The video covers recent activity at SpaceX’s Starbase facility. It shows a full‑engine static fire of the booster on Pad 2, accompanied by tests of the deluge (water‑based sound‑and‑energy suppression) system to prepare the pad for launch. Footage also captures Pad 1 construction—excavation, drilling, gantry assembly, and pre‑staging of large structural components—while the booster is moved onto Pad 2 by the “chopstick” arms. Additional clips include grid‑fin waffle‑iron testing, cryogenic testing of Ship 40 at the Massey test site, and a hazy live‑stream view of the static fire that drew tens of thousands of viewers. Throughout, the team emphasizes working through adverse conditions to keep the test campaign progressing.
1. The booster performed a full engine static fire on pad 2.
2. Footage of the static fire will be shown later in the video.
3. The deluge system on pad 2 is a sound‑and‑energy suppression system for the world’s largest most powerful rocket.
4. The deluge system is not a water park and is not intended for recreational use.
5. Teams are testing the deluge system on pad 2 in preparation for flight.
6. The deluge farm activation was mistaken for a sheriff’s vehicle blowing a radiator cap.
7. The sheriff’s vehicle received a light misting from the deluge system.
8. A roof panel detached from the gas‑generator farm during testing.
9. The detached roof panel was observed flying end‑over‑end in the air.
10. The roof panel was repaired or deemed unnecessary for the test conducted that day.
11. A retract test showed booster clamps, quick‑disconnect retraction, and the arm swinging out of the way.
12. The arm swings clear after the quick‑disconnect retracts.
13. An excavating arm is visible in the lower left of pad 2 footage and is still operating.
14. A large auger (pile driller) is spinning and drilling holes in the ground at pad 2.
15. Service‑structure assemblies on pad 2 are referred to as the gantry.
16. The gantry serves as a replacement for the pad‑one star stool.
17. Big frames are being pre‑staged on the side of pad 2.
18. A methane tank (CH₄) consists of carbon and hydrogen atoms bonded together.
19. Nitrogen is being delivered from the top of the system into the atmosphere.
20. An engineering mallet was used to position a cover on the tank farm.
21. Grinding activity is occurring under the tank farm, possibly for mount preparation or raceway cutting.
22. Safety‑cap bolts are installed in the tank‑farm area.
23. A supervisor is overseeing a worker performing ground‑level tasks.
24. Brownsville/port glow is visible in the background of the footage.
25. High humidity combined with particulate smoke creates hazy conditions at the site.
26. Picture 17 shows a section of tanks with visible plumbing; the wider part is the tank and interior structures protrude.
27. Nighttime imagery depicts vehicles rendered with low polygon counts.
28. Work is ongoing in Mega Bay 2.
29. External bracing on Mega Bay 1 was visible as a booster exited the facility on May 5.
30. One camera lens suffered a rock impact during static fire; two of three lenses remained undamaged.
31. Colleen retrieved the black‑painted bottom surface of the booster, which appears as a wide short racing stripe.
32. The speaker stated the black paint adds at least five horsepower to the booster’s bottom.
33. The speaker said the black paint is probably for thermal management.
34. During re‑entry, the booster experiences aerodynamic and heating forces on its underside, though less severe than orbital re‑entry.
35. The paint may exhibit streaking or tempering colors (straw, golds, purples) similar to flown shuttle tiles.
36. Starbase Live stream from a 24/7 camera showed the static fire; approximately 4,500 viewers watched live.
37. The booster was positioned between the launch tower’s chopsticks prior to lift.
38. Stubby chopsticks lifted the booster and swung it toward pad 2 for alignment.
39. Grid‑fin (waffle‑iron) testing involved moving the fins through multiple positions, with two of three fins visible.
40. Grid fins moved rapidly back and forth without noticeable deceleration before stopping, exhibiting a slight rebound at the end of each motion.
41. Ship 40 underwent a second cryogenic test at the Massey’s facility.
42. After testing, Ship 40 was rolled back behind a crane, across the jails, and past other test rigs.
43. During static fire, shock waves were visible emanating from the test site.
44. Gage positioned a camera to capture the static‑fire angle.
45. The team ensured all necessary steps were taken to deploy cameras for the static‑fire views.