Latest at Starbase with LabPadre: Nov. 6

STARBASE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Wrapping up the rest of this week's update, new internal Block III ship components are being assembled in the Star Factory, the race is on to complete Pad 2 for next year's first launch, and disassembly of Pad 1's fuel farm continues to accommodate its newest upgrades.

Starting with fabrication updates, work on Starship 39 continued into its next phases, with the common dome being moved into the Megabay tube for integration.

Transfer tubes were placed on an installation jig inside Star Factory and are likely for Ship 39 as well.

These transfer tubes run propellant down from the header tanks to the ship's main engines for deorbit and landing burns.

The second booster transport stand's Block II clamps were removed as workers continued to rebuild the transport hardware for Block III ships and boosters.

Workers were welding on the pad to ship a quick-disconnect arm at the Sanchez site, readying the arm for installation on the launch tower.

Moving on to construction updates down at the launch site, Pad 2 continues to come together as crews rush to bring the new launch pad online by early next year.

Workers were seen installing paneling to cover the stairs on the launch mount.

Vent covers for the methane side of Pad 2's propellant bunker were also installed.

Meanwhile, disassembly work is well underway at the Pad 1 side of the launch complex.

The older pump motors and sumps are being hauled out of the complex for safekeeping, while the site is dismantled.

In addition to the liquid oxygen pumps, the four methane pump motors were also removed from the tank farm, followed by the pumps and their sumps.

The pump farm manifolds were also cut out and removed for scrapping.

The liquid oxygen subcooler vent lines, multiple lock subcooler manifolds, and the methane subcooler manifolds were all taken out of the complex.

And a final note for this week, other support hardware, such as the plumbing assemblies for the pump stations and the pneumatic control valves, was all taken out of the site for storage as well.

For continued live coverage and other detailed Starbase content, visit the LabPadre YouTube channel or LabPadre.com.