SpaceX Starship Flight 4 In 10 Days But Raptor Facing New Trouble... SpaceX Weekly #8

things are heating up everyone after much anticipation and speculation SpaceX has officially announced the launch date along with some exciting changes to the flight Mission Additionally the long awaited explanation for the flight 3 failure has been revealed by SpaceX firstly let's talk about what you're most interested in right now the new launch date update from SpaceX we very close to flight 4 and launch schedule Revelations have been coming Fast and Furious for instance in less than 2 weeks Elon Musk made three launch date announcements 3 to 5 weeks on May 11th 2 weeks on May 20th and 10 days on May 23rd meanwhile the road closure notice suggested launch dates could fall on the 1st 2 or 3rd of June these multiple updates understandably caused some confusion to add to this excitement SpaceX recently revealed a spe pafic launch date I'm thrilled to announce that it's June 5th this Revelation aligns closely with all of Elon musk's previous statements and the road closure announcement indicating that flight 4 will certainly take place at the beginning of June but the Revelation from SpaceX is more special than others why is that you might ask perhaps you remember that before flight three when the FAA closed the flight to mishap investigation the agency did not make any other statements but suddenly SpaceX announced the launch date of March 14th along with a live schedule on their X page even though there was no confirmation from the FAA a lot of doubts were raised at that time but in the end everything came true and now we are in a similar situation and SpaceX has again given a specific launch date although they still say it is pending regulatory approval I believe June 5th is the most accurate launch date do you agree with my opinion please respond with yes or no in the comment section and don't forget to give me a like share the video and subscribe to the channel to show that you're ready for your appointment at Starbase in early June regarding preparations for flight 4 s29 and b11 were destacked after completing the wet dress rehearsal test unlike my previous predictions about their movement s29 is still next to the Launchpad with teams conducting checks and adding heat shields on the ship if there are no problems it will likely stay there ready to stack afterward according to the current road closure schedule it may be stacked for some activities on the 28th the 29th and on the 30th of May with long road closures scheduled and that time is only a few days away from spacex's planned launch so I don't think there will be any New Movement we will continue to wait for more updates on flight 4 now let's move on to another important update from SpaceX the reason behind the flight 3 failure on its web page SpaceX posted an update titled on the path to Rapid reusability firstly SpaceX confirmed that the third flight test of Starship and super heavy was an important step on the road to rapidly reliable reusable Rockets they also summarized the procedures of flight 3 specifically the flight took off at 8:25 on March 14th all 33 engines started up successfully and completed a full duration burn during Ascent followed by a successful hot stage separation marking super heavy second successful Ascent for the ship after separation all six Raptor engines successfully started and provided powerful thrust to put the vehicle on its trajectory marking the first time Starship completed its full duration Ascent burn during the flight s28 also completed many tasks such as testing the payload door transferring Fuel and then executing a few minutes of an impressive re-entry now let's talk about the problems after the separation process the booster initiated a boost back burn with 13 of the 33 engines to correct the landing and achieved success uccess until six engines began shutting down then those engines were reactivated to decelerate before the Super heavy reached the water's surface however the six engines that were turned off first in the previous boost back burn failed to activate only seven engines received the command but only two of them reached the main stage ignition this led to a failure in deceleration and contact was lost when the booster was 462 m above the water at that time the Super Heavy's speed was still over 1100 kmph the rot cause is believed to be a filter blockage in the liquid oxygen path supplying the engines leading to a loss of Inlet pressure in the engine oxygen turbo pumps SpaceX mentioned they had upgraded this component before flight 3 which helped the booster achieve significant progress compared to Flight 2 from this issue further upgrades will be implemented in future flights starting with flight 4 Hardware improvements will be added to the oxygen tank to enhance fuel filtration additionally software updates are being implemented to ensure stable engine operation allowing the booster to achieve a successful Landing for the first time with the ship after starting the re-entry process it began to lose its altitude this led SpaceX to cancel the mission to relight the Raptor engine in space despite an impressive re-entry period the loss of attitude control caused the ship to experience higher heat than expected in both protected and unprotected areas according to spacex's conclusion the ship lost its signal at an altitude of 65 km after 49 minutes of flight thereabout the root cause of the ship was determined because the unplanned roll process caused the clogging valve in charge of controlling the entire roll process to fix this SpaceX is adding roll control thrusters on upcoming ships to improve attitude control and adding other Hardware to increase resilience when clogging occurs regarding the general situation the SpaceX mishap investigation is still ongoing under the supervision of the FAA a along with NASA and the national transportation and safety board or NTSB they reported that the vehicle's automated flight safety system was triggered and after the explosion of the two stages no debris were reported to affect the surrounding area currently SpaceX is still waiting for the FAA to evaluate Public Safety one of the criteria required to issue a license modification for the next flight this license can be issued without the formal closure of the mishap investigation regarding the mission characteristics of the upcoming flight 4 SpaceX emphasized that they will shift their focus from achieving orbit to demonstrating the ability to return and reuse star shipan super heavy during this flight a few changes will be made but there is one that will surprise you SpaceX is considering Genting the hot staging ring after the two stages separate specifically after the booster boost back burn shutdown process at t plus 3 minutes 52 seconds super heavy will proceed to the hot stage jet Step at around t+ 3 minutes 54 seconds this will help reduce the super Heavy's Mass when it enters the landing phase this will be different from the steps in flight three where the super heavy will switch to transonic after the Boost back burn shutdown process meanwhile the ship will not carry out completed tasks like testing the payload door or fuel transfer and possibly relighting the engine in space at the end of the process they will add two more steps Landing flip and Landing burn before splash down get ready everything is set for the first successful fully Landing in Aerospace history oh dear just when Starship was making strides forward one of its crucial components the Raptor engine encountered an unexpected issue presenting a significant challenge for SpaceX in the near future but fear not as upcoming flights and plans may not be heavily impacted especially with notable statements recently made by Bill Nelson over the past few days the activities at start Bay to prepare for flight 4 have been incredibly exciting with Elon Musk even tweeting that we can expect flight 4 in about 10 days unfortunately this need for caution comes in the wake of a serious problem with the Raptor engine specifically on the afternoon of the 23rd of May at spacex's engine testing center in McGregor Texas an explosion occurred at the test stand during Raptor engine testing the explosion was significant engulfing the entire test stand as a result the engine may have been completely destroyed and there could be damage to this tooy test stand as well currently SpaceX has not provided any updates regarding the incident including its cause and the extent of the damages it's been a while since SpaceX has faced such a major engine incident highlighting the ongoing challenges with the Raptor engine the recent test like many others is part of a series of tasks conducted by SpaceX before installing engines on Rockets after production at the factory the engines undergo quality testing at the McGregor facility if if successful they are delivered to Starbase for installation into the booster or ship or they may be returned to the factory to await deployment many predictions suggest that the recently tested engine may be Raptor 3 this assumption is based on the fact that most of the prototypes referred to as version one are currently equipped with engines leaving only b14 S31 and s32 prototypes without them additionally Starship version one is utilizing the Raptor 2 version Elon Musk mentioned plans to produce six Starship vers version 2 Vehicles this year analyzing his presentation from April particularly the thrust parameters it appears that Starship version 2 will transition to using Raptor 3 this is why many speculate that the tested engine was indeed Raptor 3 as there is a need to accelerate production and testing to meet the demand for Starship version 2 Raptor 3 was initially tested in the middle of last year and demonstrated impressive performance metrics however developing rocket engines is inherently challenging and new versions like Raptor 3 require additional time for refinement before being officially deployed the recent incident underscores the need for SpaceX to conduct a comprehensive review of its operations prior to the engine incident S31 experienced an electrical issue while undergoing a cryogenic test at the Massie test site currently it remains in the high Bay for repairs before resuming the testing process as SpaceX accelerates its efforts to achieve new goals with Starship it's encountering more challenges along the way however setbacks are expected in the development of complex systems like rockets and engines while everyone hopes for Rapid progress to bring Starship into operation and meet future schedules it's imperative for SpaceX Engineers to take a moment to evaluate their systems ensuring certainty and stability is crucial as it lays the foundation for starship's future advancements speaking of laying the foundation for future advancements please consider liking the video sharing it and subscribing to the channel to provide more motivation for SpaceX to overcome the challenges ahead now I understand your concerns about whether the recent incident will impact the plans for Starship however I want to reassure you that there's no need to worry at least don't worry too much because SpaceX is actively working to resolve the situation in fact Bill Nelson recently reiterated the significance and role of Starship particularly in relation to the upcoming flight 4 and its involvement in the Artemis program who's Bill Nelson he's the uh head Hodo over at Nasa here you go at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Bill Nelson asserted emus 3 if you compare it to the Apollo program is a combination of Apollo 910 and 11 which was the landing on the moon the comparison underscores the significance of vus 3 for both NASA and the United States with the current schedule set for September of 2026 Bill Nelson Has once again highlighted The crucial role that SpaceX will play in this Mission uh and so it is a difficult task and if we land it is dependent on SpaceX having their Lander ready now they have hit all of their milestones and in a couple of weeks they're going to launch that huge rocket that has 33 Raptor engines in its tail uh and they're going to do uh more uh showing the space worthiness of it it is uh my hope that SpaceX will be ready with their Lander SpaceX and Starship are currently under scrutiny regarding their capabilities progress and suitability for the aremis 3 mission some sources even suggest that NASA is exploring alternative missions or options if Starship fails to meet the mission requirements however Bill Nelson's recent affirmations affirmation reinforces spacex's role and the significance of the landing mission in Flight 4 indicating that everything is still on course moving forward the the agency will closely monitor starship's Landing attempts and crucial tests next year such as propellent transfers between the two ships these efforts aim to ensure that the US maintains its leadership in lunar exploration despite stiff competition from other nations notably China do you have faith in SpaceX and Starship please tell us with a yes or a no in the comment section down below additionally during the aformentioned hearing Nelson reiterated his Firm Stance on the cost and schedule of the entire program specifically senator Jean Shaheen chair of the Senate Appropriations committee's Commerce Justice and science subcommittee raised concerns about artemis' costs and suggested that the agency conduct an independent review of these expenses Senator Shaheen queried Nelson about NASA's efforts to hold contractors accountable for cost overruns and scheduling delays including whether the agency withheld payments to contractors for such issues her concerns stemmed from past studies of the overall costs of the program including an estimate by NASA's office of Inspector General suggesting that each of the first four space launch system/ Orion launches would cost $4.2 billion US given the high cost has NASA considered an independent review board for exploration Shaheen inquired in response Nelson argued that such a review was unnecessary he stated that companies are docked for award fee payments if their performance falls short Nelson also underscored NASA's utilization of commercial Partnerships in Artemis program such as the human Landing System Program which employs fixed price contracts NASA officials have expressed some frustrations with the level of outside scrutiny on the aremis program they complained that the most recent audit by the office of Inspector General related to the agency's ress for the EMS 2 mission did not uncover any issues that had not already been addressed additionally working with the Auditors caused disruptions to ongoing workflow and priorities for those involved in the upcoming Mission regarding aremis 2 after a question from Senator Jerry Moren Nelson confirmed that the launch remains scheduled for September of 2025 despite ongoing work on the Orion heat shield and other technical issues he also emphasized however that they will not fly until the spacecraft is fully ready and now we will move on with our updates from the Artemis program during the recent NASA and Senate hearing specifically while mindful of what he calls a space race with China to establish a sustained presence on the moon NASA administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that he will only commit to the current emis 2 L to liftoff date of September 2025 if astronaut safety is not compromised he commented that going to the moon or further to Mars would be extremely difficult in January both Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 faced delays partly due to the long known unexpected erosion of the Orion spacecraft's heat shield during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in the Artemis one uncrewed test mission of December 2021 Artemis 2's schedule slid by 9 months while Artemis 3 was delayed by at least a year to 2026 certainly the heat shield issue isn't the sole reason behind the Artemis program delays they're also related to spacex's Starship Starship has yet to complete its mission of testing an uncrewed orbit and safe re-entry everything has to wait until at least next month in Flight 4 NASA also hopes for many successful Starship flights in achieving specific goals before allowing astronauts to fly on board earlier this month three of the emis 2 crew emphasized that the issue has been known for a long time fixes are ongoing and there's no rush to get off the ground commander and NASA astronaut Reed wisman said that safety is the goal not adhering to an artificial schedule Bill Nelson concluded that they will not reach until it's ready in the coming time NASA and SpaceX will continue to advance preparations for emis as well as deploy pioneering missions hopefully both organizations will quickly make new strides while still prioritizing safety this will be the foundation for us to once again succeed on the moon despite competition from other countries notably China what would Mark the beginning of the fully reusable rocket maybe we'll get the answer next month when a monster called Starship will fly up undergo a magical journey and then return by splashing down into the ocean yeah that's splashing down it might not sound as impressive as landing on a drone ship or being caught by the mechazilla arm but it will be a crucial part of the development of the Starship project so why does SpaceX use this method instead of more impressive methods what future will the splash down method open up fly 4 is coming so close besides a strong liftoff and an impressive separation both SpaceX and the Aerospace Community are eagerly anticipating the end of this journey The Landing the upcoming flight 4 will use the ship Landing method just like previous flights with a splash down in simple terms this method method involves letting the ship fall straight into the ocean surface according to the schedules of flights 1 and two the splash down will take place around t plus 1 hour 30 minutes in the Pacific Ocean however for flight 3 and the upcoming flight 4 this will occur around t plus 1 hour and 5 minutes in the Indian Ocean choosing the Indian Ocean simplifies The Landing process allowing SpaceX to focus more on the earlier stages especially re-entry Fight 3 did not reach this Milestone so all hope are now placed on flight 4 if you're looking forward to this flight please give us a like share the video and subscribe to show your support and determination for SpaceX reaching the splash down step is an extremely big challenge but it is a crucial part of spacex's journey toward perfecting reusable Rockets if the schedule of flight 3 is maintained the entire ship Landing process on flight 4 will last 16 minutes starting at t plus 49 minutes and 5 Seconds these 16 minutes will be a very long journey as Starship under goes what is considered the biggest challenge for SpaceX teams in the near future re-entry in this process two systems the engine and the heat shield will play critical roles issues with the ship's engine were not reported because it did not function on flight three the heat shield performed impressively but only lasted about 4 minutes roughly 1/4 of the landing duration this highlights the difficulty of re-entry therefore the engine and heat shield in Flight Forest Hardware are receiving significant attention after each test these systems are thoroughly monitored and replaced if necessary as evidenced by the recent heat shield replacement on s29 work will continue until the official flight the difficulty of the landing process is also why more impressive and eagerly anticipated methods like landing on a drone ship or Landing with a mechazilla arm are not selected for this Mission landing on a drone ship is something SpaceX has done hundreds of times with the Falcon 9 but Starship is a completely different level the current version of the ship has a dry mass of 100 tons plus additional fuel with its six engines generating immense thrust landing on a drone ship would require designing a significantly larger and more capable drone ship than those used for Falcon 9 building such a system just for a few test flights in the early stages would be timeconsuming and complex Landing directly into the sea is a safer simpler and more effective method for testing Landings at this stage another reason for choosing splash down is the starship's current lack of Landing legs making drone ship Landings less optimal the difficulty increases with other methods Landing with the mechazilla arm or Landing in a designated Zone like falcon9 both methods are highly risky because they occur on land Landing in a designated Zone already requires High precision and Landing with the mechazilla arm is even more challenging possibly the most difficult Landing method to date it would be risky for SpaceX to use these methods in its initial Landing attempts any mistake could be disastrous for people and surrounding facilities especially since SpaceX has not yet completely mastered this step therefore splash down is the best choice okay those are the advantages of splash down but is that all in my opinion its role is even more significant and to understand this we need to look further into the future the first thing that comes to mind is the future Starship Landing plan SpaceX chose the Indian Ocean instead of the Pacific starting with flight three but I think the Pacific Ocean will be chosen again specifically for flight five the reason is that Starship will need to complete a full orbit around the Earth return to Star base and land using the mechazilla arm if it lands in the Indian Ocean Starship would only travel about halfway around the earth Landing in the Pacific will test starship's capabilities on a longer flight potentially preparing it for a near Final Destination Landing in South Texas where it launched this could happen as early as flight 6 do you agree that the landing location for flight 5 will be the Pacific Ocean please leave yes or no and your thoughts on the matter in the comment section down below with the groundwork laid by flights 4 and five SpaceX will be increasingly confident in executing the first mechazilla arm Landing once the splash down process is mastered transitioning to Landing with the catching system will become more manageable even though it remains challenging the success rate will likely improve from this point enabling Starship to achieve a perfect Landing the first time it returns to Starbase Landing with the mechazilla arm has been a long-standing goal for SP SpaceX and once accomplished Starship will reach a new Pinnacle setting itself apart from every other rocket in the industry after ensuring that its rocket can return safely SpaceX will aim for another significant Milestone testing and building a refueling system this system will play a crucial role in all Starship missions especially long-term missions to distant celestial bodies in the coming years two major missions will rely on this system the Artemis moon mission in 2026 and the Mars Missions at the end of the decade but you can see that even though we are getting closer to these timelines the construction of the refueling system has not yet accelerated to date SpaceX has only confirmed the completion of the Tipping Point Mission which involved transferring fuel from the header tank to the main transferring fuel from one Starship to another will be a challenging task requiring multiple flights to perfect however all these efforts hinge on successful Landings that's why achieving a successful splash down will boost spacex's confidence in advancing the refueling system ensuring robust preparations for Humanity's crucial missions in the years to come moreover an increase in missions will lead to another requirement more frequent launches the launch frequency of Starship is a topic that SpaceX leaders discuss often we might be astounded by spacex's aim for 148 Falcon rocket missions this year but that pal Us in comparison to the goals set for Starship for instance Gwyn Shotwell once mentioned launching one rocket every day musk has even more more ambitious plans setting a goal of launching 10 Starships each day to transport a million tons to Mars 10 flights per day equal to 3,650 flights per year completely surpassing the Falcon 99's capabilities to meet such demanding schedules SpaceX will need to ramp up the construction of various elements including production systems and launch and Landing systems the production system notably star Factory is nearing the final stages of construction and is expected to be operational by the end of this year successfully Landing Starship will Mark the beginning of the most explosive era for the vehicle once production is complete subsequent processes like stacking and testing will proceed continuously promising to completely transform the appearance of star base besides star Factory the launch tower system which makes Starship unique will also see significant development musk has revealed plans for up to four launch towers for Starship in 2024 currently SpaceX is preparing to build a second tower at Starbase and the launch Tower at lc-39a is still being upgraded a successful splash down and flight for will boost spacex's confidence in its vehicle accelerating the construction of these launch Towers even further many new possibilities will open up after the upcoming flight 4 especially if it achieves a successful splash down this task will undoubtedly be challenging and demands the utmost concentration from the SpaceX team however it is in the face of difficulties that great achiev achievements are made everyone who loves Aerospace dreams of a future where space travel and return are experiences anyone can enjoy that future is very close and the key to unlocking it is a successful Splashdown now let's watch as SpaceX takes this pivotal step forward nearly half a year has elapsed and while the Falcon 9 and Starship programs continue to gain momentum the Falcon heavy a rocket that garnered considerable anticipation has yet to take its first step forward however I'm thrilled to announce that the Falcon heavy is poised to rejoin the fry NASA has just officially confirmed its first mission of the Year signaling the dawn of a promising new chapter for this rocket so when can we expect the Falcon heavy to blast off how will it evolve over the course of the year and will its role within SpaceX undergo any Transformations true to expectations SpaceX has ambitious plans for Falcon heavy this year while the number of launches may not rival that of 2023 each Mission holds immense importance the first milestone for Falcon heavy this year will be the launch of the go U satellite for NASA and Noah or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this marks the 10th mission for Falcon heavy to date initially slated for late April and subsequently pushed to May recent updates from NASA confirm the launch date for June 25th this isn't merely a plan anymore it's officially confirmed Falcon Heavy's 10th launch is scheduled for 5:116 p.m. ET PC on June 25th at Launchpad LC 39a to bolster confidence in the launch schedule NASA has issued an invitation to Media organizations to attend the upcoming Falcon heavy launch of the go U satellite this move signifies a high level of certainty as it involves numerous organizations processes and logistical considerations indicating that further changes to the mission are unlikely so mark your calendars for the end of June we have a rendevu in Florida our are you prepared for this momentous occasion if so show your excitement by giving this video a big thumbs up additionally please support us by sharing and subscribing enabling us to stay motivated and provide further updates on this Mission NASA's significant investment in this upcoming Mission underscores its importance the contract awarded to SpaceX for launching this weather satellite is valued at up to 152 and half million Us in comparison last year's psyche spacecraft launch mission costed $117 million while the upcoming Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's satellite is budgeted at 178 million these figures highlight the significance of the goou mission in NASA's agenda and space exploration efforts the goou satellite is set to operate in the geostationary orbit at an altitude of 35,7 186 km significantly higher than most SpaceX missions with a dry mass of 2,925 kilos it will reach a heft 5 tons when fully fueled equipped with a suite of advanced instruments the satellite is poised to revolutionize weather monitoring and forecasting among its capabilities go U will provide Advanced imagery atmospheric measurements real-time mapping of lightning activity and the detection of approaching space weather hazards this state-of-the-art satellite represents the culmination of the go R series following its predecessors go 16 17 and 18 which were launched by ula's Atlas V according to NASA goou will enhance the nation's ability to Monitor and forecast weather Ocean and environmental Dynamics in real time the satellite has seven instruments that will provide Advanced imagery and Atmospheric measurements of Earth's Western Hemisphere real-time mapping of lightning activity and advanced monitoring of solar activity and space weather turning our attention back to our trusty launch vehicle the Falcon heavy many are questioning whether 2024 will Mark the beginning of a decline for this remarkable rocket the conc ER stems from the fact that compared to last year's impressive tally of five missions Falcon heavy is currently slated for just three in 2024 namely the gozu Europa Clipper and Griffin missions while still more missions than in any other year except 2023 this reduction has left many feeling uneasy about the Rocket's future further fueling skepticism are the delays attributed to technical issues plaguing the Falcon heavy as previously noted the gozu mission originally slated for the end of April has been pushed back twice to the end of June the culprit a problem with the core booster b1087 which encountered an oxygen leak during testing while understandable given that the b1087 is a new booster yet to be launched these delays have raised doubts about Falcon Heavy's reliability and whether its technology is overly complex adding to the skepticism surrounding the Falcon heavy is its contrasting condition when compared to spacex's other two Flagship Rockets the Falcon 9 and the yet to be proven Starship Falcon 9 has been steadily increasing its launch frequency setting new records for launches Landings and reuse as of May 10th it has completed an impressive 48 missions showcasing remarkable reliability and efficiency similarly Starship is making significant strides having completed flight three in March with preparations for flight four and five already underway at a rapid Pace with such momentum it begs the question does Falcon heavy still hold a prominent position within spacex's lineup I'd love to hear your thoughts on this if you believe Falcon heavy will continue to play a crucial role please respond with yes conversely if you think it's nearing the end of its operational life reply with a no feel free to elaborate on your choice with additional explanations after in my view Falcon heavy will continue to hold significant importance in the foreseeable future at least for the next few years primarily the relatively lower frequency of Falcon heavy launches is not indicative of its diminishing relevance but rather a reflection of its intended purpose Falcon heavy is designed for Missions of greater complexity and payload requirements compared to Falcon 9 previous missions such as psyche Jupiter 3 Viet 3 and those for the ussf or United States space force along with this year's Geo altitude missions exemplify the Rockets capability to tackle challenging missions Beyond low earth orbit or Leo for short this sets Falcon heavy apart from Falcon 9 which primarily handles Leo missions like starlink deployments at 550 km altitude while Falcon 9 theoretically could execute these missions Falcon Heavy's larger payload capacity and greater thrust make it the more suitable Choice ultimately enhancing Mission efficiency though touted as spacex's Next Generation vehicle Starship remains in the developmental stage making it evident that Falcon heavy will continue to play a crucial role in the near future while Starship is poised to eventually replace both Falcon 9 and Falcon heavy this transition won't happen overnight thus important missions will still heavily rely on Falcon heavy for at least the next 3 to 4 years feel free to share your thoughts on the number of years you believe Falcon heavy will remain influential in the comment section for further discussion regardless of its operational timeline Falcon Heavy's significance in 2024 is undeniable in addition to the gesu mission Falcon heavy will also undertake two other vital missions one such mission is the Europa Clipper scheduled for launch in October this Mission holds immense importance as it will transport NASA's spacecraft to Jupiter's moon Europa to conduct an extensive survey equipped with sophisticated scientific instruments the the Europa Clipper aims to investigate the moon's composition geological activity icy shell thickness subsurface lakes and ocean death as well as salinity without delving into extensive analysis it's evident that this Mission will profoundly impact Humanity's future exploration Endeavors Falcon Heavy's thirdd Mission this year will involve launching NASA and astrobotics Viper lunar lander marking the next step in the United States Journey Back To The Moon following two earlier missions this year this collaboration with astrobotic will be spacex's first adding to the significance of the mission the primary objective remains exploring the South polar region of the Moon with a specific focus on assessing the presence of underground water ice a critical aspect for future Artemis missions in addition to these important tasks Falcon heavy will also aim to achieve another Milestone successfully Landing all three boosters while SpaceX has demonstrated proficiency and Landing one or two boosters in previous attempts accomplishing a triple booster Landing possibly during the Griff Viper Mission would mark an unprecedented achievement and Elevate spacex's reuse strategy to new heights looking Beyond 2024 while specific missions have yet to be determined I anticipate Falcon heavy will continue to play a significant role in spacex's Endeavors to remain competitive in the increasingly crowded space launch market with ula's Vulcan Centaur making its successful debut and blue origins new Glenn and Rocket laps Neutron reusable rocket poised to enter the scene in the coming years Falcon heavy will phase heightened competition however its proven track record versatility and capacity for heavy payloads position it well to continue serving as a formidable contender in the space launch industry as a super heavy lift launch vehicle Falcon heavy alongside Falcon 9 stands as spacex's trump card against the Ambitions of other launch Vehicles while either one alone would suffice for SpaceX to outshine its competitors having both Rockets with distinct characteristics provides a strategic Advantage enhancing spacex's overall capabilities a promising future lies ahead for Falcon heavy with upcoming missions on the horizon there's anticipation for a successful comeback after months of dorcy this success will Mark the beginning of new developmental stages for the rocket further solidifying its position within spacex's Arsenal together with Falcon 9 and Starship Falcon heavy will continue to bolster spacex's claim to the strongest orbital fleet in history this comprehensive Fleet not only showcases spacex's prowess in space exploration but also reinforces its position as a leader in the Aerospace industry it's unfortunate to note that starlander continues to face setbacks and disappointment in earlier updates NASA and Boeing had indicated that Starliner cft1 would launch around 3:09 p.m. on May 25th marking the third delay for the spacecraft in the current month however it appears that the challenges persist suggesting that there might be more hurdles ahead in a recent tweet from space flight now it has been revealed that the cft1 mission is no longer targeting the 25th of May an attached image titled NASA Boeing CFT update stated that NASA boing and Ula are foregoing the attempt on May 25th due to a potential helium leak teams will convene over two days to assess flight rationale system performance and redundancy unlike previous delays this time no specific launch schedule has been provided there's much work ahead and a new launch schedule is still under discussion now has indicated they will share more details once a clearer path forward is established as for the potential launch dates some predictions suggest that if all goes well the launch could be rescheduled for Sunday the 27th or early next week on the 28th alternatively it may be pushed to the following weekend around the 1st of June or the 2nd or slightly later around the 5th or the 6th official updates from the agencies after the upcoming meeting days will provide more clarity on the exact schedule but hey feel free to share your predictions about Starliner launch date in the comment section while we await further updates in the meantime this delay marks the fourth setback for Starliner this month feeling frustration within the Aerospace industry NASA has invested significant resources into the spacecraft without reaping any achievements in return with its recurring issues Starliner appears increasingly unlikely to compete with spacex's dragon and may even face competition from Dreamchaser set to debut later this year despite launching later Dreamchaser demonstrates greater Readiness and stability compared to Boeing's spacecraft as a result of the delay both the atlas 5 rocket and Starliner will remain at the vertical integration facility for an extended period meanwhile the two astronauts who abruptly exited the spacecraft during the earlier attempt this month will have to endure further waiting what lies ahead for them remains uncertain let's await further developments to see how the situation unfolds can't wait any longer after extensive preparations the space plane Dreamchaser tenacity has finally arrived in Florida ready for its upcoming launch into orbit this marks a significant milestone for Sierra space's latest development and NASA's proactive role in the dramatic Space Race many exciting Futures will unfold with this achievement back more than half a year ago in late October and early November of 2023 Sierra space officially announced the completion of the first Dreamchaser prototype tenacity at that time they revealed that Dreamchaser would undergo several months of testing at NASA's Neil Armstrong test facility after completing this phase they would move the space plane to Florida to get ready for launch after many months of testing on May 20th NASA officially announced on its web page as part of NASA's efforts to expand commercial resupply in low earth orbit Sierra space's uncrewed space plane arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of its first flight to the International Space Station the Dreamchaser space plane named tenacity arrived at Kennedy on May 18th it was put inside a climate controlled Transportation container from NASA's Neil Armstrong test facility in sanduski Ohio the agency said after arriving at the launch complex It joined its companion the shooting star cargo module which arrived on the 11th of May this will be an important Milestone as the final step before the space planes launch according to NASA after arriving at the launch site teams moved Dreamchaser tenacity to the high Bay inside the Space Systems processing facility where it will undergo final testing and pre-launch processing ahead of its launch scheduled for later this year regarding pre-launch testing and processing Dreamchaser will also undergo additional tests such as acoustic and electromagnetic interference compatibility testing completion of work on the space plan's thermal protection system and final payload integration it can't be said that to prepare for its debut flight Dreamchaser has undergone many rigorous tests during its more than half a year at NASA's test facility the space plane and the cargo module underwent vibration testing at top the world's highest capacity and most powerful spacecraft Shaker system at NASA's space environments complex following this it underwent more than 5 weeks of thermal testing at NASA's inspace propulsion facility during this test Dreamchaser and shooting star were were subjected to multiple cold hot cycles in a vacuum environment with low pressure and temperatures ranging from 150 to over 250° F which is equivalent to11 to over 121° C this allowed Sierra space to conduct functional tests at these temperature plateaus to verify system performance one of the systems that underwent thorough scrutiny during the thermal test was the space plan's forward down Thruster this component located at the front of the space plane and covered by the thermal protection system carrier plate is crucial for Dreamchasers docking with the space station it'll also endure the highest temperatures during re-entry with the test completed and no problems reported it appears that the system performed well now let's talk about the launch schedule according to NASA's announcement the launch is set for later this year Dreamchaser will be launched by ula's Vulcan rocket from slc41 at Cape canro space force station delivering 7,800 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station this means cargo will be loaded onto both the space plane and the cargo module since the shooting star module and the space plane can carry 7,000 lb and 3500 lb respectively Dreamchaser tenacity first mission will last 45 days both NASA and Dreamchaser will undertake several critical steps once the space planee enters orbit including approaching the space station and Performing demonstrations of altitude control translational Maneuvers and and abort capabilities after the maneuverability demonstrations space station astronauts will use the canadarm 2 robotic arm to Grapple and dock the spacecraft to an earth-facing Port upon Mission completion Dreamchaser will undock from the station and return to land at Kennedy's launch and Landing facility with its 30ft length and 15t wingspan coupled with unique wings and a heat shield system Dreamchaser can land on a Runway similar to NASA's Space Shuttle which is a departure from the current Landing methods of other spacecraft all these processes are part of certifying the vehicle system for future resupply missions to the station and the question receiving the most attention right now is which Vulcan flight will launch Dreamchaser initially it was planned to be vulcan's second mission c 2 however due to delays in Dreamchasers testing process the Pentagon planned a different payload for sir 2 with Vulcan set to launch a dummy payload this will help Vulcan quickly receive certification to fly National Security missions a key Market Ula has exploited for decades such a change of plans will clearly impact the Dreamchaser launch schedule currently Bulan is not a fast turnaround rocket and cannot be reused requiring more time for manufacturing there's also the question of whether blue origin can provide enough be4 engines to Ula in time rocket production carries its own risks especially since vulcan's Centaur second stage encountered problems ALB s early last year more recently atlas's Centaur second stage also had valve issues delaying the Starliner Mission so will Dreamchaser be launched on Sir 2 or sir 3 please let me know your thoughts and predictions in the comment section down below but anyway Dreamchasers debut Mission will open up many interesting perspectives on the Space Race before diving into this please give the video a thumbs up share it and subscribe to the channel by doing this you motivate our team to continue following and updating you on news about this space plane as soon as possible in the meantime with Sierra space they will continue to promote other missions Sierra space confirmed they will have a crude variant although it has not yet been built the dc200 version although it has not yet been built the dc200 version passed the system requirement review or srr in 2022 meanwhile they are producing a second cargo variant called the reverence at their dream factory production facility in Colorado with Dreamchaser Sierra space is poised to become a major player in orbital payload transportation in the ISS race the upcoming mission is just one of seven missions to the ISS of this vehicle under the Commercial resupply Services 2 contract this number surpasses Starliner current number of missions and is half the number of dragon's current missions under the commercial crew program contract each dreamchaser's future Mission could last up to 75 days with the capability to transport up to 11,500 lb of cargo clearly Dreamchaser will have ample opportunities to Showcase its capabilities if it can capitalize on these opportunities it can quickly build reliability thereby opening up many more opportunities beyond the ISS project Dreamchaser will also play a crucial role in the construction of Sierra space's life inflatable space station this system is part of the or Reef project spearheaded by Blue origin Sierra space and several other organizations with Dreamchaser Sierra space will take a more proactive stance in this project and serve as a backup plan if blue Origins vehicle encounters issues following construction Dreamchaser will continue to play a pivotal role in resupplying cargo and transporting Crews to this space station akin to its role with the ISS for NASA the Readiness of Dreamchaser comes as welcome news the agency decision to sign contracts with two partners Boeing and SpaceX a decade ago was aimed at fostering competition and expanding their options however the prolonged delays with Boeing's Starliner have undermined this objective star liner's setbacks not only disrupted NASA's ISS plans but also led to increased Reliance on SpaceX for launches while SpaceX has performed admirably NASA is Keen to avoid a monopoly in this domain in this context Dreamchaser emerges as a promising new option for the agency dreamchaser's ENT into the Space Race marks a new era of competition spacex's dragon has long held dominance in payload delivery to orbit boasting an impressive track record of 30 cargo missions and eight crew missions surpassing Dragon will undoubtedly pose a formidable challenge for Dreamchaser given this Stark difference in achievements however with its unique design and considerable potential Dreamchaser promises to introduce compelling competition to Dragon this rivalry will serve as a driving force for both entities to continuously enhance their capabilities thereby fostering growth within the US Aerospace industry if successful Dreamchaser may even surpass Starliner a vehicle plagued by numerous setbacks over the years do you believe Dreamchaser will outperform Starliner please leave a one in the comment section down below if you think this will be so if not tell me your reasoning why Starliner is going to pull ahead indeed the journey ahead for Dreamchaser is a lengthy one filled with numerous challenges and Milestones to achieve before it can rightfully claim its place as a reliable orbital transport vehicle the upcoming debut flight leader this year marks the beginning of this arduous Journey whether it proves successful or not remains a question that only time can answer nevertheless the fact that the space plane has arrived in Florida signifies that all preparations are in place signaling the start of an exciting new chapter in space exploration returning back to SpaceX the company is collaborating with the Pentagon on robust activities concerning starlink and Russia a senior us defense official disclosed that the Pentagon is working closely with SpaceX to locate and deactivate Starling satellite internet terminals that Russian forces have illicitly acquired for use in their Ukraine Invasion at a May 21st hearing of the Senate Services committee's strategic forces subcommittee Senator Elizabeth Warren queried John Hill the pentagon's deputy chief of space policy about spacex's cooperation in preventing Russian troops from operating Sterling terminals obtained through black markets containg us sanctions Warren further inquired whether the defense department can detect all unauthorized Russian starlink usage and completely disable that capability Hill emphasized that SpaceX has been more cooperative and forward leaning in efforts to pinpoint terminals in Russian possession and deactivate them he noted that not only has SpaceX been very Cooperative with the ENT entire United States government and the government of Ukraine they've been forward looking in identifying and providing information to us Warren expressed concern over reports that Russian forces have Acquired and utilized SpaceX satellite internet terminals in occupied areas of Ukraine despite extensive us sanctions intended to hamper Russia's military capabilities she stressed that the use of Starling internet services by Russian troops poses a serious threat to Ukraine meanwhile musk refuted claims of selling terminals to Russia but lawmakers are eager to understand spacex's policies for complying with sanctions addressing the issue of Starling terminals in Ukraine poses a significant challenge for the US not only must they secure terminals within Ukrainian territory but they also face the challenge of preventing Russia from acquiring them through channels like the black market the importance of starlink in this conflict is clear as it plays a crucial role in command control communication and intelligence sharing given Russia's outdated Communication System Starling has become a coveted asset for them it is imperative for both the Pentagon and SpaceX to swiftly take control of this system to prevent its misuse for nefarious purposes starlink was intended to support the Ukrainian people in rebuilding their lives after the devastation of War now more than ever there is a hope for a swift resolution to the conflict allowing everyone to live in peace as for starlink it represents a remarkable technological advancement designed to improve the world it is essential that its potential is harnessed for the benefit of Humanity rather than weaponized for destructive ends turning our attention to the European Space Agency or Isa as they'd like to be referred to by referred to as preparations are underway for the first mission of the Aryan 6 rocket the inaugural launch of the Aryan 6 is anticipated in the first half of July with the vehicle taking shape at its launch sites in French Guana Issa announced on May 21st that the joint team working on the Aryan 6 including Isa prime contractor Aran group launch services provider Aryan space and the French space agency cnes anticipates the inaugural launch of the Aryan 6 rocket to occur in the first two weeks of July this Falls within the time frame previously indicated by Issa spanning from the middle of June to the end of July Issa stated that a specific ALB attentative date for the launch will be disclosed at the Ila air show in Berlin scheduled for June 5th to the 9th in the latest update Issa reported the completion of the qualification review on April 29th additionally workers have commended the stacking of the rocket itself attaching its two solid rocket boosters to the core stage the upper stage and payloads are slated for installation in June preceding a feeling test and practice countdown referred to as a wet dress rehearsal scheduled for June 18th although there is no official launch date yet all parties involved remain confident that everything is proceeding according to schedule Julio ronzo chief executive of Avio the company producing the solid rocket motors for the Aran 6 strap on boosters expressed optimism stating it seems to me we're going in the right direction for a flight in July there are high expectations for this upcoming flight a successful launch of the long awaited Aryan 6 would help alleviate the launcher crisis that has led Issa and the European commission to procure multiple Falcon 9 launches from SpaceX Joseph ashbacher director general of Issa acknowledged the inherent risks stating statistically there is a 47% chance the first flight may not succeed or happen exactly as planned plan we will do everything we can to make it a successful flight but I think it's something that we have to keep in mind as July approaches anticipation bills for what they will achieve well folks that's about it for today's episode thank you so much for tuning in and as always this has been Kevin from great SpaceX and until next time keep looking up