SpaceX Starlink Next Gen v3 Satellites: IFT-3

Summary

The video script discusses the highly anticipated SpaceX Starship launch, codenamed IF3 (Integrated Flight Test 3), following the successful wet dress rehearsal. The host provides insights into the primary goals of this flight, including achieving full Earth orbit, demonstrating booster reusability, and testing propellant transfer capabilities crucial for future missions to Mars and the Moon. The video also highlights the significance of the Starship's larger payload fairing, capable of deploying 120 next-generation Starlink satellites, quadrupling capacity and reducing latency. The host invites viewers to join the live stream and share their predictions for the launch's success or potential 'rapid unscheduled disassembly.'

Takeaways

• 🚀 SpaceX conducted a successful wet dress rehearsal for the Starship integrated flight test 3 (IFT3), loading over 10 million pounds of propellant.
• ⭕ The primary goal of the IFT3 mission is for the Starship to achieve full orbital flight around the Earth in 90 minutes.
• ♻️ Another key objective is to demonstrate booster reusability by attempting to land the booster and Starship components.
• ⛽ Propellant transfer in orbit, enabling a 'gas station' for refueling other spacecraft, is a critical capability for future missions.
• 📡 The larger fairing on Starship can deploy 120 next-generation Starlink satellites, compared to only 24 on Falcon 9 rockets.
• 🌍 The new satellites, called 'Version 3' or 'Maxies', are twice the size and provide 4 times the capacity of the current generation.
• ⚡ Improved capacity and lower latency (sub-20ms) from the new satellites will enhance the Starlink internet service experience.
• 📆 The IFT3 launch is expected to occur between March 18-22, pending weather conditions and FAA approval.
• 🔴 The host is considering live streaming the IFT3 launch, similar to the previous IFT2 launch.
• ❓ The host seeks viewers' opinions on whether the IFT3 launch will be successful or experience a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD).

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is providing an update on SpaceX's upcoming Starship launch, known as the Integrated Flight Test 3 (IF3).

What are the primary goals of the IF3 launch?

The primary goals of the IF3 launch are to orbit the planet fully in low Earth orbit (LEO) in 90 minutes, test booster reusability, and potentially perform propellant transfer between spacecraft.

Why is propellant transfer in LEO important for future missions?

Propellant transfer in LEO is important because it would allow spacecraft to refuel from a dedicated 'gas station' in orbit, enabling them to travel to destinations like Mars or the Moon without having to carry all the propellant from Earth.

How does the Starship's payload capacity compare to the Falcon 9?

The Starship's larger fairing can hold and deploy up to 120 of the next-generation Starlink satellites (referred to as 'Version 3s' or 'Maxis'), whereas the Falcon 9 fairing can only hold around 24 of the current satellites.

What benefits do the larger 'Version 3' Starlink satellites offer?

The larger 'Version 3' Starlink satellites are twice the size of the current ones, with a 60-meter wingspan, and are expected to provide 4 times the capacity, faster speeds, and lower latency.

What is the significance of lower latency for Starlink users?

Lower latency is crucial for activities like video conferencing, online gaming, and other real-time applications that require immediate feedback. Starlink aims to achieve sub-20 millisecond latency, which would be comparable to cable internet.

When is the IF3 launch expected to take place?

Based on the information provided, the IF3 launch is expected to take place between March 18th and March 22nd, 2024, assuming favorable weather conditions and obtaining the necessary FAA launch license.

Does the host plan to livestream the IF3 launch?

Yes, the host mentions considering livestreaming the IF3 launch, similar to how they covered the previous IF2 launch, providing commentary and engaging with viewers during the event.

What are the potential outcomes for the IF3 launch discussed?

The host asks viewers for their opinion on whether the IF3 launch will be successful (achieving LEO and orbiting the planet before splashing down in the ocean) or if it will experience a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' (an explosion).

How does the host encourage audience engagement and support?

The host encourages viewers to like and share the video, subscribe to the channel, consider becoming a member or making a donation, and check out the host's website and merchandise to support the channel's growth and content creation.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 SpaceX Starship Wet Dress Rehearsal Overview

The video introduces the recent wet dress rehearsal conducted by SpaceX for the upcoming Starship integrated flight test (IFT 3). It provides an overview of the rehearsal's success, loading over 10 million pounds of propellant onto Starship and Super Heavy, and taking the flight countdown to T minus 10 seconds. The video emphasizes the significance of this milestone in preparation for the actual launch.

05:02

🛰️ Importance of Starship for SpaceX Starlink

This section outlines the primary goals of the Starship IFT 3 test flight, including achieving full orbit around Earth in 90 minutes, demonstrating booster reusability, and potentially attempting propellant transfer between spacecraft. The video highlights the crucial role of propellant transfer in enabling future missions to Mars and the Moon by allowing spacecraft to refuel in low Earth orbit. Additionally, it discusses the Starship's ability to deploy a significantly larger number (120) of next-generation Starlink satellites (version 3 or Maxi satellites) compared to the Falcon 9, providing increased capacity, speed, and lower latency for Starlink users.

10:04

🍰 Capacity and Latency Improvements with Version 3 Satellites

Using an analogy of dividing a cake among guests, the video explains how the increased capacity of the version 3 (or Maxi) satellites will address network saturation issues and provide better service to more users simultaneously. It also emphasizes the importance of lower latency for applications like video conferencing and online gaming, with Elon Musk aiming for sub-20 millisecond latency, comparable to cable internet. The video suggests that these improvements will make Starlink as fast as cable or fiber internet while operating from low Earth orbit.

15:05

🗓️ Potential Launch Window and Closing Remarks

The video speculates on the potential launch window for the Starship IFT 3, suggesting a timeframe between March 18th and 22nd, 2024, contingent on favorable weather conditions and obtaining the necessary FAA launch license. The creator expresses interest in hosting a live stream during the launch and invites viewers to share their predictions on the launch's success. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the channel, share the content, and explore the creator's website and merchandise.

Keywords

💡Starship

Starship refers to SpaceX's next-generation reusable launch vehicle system designed for transporting crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The video discusses the highly anticipated Integrated Flight Test 3 (IF3) of the Starship prototype, involving a wet dress rehearsal and plans for an orbital launch. The successful development of Starship is crucial for SpaceX's long-term goals of enabling affordable interplanetary travel and establishing a human presence on Mars.

💡Wet dress rehearsal

A wet dress rehearsal is a comprehensive pre-launch test where the rocket is fully fueled and prepared for launch, but the engines are not ignited. The video mentions that SpaceX completed a successful wet dress rehearsal for Starship IF3, loading over 10 million pounds of propellant into the vehicle. This critical step allows teams to validate procedures and systems before attempting an actual launch.

💡Orbital launch

An orbital launch refers to the process of launching a spacecraft or rocket into orbit around a celestial body, such as the Earth. The primary goal for Starship IF3, as mentioned in the video, is to achieve a full orbit around the planet, taking approximately 90 minutes to complete one revolution. Accomplishing this feat would mark a significant milestone for SpaceX and the Starship program.

💡Booster reusability

Booster reusability is a key objective for SpaceX's Starship system, aiming to recover and reuse the first-stage booster after launch. The video notes that a successful booster landing, either on the launch pad or a drone ship, would demonstrate the reusability aspect, which could significantly reduce the cost of future launches. Reusability is a critical factor in making spaceflight more affordable and sustainable.

💡Propellant transfer

Propellant transfer refers to the ability to transfer fuel from one spacecraft to another while in orbit. As explained in the video, SpaceX aims to establish a "gas station" in low Earth orbit, where a Starship loaded solely with propellant can refuel other spacecraft, enabling them to continue their journey to destinations like Mars or the Moon. This capability is described as "mission critical" for future deep-space exploration missions.

💡Starlink

Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious project to build a constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit, providing global broadband internet access. The video discusses how the larger fairing of the Starship will allow for the deployment of up to 120 next-generation Starlink satellites (referred to as "Maxis" or "Version 3s"), offering improved capacity, speed, and latency compared to the current generation. The success of Starship is crucial for the rapid expansion of the Starlink constellation.

💡Latency

Latency refers to the delay or time it takes for data to travel between its source and destination. The video highlights the importance of achieving low latency for applications like video conferencing and online gaming. SpaceX aims for Starlink to provide sub-20 millisecond latency, comparable to cable internet and a significant improvement over the current 28-40 millisecond latency experienced by users. Low latency is a key selling point for Starlink's broadband internet service.

💡FAA launch license

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) launch license is a regulatory approval required for SpaceX to conduct orbital launches from the United States. As mentioned in the video, the successful launch of Starship IF3 is contingent upon receiving this license from the FAA, which conducts safety and environmental assessments before granting clearance. Obtaining the necessary licenses and approvals is a critical step in the process of conducting spaceflight activities.

💡Rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD)

Rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD) is a tongue-in-cheek term used in the aerospace industry to refer to the unintentional and catastrophic destruction or explosion of a rocket or spacecraft during testing or launch. The video acknowledges the possibility of a RUD occurring during the Starship IF3 launch, as the previous two integrated flight tests (IF1 and IF2) both ended in explosions. While a RUD would be an undesirable outcome, the video suggests that even in such a scenario, the launch would still be considered "fulfilling" from an observational and learning perspective.

💡SpaceX

SpaceX is a private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, dedicated to revolutionizing space technology and making spaceflight more affordable and accessible. Throughout the video, the presenter discusses various aspects of SpaceX's ambitious projects, including Starship, Starlink, and their impact on future space exploration and internet connectivity. SpaceX's innovative approach and ambitious goals are at the core of the video's content.

Highlights

SpaceX completed a wet dress rehearsal for Starship, loading over 10 million pounds of propellant and taking the flight countdown to T minus 10 seconds.

The primary goal of the Starship test flight is to fully orbit the planet in 90 minutes and demonstrate booster reusability.

An important goal is to test propellant transfer, enabling future missions to refuel in low Earth orbit from a dedicated 'gas station' Starship.

The larger fairing on Starship will allow deployment of 120 next-generation satellites, compared to only 24 with Falcon 9.

The next-generation satellites will be twice the size, providing 4 times the capacity and lower latency than current satellites.

Lower latency, aiming for sub-20ms, is crucial for applications requiring real-time feedback like video conferencing and gaming.

The expected launch window for Starship's orbital test flight is around March 18-22, pending weather and regulatory approvals.

The host considers going live to provide commentary during the Starship launch, like they did for the previous test flight.

The host asks viewers to share their predictions on whether the Starship launch will be successful or end in a rapid unscheduled disassembly (explosion).

The host encourages viewers to share the video, visit their website, and consider purchasing merch or ebooks to support the channel.

Transcripts

SpaceX Starling third generation

satellites maybe coming sooner than you

think let's talk about

[Music]

it hey everybody welcome back to the

channel thank you so much once again

joining me for tea time today we have a

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joining me with your cup of tea maybe a

cup of coffee hanging out talking Tech

talking photo talking video today's a

technology day we're going to be talking

about SpaceX starlink and the Starship

the if

3 if stands for integrated flight test

just so you know you hear that a lot ift

2 if1 they both blew up let's hope if3

doesn't blow up we'll we'll soon see

anyways they put together a dress

rehearsal a wet dress rehearsal um

yesterday it was pretty nice I'm going

to maybe play that someplace so you can

see it in a little while anyways it was

pretty I would say non-eventful which is

good there wasn't many problems so

that's what we're looking for we want

the wet dress rehearsal to go over well

and then they just have to now wait for

the

FAA

license we know that always takes

forever but it shouldn't this time

because everything is supposedly on the

up and up everything is good they've

done their investigations everything is

copesthetic so to speak so I'll get into

when I think that this um if3 or the

Starship is going to launch again before

the end of this video I want to go

through some of these things that we've

found out so I'll give you I guess an

update is what this video is going to be

about before we get into it I just want

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watch this video anyways like I said the

if3 or Starship wet rehearsal went over

yesterday and everything was nominal

which is fantastic on X SpaceX posted

this Starship completed its rehearsal

for launch loading more than 10 million

pounds of propellant on Starship and

super heavy and taking the flight light

countdown to T minus 10 seconds pretty

cool very very cool can you imagine 10

million pounds 10 million pounds of

propellant loaded in and then siphoned

out it's just to me that like the

numbers it's just amazing absolutely

amazing so what is the goal here on this

test flight and uh a lot of people that

aren't in the know they they really

don't know why do they keep on doing

this or what is the goal and that's kind

of what I want to cover today how is it

important to us people that are either

using SpaceX starlink for their internet

service as of today or they're looking

into SpaceX starlink in the future why

is the Starship so very important

anyways let's get into the goal and then

I'm going to answer that question for

you because it is an important one so

their primary goal is to be able to

orbit the planet fully in other words

get into Leo into low earth orbit and

then go all the way around the planet

once all right that's what their goal is

and the amount of time it would take for

them to do that is 90 minutes which is

amazing that just shows how fast it will

be going so 90 minutes to get around the

entire planet that's the first goal then

the next thing is booster reusability

are they going to be able to take that

booster and then land it let's say back

on the Launchpad or on a drone ship in

the middle of the ocean and the same

thing holds true with the Starship now

my understanding is on this flight on

the if3 they're not going to attempt any

of that they're going to once again go

around they're going to orbit the earth

fully 90 minutes and then come splashing

down in the ocean that is my

understanding they're not going to try

to do any type of Landing Maneuvers or

anything like that now they might okay

um I'm not I don't work for them but my

understanding was the last time they

spoke about this they were just going to

land in the ocean and that is it now

future missions they might instead of

Landing in the ocean hard Landing would

come upright and then slowly land into

the ocean just like if they were going

to land on the back of a drone ship or

back on the launch pad so I'm not sure

if they're going to do that this time I

don't think that they will now the other

thing that is really important for them

is to be able to do some type of

propellent

transfer now what the hell does that

mean well the goal is to be able to

transfer propellant from one ship to

another ship now why is this very

important the idea eventually is to get

a Starship the entire Starship and have

one fully loaded with fuel nothing else

all right it doesn't have a fairing to

put satellites into it or anything else

a fully loaded Starship and it will act

kind of like a h station right or a

mobile or something a gas station in low

earth orbit pretty cool right so in

future missions a spacecraft can now

dock to that gas station in Leo refuel

detach and then head to their next

destination that could be Mars it could

be the moon who knows probably the moon

first because we need to create a well

we're not going to get into all that

into this video but probably the moon

first but in any regard having a gas

station a fueling site a location where

a spacecraft can pull up to and refuel

in low earth orbit is Mission critical

going forward because the amount of

propellant that is expelled to break our

gravity to get away from the planet is a

ton once you're in Leo there's next to

no gravity right since there's almost no

gravity it takes no propulsion or very

little to be able to get to their next

destination Mars the moon wherever so

that is a really big goal going forward

also they might now they're not sure as

of yet I don't know but they might

deploy some type of small satellites or

something else into low earth orbit just

to see how that is working that is a

possibility now why is this so important

now I don't know if you guys have seen a

video that came from SpaceX starlink way

back like I think it was 2022 or

something and they showed the top

fairing of the Starship opening up kind

of like a Pez dispenser and then

shooting out two satellites at a time

like shooting out candy

satellites now what is so important

about this and why this is important to

us is because the falcon9 Rockets Can

Only Hold or the fairing could only hold

21 satellites now they've expanded them

to hold I think 24 but still 24 is not a

lot because remember these are version 2

mini satellites these are the smaller

variation of the version 2.0 let's call

them Maxis or we can also refer to them

as let's say version threes by this

point so this is a big big deal because

this new or the larger fairing that's on

the Starship will be able to hold or

deploy

120 of the Maxis 120 of the Next

Generation satellites whereas the

fairing in the Falcon 9 could barely

hold probably like four of them why is

that well the version 3es let's call

them or the version 2 Maxis are twice

the size so they have a wingspan instead

of being 30 m they have a wingspan of 60

M converting that to feet is it like 100

feet for the version two minis compared

to let's call it 200 feet for the

version 3s all right so you see they're

double the size the weight is also

double instead of like 800 kg you're

looking at like 1600 2,000 kog I mean

massive over a ton let's say for one

satellite so these are big massive

satellites they also provide 4X the

capacity now that's what's very

important for us forx the capacity it'll

be able to provide more speed lower

latency and once again the capacity is

what is so important meaning that they

will be able to service four times the

number of customers at the same speed or

simply going faster and servicing a few

less but that is huge so if you're an an

area that gets saturated and you're like

you know my starlink just goes slower

around 6:00 p.m. because everyone gets

home and they're using it's like well

you're not going to have that problem

anymore it will no longer be the case

now remember I use this analogy in the

past right and if you've been with me

for a while or if you've been on my

lives you've heard me say this you have

a cake let's say the cake is the amount

of data that SpaceX starlink has per

satellite you have that cake and that

cake needs to be divided there's eight

people that are going to be coming over

to your house and they're all going to

want a slice of cake so you're going to

divide that cake into eight pieces well

what happens when two extra guests

unannounced guests show up now all of a

sudden we have to divide the cake into

10 pieces now you don't have more cake

you only have one damn cake right so

what that means is everyone has to have

a smaller slice of cake meaning less

data that's the only way that the amount

of data is going to go around you can't

just miraculously just show up with data

you'll have a finite amount you have a

finite amount of cake right so you won't

have to divide it up anymore because

when 10 people come you're okay because

that cake will actually be able to hold

4X the old cake so instead of only be

able to give the same siiz cake to eight

people you'll be able to give 32 people

the same amount of cake you get it it's

a whole hell a lot of

cake did you get any of that or was I

just like off anyways add you know

sometimes

squirrels anyway so the bottom line here

is more cake more data and that is what

the version 3 is going to be able to

provide but they'll also be able to

provide lower latency and this is a

really big thing because if you're doing

Google meetings or you're doing Zoom

conference calls or you're doing like

firstperson shooters or any type of

internet connectivity that requires

immediate immediate feedback all right

you're going to need the lowest latency

as possible now with fiber you're

getting latency of about let's say 1 2

milliseconds up to about 10 12

milliseconds that's your

latency with copper like cable you're

sitting at right around maybe 10 to 20

milliseconds of latency currently with

SpaceX starlink we're seeing about 30 me

personally anywhere from about 28 to

about 40 milliseconds of latency I'm not

going to get into Jitter I did a few

videos about Jitter how Jitter is very

very important also I'm not going to get

into that but latency having the lower

latency is very important so seeing that

we're already at 28 to about 40 that's

not bad but what Elon mus said recently

is he wants to see his system be able to

provide lower than sub 20 milliseconds

latency that would be amazing because

once you start getting into the teens as

far as latency you're literally as quick

as cable maybe not as quick as fiber

then again some Fiber is slow right

there's there's some pretty trash fiber

out there I get into that either but for

the most part you're going to be as fast

as using a cable modem a cable provider

and you're actually getting your service

from low earth orbit at 550 kmers off

Earth which is just amazing in my

personal opinion so when will this all

happen right when will this happen but

my understanding is it will take

probably about a couple of weeks so I'm

going to guess we're going to see about

an from the8 18th of March to about the

22nd a launch time right around then now

of course we have to make sure that

weather is permitting we have to make

sure the FAA provides the launch license

and any other unforeseen happening right

that will delay it but for the most part

I would have to say most likely the 18th

to the 22nd now guys I was thinking

about going live for this like I did

with the if2 let me know if you want me

to do that it was fun hanging out with

you guys while we watched it take off

and do some type of commentary about it

and just chill out and hang out so I

thought that that was fun you let me

know if you want me to do that also I

want to know from you do you think that

this launch the if3 is going to be

successful or do you think that it's

going to do another rud or rapid

unscheduled disassembly boom which I

mean either way it's going to be a let's

say a fulfilling launch for us to watch

but what do you think do you think that

they're going to actually make it into

low earth orbit and have the Starship go

around the entire planet in those 90

minutes and then come crashing down into

the ocean or not what do you think

anyways guys I hope you enjoyed this

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healthy and we'll see you in the next

one love you

all