SpaceX Drops Some Incredible Starship News! What Will This Lead To?

Summary

SpaceX's Starship program advances with the testing of booster 14.1 and the construction of additional launch tower segments at the Starbase. The removal of the vertical tank farm and installation of new cryogenic pipes signal further progress. Meanwhile, NASA's Osiris-REx mission reveals potential watery past of asteroid Bennu, hinting at the possibility of life's building blocks in our solar system. China's Chang'e 6 mission successfully retrieves lunar samples from the far side of the Moon, marking a historic achievement.

Takeaways

• 🚀 SpaceX is actively working on the Starship project with updates on the construction of ship 30 and the orbital launch integration Tower.
• 🔨 The new ablative layer is being added to the stainless steel hull of Starship, but it seems there won't be any around the tip of the nose due to the presence of cryogenic liquid oxygen.
• 📈 The orbital launch and integration Tower at SpaceX is undergoing construction with cryo pipes installed and new pedestals placed for potential additional segments.
• 🌐 The vertical tank farm has been removed by SpaceX, marking the end of an era, and new tanks are being installed to expand the capacity of the tank farm.
• 🛠️ Booster 14.1 underwent a series of 'slap tests' to ensure the structural integrity and to train the programming for the gigantic mechazilla arms used in catching the boosters.
• 🔄 The International Space Station (ISS) is facing age-related issues, and NASA plans to replace it, with SpaceX being selected to provide the deorbit vehicle.
• 🌌 The Osiris-REx mission by NASA was successful in collecting over 120 grams of sample from the asteroid Bennu, which may have been part of a watery world early in the solar system's history.
• 🌑 China's Chang'e 6 mission successfully retrieved samples from the far side of the Moon, marking China as the first nation to achieve this feat.
• 🔮 The discovery of biochemical compounds on the asteroid Bennu suggests that the building blocks for life could be widespread throughout our solar system.
• 🛰️ There is growing concern over space debris, especially with the recent breakup of a Russian satellite, which adds to the risk of a cascade of debris formation in low Earth orbit.
• 🏗️ Construction of the new Tower 2 at Starbase is progressing, with a potential completion date hinted at by the FAA's crane schedule, suggesting stacking could be done by mid-August.

Q & A

What is the current status of SpaceX's Starship development?

SpaceX is actively working on replacing old heat tiles and adding an ablative layer to Starship 30. They are also building the orbital launch and integration tower segments at the Starbase, with seven of nine existing tower sections currently in place.

Why might there be no ablative material around the tip of Starship 30's nose cone?

The lack of ablative material around the tip of the nose cone is likely due to the presence of cryogenic liquid oxygen on the other side of the steel, which provides unintentional active cooling and reduces the risk of propellant evaporation and venting.

What is the purpose of the new pedestals spotted at the Sanchez site?

The new pedestals at the Sanchez site are identical to the ones currently holding the tower pieces and could potentially be for additional tower segments that SpaceX has yet to build, possibly for a taller second tower to support the upgraded Block 3 variants.

Why did SpaceX remove the vertical tank farm?

SpaceX removed the vertical tank farm as part of their ongoing updates and improvements. They are replacing it with newer bullet tanks to expand the tank farm capacity and support Starship stacks on Pad 2.

What is the significance of the recent road closure for transporting large tanks to the Sanchez site?

The road closure was initially thought to be for transporting tower sections, but it was actually used for moving two large bullet tanks to the site, which are crucial for the expansion of the tank farm and future Starship launches.

What is the current progress on the construction of Tower 2 at Starbase?

Tower 2 construction is progressing with the pouring of concrete for stabilization, installation of the floor for the draw works, and the placement of cryogenic pipes. The tower is expected to be completed by August 15th, according to the FAA's agenda for SpaceX's new CC 88001 crane.

What unusual test did SpaceX perform on booster 14.1?

SpaceX performed a series of 'slap tests' on booster 14.1 to ensure the robustness of the Chopsticks and boosters, simulating the catch and testing the programming for maneuvering the mechazilla arms.

What is the current status of the International Space Station (ISS)?

The ISS is facing age-related issues, including equipment malfunctions like the recent water leak from an EVA space suit. NASA plans to replace the ISS and has selected SpaceX to provide a deorbit vehicle for its eventual fiery re-entry by 2030.

What significant discovery was made by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission regarding the asteroid Bennu?

The OSIRIS-REx mission discovered that asteroid Bennu may have been part of a watery world, with significant amounts of magnesium, sodium phosphates, and other elements suggesting a watery past, which could provide insights into the early solar system and the origins of life.

What is the latest achievement of China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission?

Chang'e 6 successfully collected rock and regolith samples from the far side of the Moon, launched them into orbit, and returned them to Earth, marking China as the first nation to retrieve samples from the far side of the Moon.