Hi everybody. Welcome back to the show.
We are continuing our week of Starship coverage here, and
today we got some really great information from the FAA.
Now SpaceX is on the brink of a pivotal moment as it prepares
for their second test flight of its Starship mega rocket, a
crucial element in the company's ambitious space exploration
plans. And the Federal Aviation
Administration recently cleared SpaceX for their upcoming
mission, setting the stage for potential launch on November
17th from the Boca Chica Starbase facility in Texas, with
a backup date November 18th and the 19th.
This follows a period of intense scrutiny and required corrective
actions after the first Test flight in April ended in the
rocket's destruction. Now the Starship, standing at
about 400 feet tall, represents a huge leap in rocket
technology. It's not only central to
Spacex's mission for future space missions, including
potential Mars expeditions, but also for NASA's Artemis program,
more particular Artemis 3, and this launch, if it does happen,
will push them forward to an earlier launch date.
For Artemis 3, however, the road to this point has been very
challenging. The FAA demanded 63 corrective
actions from SpaceX following their April incident, which saw
the rocket disintegrate over the Gulf of Mexico and the
launchpad. Damage and delayed activation of
the self destruct mechanism during the first flight prompted
thorough investigations and safety overhauls for the ship
and for the ground systems. And in preparation for the
second flight, SpaceX has implemented numerous changes
including the construction of a water cooled steel flame
deflector to protect the launch mount.
Additionally, the rocket self destruct system has been refined
for quick reactivation and a hot stage separation system has been
introduced to ensure smoother transitions during ascent.
Now these modifications along with the completion of
environmental reviews suggest SpaceX is closer to meeting all
regulatory requirements for this flight.
And as SpaceX readies for the 2nd test flight of the Starship
rocket, a comprehensive plan outlines every stage of this
mission. Propellant loading will be in
approximately one hour and 37 minutes before launch, with a
critical engine chill phase starting at T -, 19 minutes and
40 seconds. This procedure is crucial for
conditioning the engines for the Super cold propellants, and in a
change from the first flight, the ignition sequence of the
Raptor engines will start at t -, 3 seconds, compared to the
previous eight second countdown. This modification aims to reduce
potential launch mount damage The following liftoff.
The rocket will face its first major test at Max Q, the point
of maximum aerodynamic pressure, my favorite part of the flight,
which occurs 52 seconds into the flight.
Another crucial moment. Miko main engine cut off will
happen at 2 minutes and 30 seconds, marking the shutdown of
the Raptor engine. This leads to the booster's
boost back burn start up at 2 minutes and 53 seconds.
Just 23 seconds later, which is a maneuver preparing it for a
simulated landing in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Starship upper
stage will then continue its journey, eventually splashing
down at the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.
This test, however, does not include a full Earth orbit.
Now every phase of this mission, especially the hot staging and
RE entry maneuvers, is critical for Space XS future plans.
The success of these stages will provide valuable insights into
the Starship's capabilities and the limitations of the ground
systems. The booster and Ship 25 and the
upcoming test flight of the Starship is more than just
another launch. The success of this mission is
pivotal for the company's broader goals, including Mars
missions and the role in its Artemis program with NASA and
the Starship's power and the potential for reusability make
it a game changer. However, the 2nd test flight
carries its own set of challenges and uncertainties.
Key concerns include the performance of these Raptor
engines, the effectiveness of the hot staging process, and the
rocket's ability to survive re entry.
And despite the rigorous preparation and modifications,
the possibility of unforeseen issues remains very high.
Elon Musk has said that he gives it about a 60% chance of making
it to the final destination. Spacex's philosophy of rapid,
iterative development means that whatever outcomes emerge from
this test will be crucial learning experiences.
They're not going to fail. They're going to move forward.
And the company has a history of leveraging such experiences to
refine and improve its tech, as seen with its Falcon and its
Dragon spacecraft and the Starlink satellite network.
In essence, this test flight is not just about whether the
Starship reaches its intended destination.
It's about testing the limits of the ship and the ground systems
down at Boca Chica Starbase, Texas.
Now the FAA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have closely
scrutinized the environmental impact of this launch,
particularly focusing on the new implementation of the water
deluge system. This system, designed to protect
the launch mount, has raised concerns about its potential
effects on the surrounding ecosystem.
Safety has also been a major emphasis in the preparations for
the flight. The first tests aftermath under
score the importance of a robust self destruct mechanism which
has since been upgraded for quicker response.
Furthermore, the introduction of a water cooled steel flame
deflector is a direct response to the damage caused to the
launch mount in April. The upcoming test will not only
be a technical trial, but also a demonstration of how cutting
edge space ventures can coexist with the environment and also
the safety standards set by the FAA.
Now the second flight of Starship holds considerable
significance for the whole spaceflight industry.
A successful mission would validate the feasibility of
reusable rockets on a scale never seen before, potentially
reducing the cost of space travel over the next 1020 years.
Now, this aligns with Spacex's vision of making space more
accessible and launching heavier payloads into space more
ambitious missions, including humans colonizing Mars.
Moreover, Starship's role in Artemis highlights its potential
impact on governmental space missions.
Success could revolutionize the way the government's approach
space exploration, offering more flexible and cost effective
solutions. And could you imagine how big of
a telescope you could fit in this thing?
And on the flip side, a failure could prompt a re evaluation of
the current trajectory of space technology development.
It would be a challenge for SpaceX to push the boundaries
anymore. Could they get an IFT 3 flight
to work properly if this one doesn't go well, That's in the
future. Regardless of the outcome, the
Starship test flight is set to leave a lasting imprint on
SpaceX, NASA and the general public.
The space fearing public and that's you and that's me.
So they're right on the cusp. This test flight a couple days
out and we're all going to be watching.
And please check out Space News Pod, that's our YouTube channel
for Space Flight, and go over there, subscribe, hit the
button, hit the bell. You know this, the, the whole
YouTube thing. And we're going to be giving you
live coverage. And I do updates throughout this
week for the Starship mission. So it's not just about launching
a rocket. Whatever the outcome of this
flight, it'll provide valuable insights and lessons that will
shape what happens about Kachika, what happens with
SpaceX and the Starship Super Heavy in the future.
So thank you so much for tuning into this episode.
Remember to hit the subscribe or the follow button on your
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tomorrow as we continue to bring the latest development and the
Starship. This is Starship Week O.
Get ready for this launch, possibly Friday, and they do
have backups on Saturday and Sunday O, we'll be there for
you. Thanks again.
Take care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you tomorrow.