NASA Just Ordered Dragon To Save Starliner Astronauts! Starship V2 Stacked, Flight 5...Weekly #17

well this is exciting news the Next Generation beast of the Starship family the V2 has made its official debut at Starbase poised to revolutionize the Aerospace industry in the near future in addition to this Milestone significant progress is underway on flight 5 and the construction of the launch Tower the arrival of Starship V2 has been eagerly anticipated for some time now it all began with Elon musk's tweet last year after Flight 2 where he mentioned four more Starships the last of V1 subsequently V2 was further discussed during the April presentation this year amidst these developments Starship has made significant strides following its first four flights setting the stage perfectly for the introduction of V2 while attention was focused on preparing for flight 5 and constructing the new launch Tower SpaceX surprised Everyone by unveiling the initial components of V2 on the morning of July 14th a prototype part emerged from Star Factory immediately recognizable as the nose cone by its silhouette visible through the Factory's glass door shortly after it officially emerged revealing numerous new features in both design and auxiliary Parts indicating this is indeed a new prototype following its unveiling the nose cone was moved into the high Bay I'm eagerly anticipating the stacking process to commence soon musk's announcement a few months ago about six Starship V2 prototypes gives me confidence that production of the first prototype should begin now to meet this target especially since we're already in mid July now let's address the topic that's likely on everyone's mind how will Starship V2 differ from its predecessor musk has commented this is an important design Improvement indicating that there will be significant changes and advanc ments in the new iteration firstly a notable change in Starship version 2 involves the heat shield unlike its predecessor where the heat shield was primarily concentrated at the top the new version will distribute it more extensively on the leeward side moreover there has been an expansion in heat shield coverage beneath the forward flaps enhancing protection during the rigorous re-entry phase in addition to these coverage improvements each heat shield tile appears to have been enhanced following flight four SpaceX began using new heat shield tiles with added a blade of layers a technology likely carried over to version 2 musk mentioned in an interview with everyday astronaut a few weeks ago that the heat shield will feature thicker tiles with narrower gaps and improved Gap fillers possibly tightening tolerances for greater reliability the next significant change is evident in the flap which garnered much attention following flight 4 as promised it has been repositioned closer to the leward side to parting from the previous 180° design for a slightly asymmetrical configuration this adjustment aims to mitigate direct re-entry effects that led to issues in Flight 4 moreover the flap has been elevated higher towards the top likely enhancing navigation capabilities in terms of shape there appear to be further modifications at the edges of the flap the bottom Edge is now more slanted compared to the previous horizontal design while the top slanted Edge has been elongated with the mid Edge shortened overall the new design appears more Compact and lightweight however its performance improvements will need to be verified during actual flight tests regarding the flap assembly the part connecting it to the ship seems to have been reduced in size this adjustment is expected to lessen direct impacts and enhance overall durability during missions those are indeed two significant changes in the new nose cone version compared to its predecessor additionally several other minor upgrades deser further discussion in upcoming episodes besides the nose cone other components of the new version have also surfaced on the evening of the 13th two ring sections likely test tank segments were transported into meab Bay 2 subsequently they were assembled and are likely to be welded together soon furthermore glimpses of parts from the payload area have also emerged although details from current images are somewhat limited we anticipate clearer visuals to better analyze the changes in this section with the emergence of components for the nose cone p payload area and fuel tank the stacking process appears to be nearing Readiness adding to the excitement it has been confirmed that the first V2 prototype will be designated s33 as evidenced by the symbol scene on the truck transporting the V2s flap this marks a significant Milestone with 33 poised to usher in a new era for Starship musk's assurances of increased reliability enhanced payload capacity and simplified manufacturing processes further underscore the advancements expected with Starship version 2 looking ahead I anticipate the first prototype to be completed by mid next month coinciding with the expected completion of the launch Tower stack this convergence of Milestones is incredibly meaningful if you share my enthusiasm please affirm with a yes in the comment section or share your predictions also don't forget to like the video share it and subscribe to our channel for future updates from SpaceX just recently I mentioned the new launch Tower and SpaceX is making significant strides toward its complete completion Target schedule following the installation of the first module into the foundation module 2 was transported from the Sanchez site to the launch site on the morning of July 12th as of the time of this update the crane with its clamping system was already attached to module 2 poised to be stacked a top module 1 additionally on the morning of the 13th the final module of the launch Tower was also moved to the Sanchez site with this the entire Tower segment has been fully assembled SpaceX will now shift Focus Focus to the stacking process aiming to complete the first six segments by July 27th and the remaining three segments by August 15th space is always hard especially for something like Boeing's Starliner realizing this NASA just officially awarded a big contract to spacex's Dragon for space rescue missions possibly starting with Starliner astronauts so how will this happen and why was Dragon chosen recently on July 15th Nas officially awarded SpaceX a contract worth $267,000 for using dragon as a rescue vehicle the contract emphasizes it as a special study for emergency response highlighting the critical role of this vehicle this contract comes at a crucial time as SpaceX faces challenges with Falcon 9 incidents despite these setbacks SpaceX Vehicles Remain the most reliable with achievements far surpassing others there therefore choosing SpaceX vehicles for such an important mission is entirely understandable and we might not have to wait long for spacex's Dragon to take on a rescue role because it might happen rather soon with Starliner after the June 5th launch Boeing's spacecraft has yet to bring its two astronauts back due to ongoing Thruster problems and helium leaks faced with this situation during a teleconference on July 10th NASA announced their in intention to bring the astronauts back on Starliner however they also made a revelation and and then you know after that we've talked about the beautiful thing about commercial crew program is that we have two two vehicles two different systems that we could use to to return crew this reveal doesn't directly mention Dragon but it's clear that when considering the Aerospace industry as a whole there is no better vehicle to accomplish this task regarding how Dragon might rescue other missions it could involve having a falcon9 and dragon on standby ready to launch of a mission encounters problems in the case of Starliner if chosen for the current cft1 Mission it would launch immediately dock with the ISS and the crew would board the spacecraft and return similar to normal missions for future missions Falcon 9 and dragon might be pre-arranged alongside Mission preparations to launch quickly in the event of unexpected issues r resuing astronauts as soon as possible if a mission doesn't involve the space station and can't return immediately Dragon could connect with the station as an intermediate point before proceeding with subsequent steps but will that come true regarding the current status of Starliner in the latest update NASA stated teams completed Ground Hot Fire testing at White Sands and are working to evaluate the test data and inspect the test engine NASA and Boeing's Engineers are evaluating results from last week's engine tests at NASA's White Sands test facility in New Mexico as the team Works through plans to return the agency's Boeing crew flight test from the International Space Station in the coming weeks the ongoing ground analysis is expected to continue throughout the week the work mentioned is still mainly related to thrusters and ground tests Steve Stitch manager of NASA's commercial crew program revealed next our team has moved into engine tear downs and inspections which will provide additional insight as we analyze the results and evaluate next steps as for the astronauts they will spend this time conducting work with the Expedition 71 crew performing vein scans using the ultrasound 2 device and taking inventory of the food stored aboard the space station regarding the general schedule as NASA updates they are planning to return the mission in the coming weeks but also in this update an official said integrated ground teams are also prepared for an indepth agency flight test Readiness review which will evaluate data related to the spacecraft propulsion system performance before its return to Earth the date of the agency review has not yet been solidified remember that we are approaching the last days of July if NASA's schedules are correct the return date seems quite far away and it will be difficult to meet the end of July return Target that Steve Stitch mentioned in the teleconference furthermore the current tests simply simulate Starliner problems nothing in ures that they have resolved those problems on the Prototype or whether they will happen again on the return Journey indeed the decision to return on Starliner is still truly risky with the current situation do you think the possibility of falcon9 and dragon participating in rescuing Starliner will come true please let me know with a yes or a no in the comment section down below and don't forget to like the video share it and subscribe to our channel to continue following spacex's development Journey indeed need more than any other vehicle SpaceX Vehicles will be the best vehicles to do just that there are two main reasons for this firstly dragon's record is superior to any other vehicle with nine crew flights for NASA and four private missions in the near future when Falcon 9 returns it'll participate in two other important crew missions crew 9 and pois Dawn recently Dragon was awarded a contract of up to $843 million by NASA to deorbit the ISS in 2030 this shows dragon's great capabilities meanwhile its launch vehicle the Falcon 9 despite encountering recent problems still has an outstanding record with more than 360 launches and a high success rate it boasts excellent Landing capabilities in both Landing zones and on drone ships along with impressive reuse Milestones this reliability has enabled SpaceX to develop its own Internet satellite system and become the most Dependable choice for other organizations the second reason why dragon is a good choice is its Readiness with dragon there are currently up to four active prototypes besides the Prototype on the ISS for the create Mission SpaceX has three other prototypes and one under development to be completed this year Falcon 9 always has many prototypes available and both dragon and Falcon 9 can be reused this Readiness gives them a significant advantage over any other vehicle for conducting rescue missions but before it can even think about Dawning a cape and Fly Up Up and Away SpaceX will need to solve its problems soon although the Falcon 9 incident will not affect their future position it caused a lot of disruption to spacex's current plans more importantly it also poses a risk for future missions recently SpaceX conducted tests with the Falcon 99's second stage engine and showed good results this indicates the recent problem is an isolated incident not a Mass error therefore SpaceX has asked the FAA to allow the falcon9 to fly once again after the FAA confirms there is no risk to Public Safety in addition facing the current stagnation NASA seems to be conducting its own processes that's outside of what the FAA does to bring Falcon 9's flight back soon this is definitely a good sign for SpaceX to soon meet schedules like Polaris Dawn or crew 9 but even when returning to operations I still think SpaceX must soon complete a mishap inv investigation this is crucial not only to identify and handle the problem with the flight but also to prevent it from happening again in the future one of the biggest issues is fuel leaks the direct cause of the recent falcon9 incident and a common problem with many other vehicles addressing this problem thoroughly will be important for Missions including rescue missions looking further into the future we can expect bigger strides related to the rescue mission at that time Starship is expected to replace dragon and Falcon 9 Starships can carry a payload of up to 150 tons and accommodate up to 100 people these capabilities can be even more in the future with the release of new versions like V3 that's a great ability that make rescue more effective currently Starship is in the development stage but with four flights under its belt this giant rocket has made many strides notably the successful two-stage Landing in the fourth flight with this progress I believe Starship will soon go into operation however like the Falcon 9 to help Starship operates stably and participate in rescue missions SpaceX also needs to address several issues firstly it needs to fix the problem with the re-entry process by upgrading the heat shield system currently SpaceX is replacing the heat shield on the s30 Prototype and its effect of this will be demonstrated on flight 5 in the coming weeks they also need to resolve engine problems as some have failed in previous flights in addition to these major issues there are numerous other problems that SpaceX needs to tackle but I believe as they have many times before that the SpaceX team will overcome these challenges and Achieve new successes that's when SpaceX Vehicles such as Falcon 9 dragon and of course Starship will demonstrate their rapid development and comprehensive capabilities not only will they continue to dominate the Aerospace industry with impressive achievements and Records in launch landing and reuse but they will also play a crucial role in making making space travel safer and more effective not to mention more affordable this will Mark the beginning of a new era where space travel is not reserved for a few individuals Elites or organizations but it will be open to the masses and I can't wait wow we're inching closer to flight five SpaceX recently conducted a static fire test with the flight 5 Hardware B12 showcasing the immense power of this giant rocket this serves as a preview of the upcoming flight building anticipation for what's to come shifting Focus to Falcon 9 after a brief delay SpaceX has successfully conducted a test with the second stage of this rocket signaling Readiness to resume operations well well my prediction has come true remember in the previous episode based on the road closure schedule and the arrival of the methane tank truck we anticipated that B12 static fire would happen soon now it's happening for real early in the morning on July 15th Highway 4 was closed and the Launchpad was cleared by 9:05 a.m. the orbital launch Mount was venting and just 30 minutes later the fuel loading process commenced with frosts rapidly forming this time I observed a slight difference in the fuel loading process while the liquid oxygen appeared to be fully loaded the methane tank was only about a third filled after completing the fuel loading the engine chill process proceeded as usual then at 10:13 a.m. the moment we had eagerly awaited arrived b12's static fire test the activation of the engines produced a plume of dust and smoke with the distinctive mock Diamond effect visible reminiscent of previous official flights during the test some objects were seen rising from the dust and smoke layer upon closer inspection these appeared to be harmless items like Bits of Paper or ash from burned materials posing no threat to the test or surrounding infrastructure following the test any remaining fuel was unloaded and the frost on the rocket gradually dissipated venting continued from both the booster and the tank farm as operations returned to normal the static fire test lasted approximately 8 seconds involving all 33 engines this duration is typical for such tests and indicates normal operation however it once again highlighted the tremendous power of the Starship booster SpaceX confirmed after the test with with a tweet full duration static fire of flight 5 super heavy booster with 33 engines firing it generated over 7,500 tons or 16.8 million PB of thrust this immense thrust capacity was underscored by Elon Musk himself in a tweet comparing it to the Saturn 5 Moon rocket more than double the power of the Saturn 5 the SAT 5 and iconic symbol of NASA produced about 7.6 million pounds or approximately 3500 tons of thrust this comparison underscores the significant potential of spacex's Starship positioning it as a leading force in the Aerospace industry in the years to come returning to the progress of B12 after arriving at the Launchpad it successfully completed two tests the spin Prime and static fire tests with these completed all separate tests are now finished the next step involves a wet dress rehearsal with the s30 before the actual launch before proceeding B12 will return to the build site for hot staging and post testing checks this move is scheduled with a brief road closure planned from 12:00 p.m. to 400 p.m. on July 16th meanwhile b12's companion the s30 is nearing completion of its preparations particularly with the installation of a new heat shield and a blade of system recent images indicate that most parts of the s30 have been fitted with these upgrades and I anticipate all related work on this system will wrap up by the end of this week however other predictions suggest that the testing phase May not proceed rapidly aiming for a launch Target in late August or early September this delay is attributed to the ongoing construction of the new launch Tower which serves as a contingency plan the new tower will provide backup options for the catch process and ensure that starship's development remains uninterrupted in case of any issues at pad a during launch or testing contrary to to musk's earlier statement of an early August schedule uncertainty surrounds the upcoming flight 5 launch date do you think it'll happen in August or September share your prediction by leaving the number eight or nine which corresponds to the month in the comment section down below and don't forget to like share the video and subscribe to the channel in order to stay updated on spacex's development journey following the recent successful static fire test another critical system the orbital launch Mount has proven its reliability this test is arguably its most significant activity since flight 4 concerns about the olm were raised after discoloration was observed in images and following the recent static fire incident with the tong long 3 rocket however everything appears to be in order and we can look forward to the wet dress rehearsal test and an impressive flight with this system in addition to demonstrating its stability the mm system may also receive updates related to the clamp system recent images on x reveal a new clamp design that appears simpler than the previous one aimed at reducing risks while it's uncertain if this is an official design it holds promise for enhancing the reliability of the olm system once implemented moving away from Starbase let's shift our Focus to McGregor with the latest updates concerning the Falcon 9 following the incident with the second stage during the starlink 9-3 mission on July 11th Falcon 9 operations have been temporarily suspended in recent days SpaceX and the FAA will now collaborate on a mishap investigation to identify the issue and make preparations for its resolution given spacex's operational Pace they are determined to swiftly resolve these issues recently as part of the investigation they conducted tests on a second stage at the McGregor test facility possibly including a static fire to assess the Merlin engine's capabilities reflecting on the previous flight the engine experienced a liquid oxygen leak leading to fr cost accumulation on its exterior this prevented the engine from propelling the second stage and its payload to the intended altitude subsequent testing reported no issues indicating the test successfully demonstrated the engine and Hardware capabilities this confirms that the issue with the second stage engine during the previous flight was an isolated incident likely stemming from the manufacturing process rather than a widespread production error this successful test will be pivotal in facilitating SpaceX and the FAA to swiftly con include the mishap investigation now more than ever I eagerly anticipate Falcon 9's return to resume its path of achieving new Milestones particularly aiming for 148 launches this year including Polaris Dawn and crew 9 in the near future naturally there are several procedural steps that both parties must complete during the investigation process before operations can fully resume if you're rooting for SpaceX to bounce back from this challenging period drop a comment saying come back to show your support as the day and goes nothing lasts forever for the past 22 years California has been the home of SpaceX the world's most powerful Aerospace company but times have changed and a new chapter is beginning SpaceX is leaving its birthplace to reach the promised land where they are building the gateway to Mars Starbase Texas exciting opportunities await them there so why did SpaceX move its headquarters how will this impact their systems especially Starship for any company the headquarters is the brain the place that directs all activities of the entire system for SpaceX it had always been Hawthorne California 22 years is certainly proof of the strong relationship between the company and the state but over time many things have changed the remarkable growth of SpaceX has led to a shift in development strategy along with prominent issues in recent years California's policies May no longer suit SpaceX that's why why Elon Musk recently announced the headquarters relocation for his companies including SpaceX and X on x Elon Musk declared SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne California to Starbase Texas and added another decision and xhq will move to Austin my God this is certainly one of the most important decisions Elon Musk has made in the past few years while we still await official announcements from the companies the the Revelation from their founder is likely enough for us to believe in the upcoming change along with these decisions musk provided explanations for X he primarily cited Social Security issues have had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building as for SpaceX the catalyst is the new policy announced by California governor Gavin Nome specifically he signed ab1 1955 which bans schools from making rules requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender according to Elon Musk this is the final straw he added because of this law and the many others that precede it attacking both families and companies this reasoning likely applies to X as well in fact this is not the first time Elon Musk has shown such decisiveness below the Tweet related to SpaceX musk stated I did make it clear to Governor Nome about a a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children in addition to the aformentioned reasons these headquarter relocations are likely influenced by factors related to musk's stance in the upcoming presidential election in previous elections musk did not publicly announce his choice in the 2020 election he voted for President Biden but this time musk might switch to supporting Donald Trump as indicated by his recent tweet I fully endorse president Trump moving the headquarters is one step to demonstrate this shift since Texas often supports the Republican Party while California typically backs the Democratic in 2021 musk also moved his residents from California to Texas where there is no personal income tax that same year Tesla another of musk's companies moved its headquarters from California to Austin Texas although the California facility remains its engineering Hub however the Austin location now Garners the most attention boasting the famous Tesla gigafactory that produces cyber trucks and batteries in the case of SpaceX the headquarters move to Starbase is definitely to help them focus more on the Starship project which has made great strides and has many new plans this move also better suits their system since most of spacex's main systems are now located on the East Coast while they only have one Falcon 99 Falcon 9 system on the west coast those are the main reasons behind musk's decision I know each of us has our own views on politics and policy so let's skip that and focus on the remaining factors do you think musk's decision to move the headquarters is good or not let me know with a yes or a no in the comment section down below and also if you could add your own explanation oh and don't forget to like the video share it and subscribe to our channel to keep following spacex's development Journey as for me I fully support Elon musk's decision regardless of the reasons this relocation will bring many benefits to spacex's systems especially Starship firstly let's talk about policy issues currently the Texas government notably Governor Greg Abbott is very keen on attracting large companies to Texas to contribute to the state's development this creates many favorable conditions for companies like SpaceX such as tax reductions shortened administrative procedures and more these benefits extend not only to the company but also to its employees and I believe this will help SpaceX quickly establish a new headquarters here in addition Governor Greg Abbott is very active in supporting the Starship project since arriving in Texas Starship has brought many economic benefits to the state evidenced by spacex's investments in local towns and the growth in tourism in return the Starship project receives substantial support from the state government for example before Flight 2 facing delays from the FAA and environmental agencies the Texas government consistently showed support and expressed their Readiness to help SpaceX obtain launch authorization regarding internal systems moving the headquarters to Starbase will help SpaceX better focus resources on Starship further promoting this rocket project when the headquarters is right at Starbase processes like transferring Human Resources transporting hardware and moving equipment will be faster this will certainly overcome the previous disadvantage of having to send many employees from California to Texas to support the Starship project even without a change in headquarters the foundation of the Starship project is quite stable contributing greatly to the progress of Starship flights with four integrated flights to date SpaceX is proving the correctness of its road map and Promises to reach many more Milestones these strides will in turn require systems to become even more robust this is clearly shown in the launch system after much waiting SpaceX is building the second launch Tower at Starbase in Florida SpaceX also has a launch Tower at lc-39a near the Falcon launch system according to the faa's Eis or environmental impact statement SpaceX plans to build additional Landing systems such as catching Towers or drone ships this development will allow the launch frequency to increase dramatically in the future for example the FAA is reviewing 25 launches per year at Starbase and 44 launches at Florida according to the Eis these will be the first steps toward the goal of thousands of launches per year that Elon Musk always aims for looking at the production system after many years of operating with production tents and small assembly Bays SpaceX has made a strong transformation by replacing them with new systems like high Bay Mega Bay and most notably star Factory this shift helps them move towards mass rocket production something no other organization has done before we saw the first product of that system the version 2 nose cone which appeared just a few days ago this will be the foundation for them to achieve the bigger goal SpaceX leaders have always dreamed of producing a rocket every day and eventually reaching Mars between the production and launch systems the test system is also undergoing significant development since taking over the Massy gun range in early 2023 SpaceX now boasts a comprehensive testing infrastructure including test stands fuel systems and warehouses capable of handling cryogenic spin Prime and static fire tests of these the most notable is the flame Trench test system completed by SpaceX a few months ago this system enhances testing efficiency and reliability compared to the initial simple test stands at the suborbital launch sites with these upgrades the launch preparation process will accelerate meeting future demands effectively besides the Starship system the Falcon system will also benefit greatly from the upcoming change in recent years the Falcon 9 and Falcon heavy have continued to uphold spacex's industry dominance however progress remains ongoing evidenced by increasing annual launch targets such as this year's goal of 148 flights in the years ahead these goals are likely to expand further maintaining The crucial role of Falcon Rockets within spacex's system and the Aerospace industry at large similar to Starship Falcon rocket systems are now primarily based on the East Coast with two launchpads in Florida compared to the lone Launchpad at Vandenberg space Force Base on the west coast the headquarters relocation will enhance their operational strengths this Heralds a new era worth anticipating where achievements May surpass limits Beyond imagination this decision certainly faces numerous challenges the systems in California particularly concerning the progress of Falcon Rockets will play crucial roles another significant challenge is the impact on the lives of over 13,000 employees achieving this relocation won't be easy and may require considerable time for musk and's team to accomplish ultimately every success built upon a stable foundation with that Foundation now firmly in place let's witness the future accomplishments of spacex's rockets if you're ready for this era let me know with a let's go in the comment section late last month China's Tong long 3 rocket made headlines worldwide with its failed static fire test marking a significant setback for the country's ambitious Space Program this incident underscores the risks associated with aggressive replication strategies however it raises an intriguing question does SpaceX whose systems Tong long 3 is based on face similar risks all right let's rewind it back to June 30th in hean Province China space Pioneer a private Aerospace company conducted a static fire test with their new Tong long 3 rocket if successful this test will pave the way for the Rockets planned launch before the end of 2024 aiming to become ch's first reusable rocket when the engine activated the tong long 3 rocket unexpectedly lifted off from the cloud of smoke and dust it soared for approximately 25 seconds before either running out of fuel or experiencing an engine failure causing it to crash down a hill about a 1 and 1 12 km away from the test stand the impact resulted in a massive explosion that reverberated throughout the surrounding area fortunately local authorities confirmed that there were no injuries from the explosion regardless the failure in such a fundamental test highlights significant technological issues notably this Rocket's technology is derived from spacex's designs in terms of specifications the ton long 3 rocket closely resembles spacex's Falcon 9 it stands 71 M tall with a diameter of 3.8 and weighs 590 tons featuring two stages that mirror Falcon 99's parameters the first stage is powered by nine tiona 12 engines while while the second stage utilizes one tan 12 vacuum engine running on liquid oxygen and kerosene to generate a Thrust of 770 tons or 1.7 million PB equivalent to Falcon 99's capabilities additionally components such as grid fins Landing legs and fairings also bear strong similarities to Falcon 9 with such a pant for copying it's likely space Pioneer hasn't overlooked replicating spacex's ground systems observing the tong long 3's test stand design it appears to have internal design similar to starship's olm we've seen China's incredible copying capabilities not only in Aerospace but across various Fields so does this incident with the copy reflect potential issues with the original as we all know the olm is a system SpaceX built to work in tandem with the launch Tower forming a combined system known as Launchpad or stage zero the system is relatively new and has only been applied to Starship the olm Fe features an overall tripod design with a launch table supported by six legs the unique aspect of the olm is its dual functionality it can be used for both launching and testing therefore in addition to the booster interaction system known as the booster QD the olm also includes a clamp system designed to hold the booster during tests like static fires this clamp system is believed to be a major factor in the recent incident with the tion long 3 rocket this raises concerns among many given that super heavy is significantly more powerful than the tong long 3 booster with its current configuration of 33 Raptor engines super heavy can generate up to 7,590 tons or 16.8 million pounds of thrust such immense thrust creates substantial vibrations and pressures evidenced by phenomena like the discoloration of watercooled Steel plates seen after flight 1 and more recent tests moreover as the world's largest rocket super heavy reaches a mass of up to 3,400 tons when fully fueled adding to the complexity and risk factors involved however that scenario is simply not feasible because unlike imitators SpaceX Engineers designs spacex's engineering schematics are tailored for every circumstance before delving into this please consider liking the video sharing it and also subscribing to our channel to show your support for our teams and stay up updated on spacex's ongoing journey of development firstly during a static fire the SpaceX team meticulously ensures that the combined thrust of the 33 engines never exceeds the total mass of liquid oxygen and liquid methane on board this means the thrust generated is insufficient to lift the entire rocket off the ground each test varies in the amount of fuel loaded maintaining a safe ratio where thrust is always kept below the Rocket's total mass typically below a 1:1 ratio while static fire tests often dazzle with their immense thrust it's crucial to recognize that every aspect is carefully controlled and monitored that's likely where the space Pioneer team faltered in their last test attempt despite the lower thrust compared to super heavy their inability to manage engine power caused their rocket to overpower the test stands hold system and take flight in contrast spacex's approach includes not only operator control but also the support of the olm system while the mm features a clamp system for booster stabilization it also integrates load sensors these sensors play a crucial role in continuously monitoring and adjusting the thrust to mass ratio ensuring safe and controlled operations at all times moreover when lifting super heavy onto the olm it's not merely a placement procedure the vehicle and mm system integrate directly forming a unified entity this integration allows for immediate activation of shutdown commands in case of Errors like Mass thrust ratio discrepancies even if the mm's clamping and fuel pump systems were to malfunction SpaceX retains control preventing incidents like the unintended launch seen with Tong long 3 speaking of the clamp system SpaceX continuously enhances its mechanisms recently Ryan Hansen space designed numerous 3D models illustrating the operations of the clamp and booster QD systems these models demonstrate how these systems securely connect with super heavy when deployed and seamlessly integrate into the olm ring when retracted while this process may appear straightforward it involves intricate engineering that poses significant challenges for imitators to replicate effectively recent images reveal spacex's newly designed clamp system this iteration appears simpler compared to the current design while it's worth noting that this model is subject to further changes and additions by SpaceX its initial Simplicity instills a sense of enhanced reliability a notable difference in the new design is the repositioning of the clamp's focal point the pivotal middle joint crucial for the clamp's flexibility has been shifted to the bottom this adjustment potentially enhances the secure hold of the booster ensuring the clamp engages from the bottom upwards for a more effective securing system in essence starship's olm remains a robust system despite the issues encountered during the tion long 3's static fire test in other words those incidents arose not from shortcomings in the original design but rather from flaws in the replication process even after mimicking the external system the copyists evidently failed to grasp its internal principles fully this setback marks a blow to China's development strategy in addition to replicating Rockets as extensively discussed a startup named Cosmo leap recently announced plans to develop Rockets akin to spacex's Starship resembling a copy of Falcon 9 they aim to replicate spacex's launch Tower the mechazilla arm and potentially the olm system while their exterior appears strikingly similar The crucial test lies in whether they grasp the foundational principles the outcome remains uncertain but failure could Loom large and potentially surpass the recent incident with Tong long 3 in terms of embarrassment if you agree leave a yes in the comment section Down Below return turning to SpaceX while they continue to demonstrate impressive capabilities challenges persist one noticeable issue is the wear and tear on smaller systems like the clamps on the booster QD fuel hoses inside the booster QD and the ship QD on the launch Tower these components often sustain damage after a few launches or tests for instance following flight 3 severe damage to the to the fuel hoses necessitated their replacement similarly the clamp system system has required frequent Replacements clearly this approach doesn't align with spacex's development strategy the frequent replacement of critical components not only heightens operational risks but also extends Launchpad refurbishment timelines this could potentially hinder spacex's ability to maintain a rapid launch Cadence in the future hence it is imperative for SpaceX to intensify efforts in enhancing these systems this ensures not only the safety of each launch and test but also supports their long-term ter development objectives that's why I'm eagerly anticipating the implementation of changes like the new clamp design I hope these improvements will also be applied to the olm of the new launch Tower this will provide SpaceX with the foundation to achieve faster flight turnarounds while ensuring reliability more than anything not the copycats only those who come up with ideas and understand what they're doing can win the Space Race SpaceX continues to lead the race with their pioneering ideas and Relentless Drive for improvement setting them apart from the competition for years to come for any vehicle or organization in the Aerospace industry failing to reach orbit is always a significant setback unfortunately Dreamchaser one of this year's most anticipated Vehicles is experiencing just that amidst numerous current challenges dreamchaser's inaugural flight may not occur in the near future and in the worst case scenario not even this year so what led to Dreamchaser facing this situation and how will this impact its standing in the Space Race as mentioned before Dreamchaser is one of the most eagerly awaited debut Vehicles this year originally scheduled to launch in April it's now July and it still hasn't flown recently following considerable controversy surrounding the c 2 mission Ula decided not to launch Dreamchaser on the upcoming Mission instead Vulcan will carry a dummy payload this decision was previously considered and approved by the Pentagon the primary aim is for ulula to quickly obtain certification to launch payloads for the ussf and the government which is ula's main Market this is a major disappointment for Dreamchaser enthusiasts following the success of Vulcan c 1 hopes were high for dreamchaser's launch on Volcan a successful launch would have meant Ula obtaining certification and Sierra space deploying their vehicle for the first time the disappointment is compounded by the fact that other long delayed Vehicles such as Vulcan Starliner and most recently Aran six have all made specific progress this delay poses a significant setback for Dreamchaser in the future Space Race in fact many including myself didn't pay much attention to this delay initially as Dreamchasers testing process went quite smoothly and yielded positive results testing began at NASA's Neil Armstrong test facility after production was completed in November of 2023 however this smooth testing process also contributed to Dreamchaser falling behind schedule by April the original search to to deadline the testing process had not yet finished this led to the decision to postpone the mission to the end of the year by the end of May Dreamchaser tenacity was delivered to Florida but significant preparation remained before launch clearly the stringent schedules for launching military and government payloads leave Ula with little room to wait for Dreamchaser currently it's difficult to pinpoint why Dreamchaser is encountering these challenges as their delays are not rooted in technical issues if I were to speculate I believe it stems from missteps in the collaboration between Ula and Sierra space regarding Ula selecting a developmental vehicle like Dreamchaser as their payload was perhaps not the wisest choice they needed a swift integration process for their rocket operations which dreamchaser's slower development Pace couldn't match conversely dreamchaser's decision to partner with Vulcan as their launch rocket was also problematic at the time of selection Vulcan wasn't yet operational lacking the reliability that Sierra space needed this lack of reliability has been evident in practice Vulcan experienced significant delays compared to its original timeline with this debut Mission only taking place in January of this year similarly to ula's situation Sierra space should have anticipated that once Vulcan became operational its schedule would become tightly packed potentially outpacing dreamchaser's development Pace this mismatch has caused scheduling conflicts between both parties under the worst circumstances Dreamchaser may not even launch in 2024 firstly despite the urgency ula's production pce for Vulcan isn't rapid additionally vulcan's Readiness is tied to Blue Origins be4 engine as of now it's July c 2 hasn't launched yet making it uncertain when sir 3 will be ready the prospect of Dreamchaser launching on Sir 3 remains uncertain Ula May prioritize transferring that flight to fulfill payloads under the usf's National Security space launch contract with Delta 4 heavy retired and Atlas 5 having only 16 missions left all accounted for many involving Kyper satellite launches and Starliner missions Vulcan will assume primary responsibility for the ussf contract it already faces a backlog of over 20 missions including critical flights like ussf 106 and 87 scheduled for this year with Phase 2 deadlines looming and Ula just selected for phase three the likelihood of Dreamchaser launching on Vulcan diminishes any unforeseen issues could further delay its launch indefinitely indeed had Dream Chaser made a different choice they might not be facing their current predicament you probably guessed the option I'm referring to SpaceX among all providers SpaceX stands out as the premier launch service provider today currently SpaceX operates Falcon 9 the most frequently launched rocket of the year with a steadily increasing launch Cadence SpaceX can schedule launches within 2 to 3 days and sometimes even within mere hours in in addition to customer missions SpaceX frequently launches starlink satellites enabling them to Pivot quickly if unexpected customer needs arise Falcon 9 not only launches frequently but also consistently demonstrates exceptional reliability nearly decade long track record of success this reliability is a strong selling point for even the most demanding customers for more demanding payloads SpaceX offers Falcon heavy although not launched as frequently Falcon heavy boasts a high reliability rate with a perfect success record in conclusion opting for SpaceX would have ensured Sierra space avoids its current predicament currently Dreamchaser remains stationed at the Kennedy Space Center awaiting further launch updates do you believe Dreamchaser will launch this year share your prediction with a simple yes or no in the comments section down below don't forget to like the video share it and subscribe to the channel to stay updated on what's happening with Dreamchaser Sierra space Ula and especially SpaceX moving on from scheduling challenges let's address the issues encountered during Dreamchasers actual missions once again credit must go to the Sierra space team for their diligent work evident from Dreamchasers successful test results over the past several months however it's crucial to remember that Dreamchaser is still a new vehicle initial phases often reveal unforeseen issues if not meticulously prepared testing and actual flight present vastly different challenges just consider Starliner which successfully launched but now faces difficulties returning this underscores the importance for Sierra space to remain Vigilant against potential issues such as fuel management or Thruster malfunctions challenges that have plagued Boeing and NASA additionally Dreamchaser must prioritize its Unique Systems like heat shields and wings these systems differ significantly from from those used in current spacecraft such as Orion dragon and Starliner dreamchaser's unconventional Landing method relying on these systems for re-entry and executing a Runway Landing akin to an airplane poses significantly greater technical challenges compared to traditional spacecraft Landings any risks stemming from these complexities must be carefully managed therefore with the schedule postponed Sierra space must use this time effectively to prepare thorough and prevent issues similar to those faced by Starliner the success of the inaugural Mission will pave the way for numerous future opportunities for this space plane looking ahead these prospects include subsequent flights with upgraded versions alongside the current prototype tenacity Sierra space is finalizing a second cargo prototype reverence at the Dream Factory progress on the third prototype the initial crew model has also begun with Sierra space recently real relocating the third shooting star cargo module to the Dream Factory building on the experience gained from tenacity future prototypes aimed to streamline production and testing processes thereby averting future schedule delays nevertheless I hold high hopes for Dreamchaser given its unique design Dreamchaser is poised to capture NASA's attention evoking Nostalgia for the space shuttle era in the future it could be chosen for pivotal projects such as ISS resupply and the construction of a new space station this promises to inject fresh excitement into the space race with its inherent capabilities Dreamchaser has the potential to compete effectively with other spacecraft like dragon and Starliner once it enters service however achieving dominance in the Space Race will prove extremely challenging if not impossible for Dreamchaser at this juncture given SpaceX dragons established dominant position SpaceX has achieved significant Milestones with 13 crew flights and 30 cargo missions benchmarks that Dreamchaser may require many more years to match in contrast surpassing a competitor like Starliner remains a plausible goal for the Sierra Space Team it represents a realistic Target that they can aim for hopefully they will swiftly resolve their current challenges and devise coherent plans and road maps for their space plane thereby enriching the space race in the years ahead come on Dreamchaser give spacex's dragon a challenge shifting Focus from starship's developments let's turn to an update on the payload issue affecting the upcoming Falcon heavy flight following the go U Mission anticipation is high for the next missions of this rocket beginning with the Europa Clipper Mission scheduled for launch this October at top a SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket the Europa Clipper spacecraft will embark on a $5 billion mission to explore Europa an ice covered ocean moon of Jupiter to assess its potential to to support Life as we know it however the launch date for the Europa Clipper mission is currently uncertain due to issues NASA is facing with its spacecraft according to a test report in May the mission team discovered that components similar to the transistors on Europa Clipper were failing at lower radiation doses than anticipated given that Jupiter's magnetic field is 20,000 times stronger than Earth's these vulnerable transistors may not withstand the intense radiation inv enironment around Jupiter and its Moon Europa potentially leading to Mission failures NASA is actively working to identify and address these issues with the Europa Clipper spacecraft preliminary analysis is slated for completion by the end of July despite these challenges NASA remains optimistic about maintaining the launch schedule for October it's crucial to monitor developments to see if Falcon heavy can proceed with its next launch as planned this is particularly significant because Falcon heavy is also scheduled to undertake take another pivotal Mission launching the Viper lunar lander hopefully resolutions will be swift allowing Falcon heavy to continue its important role in advancing space exploration next let's move on to updates related to Blue origin and new Glenn's debut Mission specifically new Glenn's payload in its debut flight the Escapade spacecraft built by rocket lab is almost ready for launch Escapade comprises two identical small sets named blue and gold set to orbit Mars the spacecraft is equipped with instruments to analyze Mars's magnetosphere and its interaction with solar winds While Blue has completed Environmental Testing gold is currently undergoing final vibration tests Rob lilis from the University of California Burkley Sciences laboratory shared in a presentation at the committee on Space research or c-par 45th scientific assembly on July 15th it's been incredibly rewarding to witness the culmination of years of work on these two probes the launch of Escapade has garnered significant attention surpassing even the mission itself scheduled to fly aboard the inaugural mission of new Glenn under a NASA task order awarded in February of 2023 valued at $20 million Escapade is set to orbit Mars despite earlier indications the exact launch date remains uncertain during an April meeting of a kpar planetary protection committee a NASA official announced a tentative September 29th launch date for Escapade however the Escapade website labels this date as a placeholder suggesting it may change Lis mentioned that the mission is slated for launch this fall noting that a September launch date mentioned in one slide was out of date the launch window for Mars missions this year extends roughly through mid October NASA continues to monitor the progress of new Glenn earlier this year the blue origin rocket was assembled and moved to the LC 36 LaunchPad where it was vertically stacked recently the company has also been conducting tests with new Glens launch system indicating smooth progress if Escapade launches this fall the spacecraft will arrive at Mars 48 hours apart in September of 2025 and commence their one-year Prime science mission in April of 2026 alongside other NASA missions this spacecraft is poised to usher in a new era of exploration on Mars following the drama of lunar exploration the race to Mars is equally captivating I'm eagerly anticipating spacex's next moves as they pursue their ambitious vision of Mars exploration 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 until next time keep looking up