Hi everybody, and welcome back to the Elon Musk podcast.
In this episode, we're turning our attention to the recent
strides made as SpaceX is Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.
This is a particular focus on the ongoing testing phase of the
Starship program down there. Now from the static fire
testings of the Raptor engines to the implementation of the new
water deluge system, we'll be discussing how these key
operations contribute to the program's ambitious objectives
of an orbital test flight, hopefully sometime in 2023 or
maybe early 2024. And we're also going to explore
the journey of Booster Nine. It's recent trials on the
orbital launch mount, the OLM, and what these developments
signify for the future of the Starship.
Now before we get into the details, we're taking a quick
commercial break, but don't go anywhere because there's plenty
more Starship news coming up. And remember, your continued
support is what helps us keep this show free and helps us
continue doing this. So we'll be right back.
So stay tuned. Just last week, Spacex's
ambitious Starship program shifted gears and ventured into
a critical phase of testing with a focus on Booster 9, the water
deluge system, and other core aspects of the program's
operations of Spacex's Starbase, Texas.
Now the significant recent activities have cleared the path
for an intensive period of evaluations commencing with
static test firings of the Raptor engines facilitated by
the water deluge system and an array of large test windows were
publicized beginning on Friday. Indicative of an ambitious
testing schedule, the agenda comprises 2 separate events, a
spin prime test, a necessary precursor to a static fire test
involving and as yet unspecified number of engines.
And on Thursday, July 20th, SpaceX hoisted Booster 9 out of
the orbital launch mount following its transition from
the production vicinity of Starbase to the orbital
launchpad. This monumental move was made
feasible by the significant amount of work undertaken at the
OLM and Launchpad area ahead of the proof test on the booster
earmarked for the forthcoming Starship launch.
Now Sunday, July 23rd marked another significant milestone as
Booster Nine was filled with liquid oxygen and liquid
nitrogen in the methane tank. Both tanks reach full capacity
during the testing of the booster on the OLM, the first
instance since Starship's eventful made in flight on April
20th. Now the test adopted an extended
holding period where cryogenic fluids were allowed to remain in
the tanks where the booster underwent AD tanking process
that spans several hours. Once the test had concluded,
workers open an access door at the base of the liquid oxygen
tank for inspection. Simultaneously, while the team
inspected the liquid oxygen tank on Booster 9, the groundwork for
the subsequent key phase of the boosters testing regime was
being laid. The water deluge system, which
had been successfully tested at partial pressure earlier in the
month, was ready for a full pressure examination.
The full pressure test on July 28th met the mark as an outpour
of water jetted from steel plates underneath the OLM.
The system was designed to release water in an angle to
avoid the Raptor analysis. Now this water release endured
for a span of about 8 to 10 seconds, as was followed by an
audibly potent release of pressure from the water tank
farm located behind the launch tower.
So inside the system the holes are geometrically arranged to
form a hexagon matching the positions of the outer 20 Raptor
engines on the booster. Now ship 28 was relocated to the
former Massey's gun range, though now on SpaceX testing
ground on Friday, July 21st for proof testing using cryogenic
fluids. Concurrently, Booster 10 made
its exit from Massey's and arrived at the Rocket Garden
adjacent to the production site. In the early hours of Saturday,
July 22nd, a visible frost line on Ship 20 eights, liquid oxygen
and methane tanks suggested the successful loading of cryogenic
fluids. On July 28th.
The ship, furnished with fins, tiles and a payload Bay, is
anticipated to be transported back to the production site for
the installation of its Raptor engines.
Future plans for Ship 28 include coupling with Booster 10 for the
third Starship test launch now. The extensive production and
testing out or taken at Starbase has not been limited to ships
and boosters though. Smaller test components have
been employed to scrutinize various features and tolerances
of these vehicles. Ship 24.2 is one of those.
Test rigs is designed to evaluate the payload based
system ahead of its utilization to deploy full size Starlink
Version 2 satellites and another recent test article features a
hot staging ring nestled between an aftering for the ship and top
section of a booster. This was transported to Massey's
on Sunday, July 30th for structural testing and the hot
staging ring will be incorporated into Booster 9 and
subsequent vehicles to streamline the stage separation
procedure during flight because it didn't work very well on the
original integrated flight Test #1.
Now the separation, that is, there was no hot staging ring in
the first Test. Now while preparations for Ship
20 gates flight continue, Ship 25 has had missing tiles
installed and has been affixed to a crane for a future lift.
It's going to fly a top Booster 9 for the upcoming second
Starship test flight Now, as ships 25 and 20 under go at
preparations for future flights, other vehicles such as Ship 30
have commenced construction. And to make room for these new
endeavors, older ships like Ship 27 and Ship 15 have gone the way
of the Dodo. They're gone.
They've been dismantled in the latter, a landmark vehicle and
Starships journey, being the first full vehicle with fins to
successfully complete a landing, was disassembled on Wednesday,
July 26, and despite the ships boosters and the orbital launch
site drawing the most attention, the production facilities of
Starbase are undergoing significant upgrades as well.
The final sections of a new processing high Bay are being
installed on the existing structure.
It's anticipated that this new facility will soon commence
vehicle processing. The expansion of the Star
Factory, the planned replacement for the current factory tents,
is underway too. Another building on site appears
to house stacks of full size Starlink V2 satellites,
preparing them for future launches.
It's yet to be determined whether Ship 28 will have the
honor of deploying the spacecraft first, or if it'll be
a ship later on. Now when the Days to come static
fire test of Booster 9 is scheduled, This critical test,
potentially involving possibly all 33 engines, will stress test
the deluge system and steel plates as well as the redesigned
OLM and a spin prime test preceding the static fire is
also on the cards. And in an attempt to shield the
launchpad and Starship from a potential rock tornado, SpaceX
is heavily reliant on an upside down shower head, so to speak.
As Elon Musk has said, this system is integral to the goal
of achieving rapid reusability of the launchpad, which is vital
for Starlink version 2, Artemis lunar missions, Mars missions
and other applications of the Starship system in the future.
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