SpaceX Finally Adresses Important Starship Catch Problem!

Summary

In this episode of 'What About It!?', host Felix discusses the latest SpaceX Starship updates, including rigorous testing for the innovative 'chopstick' catch system at the South Texas Starbase. He also covers the progress of the next-gen tower and the potential for Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket to finally launch. Additionally, there's speculation about Sierra Nevada Corporation possibly acquiring United Launch Alliance, hinting at significant shifts in the space industry landscape.

Takeaways

• 🚀 SpaceX is actively preparing for the Starship launch at the South Texas Starbase, with a focus on testing the catch mechanism for the rocket booster.
• 🔨 The 'chopsticks', or catch arms, are being rigorously tested to ensure they can safely secure the 220-ton rocket booster during landing without causing damage.
• 🛠️ The testing includes 'slap tests' to simulate the impact of the booster on the catch pins and cushioning rails, which are designed to absorb the landing forces.
• 🏗️ Construction of the next-generation tower at Starbase is nearing completion, with only a few segments left to stack and the installation of essential components pending.
• 🛡️ Protective steel plates are being added to the base of the new tower to safeguard internal components from heat damage during liftoff.
• 🔄 The infamous Starship prototype, Ship 26, has been moved to the Rocket Garden, sparking speculation about its future use, possibly for testing Raptor 3 engines.
• 🔄 Ship 31 is undergoing retiling for flight 6, with careful attention to the welds and nose cone to ensure heat resistance during re-entry.
• 🛰️ Block 2 Starships are in production, with Ship 33 being actively assembled in Mega Bay 2 and nearing completion for engine installation.
• 🏁 Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is showing signs of progress, with segments spotted at Cape Canaveral and a potential launch date set for September 29th, pending delays.
• 💰 United Launch Alliance (ULA) is reportedly in talks for a possible acquisition by Sierra Nevada Corporation, which could significantly expand Sierra's capabilities in the space industry.
• 🤔 The acquisition of ULA by Sierra Nevada raises questions about how the smaller company would finance such a large purchase, with various speculative strategies considered.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the 'chopstick arms' mentioned in the script?

The 'chopstick arms' are part of SpaceX's catch mechanism designed to catch the Starship booster as it falls from space during its next flight. They are equipped with cushioning rails to slow the vehicle's speed and protect it from the impact of landing.

What is the significance of the 'two-armed slap' test mentioned in the script?

The 'two-armed slap' test is a part of the catch testing process where both arms of the catch mechanism collide against the vehicle to simulate the stress it will undergo during landing. This helps to ensure the structural integrity and effectiveness of the catch arms.

What is the current status of the next-gen tower building at SpaceX's Starbase?

The next-gen tower building at Starbase is nearing completion with only two more segments left to stack. The tower is being outfitted with essential components before stacking, which speeds up the process.

Why is SpaceX outfitting the tower segments with their essential components before stacking?

SpaceX is outfitting the tower segments with their essential components before stacking to make the construction process quicker and more efficient.

What is the role of the protective steel plates being added to the base of the new tower?

The protective steel plates are being added to the base of the new tower to shield the internal components from potential damage caused by the intense heat during liftoff.

What is the current status of Booster 14.1 and its significance for future Starship flights?

Booster 14.1 has been returned to the launch site for more catch testing and will lay the groundwork for a successful catch of Booster 12 during Starship flight 5, marking a significant change in the landing procedure compared to previous flights.

What is the significance of the 'Rocket Garden' mentioned in the script?

The 'Rocket Garden' is a location at SpaceX's Starbase where prototypes that are no longer needed or are not currently being worked on are stored. It serves as a storage and potential display area for these rocket prototypes.

What is the current status of Ship 26 and why is it significant?

Ship 26 is a prototype that has been moved to the Rocket Garden after having all its Raptor engines removed. Its significance lies in the possibility that it may be used for further testing with newer Raptor engines, making it potentially the first to receive Raptor 3s.

What is the current progress on Ship 31 and its importance?

Ship 31 is undergoing retiling for flight 6. The progress has slowed down as workers are focusing on the more fragile areas such as the welds and nose cone, which are critical for the ship's ability to endure re-entry heat.

What is the significance of the developments regarding Ship 33, the first Block 2 Starship?

Ship 33, the first Block 2 Starship, is actively being stacked in Mega Bay 2. Its development signifies the progression to the next generation of Starships, with the vehicle nearing completion and expected to receive its engines in the coming weeks.

What is the current status of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and its projected launch date?

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is in the final stages of assembly, with a 'no earlier than' launch date set for September 29th. The rocket's development has picked up pace, and recent activities suggest an imminent launch, although it could still be delayed.

What are the potential implications of Sierra Nevada Corporation's interest in acquiring United Launch Alliance (ULA)?

If Sierra Nevada Corporation were to acquire ULA, it would significantly expand its capabilities and presence in the space industry. However, the high price tag of $3 billion presents financial challenges, and the acquisition could involve significant risks or require creative financial strategies.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Starship Launchpad A Testing Intensifies

SpaceX's Starbase in South Texas is the hub for Starship development, where the colossal rocket booster is being prepared for a daring catch upon its return from space. The focus is on the unique 'chopstick' arms designed to secure the booster during landing. Recent tests at Launch Pad A involved the arms clamping onto the vehicle and applying pressure through cushioning rails and tiles to absorb the impact. The successful tests with Booster 14.1 are crucial for the upcoming Starship flight 5, which will attempt the first-ever catch of a 220-ton rocket booster. The video also highlights the progress of a second launch tower at Starbase, nearing completion with the addition of protective steel plates and essential systems.

05:03

🌌 Starship's Tower B and Production Site Updates

The script discusses the rapid construction of SpaceX's second launch tower, Tower B, which is almost complete and only awaits the installation of key components like the drawworks system. It also touches on the production site, where the infamous Starship prototype, Ship 26, has been moved to the rocket garden, sparking speculation about its future use. Two theories are presented: it may either be used for display or continue as a testbed, possibly for the new Raptor 3 engines. Additionally, Ship 31 is undergoing retiling for its upcoming flight, while Block 2 Starships, starting with Ship 33, are actively being assembled in Mega Bay 2.

10:04

🛰️ Blue Origin's New Glenn Development and Launch Speculation

Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has been developing the New Glenn rocket, a heavy-lift launch vehicle that aims to compete with SpaceX's Starship. Despite initial delays, recent sightings of rocket segments and increased activity suggest an acceleration in the development process. The video discusses the various components of the New Glenn, including the second stage, interstage section with canard fins, and the main tank section. The company's secretive nature makes it challenging to gauge the exact readiness of the rocket, but the 'no earlier than' launch date is set for September 29th, with the potential for a launch before 2025.

15:08

💼 Corporate Maneuvering: Sierra Nevada's Potential ULA Acquisition

The script delves into the business side of the space industry, focusing on the potential acquisition of United Launch Alliance (ULA) by Sierra Nevada Corporation. ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has been on the market, with initial talks with Blue Origin falling through. The recent reports suggest that Sierra Nevada, known for the Dream Chaser space plane, is in discussions to buy ULA. The acquisition would be a significant financial undertaking for Sierra Nevada, with a price tag of $3 billion. The video explores possible strategies for Sierra to secure the funds, including taking out a large business acquisition loan, partnering with another company, or purchasing only select assets of ULA.

20:09

🔭 Future Outlook and Engaging the Space Community

The final paragraph wraps up the video by encouraging viewers to engage with the content, subscribe for more updates, and explore the space-themed merchandise available. It also teases the next video as a continuation of the journey to enhance the viewer's 'space IQ.' The host expresses gratitude for the viewership and looks forward to the next episode, emphasizing the role of the community in supporting the channel's growth and success.

Keywords

💡Starship

Starship is a fully reusable spacecraft designed by SpaceX for missions ranging from satellite deployment to interplanetary travel. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the progress and testing of this spacecraft at the South Texas Starbase. The script mentions 'Starship Launch Pad A' and 'Booster 14.1', indicating the development and testing phases of this spacecraft.

💡Catch Testing

Catch testing refers to the process of ensuring that a rocket booster can be safely caught and landed after its descent from space. In the context of the video, SpaceX is conducting catch tests with 'chopstick arms' to prepare for the first catch test on flight 5, aiming to prevent a 220-ton rocket from crashing into the launch pad, as mentioned in the script.

💡Chopstick Arms

Chopstick arms are the mechanical arms designed by SpaceX to catch the falling rocket booster during its descent. The video discusses these arms in detail, explaining their function in the catch testing process and how they are equipped with cushioning rails to absorb the impact of the booster's landing, as illustrated by the script's description of the testing at the launch site.

💡Next-Gen Tower

The term 'Next-Gen Tower' refers to the new generation of launch towers being constructed at the Starbase by SpaceX. The video discusses the construction progress of this tower, noting that it is almost complete and awaiting the installation of the drawworks and other significant additions, as mentioned in the script.

💡Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, known for developing the New Shepard rocket and the upcoming New Glenn rocket. The video script discusses the company's history, its development of the New Glenn rocket, and recent activities suggesting an imminent launch, indicating competition in the space industry.

💡New Glenn

New Glenn is a heavy-lift orbital rocket under development by Blue Origin. The video script mentions the rocket's development timeline, its current status with visible segments at Cape Canaveral, and the anticipation of its first launch, which is a significant event in the space industry narrative.

💡ULA (United Launch Alliance)

ULA is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that develops rocket families for the United States. The video script discusses rumors of Boeing and Lockheed Martin considering the sale of ULA, with potential buyers like Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada Corporation being mentioned, indicating shifts in the industry landscape.

💡Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation is a private space company known for projects like the Dream Chaser space plane. The video script highlights recent reports of the corporation being in talks to purchase ULA, which would significantly expand its capabilities in the space industry, as discussed in the script.

💡Raptor Engines

Raptor engines are the methane-fueled rocket engines developed by SpaceX for use in their Starship spacecraft. The script mentions the possibility of Ship 33, a Block 2 Starship, receiving Raptor 3 engines, indicating advancements in propulsion technology for the spacecraft.

💡Block 1 and Block 2 Starships

Block 1 and Block 2 refer to different iterations or versions of the Starship spacecraft. The video script discusses Ship 30 and 31 as likely the last Block 1 Starships to fly, with Block 2 Starships, such as Ship 33, already in production, showcasing the evolution of the spacecraft design.

💡Ship 26

Ship 26 is a Starship prototype mentioned in the video script as having an uncertain future. It discusses the prototype's relocation to the Rocket Garden and speculation about its potential uses, such as display or further testing with newer Raptor engines, illustrating the iterative nature of spacecraft development.

Highlights

SpaceX is preparing for the final launch of the Starship with a new generation tower nearing completion.

Starship Launch Pad A is the only active launchpad for the Starship, featuring a skyscraper-sized rocket booster catch system.

Booster 14.1 underwent catch testing to ensure a smooth first catch test on flight 5 and prevent a 220-ton rocket crash.

The 'chopsticks', or catch arms, were tested with cushioning rails and tiles to absorb landing impact for the heavy booster.

SpaceX performed 'two-armed slap' tests to check the structural integrity of the catch arms and the vehicle.

New tower construction at Starbase is speeding up, with protective steel plates being added around the base for heat protection.

ULA's potential sale to Sierra Nevada Corporation could significantly impact the space industry, despite the high price tag.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket development has been slow but is now showing increased activity with visible hardware.

New Glenn's launch date is set for September 29th, but there are concerns about whether the rocket will be ready in time.

Ship 26, a Starship prototype, was moved to the Rocket Garden, sparking speculation about its future use.

Ship 31 is undergoing retiling for flight 6, with careful attention to the welds and nose cone for heat resistance.

Block 2 Starships are in production, with ship 33 actively being stacked in Mega Bay 2.

Ship 33's assembly is nearing completion, awaiting only the engine section for potential Raptor 3 engine installation.

Sierra Nevada Corporation is reportedly in talks to acquire ULA, which could drastically expand their space industry capabilities.

Sierra Space could potentially fund the ULA acquisition through a business loan, partnerships, or selective asset purchase.

Transcripts

This is nuts!

Final Starship launch prep! SpaceX Starship  booster ready to land on the tower?

Next-gen tower building draws to an end?

Is the next-gen Starship complete?

Will Blue Origin’s New Glenn  ever launch? We do the analysis!

Tiny space startup Sierra is attempting  to buy big player United Launch Alliance?

My name is Felix. Welcome to What About It!?

Let’s dive right in!

Starship Updates

This is the South Texas Starbase, where  SpaceX is developing the future of  

Spaceflight. The mind-boggling Starship! And it’s especially mind-boggling to us  

space nerds. How’s this even possible? Let's start with Starship Launch Pad A,  

the only active Starship Launchpad in the world. SpaceX is attempting to catch a skyscraper-sized  

rocket booster while it falls from  space on its next flight. Some crazy  

testing is needed to make that work. SpaceX is willing to do what it takes.  

But are they on time? This week was filled with  crazy testing at pad A. Let's do a little review. 

Booster 14.1 was recently returned to the launch  site for more catch testing. Catch testing? 

SpaceX wants to ensure that their first catch  test on flight 5 goes smoothly and we don't see  

a 220-ton rocket slamming into the pad. The tank hadn't seen any testing yet for  

this round, and the chopsticks, the arms used to  catch Starship, only really tested above the tank. 

No slapping. But that was about to change! The chopsticks closed around the vehicle,  

and the landing rails extended. This was followed by the chopsticks moving  

up and slamming the arms into the vehicle's  catch pins, applying incredible pressure. 

The chopstick arms are equipped with these  small cushioning rails. They’re extendable  

upwards. The plan is for them to slowly lower  as the small catch pins hit them on landing to  

slow the vehicle's speed. Think of them like giant  

pillows for the booster to land on! This is important since the booster  

weighs around 220 tons when empty. Approaching  at breakneck speeds, it would be tough for  

those arguably tiny catch pins to take all the  inertia. Put a pillow below them in the form  

of those dampening rails; it should be easier. The rails also include these cushioning tiles,  

which we talked about in a recent  episode. They add even more dampening  

for the booster during catch maneuvers. None of this has ever been done before. SpaceX  

would like to know whether their catch procedures  and catch arms are up for the challenge. 

Perfectly understandable! This is why they didn't stop there. Soon, the  

chopstick arms were positioned around the vehicle  again; this time, however, they were fully opened. 

Quick flashback to when this test tank was  originally here at the launch site back in July. 

You'll remember that it  underwent a series of slap tests. 

This was accomplished by one arm being stationary  against the vehicle while the other extended and  

quickly swung in to hit the tank. The one-armed slap! 

This and then you go like: slap! That procedure was repeated, except  

for this time, both arms were used. The two-armed slap! So violent! 

Yep, that's right. It's some good  old-fashioned Hulk thunderclap action.

The two arms collided against the vehicle,  and some visual oscillation was seen. However,  

no more noticeable than in the first round. To me, this is a good sign that the profile  

has been reworked. It is now a lot less  violent on the vehicle, especially now  

that two arms are involved in the action. After this, the vehicle was lifted off of the  

orbital launch mount and rolled away down Highway  four to the rocket garden the very same day. 

No visible damage to the test tank or to  the arms. The next few days will tell if  

the arms were damaged. We’ll simply  be able to see repair crews or not. 

Booster 14.1 will lay the  groundwork for a successful  

catch of booster 12 during Starship flight 5. It’s a major change compared to all the other  

flights. Those who have seen the high altitude  flight tests might remember the anxiety when a  

Starship test vehicle aims for the landing site  and you just don’t know if it’ll make it or not.  

That’s what this will be like again! I can’t wait! But let's not let orbital site A take all  

the action. We have another  Tower at Starbase, after all. 

One that's almost complete at that. So, where did we leave off last time? 

There were two more segments to go! As usual with SpaceX, they didn't even  

give us time to celebrate the stacking of section  7 of 9, as they were already on to number eight. 

But before I tell you about that,  we’ve looked into our channel metrics,  

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As we discussed in our last video, section  8 is slightly shorter than the first seven,  

as it and section 9 house the upper pulley system  and the crown block for the chopstick arms. 

Smaller segments but more internals mean about  the same weight as on Tower A since SpaceX has  

chosen to outfit the segments with their essential  components before stacking, unlike on Tower A. 

This makes it a lot quicker, too. Section 9's rollout will likely  

follow very soon, and we’ll finally see  the completion of this new behemoth. 

Completion of tower stacking that is. As I mentioned, the tower still awaits  

the installation of the drawworks,  which lift the chopsticks,  

as well as other significant additions. However, it does seem that SpaceX is  

finally fleshing out the base of the  tower, as they have begun adding the  

protective steel plates around the outside. The Tower speed run continues! For comparison,  

it took NASA’s contractors almost 4 years to  build the second SLS mobile launcher. As usual,  

it ran into massive problems, needing repairs and  fixes and, in the end, costing almost a billion  

dollars instead of the planned 383 million.  But I’m side-tracking. This is Starship. 

These plates on the lowest part of the tower  protect the essential components inside the base  

from being damaged by the immense heat at liftoff. We also saw the construction of these structures  

on the opposite side of the tower base. They look  identical to Tower A and house important plumbing  

systems, access points, and the elevator. This is an essential step since workers need  

to refurbish the tower in case  of damage, as seen on Tower A. 

However, I don't think it'll be long before we see  this Tower fully complete, and only the lack of an  

OLM will prevent them from launching. A new era is coming to Starbase. 

Tower B aside, though, there's more action  waiting for us at the production site,  

also known as the build site. But first, I want to share a  

little about how I work. (Opera Integration) 

Just a short trip up Highway 4 away from the  coast, we arrive at the build site and are met  

with one of the most beautiful views in rocketry. Let's follow Booster 14.1 to the rocket garden. 

SpaceX chose this location to store  prototypes that are either no longer  

needed or are not currently being worked on. However, we're actually not here to look  

at booster 14.1. We're going to look at  another strange prototype located here. 

The infamous ship 26! As I mentioned in the last episode,  

this prototype was moved to Mega Bay  2 for… well… I didn’t say scrapping,  

and I’m happy now that I didn’t. You just can’t trust Ship 26. Never. 

It was not scrapped. Instead, it was  rolled here to the Rocket garden. 

So what happened? Why did they even do all  this? What mystery is next for ship 26? 

When the vehicle still resided at mega  Bay 2, workers were spotted removing all  

six raptor engines from the odd naked ship. This is why scrapping would have been likely,  

but no. There might be another reason. I see two possible reasons for them  

to remove the engines. First off, they may want  

to keep this vehicle on display since we know it  will never fly, and they have shown interest in  

putting some vehicles on display in the future. We do know it will never fly… or do we not? 

Removing its engines would make it easier  to move around and display after all. 

But there's another theory  that may be more likely. 

This vehicle has been Spacex's universal test  article since its very first static fire,  

and they may intend to keep using it. Spacex may not want to risk losing a Block  

2 ship during a static fire test, as they have  a limited number of next-gen ships in supply. 

Currently, there is only one that we’ll talk  about in a moment. I’m sure they'd rather see  

them fly than do ground tests! But they’ll  soon need to static fire Raptor 3 on a ship. 

Instead, they may choose to outfit  ship 26 with these newer engines  

and static-fire them for a real-life test  rather than only hot-firing single engines. 

This would most likely come later down  the line, as SpaceX doesn't yet have  

enough of these engines, as far as we  can tell. If correct, though, Ship 26  

might just be the first to receive Raptor 3s. Ship 26’s wild story seems to continue! What  

do you think? What’s next for Ship 26?  Be sure to let me know in the comments! 

Let's talk about something that's  currently happening in the High Bay next. 

Ship 31 continues retiling. This  is the hardware for flight 6! 

When this prototype first began stripping  and retiling, it was quite speedy, but  

it seems that it has slowed down slightly  since then. We've seen less progress. 

As you can see, only a couple extra tiles have  been added atop the nose cone, and barely any have  

been used to cover the welds, which remain naked. This was to be expected, however, since SpaceX  

has to put much more care into these fragile  areas than it does with the bulk of the vehicle. 

We saw this on ship 30’s tiling when the  progress slowed down and workers took  

more time and effort to get every tile right. It's important because the welds and nose cone  

are areas where tiles are very difficult to apply.  Without a perfect covering, the ship won’t be able  

to endure the immense heat of re-entry undamaged. Ship 30 and 31 are likely the last block 1  

Starships we’ll see fly. Why? Because  block 2 is more than just a concept. 

It’s already in production. We recently  spotted new developments regarding ship 33,  

the first block 2 Starship. It's currently located in  

Mega Bay 2, and it’s actively being stacked. As I've mentioned before, Starship stacking  

takes place from the top down, meaning that the  nose cone is the first segment to be stacked,  

and the engine section is the last. This is why we've seen lower and lower  

sections slowly rolling in and being stacked. Now it's received one more, Which marks quite  

a big milestone for this essential vehicle. Starship's liquid methane fuel tank sits on  

the top, with its liquid oxygen tank beneath. This means that the liquid oxygen tank comes  

after the methane tank and is the  second-to-last step in assembling the ship. 

This is why we were pretty glad when we  saw SpaceX rolling the final piece of  

that tank into the mega Bay for stacking. It was subsequently stacked, and the ship  

now only awaits one remaining piece. This piece I'm talking about is the  

engine section of the vehicle, which  accommodates the Raptor engines. 

This means they're incredibly close to finishing  this prototype, and in a couple of short weeks,  

it may be ready to receive its engines.  The question if it will in fact receive  

Raptor 3 engines will be answered! What do you  think? Will Ship 33 receive Raptor 3 engines? 

Starship, Starship, Starship. It’s what makes  the spaceflight industry turn right now! It’s the  

biggest thing to happen right now. But isn’t there  anything else? How’s the space industry going to  

compete? After all, they’ll have to. There are  a few competitors. One of them is big blue. 

Blue Origin is an aerospace company founded  by billionaire Jeffrey Bezos. You know, the  

Amazon guy. And Blue has long been  a sleeping giant in the industry. 

So much so that there are jokes about  them never reaching orbit or a while  

back that they’d never even deliver an engine  to ULA. And I'm not a fan of those jokes. Why? 

Blue was once one of the most influential  players in space exploration in the early 2000s,  

with its New Shepard rocket being developed  for suborbital, reusable space tourism. 

However, they were quickly passed by  companies doing much more in space, such as  

going fully orbital, which New Shepard can’t do. This only changed for a moment when Blue Origin  

announced their next-gen heavy-lift rocket,  the New Glenn, in 2016. That was 8 years ago. 

The issue is that the rocket's development  moved relatively slowly, and it was overshadowed  

by larger rockets such as Starship. This recently changed when we began  

seeing segments of this new mega-rocket  around Blue’s facilities at Cape Canaveral. 

It began to make us wonder when the new rocket  would finally launch since it had been delayed  

from 2020 to sometime this year. Of course, these segments were not  

official flight hardware, but they were  still important pathfinders for testing  

ground and flight hardware. After these brief sightings,  

we saw increased activity on the whole program. From rapid testing of these Pathfinder vehicles  

to simulated recovery operations, it seems Blue  Origin has completely shifted into go mode,  

and we are now closer than ever to seeing the  first inaugural launch of the New Glenn rocket. 

So, when’s the beast going to launch? Currently, the NET, or no earlier than date,  

is set for September 29th, but  it could still be pushed back. 

The problem is that until a couple  of days ago, we hadn't seen any of  

the official flight hardware, aside from  a couple of cryptic post on X from Blue. 

They’re not very open to the public, which can  be interpreted as "if they don’t show anything,  

there’s nothing to show." But little did we know… Fellow space YouTuber Tim Dodd was invited on a  

tour of Blue's New Glenn processing  factory, led by Bezos himself. 

While the tour doesn’t reveal much new  information, likely due to Blue’s secrecy  

approach, the interview did reveal some important  tidbits about New Glenn's readiness. Watch it when  

you’re done with this episode! So, let’s ask  the big question. When is Blue Origin finally  

going to launch New Glenn? Are they ready?  Will it take another 8 years? Let’s take a  

detailed look and combine all the info we have! The rocket remains in pieces but is relatively  

ready. Let's examine each piece and its location. When the tour was recorded in May this year,  

the second stage remained completed  but without its two BE-3U engines. 

From a post by Blue Origin CEO David Limp  dating back seven months, we know that the  

engines were test-fitted at some point.  So it might just be that they weren’t  

attached at the time of this particular tour. The interstage section sitting directly beneath  

the second stage also appeared in the  interview, and it still seemed unfinished. 

This section is outfitted with four aerodynamic  fins, which help steer the vehicle down from space  

and through the atmosphere for a landing  on a droneship. Similar to SpaceX’s grid  

fin approach, they act as aerodynamic surfaces. SpaceX decided to use grid fins as tests showed  

better performance during hypersonic flight. This is a 3D print of a regular Falcon 9 grid fin.  

It's attached to the booster like this, when the  rocket launches and then it flips up and then it  

moves like this to steer the booster on descent. Blue Origin chose canard fins for New Glenn  

despite SpaceX’s results. It’ll be  interesting to see them perform! 

We recently also saw it in a test stand undergoing  testing of its reaction control thrusters in an  

X post they published on August 7th. However, two of the most important  

pieces—the booster main tanks and  the aft section—are still missing. 

As mentioned in the tour, the Flight One main  tank section is located in a different building,  

which will supposedly be toured  in part two of the interview. 

Blue Origin showed the aft section  in action even before the tour. Six  

landing legs were extended to different degrees. Blue Origin posted this on X on August 7th. The  

video likely shows a simulated landing, and  as you can see, it’s quite a complex setup,  

unlike SpaceX’s approach of minimizing parts. The aft engines also still need to be installed. 

Altogether, this is looking quite  optimistic for Blue. They may be  

able to make their September 29th launch  of NASA’s escapade probes to Mars happen. 

However, that date is still a "no earlier  than" date and could slip back, but I would  

expect a launch definitely before 2025. However, one other SpaceX competitor  

might be bigger than Blue Origin, and  it has recently made some headlines. 

United Launch Alliance is responsible  for developing two of the oldest rocket  

families in the United States and a brand  new next-generation methane rocket, Vulcan. 

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have been  considering selling ULA for some time  

now. You may have heard rumors earlier this  year about them looking to sell to Blue Origin.

Finding a buyer has been a long-term  pursuit, and they have still not found  

anyone willing to make a contract. Allegedly, Lockheed Martin and Boeing,  

the two companies that make up ULA, were  not able to find a deal with Blue Origin,  

which meant that they had to keep looking  for someone to purchase the company. 

This has led to new reports that  another company wants to buy them out. 

Two insiders have said that ULA is currently  in talks with the Sierra Nevada corporation,  

the same masterminds behind the dream chaser  space plan that we discussed in a recent episode. 

This would be quite the deal! Sierra  Space would exponentially grow overnight. 

The issue is the price tag. Boeing and Lockheed  Martin want $3 billion, which seems far-fetched  

for the relatively tiny Sierra Nevada Corporation. How would they pay for this massive billion dollar  

company in the case that a deal was found? Even though it might seem impossible at first,  

Sierra Space can still accomplish this! The first way is for Sierra to file for  

a huge business acquisition loan. Then, they could buy the company in  

full and pay it off over time. But this comes with its risks. 

Sierra would have to be sure that it can make  back the money to pay off the loan with the new  

company. If it can't, it risks going bankrupt. They’d also have to put down some type of  

collateral which would likely be their own  assets, which also poses significant risks. 

The second option would be to partner  with another company to split the funds. 

We have no evidence that this is a possibility,  but if another company were involved in the talks,  

Sierra might consider this option and be okay with  splitting the company with an acquisition partner. 

The final option could be that Sierra plans  to purchase only certain installments of ULA,  

such as processing facilities. This one seems slightly less likely since Boeing  

and Lockheed don't seem interested in keeping any  of the company. It would offer a more flexible  

deal for Sierra Nevada and if ULA can’t be sold  to anyone, this option might be a last resort. 

It would allow Sierra to purchase only  facilities and infrastructure that they  

deem worthy, especially for their own  projects, and leave the rest behind. 

This is all pure speculation, and as we've seen  in the past, a deal might not even be reached,  

but this is certainly something to keep an eye on  as this could be groundbreaking in the industry. 

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