SpaceX suddenly gives out HUGE info about Lunar Starship

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SpaceX suddenly gives out HUGE info about Lunar Starship

SpaceX is making significant advancements in the development of the Lunar Starship, preparing for its sixth flight test, enhancing its design for improved performance, and aiming for a crewed lunar landing by 2026 in collaboration with NASA 

 

Questions to inspire discussion

Starship Block 2 Advancements

🚀How does Starship Block 2 compare to Block 1 in terms of capacity? Starship Block 2 has 25% larger fuel capacity but 33% smaller payload fairing volume, enabling it to carry 100+ tons to orbit compared to Block 1's 50 tons.

🔧What engine configurations will Block 2 Starships use? Block 2 Starships will be equipped with both Raptor 2.5 and 3 engines, with early ships using Raptor 2.5 and later ones Raptor 3, allowing testing to begin before Raptor 3 is fully ready.

NASA HLS Contract and SpaceX Innovation

🌙How does NASA's approach to the HLS contract benefit SpaceX? NASA's "hands-off approach" with only 27 requirements allows SpaceX significant design freedom, enabling innovation and potentially faster development of the Lunar Starship.

Key Milestones and Features

What critical milestone is SpaceX aiming to achieve soon? SpaceX aims to demonstrate in-space refueling as early as March 2023, potentially enabling bi-weekly Starship launches and involving ships 35 or 36.

🧪What unique feature does the Starship HLS mockup include for lunar missions? The Starship HLS mockup includes a laboratory for in-situ sample analysis on the Moon's surface, eliminating the need to bring samples back to Earth for research. 

 

Key Insights

Starship Design Evolution

🚀 Starship Block 2 boasts 25% larger fuel capacity but 33% smaller payload fairing volume, enabling 100+ tons to orbit compared to Block 1's 50 tons.
🔧 Block 2 Starships will feature both Raptor 2.5 and 3 engines, allowing testing to begin even if Raptor 3 isn't ready.

NASA Collaboration and Milestones

🌙 NASA's hands-off approach with only 27 requirements for the HLS contract grants SpaceX significant design freedom for innovation.
🛰️ SpaceX aims to demonstrate in-space refueling by March 2023, potentially enabling bi-weekly Starship launches.

Lunar Starship Features

🧪 The Starship HLS mockup includes a laboratory for in-situ research on lunar samples and 20 crew quarters per ring with 4 control seats.

 

#SpaceX

X Mentions: @SpaceX @WAI @HabitatsDigital 

 

Clips 

  • 00:00 🚀 SpaceX shares key updates on the Lunar Starship and prepares for its sixth flight test while upgrading launch towers.
    • SpaceX reveals details about the Lunar Starship and its payload capacity, while Blue Origin prepares for the New Glenn's static fire.
    • SpaceX is rapidly upgrading and repairing the launch pad and tower in preparation for Starship's sixth flight test following the successful static fire.
    • SpaceX is applying lessons learned from testing to upgrade the launch towers, with Tower A nearly ready for flight 6 and ongoing work on Tower B, despite some equipment being disassembled.
  • 02:29 🚀 SpaceX is disassembling a crane at Starbase, building a flame trench for a new launch pad, and plans to produce seven strong beams for the Lunar Starship, indicating significant progress in their spaceflight operations.
    • SpaceX is disassembling the CC8800-1 crane at Starbase, possibly due to a change in plans, damage from flight 5, or the ability to complete operations with other cranes.
    • SpaceX is constructing a flame trench and diverter for the new launch pad to safely manage shock waves and flames from the Raptor engines during launches.
    • SpaceX plans to produce at least seven strong beams for their Lunar Starship, showcasing rapid advancements in spaceflight infrastructure and hardware.
  • 05:15 🚀 SpaceX is advancing Ship 34's construction with insights from Ship 33's successful tests, showcasing significant redesigns in Block 2 for improved reliability and performance.
    • Ship 34, the second block 2 Starship, is nearing completion with its lower liquid oxygen ring installed, while SpaceX is refining its construction process based on insights from testing its predecessor, ship 33.
    • Over 2 million monthly viewers are encouraged to subscribe for access to exclusive content and updates on Starbase.
    • Ship 33 successfully completed two cryogenic proof tests, demonstrating improved reliability over previous prototypes.
    • Block 2 of the Starship features significant redesigns, including smaller, repositioned forward flaps for improved heat shield construction, highlighting major differences from Block 1.
  • 08:40 🚀 SpaceX reveals that the Lunar Starship's Block 2 has a 25% larger propellant tank, redesigned features, and aims for a payload of 200 tons while prioritizing mass over volume.
    • The key new information from SpaceX is the size of the propellant tank for the Lunar Starship.
    • Block 2 Starships have a 25% larger fuel capacity but a 33% smaller payload bay due to size constraints.
    • SpaceX's block 2 payload fairing volume is reduced to 600 cubic meters, but it can now carry over 100 tons to low-Earth orbit, prioritizing mass over volume compared to block 1.
    • Block 2 Starships will feature both Raptor 2.5 and Raptor 3 engines, redesigned tank domes, and aim for a payload closer to 200 tons through incremental improvements.
    • Lunar Starship's Block Two features a complete design overhaul with improved manufacturing processes, enhanced heat shield tiles, increased flow rates, and added redundancy in information transfer.
  • 13:39 🚀 SpaceX is evolving Starship for operational tasks like lunar landings and Starlink deployment, with a focus on ship-to-ship refueling and a bi-weekly launch cadence for the Artemis program.
    • Numerous ongoing changes to the Starship design aim to transition it from a test vehicle to one capable of operational tasks like deploying Starlink satellites and landing on the moon, with funding from Starlink V2 being crucial for future development.
    • Block 2 of Starship is expected to land on the moon for Artemis, with SpaceX given significant design freedom and a unique payment structure based on mission milestones.
    • SpaceX plans to demonstrate ship-to-ship refueling in Earth orbit by March, aiming for a bi-weekly launch cadence with NASA for the Artemis program, while collaborating monthly on the HLS Starship design.
  • 16:56 🌕 SpaceX's HLS Starship will have an onboard lab for lunar sample analysis and two floors for crew support, aiming for a crewed lunar landing by 2026 with NASA's help.
    • Astronauts will analyze lunar samples on the Moon using Starship's onboard laboratory, as revealed by a SpaceX engineer.
    • SpaceX's HLS Starship mock-up features two floors for life support and crew quarters, with NASA providing assistance to meet the goal of a crewed lunar landing by 2026, despite potential unforeseen challenges.
  • 19:00 🚀 Blue Origin's New Glenn is nearing launch readiness amid scrutiny over its unapproved water deluge system, echoing SpaceX's recent regulatory issues.
    • Blue Origin's New Glenn has progressed to the LaunchPad with its engines installed, awaiting placement on the launch mount and static fire testing.
    • Blue Origin faces scrutiny for using an unapproved water deluge system during a static fire test, similar to SpaceX's recent citation, raising questions about environmental regulations and launch practices. 

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Duration: 0:22:1

Publication Date: 2024-11-07T22:26:09Z

WatchUrl:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUtpoImc-Yo

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