler 2, Sorensen 1, Sorensen 2)
• McGregor: Another six Raptor 2 engines leave the site. (Rhin0)
• Florida LC-39A: Crews spotted working on the recently delivered ship quick disconnect arm. (wvmattz)

2026-01-10:

• Road delay is posted for Jan 11th 23:59 to Jan 12th 04:00 for “Production to Masseys”. (starbase.texas.gov, archive, ViX)
• Launch site: Clamp arm door #19 and #20 are installed in the Pad 2 launch mount. (ViX 1, ViX 2, TrackingTheSB, Killip)

SECO, nominal orbit insertion.

Stage 1 landing confirmed!

MECO, stage separation, M-vac ignition, and fairing separation.

LIftoff!

2026-01-08:

• Massey’s: Overnight, Test Tank 17 (B18.1) undergoes its 14th round of testing. (ViX)
• The purpose of the mystery truss structure is still unclear. Electrical control boxes and hydraulic/pneumatic infrastructure are noted. (cnunez 1, cnunez 2, Killip)
• Cryo loading begins for B18.1’s 15th round of testing. (ViX)
• Build site: S39 is still surrounded by scaffolding in Megabay 2. (ViX)
• Gigabay construction continues. (cnunez)
• Florida: The ship quick disconnect arm rolls out to Pad LC-39A. (Avid Space, NSF 1, NSF 2, wvmattz)

I think about this comic often and it brings me joy.

And there should technically be a comma:

“Approved, the PR is.”

Is this the noodle incident?

I’m not a fan of the molded elephant. It looks like it fell out of a Playmobil set. I think a brick-built elephant would have looked more… LEGOey.

I think that’s an extra blanket folded into a triangle, not panties.

I think this is a [email protected], not a Don’tDeadOpenInside.

Human brains enjoy symmetry.

True, Boromir did not give his opinion on “dancing into Mordor”.