SpaceX Did It! Starship Passes WDR! FAA License Imminent - TWO Starships At The Pads!

Summary

The video script covers the latest developments surrounding SpaceX's Starship program, including the stacking of the third orbital Starship prototype, the presence of a second Starship at the launch site, and progress on testing components like the Raptor engines and lunar lander docking system. It also delves into NASA's Artemis program, highlighting Axiom Space's role in developing next-generation spacesuits and a commercial space station. Additionally, it revisits the recent lunar lander missions by JAXA's SLIM and Intuitive Machines' Nova-C, which encountered challenges but achieved remarkable feats on the lunar surface.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The third SpaceX Starship launch campaign is nearing completion, with the booster and upper stage successfully stacked on the orbital launch mount.
• ⚙️ SpaceX has made modifications to Mechazilla, the launch tower's robotic arms, to improve the stacking alignment process for the massive Starship rockets.
• 🌔 NASA and SpaceX have been making significant progress on the Artemis Human Landing System, with crucial components like the docking system and crew elevator undergoing testing.
• 👩‍🚀 Axiom Space is developing new spacesuits and a commercial space station module to support NASA's Artemis missions and commercial space activities.
• 🛰️ The Japanese SLIM lunar lander and Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander faced challenges during their recent Moon landing attempts but managed to transmit valuable data before going into hibernation.
• 🔭 Despite setbacks, lunar exploration missions like SLIM and Nova-C are paving the way for future companies to provide Moon-related services and technologies.
• 📸 SpaceX showcased its rapid progress by briefly positioning a second Starship prototype next to the fully stacked third Starship, likely for a photo opportunity.
• 🧩 SpaceX appears to be further along in the development of the Lunar Starship for NASA's Artemis missions than initially thought, with behind-the-scenes progress on critical systems.
• ⏱️ The Artemis 3 mission to return humans to the Moon is drawing closer, and there is anticipation about whether SpaceX can meet the 2026 deadline for the lunar landing.
• 🌐 The video highlights the collaborative efforts of various organizations, such as NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and international partners, in advancing lunar exploration and commercial space endeavors.

Q & A

What were the recent challenges faced by SpaceX during the stacking of Starship prototypes?

SpaceX encountered issues with achieving precise alignment between the two stages (Ship and Super Heavy booster) during stacking operations. This often required multiple adjustments, and occasionally, destacking of prototypes was necessary. Factors like ground shifts beneath the launch table or deformations in the Mechazilla arms contributed to these challenges.

What modification was made to Mechazilla to improve the stacking process?

SpaceX made a subtle but crucial modification to one of Mechazilla's arms. The pin on the left arm that slots into the specialized socket beneath the Ship's forward flaps was repositioned and moved a few centimeters closer to the tower. This alteration slightly changed the angle at which the Ship is held relative to the tower, potentially making stacking easier.

Why was a second Starship prototype (Ship 29) brought to the launch site?

Ship 29 was likely brought to the launch site for a planned photo shoot alongside the fully stacked Ship 28 and Super Heavy booster. This was likely intended as a way for SpaceX to showcase that they already have a rocket almost ready for the next mission, even before the third Starship launch.

What progress has been made in the development of the Lunar Starship for NASA's Artemis missions?

While visible hardware progress at Starbase has been limited, SpaceX has made significant behind-the-scenes progress on the Lunar Starship. This includes completing over 30 milestones related to critical systems like power generation, communication, navigation, propulsion, and life support. Additionally, NASA has revealed details about the docking system and crew/cargo elevator for the Lunar Starship.

What role is Axiom Space playing in the Artemis missions?

Axiom Space is developing specialized spacesuits for the Artemis astronauts to conduct moonwalks on the lunar surface. They took over the existing work from NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) project and unveiled their own suit design concept in 2023. These suits are expected to be ready for the Artemis 3 mission in 2026.

What is Axiom Space's plan for a commercial space station?

Axiom Space is developing its own commercial space station, with the Hub One module designed to house four people already in production. This module is scheduled for launch in 2026 and will initially be part of the International Space Station (ISS). Eventually, the Axiom segment will separate from the ISS before its decommissioning in 2030 and transition into a standalone private station.

What challenges did the Japanese lunar lander 'SLIM' face during its mission?

SLIM encountered issues during its lunar landing attempt, losing one of its engine nozzles and causing it to land on its side. Despite this, it miraculously powered back on after the lunar night and captured remarkable images of the lunar surface. However, its scientific camera malfunctioned due to the extreme cold temperatures experienced during the lunar night.

What was the navigation issue faced by the lunar lander 'Nova-C' during its descent?

Nova-C relied on navigation Doppler lidar instead of the primary navigation system, which meant it couldn't process data in real-time during descent. This led to a miscalculation of its altitude by 100 meters, causing it to move sideways during landing and resulting in a landing leg failure, although it survived the landing.

Despite the challenges, what achievements did the SLIM and Nova-C missions mark?

Despite encountering difficulties, the missions of SLIM and Nova-C marked significant achievements in lunar exploration. SLIM captured remarkable images of the lunar surface, while Nova-C deployed its Eagle Cam experiment designed to capture the landing from a third-person perspective. These missions serve as inspiration for other companies to become interested in providing moon-related services.

What is the overall significance of the developments covered in the script?

The script covers various significant developments in the space industry, including SpaceX's progress towards the first orbital Starship launch, NASA's Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon, Axiom Space's contributions with spacesuits and a commercial space station, and the challenges faced by recent lunar landers like SLIM and Nova-C. These advancements showcase the collaborative efforts and technological innovations driving humanity's exploration of space.