SpaceX's Starship may not make it to the moon with Artemis III due to regulatory delays and repairs, potentially leading to a mission profile similar to Apollo 9 for crew transfers in Earth's orbit
Questions to inspire discussion
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What is the status of SpaceX's Starship Flight 4?
—SpaceX is preparing for Flight 4 of Starship, with Booster 11 and Ship 29 set to launch, and plans for a virtual tower landing and hard landing in the Indian Ocean.
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Why may SpaceX's Starship not make it to the moon with Artemis III?
—SpaceX's Starship may not make it to the moon with Artemis III due to regulatory delays and the need for a functional launch site.
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What upgrades are being made to Starbase?
—Upgrades to Starbase will make it easier to spot things and the progress regarding the second orbital launch and integration tower is discussed.
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What is the status of the Commercial Crew Program?
—NASA's Commercial Crew Program is set to welcome a second provider, Starliner, capable of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station, with the first crew-rated Starliner rolled to ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility for a planned liftoff on May 6th.
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What is the potential impact of delays on the Artemis III mission?
—Artemis III mission to the moon is facing significant delays and potential mission scope reduction due to issues with the development of EVA suits and the SpaceX Starship.
Key Insights
- 🌕 "Artemis III's plan changed? Starliner rolls out for launch! Relativity increases its tempo!"
- 🔍 Latest photos reveal extensive modifications to Ship 29, with tiles being reinstalled and more adhesive being applied, sparking curiosity about its potential impact on rapid reusability and survivability.
- 🚀 The retractable arms on the orbital launch deck play a crucial role in securing the Booster during tests and launches, showcasing the intricate engineering behind SpaceX's operations.
- 🚀 SpaceX is rapidly adapting the launch site at Starbase to allow for continuous testing and upgrades without interruption, potentially making two operational towers a reality.
- 🌌 The prototype won't have to be aligned perfectly up to a millimeter for the whole thing to work, making it more flexible for testing and potential future use.
- 🌕 Artemis's goal isn't just to return to the Moon—it's to stay there, requiring massive cargo like habitats, rovers, and solar panels to be delivered to the lunar surface.
- 🌕 NASA is considering a mission profile similar to Apollo 9, involving docking in Earth's orbit, as a more realistic alternative to a full-scale lunar landing.
- 🔧 The pace of work at Relativity Space is so fast that their engineers managed to static fire, disassemble, swap out an injector, reassemble, and return to the test stand for another round in less than four hours!
#SpaceX #Luna
X Mentions: @SpaceX @HabitatsDigital
Clips
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00:00 🚀 SpaceX's Starship flight 4 preparations continue, but regulatory delays may prevent it from reaching the moon with Artemis III.
- Starship flight 4 work continues, with massive changes at the tank farm and sparks, while Artemis III's plan changed and Starliner rolls out for launch.
- SpaceX is preparing for Flight 4 of Starship, with Booster 11 and Ship 29 set to launch, and plans for a virtual tower landing and hard landing in the Indian Ocean.
- Ship 29 is undergoing extensive modifications with heat shield tiles being replaced and reinstalled, with the use of glue and clips, to test its survivability during reentry.
- SpaceX Starship may not make it to the moon with Artemis III due to regulatory delays and the need for a functional launch site.
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03:46 🚀 SpaceX's Starship may not make it to the moon with Artemis III due to repairs on the Orbital Launch Mount and lack of attention to the Ship Quick Disconnect arm.
- Significant efforts have been directed to repairing cracks and replacing parts on the Orbital Launch Mount for the SpaceX Starship.
- The orbital launch deck is equipped with twenty specialized arms that support the fully fueled rocket, each equipped with a hold-down clamp and retractable feature, allowing for future launches.
- Ryan Hansen's detailed animations explain how SpaceX's Starship won't make it to the moon with Artemis III, and the Ship Quick Disconnect arm is receiving little attention.
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06:14 🚀 SpaceX Starship upgrades suggest rapid reusability, tank farm undergoing modifications, and progress on second orbital launch and integration tower discussed.
- SpaceX Starship upgrades suggest it may become rapidly reusable, and the tank farm is undergoing decommissioning and modifications.
- The tank originally intended for methane storage failed to meet safety standards and was repurposed as a water tank, and once removed, the focus will shift to the nitrogen tank, marking a significant step in transitioning the tank farm to horizontal bullet tanks.
- Upgrades to Starbase will make it easier to spot things and the progress regarding the second orbital launch and integration tower is discussed.
- Consider seeking legal counsel for post-accident procedures, especially if seriously injured, as your injury could be worth millions, and you can start a claim with America's largest injury law firm at forthepeople.com/whataboutit.
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09:58 🚀 SpaceX making progress at Starbase, potential expansion of launch site, construction of second tower, significant developments at Massey's, Quick Disconnect platform positioned in front of diverter.
- SpaceX is making rapid progress at Starbase, with the installation of drain wicks and piling up soil to accelerate consolidation, indicating a potential expansion of the launch site.
- Construction of the second tower may result in the end of suborbital pad B, but plans are in place to ensure testing can continue, and there have been significant developments at Massey's.
- The Quick Disconnect platform for the flame trench was recently positioned in front of the diverter, and after comparing wear marks, it was confirmed to be the same one from Pad A.
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12:50 🚀 SpaceX's new platform allows for easier connection to the Ship and WAI Live is launching a 24/7 livestream with plans to expand.
- SpaceX's new platform has added actuators and rails to allow for movement in multiple directions, making it easier to connect to the Ship and reducing the need for precise alignment.
- The speaker announces the launch of WAI Live, a 24/7 livestream featuring cameras at Starbase and Port Canaveral, with plans to expand to 6 cams at Starbase and add on-site binaural microphones.
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15:03 🚀 SpaceX's Starship may not make it to the moon with Artemis III due to delays, leading NASA to consider a mission profile similar to Apollo 9 for crew transfers in Earth's orbit.
- SpaceX and Blue Origin are working on cargo versions of their Human Landing System vehicles for the Artemis program to deliver massive cargo to the Moon.
- Artemis III mission to the moon is facing significant delays and potential mission scope reduction due to issues with the development of EVA suits and the SpaceX Starship.
- SpaceX's Starship may not make it to the moon with Artemis III due to delays, leading NASA to consider a mission profile similar to Apollo 9 for crew transfers in Earth's orbit.
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17:43 🚀 NASA's Commercial Crew Program welcomes Starliner for ISS transport, while Relativity Space makes progress with Aeon R engine and Terran R rocket for 2026 launch, with potential applications for their metal 3D printer technology.
- NASA's Commercial Crew Program is set to welcome a second provider, Starliner, capable of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station, with the first crew-rated Starliner rolled to ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility for a planned liftoff on May 6th.
- Relativity Space has made impressive progress with the development of their Aeon R engine and Terran R rocket, with a target launch date of 2026, and even if the rocket design doesn't work, their metal 3D printer technology has potential applications in various industries.
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20:16 🚀 SpaceX Starship may not make it to the Moon with Artemis III.
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Duration: 0:20:53
Publication Date: 2024-04-24T11:05:15Z
WatchUrl:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDRXFRplAMc
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