SpaceX is making significant progress in obtaining launch licenses, increasing their number of launches, and potentially extending the operational life of the Hubble Space Telescope through a rescue mission
Questions to inspire discussion
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What progress is SpaceX making with the Starship launch?
—SpaceX is preparing for the third orbital Starship launch, with crews working to restore infrastructure and repair cracks at the launch site. They are also making design improvements and testing the deflector system.
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What is the status of the Hubble Space Telescope?
—The Hubble Space Telescope's gyroscopes are wearing down, presenting a significant challenge for maintaining measurement accuracy. There is potential for a mission to extend its operational life.
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What are SpaceX's plans for the Polaris program?
—SpaceX is launching the Polaris program with the goal of achieving the highest Earth orbit ever reached by a crewed spacecraft. The upcoming mission will conduct over 30 experiments and test laser interlink communication with the starlink constellation.
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What is the potential impact of the missing booster quick disconnect hood and piping?
—The missing hood and piping suggest debris or damage, but it is likely a straightforward issue to resolve. The disconnect arm was damaged during launch, but manageable if fuel lines and electrical connections are intact.
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What are SpaceX's ambitions for the number of launches in 2024?
—SpaceX's rapid progress with Falcon 9 launches illustrates the potential for exponential growth with Starship, with ambitions to surpass 140 flights in 2024. However, they may encounter logistical challenges.
Key Insights
- 🚀 SpaceX is in the process of obtaining launch licenses for the third and fourth Starship launch, focusing on testing Technologies needed for the human Landing System Program for NASA.
- 🚀 SpaceX's exponential growth in launches could lead to 140 flights in 2024, showing rapid progress and potential for even more launches in the future.
- 🚀 Confirmation of a second tower in development at Starbase brings relief to the significant maintenance needed after each launch.
- 🚀 Jared Isman's Inspiration 4 mission raised over $250 million for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, inspiring countless kids about the potential of space travel.
- 🚀 The potential for high bandwidth streaming directly from Dragon independent of the ISS could be a GameChanger 4K streams from space.
- 🌌 Polaris Dawn is now scheduled for April 2024 which is actually not too far off from now, I cannot wait to watch this Mission as it's definitely going to be a highlight of 2024.
- 🛰️ The Hubble Space Telescope's gyroscopes require incredibly precise stability, like pointing a laser steadily on a dime from a distance of 320 kilometers away for the entire duration of a photo exposure.
- 🚀 SpaceX's potential rescue mission to extend Hubble's operational life could involve unprecedented challenges such as docking with Hubble and performing an Eva to replace parts.
#SpaceX #Starship IFT3
Clips
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00:00 🚀 SpaceX preparing for third orbital Starship launch, crews working on infrastructure repairs and resolving issues with missing quick disconnect hood and damaged disconnect arm.
- SpaceX is preparing for the third orbital Starship launch, with crews working to restore infrastructure and repair cracks at the launch site.
- Booster quick disconnect hood and piping missing, suggesting debris or damage, but likely a straightforward issue to resolve. Disconnect arm damaged during launch, but manageable if fuel lines and electrical connections are intact.
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02:20 🚀 SpaceX is making design improvements and obtaining launch licenses for third and fourth Starship launches, with a potential launch window in the first quarter of 2024 and ambitions to surpass 140 flights in 2024.
- SpaceX is making design improvements and testing the deflector system, with the possibility of seeing booster 10 on the launch table by the end of the year.
- Ship 28 is still waiting at the highway, but a new road closure was scheduled for December 13th and 14th, and the roll out should have happened by now.
- SpaceX is obtaining launch licenses for the third and fourth Starship launches, with a realistic launch window suggested for the first quarter of 2024.
- SpaceX's rapid progress with Falcon 9 launches illustrates the potential for exponential growth with Starship, with ambitions to surpass 140 flights in 2024, but they may encounter logistical challenges.
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05:56 🚀 SpaceX is developing a second tower for Starbase, but the location and approval are uncertain, and it could slow down testing and conflict with production.
- SpaceX is developing a second tower for Starbase, with plans for a second tank farm, but the exact location and approval status remain uncertain.
- SpaceX is considering building a second launch tower at the proposed site, but it would require a lot of work to level and stabilize the ground.
- SpaceX is considering building a new tower for the Starship launch, but it could slow down testing and conflict with existing production.
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08:29 🚀 SpaceX may relocate engine testing to reduce closures at Boca Chica Beach, potentially indicating decommissioning of suborbital pad A and moving pad B to Messi's for a new tank farm and water deluge system, while also preparing for a possible third Starship launch window with potential construction of a new launch site at Massie and increased testing frequency.
- SpaceX is considering relocating engine testing to reduce closures at Boca Chica Beach, potentially indicating the decommissioning of suborbital pad A and the possibility of moving pad B to Messi's for a new tank farm and water deluge system.
- SpaceX may be preparing for a possible third Starship launch window, with potential construction of a new launch site at Massie and increased testing frequency.
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10:22 🚀 SpaceX confirms potential third Starship launch window and discusses safety measures with Surfshark VPN.
- SpaceX is considering launching Starship for the third time and encourages viewers to check their YouTube subscriptions for updates.
- SpaceX confirms potential third Starship launch window and discusses safety measures with Surfshark VPN.
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12:22 🚀 SpaceX is launching the Polaris program to achieve the highest Earth orbit ever reached by a crewed spacecraft, inspired by the success of the first all-private citizen orbital flight.
- Jared Isman led the first all-private citizen orbital flight, raising over $250 million for charity and inspiring kids about space travel.
- SpaceX is launching the Polaris program with the goal of achieving the highest Earth orbit ever reached by a crewed spacecraft.
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14:11 🚀 SpaceX confirms potential third Starship launch window for ambitious Polaris program, including over 30 experiments, laser interlink communication testing, high bandwidth streaming, and first ever commercial extra vehicular activity.
- SpaceX's upcoming mission will conduct over 30 experiments, test laser interlink communication with the starlink constellation, and potentially enable high bandwidth streaming from space, as well as conduct the first ever commercial extra vehicular activity.
- SpaceX is developing a new Eva suit for prolonged exposure to space, with the plan for the entire crew to put on their suits, depressurize the capsule, and have one astronaut exit the spacecraft for Eva activities.
- SpaceX confirms potential third Starship launch window and discusses the ambitious plans for the Polaris program.
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17:17 🚀 SpaceX confirms possible third Starship launch window on December 12th, considering mission to extend Hubble telescope's life due to technical issues with gyroscopes.
- The Hubble Space Telescope's gyroscopes are essential for capturing precise images, but they have started to wear down over the years, presenting a significant challenge for maintaining measurement accuracy.
- Hubble telescope experiencing technical issues with gyroscopes, potential for uncontrollable spinning and mission ending if more fail.
- SpaceX is considering a potential mission to extend the operational life of the Hubble telescope, with the possibility of the second Polaris Mission being tasked with this ambitious plan.
- SpaceX confirms possible third Starship launch window on December 12th.
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