Animated Starship Plumbing Diagram

There a lot going on inside those steel rings making up the skin of SpaceX's Starship prototypes. This (admittedly oversimplified) diagram of the plumbing system pulling fuel toward the three Raptor engines. Even having a basic idea of what's going on inside makes me appreciate the engineering that's gone into the vehicles even more.
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Music Used: "Lemnos" from Filmstro

[@Whataboutit]

Absolutely amazing render! Well done! ♥️🚀

[@stoyanstoilov3477]

RIiiiiiiiiiight isnt it ! ! ! :D

[@Noah_Callahan]

IKR!! he did so good!

[@shuaige3360]

How do they push the header tank liquid to the bottom of the starship while it is doing the skydiving? Only gravity is enough? What about the first move to become vertical again?

[@ThanoSalt]

AYY ITS WHAT ABOUT IT!!! :D

[@hosh9880]

It will be in the next video 100%

[@kalj7]

It amazing that they're actually using healing potions and mana potions as fuel on starship.

[@martinzitter4551]

Lox and cream cheese powering the bagel.

[@jamescurrie01]

omg, I actually snorted, I wasnt expecting this comment. Those header tanks really remind me of diablo 1 health and mana bars.

[@Moops2057]

😄

[@alexandrepv]

I know right?! I've been saying this for years!

[@Lilmiket1000]

lmao

[@AngelArm1110]

Excellent work. I don't think there has been this much enthusiasm for space since the 60's

[@bearlemley]

My parents woke us early on July 16th 1969 and keep say, wake up this is important. My grandfathers old army air corp contacts got us passes for the new visitor center than day at the cape. That day and the through the next six missions of Apollo was the start of a very long period of my life (4 years) that I thought I would be working on the moon one day. Then the long period till April 1981 when we had a fantastic space plane that could only go to earths orbit. Presidential and congressional support kept failing us term after term. (The "Obamanation" cancellation of the Aries was bad) I didn't even notice the COTS program as it didn't seem to have much chance. But one small company, always receiving the least amounts for the services chugged along (with a little help from the Russians= don't spit on Elon or he will rule you) and made the improbable work time and time again. Now we have the world trying to, not out race each other to go to moon, but keep pace with SpaceX to survive. I feel the excitement of my childhood once again. The dream that one day, my Young daughter Saturn or my son Rigel will work on Mars building farms, Telescopes, communications networks and pizza joints.

[@BootyWarrior80892]

Where have you been ? Lol

[@darkterminator8753]

@@bearlemley Nice. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@bearlemley]

@@darkterminator8753 👌

[@Panam511]

Bear Lemley very nice words. hi from france 🇫🇷

[@SebastianKaliszewski]

One note: tanks are never filled "to the brim", there's always small ullage volume. It's needed to preceisely control pressure

[@glennpearson9348]

Spot on, Sebastian.

[@xploration1437]

Settle down Sea Bass.

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

Dzień dobry

[@FrederickAlbertyn]

Header tank might be full to the brim though as orientation of ship might lead to air pocket going into feed at critical point during landing burn.

[@pmj_studio4065]

@@ImieNazwiskoOK Witam

[@JakeSilvester]

Great stuff we need Marcus House to show off your renders!

[@CbassProductions]

He has before! I've done some thumbnail work for him too

[@Muuip]

Great combination: Marcus House, Everyday Astronaut and C-Bass Productions👍

[@tomottodockter2072]

@@Muuip i would love some of that

[@johndunstan7003]

@@Muuip Don't forget Scott. 😊

[@Muuip]

@@johndunstan7003 👍 of course! Scott Manley and Felix from "WhatAboutIt" 👍

[@MentorAnimations]

This is amazing work and it also clears up how the header tanks are supposed to work which was something I was confused about.

[@BobLefevere]

But, why is the lox tank on the very top of the vehicle? You’d think they reserve that for payload.

[@donjones4719]

So incredibly damn useful! I've puzzled over that thrust dome and only partly figured it out. Everything is so useful.

[@clancy5600]

Excellent animation! This made it very clear for me to understand the methane header tank, something I was not understanding quite well. Thank you very much and keep up the great work!

[@yahikotendo5631]

These only get better and better

[@montigobear]

Most instructive -- best use of computer graphics in this area I've seen to date. Very impressive look at the fluid management going on within the Starship. Well done, sir!

[@chriswarr3676]

That was sooo satisfying to watch. Probably the best animation video of starship I've seen so far.

[@charleskeller4288]

@C-bass Productions GREAT JOB, if you do future edits it might be interesting to see the tanks venting from all the various pressure relief valve locations during filling operations and just prior to ignition. Watching all the "real" vent "events" on SN8 on BC test stand is cool to see as well!

[@christophermarshall4254]

What an absolutely excellent illustration and animation! So well done!

[@jhardy0786]

Great render thank you it makes understanding much easier

[@TCBYEAHCUZ]

It's hard to grasp that we may see this launch to the moon before Starcitizen is finished...

[@Redtiecinema]

oh man this has me laughing! thanks!

[@randyfox364]

lol

[@Modestasgailius]

burned

[@darkskin84]

I’ve always wanted to see this, thanks!

[@rdyer8764]

Performing where art meets engineering. Great stuff!

[@StarshipFairing]

Love your renders and animations! Keep up the great work! Just one thing, I believe the downcommer for the LOX header tank is attached directly on the bottom of the header tank, instead of slightly to the side and a bit upwards. Fuel will be drawn more easily if it only needs to go downwards for the first part. You can see the same thing for other rockets, like Atlas V, Delta IV, and some others.

[@MalikAlMalik]

I believe Elon has said the downcomer from the LOX header would run along the hull.

[@StarshipFairing]

@@MalikAlMalik will run down the hull, but the part connected with the header tank will most likely be attach to the bottom of the header tank, not the side

[@TrevorBondiMedia]

@@StarshipFairing wrong. Needs to fire when starting in the belly flop position, so the “side” is more advantageous to attach the transfer tube to.

[@imconsequetau5275]

You are missing the secret. The auxiliary propellant tanks will be stirred to keep the propellant vapor in the tank center. The downcomer will be attached to the spot that is always covered by liquid during all bellyflop, skydiver, and entire landing burn maneuver.

[@WilliamAbt]

Wow! You just explained more about Starship in under 2 min than I’ve seen in a while...great job!

[@GuillermoGarciaAstro]

As Jessie Anderson says: "What an amazing view!"

[@patrikpetrak5988]

Great visualization

[@SUPERHEAVYBOOSTER]

Damn. This is sick.

[@icylime3607]

So simple, yet so complex.

[@CookingwithYarda]

Great job !! I always wonder how the Starship looks inside ! Thanks !

[@iandennis1]

Fantastic work!

[@maryslittlehelpers8163]

Great job. Thank you for your beautiful efforts!

[@IgorYEros]

possibly, the first time ever that I totally like every single post to a KZbin video. :) thank you for the great work!

[@sagarparmar-mp6hb]

Just awesome work.

[@StarshipGazer]

This is most excellent!! Thank you!!

[@nottoday611]

This is SO good. Thank you. Honestly fantastic work.

[@-shaquille-9156]

Wow this was amazing

[@jeta45]

Excellent work!!!

[@brianmcrock]

That's damn fantastic, man! What a great view of it all. Very nice work! Thank you!

[@vjcoolchanchan]

Awesome work !!

[@philiprobicheaux3040]

Smart design that header tank at the foreard tip of the ship. As has been stated by Musk this is fuel for landing....it allows for a way to insulate a smaller volume to prevent boil off and sloshing if a mostly empty tank is they used the mains. Plus the weight being forward makes stability and control on decent easier. Think if balancing a broom in your finger with the broom end up compared to broom end down.

[@samsonrene1]

Great work, mate.

[@IeamNoon]

Amazing render ❤️

[@MalikAlMalik]

Amazing work. Small critique tho... couldn't really see how the landing burning consumed the header tanks fuel.

[@cyber2526]

i was able to see it

[@Mistersky46]

1:35 you can see it

[@Mr.Dobalina_Mr.BobDobalina]

This is so helpful. Thank you for your hard work!

[@vikasgehlot9896]

Very nice animation .... Very useful.... Thanks...

[@chrisgustafson6495]

Well done!

[@norwayspotter26]

Wow this is sick.

[@tomski174]

Such a beautiful visual representation. Great work!

[@malcolmdavid722]

Header tanks need a truncated funnel outlet [on the bottom heat shield side] to catch fuel from both the 120 deg segment when horizontal and the 150 deg segment when vertical. This will avoid air entrainment. Or better still 2 outlets at 90 deg and 180 deg which join together further down to ensure pipe is always full from either outlet regardless of ship orientation.

[@garbon1450]

JOA that is some crazy animation right there! Absolutely love your work!

[@Richard-fx6go]

Nice one, thanks!

[@DeathValleyDazed]

Rocket science made easy with this “simply” fantastic production. Thank you!

[@bobmarnick3668]

Amazing...thank you for this.

[@ParvinderSingh-sp8od]

Amazing animation 👍

[@Norantio]

You rock! Thank you for these!

[@pawerlokesh2842]

Great job

[@Aceb_k]

Nice job!

[@chrisediger2061]

I have been wondering what that looked like. Great video, thanks you!

[@Patch1xo]

This is awesome

[@bklydesign]

Super cool and very helpful to understand starship!

[@jstunnz]

This is so beautiful wow!!! ❤️❤️❤️ Truly amazing work gave me goosebumps!!!

[@IainHendry]

What is the purpose of the two small "Header" tanks?

[@helmeteer]

to store fuel for landing

[@rreagan007]

Fuel for the landing maneuver. You don't want to leave a small amount of fuel in the large main tanks for later landing. Slack tanks like that cause lots of problems, so you need the 2 smaller reserve tanks for landing so they can stay full and pressurized until needed for landing.

[@meinemeier281]

@@rreagan007 aren't the header tanks also used for to remove the need for ullage? When they do the bellyflop maneuver all the fuel in the main tanks is at the top, but the header tanks are full so the will go into the fuel feed lines

[@captainahab5522]

If gas gets into the fuel lines the engine would probably explode and It is easier to keep a small volume of fuel at cryogenic Temperature than an entire tank I was worried about fuel slosh before I saw the animation Now I understand that the main tanks will only have gas for the landing burn

[@malcolmdavid722]

I also heard it was for weight distribution when manoeuvring and landing better balance with some weight in nose to counteract engines

[@frankiecuellar]

An great video man 👍🚀 #spacex

[@larscd2002]

Very cool!

[@GameplayReviewUK]

This is amazing, almost forgot to comment I was so memorized, love it :D

[@MG-er6dm]

Hello once again - new fav!

[@martintirpak1033]

Amazing video 👍

[@oliversparks1459]

Beautiful

[@SajuukGold]

Nice work great job!!!!!

[@edbrackin]

I actually clapped. Very good job visually.

[@souleymaneba5663]

juste Amazing good job

[@gyulagyorffy5937]

I really love your renders! They are super awesome!

[@MrFoxRobert]

Thank you!

[@davidgrim9853]

Fantastic!

[@indevibe]

Thank you for this - very vivid!

[@RTD1947]

Outstanding animation.. very nice presentation!!

[@kevinrussell7446]

That's great. All makes sense now.

[@otaviohenrique9518]

MINDBLOWING

[@nolsp7240]

SN8 just completed static test fire with 3 raptor engines.

[@sjpugsie]

Interesting, simple but slightly dangerous. I like it 😀

[@faisalalkhedhrawi7311]

the beauty in this video . aaahhh

[@VECTAVERSE]

Thank you

[@_mysilentblue2227]

Great work! You have note for Lox Tank & Meth Tank but you need a note for "People Tank"

[@maurozirbes1960]

It's Awesome! Congratulations excelent work!

[@pwells2389]

Beautiful! It really hits home that a rocket is basically a giant fuel tank! Imagine if cars had the same fuel to payload...

[@laiachanelregalado1593]

Nice animation

[@Zichoe]

What's the function of header tank? Especially on the very tip of starship?

[@obiang24]

I guess it’s for landing burn

[@rickstrickland2464]

Totally awesome. A full Starship will have around 1200 mt of propellant. 3 Raptors have a thrust of somewhat greater than 600mt. So, propellant + dry mass needs to be less than 600 mt to lift off. But spectacular. Love the cut out.

[@FredPlanatia]

Just to add a bit: for non-North Americans: mt=metric ton. These numbers apply to initial test flights of the 2nd stage alone like the upcoming SN8 15km flight with 3 sea level raptors ( I think gross mass incl. propellant is ~1300 mt). When the 2nd stage is stacked on the Superheavy booster the gross mass of both stages is 1300mt + 3600mt = 4900mt with 28 sea-level raptors pushing with 2.2MN x 28 x mt/9.8MN =~6300mt giving thrust to weight ratio of ~1.3 or 2.8m/s2 acceleration at sea level. And thanks a lot for this great animation C-Bas: A picture is worth a thousand words and a movie is worth a million!

[@danroden830]

how does the fuel stay inside the fuel lines with the orientation changing? wouldnt it slosh around the tank and not fill the line completely stalling the engines?

[@ephraim9976]

Guessing baffles/pressurized gas are used to prevent that

[@e4Bc4Qf3Qf7]

The pressure differential pulls it along, its not gravity fed.

[@mikkojamaa228]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ullage_motor in atmosphere you could use the drag to provide the required acceleration.

[@danroden830]

@@mikkojamaa228 neat! but if its free falling in an atmosphere how does it keep the fuel pointing aft? it will get pushed to the top side of the tank if the rocket is sideways as the spacex starship will be when it bellflops.

[@mikkojamaa228]

@@danroden830 Atmospheric drag provides a small amount of acceleration helping stick the fuel to the correct side. Additional acceleration can be provided with maneuvering thrusters.

[@velerof1fyt993]

omg what the heck, well done

[@izzad777]

Great modelling. You got yourself a new subscriber.

[@commonsenseskeptic]

So, the atrium windows in the renders are actually a propellant tank...?

[@gerbermrsa]

wow.......wow.....GORGEOUS.......STUNNING......well done........RESPECT!!!!!!!!

[@anderskrause5841]

Nice very nice work. Perhaps adding simulated boil of and venting, could add a dimension to the cryo management. Love to see more ☺️👍

[@cafarellano9340]

I must admit, I cried a little

[@ozzyfromspace]

How can something be so simple and so complex at the same time?

[@holzner7]

crazily good

[@badrinair]

Beautiful work 👍🏽

[@techraan2160]

incredibly helpful! Thank you

[@jaydee6414]

Very, very nice. 👏👍

[@danylovolokh2093]

Thanks!

[@kaustuvray5066]

Best animation !!!

[@eclectricmagazine]

nice soundtrack

[@kiwigurn6328]

Wow, insainly well done my friend

[@UAPJedi]

Well that was pretty awesome👍