Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
This is a show where we discuss the critical Crossroads, The
Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink,
and I'm your host, Will Walden. If you want uninterrupted
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show notes. SpaceX is poised for a March
launch of its Starship rocket, as revealed by company CEO Elon
Musk. And this development comes after
a period of intense preparation at Spacex's Texas facility,
where the latest rocket, booster and ship was recently
transported to the launchpad, marking a significant milestone
for the upcoming third test flight, known as Starship
Integrated Test Flight, or IFT 3.
Now, recent footage from local media and Spacex's social media
channels showcase the Starship Super Heavy rocket booster and
its second stage position on the launchpad undergoing preliminary
launch procedures following the assembly of the second stage
atop the booster, the booster and the rocket were subsequently
dismantled to facilitate work on the booster's upper segment near
the stage separation ring, which is that innovative feature
introduced following a prior launch mishap.
Now the stage separation ring, a novel addition to the Starship
design was implemented after the inaugural test flight
encountered a critical failure during the separation of the 1st
and 2nd stages, culminating in an in flight explosion.
Now this incident underscored the importance of continuous
enhancements in the raucous design to ensure the success of
future missions. Now, despite the anticipation
that followed the 2nd Starship test, flight updates on testing
activities at Boca Chica Starbase have been sparse in
2024. However, it is now confirmed the
SpaceX plan to conduct in space propellant transfer test later
this year in addition to 1/3 and subsequent test flight.
Now the succession of the test flight forms the core strategy
of Starships program along SpaceX to gather valuable data
to refine and improve its rockets for forthcoming
missions. This iterative testing process
is crucial for the advancement of the program.
Now a resurgent of activity around a resurgence of activity
around the Starship project has been noted, Elon Musk providing
a new timeline for the third test flight.
Initially stated for February, the flight was postponed due to
the FA as disclosure the SpaceX had yet to submit certain
documents from the 2nd test flight indicating a potential
delay. Now Musk responded to an inquiry
from rapper Easy indicated that the next test flight is
scheduled to occur in about 3 weeks, confirming that February
will not see the starship's third flight attempt.
This time might suggest a launch in March, nearly a year after
the program's first Test flight of the installation of a new
water value system on the launchpad.
Of course, following the initial test flight significantly
impacted the testing schedule, resulting in only two flights in
2023. And despite this, Spacex's
commitment to a hardware rich program remains unwavering.
Speculation about the construction of an additional
launch site at Spacex's Texas facilities suggests that future
Starship launches could occur more frequently, contingent upon
FAA approval. Now the current regulatory
framework allows only one test per authorization, underscoring
the FA as cautious approach to certifying the world's largest
rocket flight. Now, Elon Musk's recent
statement on social media platform X, where he advised
waiting for additional tests before boarding, highlights the
imminent nature of the third test flight.
This interaction with EZ reflects the long standing
rapport between the two public figures and underscores the
broader interest in Spacex's endeavors.
Now Starship, which is designed to transport humans and cargo to
the Moon, Mars and beyond, comprises a super heavy first
stage and a 165 foot tall upper stage spacecraft, both powered
by Spacex's Raptor engines. The vehicle's design emphasizes
full and rapid reusability, which is a cornerstone of
Spacex's vision for the future of space exploration.
Now to date, Starship has completed two test flights with
the first ending and a controlled detonation due to
multiple issues including the failure of stage separation and
the second flight demonstrated improved performance, though it
ultimately resulted in the destruction of both stages.
Now, preparation for the third flight has been ongoing, with
recent activities including the rollout and assembly of both
Starship stages at the orbital launch mount.
However, the FAA's ongoing investigation into the previous
launches events leaves the timing the next license
uncertain. Buskas hinted at future
iterations of Starship, suggesting that the rocket will
grow in size by 10 to 15 meters in its third version.
This evolution reflects Spacex's ambition to continually enhance
the rocket's capabilities. Recent progress on the Third
Flight's readiness includes the Full Assembly Booster 10 and
Ship 28 on a launchpad, with upcoming Rd. closures indicating
a potential wet dress rehearsal for these components in the
coming days. Now, this step is crucial for
validating the rocket's readiness for flight, and the
assembly process for Booster 10 in Ship 28 was completed within
56 hours, and that shows that SpaceX has inability to maintain
a rapid case in operations. There's a critical factor for
increasing the flight cadence of Starship for future launches to
the Moon and to Mars. Now modification to the liquid
oxygen, the Locks Tank and Booster 10, including the
addition of slosh baffles, demonstrates Spacex's responsive
approach to addressing issues encountered in previous flights,
such as the Booster 9 failure. And these wet dress rehearsals,
both partial and full, will test the rocket and its support
systems, including significant changes to the tank farm.
These rehearsals are essential for ensuring the rocket systems
function as intended for streamlining the loaded process.
Now, despite the temporary destacking of Ship 28 from
Booster 10 to address potential clamp issues, the rapid
restacking indicates Spacex's efficiency in resolving
technical challenges, and this readiness sets the stage for the
WDR test campaign and moves the Starship program closer to its
next major milestone. I FT3.
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