SpaceX Flight 7 with BIGGER Starship V2 Launch This Year?! No CATCHING...

attention I know all eyes are on flight 6 right now but I'm here to tell you a major Milestone is on the horizon in flight 7 we'll witness the debut of the next generation of Starship V2 SpaceX has confirmed it and now the question is will it launch this year in addition we'll cover some updates on the health of Crew 8 astronauts and take a look at the latest plan for the upcoming flight of Aryan 6 let's dive into all this on today's episode of great SpaceX while we were still captivated by the excitement of flight 5 SpaceX recently announced the launch date timeline and key updates for flight 6 but at the end of this announcement SpaceX included an equally intriguing teaser about flight 7 and a new starship version V2 in their statement SpaceX hinted at the upcoming changes saying future ships starting with the vehicle planned for the seventh flight test will fly with significant upgrades including redesigned forward flaps larger propellant tanks and the latest generation tiles and secondary thermal protection layers as we continue to iterate towards a fully reusable heat shield although they didn't directly refer to it as V2 the details strongly suggest it first let's look at the redesigned forward flaps a defining feature of V2 compared to V1 after the flap damage observed in Flight 4 SpaceX outlined several changes including smaller sharper flaps The Joint connecting the flap to the ship has been streamlined and the forward flap will be positioned closer to the nose and leeward side of the ship these changes aim to enhance flap control during navigation and reduce stress and impact during re-entry next images of s33 the first version of V2 reveal a slightly larger ship body with the payload door positioned higher indicating an increase in fuel tank capacity this expansion is crucial for starship's operational range allowing it to carry more fuel to return to Star base support orbital refueling operations and eventually Venture beyond Earth orbit finally significant upgrades to the heat shield will also be featured following flight 4 SpaceX introduced a series of heat shield improvements starting with s30 this includes new more durable tiles potentially made of an enhanced material that will increase resilience and move closer to full reusability given the thousands of tiles needed per flight reusability is essential for lowering production demands additionally the heat shield is backed by secondary protective layers know known as a blade of layers which provide added durability and comprehensive protection for the ship with all these upgrades Starship V2 represents a major leap forward toward full reusability and extended Mission capabilities these upgrades are pivotal with SpaceX highlighting their importance in the recent update learnings from this and subsequent flight tests will continue to make the entire Starship system more reliable as we close in on full and Rapid reusability in short all signs point to Starship V2 taking Center Stage this also implies that the final version of V1 ship 32 won't be making its flight debut I initially expected s32 would be featured in flight 7 with V2s debut in flight 8 but it seems clear that the s32 hasn't undergone any testing since its completion signaling its retirement the likely candidate for flight 7 is the V2 prototype ship 33 after being assembled in a record 41 days s33 reached the Massie test site in late October for cryogenic testing following this it returned to the production site at Mega Bay 2 where it received its engines for now it's equipped with Raptor 2 engines though I expect that Raptor 3 will eventually be integrated especially considering V2s expected liftoff thrust of 8,240 tons a figure Raptor 2 cannot achieve this makes Raptor 3 development crucial for V2s inaugural Mission if all goes smoothly s33 will soon head back to Massie for a static fire test once that f is complete it'll be ready to pair with a booster for integration testing and now the question remains which booster will fly alongside s33 b14 a V1 booster completed cryogenic testing in early October and only needs static fire testing before it's ready for integration alternatively B15 seemingly stacked in July alongside s33 could be a match B15 remains behind closed doors in mega Bay 1 with no visible signs of testing yet so what are your thoughts we be for 14 with its Advanced progress but older version take the flights or will B15 unpredictable but aligned with V2 be the choice let's speculate in the comments spacex's Choice regarding the booster for s33 will be critical as it impacts the timing of flight 7 if they opt for b14 there's a higher chance flight 7 could be launched by the end of this year however if they go with B15 with its slower development the timeline becomes less certain the mission profile of flight 7 will also play a role Elon Musk mentioned that SpaceX aims to catch the ship next year if they intend for flight 7 to attempt this catch the mission may shift to next year however if SpaceX wants the launch to happen this year the first V2 prototype will likely still land in the ocean personally I'd prefer to see the Prototype land more conservatively in the ocean rather than attempting an immediate catch with five Starship flights this year am I being overly optimistic what do you think let me know your thoughts in the comments section down below regardless one thing is certain V2 will take flights in flight 7 type F7 V2 in the comments to mark this exciting Milestone and don't forget to like share and subscribe to stay up toate with spacex's journey now on to NASA's recent update regarding the health of the crew eight astronauts NASA has provided limited information about the recent hospitalization of a crew8 astronaut following the crew's return to Earth after an extended Mission aboard the ISS on October 25th NASA revealed that an unidentified astronaut had experienced a health concern prompting medical staff to transport them to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital in Florida although all four crew members were evaluated at the hospital only three were cleared and returned to Johnson Space Center immediately while the affected astronaut stayed behind for further observation in an update on October 26th NASA confirmed that the astronaut had been released the following day and had rejoined their fellow crew members at Johnson Space Center they reported that the astronaut was in good health and ready to resume standard post-flight reconditioning protocols while NASA refrained from disclosing the astronaut's Identity or specific medical details to protect their privacy they assured the public that the crew members condition was stable and did not pose an ongoing concern this situation shines a light on the unique physical and medical challenges faced by astronauts after long duration space flights space flight impacts the human body in ways still not fully understood and each Mission provides new insights into how microgravity radiat exposure and prolonged confinement affect astronaut Health crew 8's Mission lasted an impressive 235 days well over the standard six-month duration for ISS rotations exposing them to extended periods of these stressors this extended Mission time may have been a factor in the astronaut's Health concern though no details on this have been confirmed by NASA at a press briefing crew a member Michael Barrett acknowledged the unexpected challenges that can arise in human space flight stating space flight is still something we don't fully understand we're finding things that we don't expect sometimes he indicated that this incident was an example of those unexpected factors and expressed NASA's commitment to respecting the astronaut's privacy while continuing to assess and understand the situation Barrett also hinted that NASA May reveal additional information about the incident after their internal review concludes the incident emphasizes the rigor of NASA's postflight protocols especially following such a lengthy Mission and highlights the agency's commitment to astronaut Health the postflight reconditioning period involves thorough monitoring and physical recovery sessions to help astronauts readjust to Earth's gravity address any health complications and ensure they are ready for future missions as the crew8 astronauts now undergo reconditioning the incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of health and safety advancements as Humanity aims for more ambitious missions to the Moon Mars and Beyond with each mission NASA gains valuable data on the impacts of space travel on the human body help helping to refine procedures and support astronaut Health on longer Journeys to more distant destinations the dedication of crew8 who contributed significantly to the ISS operations over their 235 days in orbit underscores the resilience and adaptability required for space exploration now turning to Europe for an update on the Aryan 6 specifically its second flight after the inaugural Aran 6 Mission this July Aran space has announced there won't be additional launches for the remainder of the year initially a follow-up launch was set for December but it has now been postponed to mid-February aiming for early in the month this second mission under Aran space's direction will involve deploying the CS3 reconnaissance satellite for the French military marking a significant step for the Aran 6 program as it begins fulfilling defense related objectives despite the challenges encountered during the first mission including an issue where the upper stages auxiliary power unit or Apu failed to activate due to an outof limit temperature reading Issa and Aryan space remain confident in the upcoming schedule Engineers identifi the problem as a software related oversight affecting the apu's sequence before the final deorbit burn an issue they have since resolved Aran space has clarified that these were not critical hardware issues reinforcing that the fix has been thoroughly tested and implemented the Aran 6 Hardware is expected to arrive soon at the launch site in French Guana where it will undergo preparation for the February flight alongside the Vegas's anticipated return to flight mission on December 3rd this Milestone underscores Aryan space's plans to build momentum in the coming months the company is setting high expectations aiming to conduct six Aran 6 launches next year a Target that if met would demonstrate both reliability and an increased Cadence in their launch schedule it's a bold move and only time will tell if Aran space can meet this ambitious launch rate for 2025 especially as they establish Aryan 6 as as a reliable option in the competitive Global launch market are you optimistic that Aryan space can reach this goal and carve out a more substantial presence in the industry next year a chopstick hug that's the remarkable Milestone SpaceX is gearing up to achieve soon with the Starship propelling the company toward full reusability none other than Elon Musk spacex's Visionary leader highlighted this exciting prospect following the conclusion of flight 6 so what it musk unveil about this groundbreaking Mission when can we expect the first ship catching attempt and why is it so critical moreover how is SpaceX preparing to make it a reality flight 6 marked another milestone in spacex's journey toward revolutionizing space flight with both the super heavy booster and Starship upper stage achieving controlled vertical Landings however the mission fell short of its loftier goals including a ship catch and surprisingly a superheavy catch attempt was absent despite these emissions the successful Landings are a critical step toward spacex's overarching objective developing a fully reusable rocket system capable of drastically reducing the cost of access to space Central to this ambitious effort is the goal of catching the Starship upper stage or ship using the mechazilla tower arms following the successful ocean Landing of ship 31 or S31 spacex's CEO Elon Musk took to social media to announce the mission's success successful ocean Landing of Starship we will do one more ocean Landing of the ship if that goes well then SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower this statement underscores spacex's methodical approach to testing and development prioritizing incremental progress toward achieving one of the most challenging aspects of starship's reusability musk also hinted that this highly anticipated Milestone could occur early next year adding excitement to the company's future plans the upcoming flight 7 will play a pivotal role in spacex's testing program this mission is expected to Showcase Starship V2 the next iteration of the spacecraft featuring significant upgrades to its heat shield and flaps rather than pushing for a catch attempt SpaceX plans to conduct another controlled ocean Landing this cautious strategy allows Engineers to validate the new hardware under the extreme conditions of atmospheric re-entry without introducing the added complexity of catching the ship such a step is essential for ensuring safety Gathering valuable data and refining the design before moving forward while the lack of a catch attempt might seem like a setback to some flight 7 still promises plenty of excitement if it launches before the year's end it'll be the fifth Starship flight of 2024 a remarkable achievement considering the program's relatively slow pace last year preparations for the mission are already well underway ship 33 has completed cryogenic testing and is now being outfitted with engines for static fire test tests meanwhile the booster for the mission likely booster 14 or booster 15 is progressing steadily toward Readiness on the regulatory front FAA approvals are expected to follow the streamlined processes established for earlier flights supported by ongoing reforms within the agency looking ahead flight 8 could be the mission that finally attempts to catch the ship scheduled as the second Starship V2 flight this Mission could take place as early as January or February next year assuming all goes well with flight 7 with Launchpad B operational and spacex's Raptor engine reliability steadily improving the prospect of witnessing the first ship catching attempt feels tantalizingly close just a few months away achieving this Milestone would Mark a turning point for the Starship program bringing SpaceX closer to realizing its vision of fully reusable space flight the potential of Starship goes far beyond catching its stages this groundbreaking vehicle is design designed to revolutionize space exploration and commercial space flights with applications ranging from deploying massive satellite constellations to transporting humans and cargo to the Moon Mars and Beyond its reusability and capacity to carry large payloads make it a game CH changer for reducing the costs and expanding the possibilities of space travel spacex's meticulous approach to development underscores the complexity and ambition of its goals each flight Builds on the lessons learned from its predecessors inching closer to redefining what Humanity can achieve in space while setbacks and cautious testing are part of the journey the rapid progress of the Starship program continues to Captivate space enthusiasts worldwide are you ready to witness the first ship catch share your predictions and join the conversation by saying let's do it in the comments don't forget to like share and subscribe for more updates as SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of innovation and space exploration the countdown to the next chapter in this groundbreaking Journey has already begun looking ahead the task of catching the ship holds immense significance for spacex's vision of full reusability achieving this Milestone will accelerate starship's launch Cadence and drastically lower costs as gwy Shotwell recently announced SpaceX aims to conduct up to 400 Starship flights over the next four years a goal heavily reliant on the success of this reusability initiative catching ship will also pave the way for groundbreaking missions such as the development of an orbital refilling system musk emphasized the importance of this Innovation stating a fully reusable rocket with orbital refilling is the critical breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary the Systems Construction is expected to begin as early as March next year and will play a crucial role in the emis program's mission to return humans to the Moon by 2026 beyond the moon spacex's Ambitions extend further musk's response to build Nelson's congratulatory tweet to the moon and Beyond underscores the larger Vision after mastering the ship catch SpaceX plans to build the Starship hls conduct an uncrewed mission to the Moon by early 2026 and launch a crude Mission shortly after musk also hopes to send an uncrewed Mission to Mars within 2 years and follow it with a human mission in the next four years all dependent on achieving full reusability however there's much work ahead to realize these goals the issues with the launch tower that led to the aborted ship catch attempt must be addressed necessitating significant upgrades to both the Tower and the orbital launch Mount catching super heavy successfully on the next flight will be a critical prerequisite for advancing to ship catching attempts in the immediate term SpaceX needs to analyze the data from flight 6 and apply it to flight 7's Hardware upgrades this flight will Mark the debut of the Starship V2 and careful adjustments will be essential particularly in overcoming challenges like developing a fully reusable Heat Shield which musk has identified as a major technical hurdle preparations for flight 7 are already underway the mission will likely include catching super heavy with the mechazilla arm for the second time while performing another controlled vertical Landing for the ship this success will set the stage for catching both stages in subsequent flights additionally the completion of Launchpad B expected by January will provide critical support for handling the increasing launch Cadence and catching operations the coming months particularly flight 7 will be pivotal in spacex's journey toward catching both stages of Starship let's stay tuned and see how SpaceX Rises to meet these challenges and now let's turn to an exciting update regarding Hera the payload launched aboard the Falcon 9 during last month's return to flight Mission Hera part of issa's ambitious asteroid study program has reached a significant Milestone on its journey to investigate NASA's asteroid impact experiment according to Issa Hera recently performed a series of crucial orbital adjustments on November 6th the spacecraft conducted a 13-minute burn following an earlier 1 hour and 40 minute burn on October 23rd Franchesco Castellini from issa's flight Dynamics Team remarked we are now analyzing Hera's new trajectory following the second burn it appears to have gone very well he also noted that a minor trajectory correction maneuver mere tens of centimeters is planned for November 21st to ensure Hera's Precision for its upcoming Mars flyby these adjustments have significantly boosted Hera's velocity the second burn added 20 m/s to its speed building on the 146 m/s from the first burn with a total velocity increase of 166 m/s Hera is now set to reach Mars by March of 2025 leveraging the planet's gravity to reach its Target the asteroid dios in 2026 diamos and its companion dioros hold particular scientific interest Doros was famously struck by NASA's dark mission in September of 2022 in a groundbreaking asteroid deflection experiment Hera will follow up by assessing the long-term impact of darts deflection on Doros providing critical data on asteroid redirection techniques This research is essential for planetary defense potentially offering solutions to protect Earth from hazardous asteroid impacts in the future akin to the event that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs adding to its accomplishments Hera has already captured and sent back its first images of Earth and the moon though these were thermal images and the celestial bodies appeared as small dots due to the vast distance the data is a an encouraging start for further exploration hara's mission is particularly notable as it was launched under challenging circumstances on October 7th during a period of regulatory delays for Falcon 9 thanks to spacex's expertise the mission succeeded and Hera is performing exceptionally well stay tuned for more updates on this fascinating Journey as Hera continues its path toward unlocking the secrets of redirection and deep space 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