There is plenty of time to complete both Starship SN20 and Booster 2, as it’s now being called, in time for a July lift-off. Booster 2 is already over half stacked in the Starbase High Bay and major pieces of SN20, as well as remaining pieces of Booster 2, are already assembled, as sub-components, as well.

The orbital launch site is also being completed at flank speed. The penultimate launch support tower section will likely travel from the production site to the orbital launch site later today, most probably in company with a recently finished “cryo-shell” to be placed over one of the propellant storage tanks at the orbital site. The last launch support tower section will likely be completed sometime this weekend along with another cryo-shell. Both will probably follow their immediate predecessors in another parade down Rte. 4 to the orbital launch site early next week.

At current rates of progress, the orbital launch site looks as though it could be minimally ready to support launch operations by mid-July. The launch support tower’s stacking crane likely won’t be installed by then nor will the “booster grabber” that is also planned. But neither should be necessary for the initial orbital test launch. Both will, though, likely be in place by the time a second orbital test launch can take place.

I think the “race” between Starship and SLS over which goes to space first is already all but settled. Starship is already pounding down the home stretch while SLS is still somewhere back in the clubhouse turn. It won’t be a photo-finish.