SpaceX just Broke internet with Final Starship V2 Full Raptor Firing! S38 to Make history SOON…

It has finally happened. SpaceX has completed the very first test of its ship test campaign. This marks a major step forward and brings us closer to the long awaited flight 11. At the same time, after a recent and important discovery, new exploration efforts on Mars are also being pushed forward. Meanwhile, Japan is preparing to attempt a daring mission to land a spacecraft on a particularly challenging asteroid. Let us explore all of this together on today's episode of Great SpaceX. SpaceX has accelerated its preparations following the success of flight 10, shifting its focus toward the highly anticipated flight 11. While momentum has been strong, the path has not been entirely smooth. Two consecutive scrubbed tests with ship 38 on September 18th and the 19th reminded everyone that progress in rocketry often involves overcoming technical setbacks. Yet, the team's relentless work ethic quickly brought operations back on track with new testing dates confirmed for the 22nd and the 23rd. Two days on the schedule suggested that SpaceX was gearing up for a full engine test campaign. As planned, the next attempt moved forward without delay. The quick disconnect system was retracted, clearing space for the chopsticks to position themselves while the detonation suppression system was also activated. Soon afterward, heavy venting engulfed both the OOLM and the nearby tank farm, indicating that fuel loading had begun. Frost lines formed on the ship. A clear visual cue that propellants were flowing. This stage was particularly suspenseful, as previous attempts had ended at precisely this moment. Fortunately, this time the process advanced without interruption. Earlier issues such as difficulties with the QD plate or fuel lines appeared to have been resolved. With fueling complete, the water cooled steel plate beneath the pad came to life, spraying torrens of water to shield infrastructure from extreme heat and pressure. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for, ignition. A seale raptor engine thundered to life, generating an extraordinary 230 tons of thrust. Smoke and dust filled the area as Starship's power once again shook the ground at Starbase. The burn lasted its full planned duration with performance remaining stable throughout. No anomalies were reported after the test, signaling a successful run. This static fire was a critical milestone designed to verify thrust levels, system endurance, and the overall flexibility of the ship. SpaceX soon confirmed the achievement with the statement, "Starship completes a full duration static fire ahead of the 11th flight test." With that confirmation, SpaceX moved one step closer to stacking ship 38 a top Superheavy booster 15 for the 11th flight. If the test data continues to look promising, Starship will be transported back to the production site in the coming days for system checks and installations. Once completed, the spacecraft will return to the launch site for integration with its booster. When liftoff finally comes, Starship will unleash roughly 76 megs of thrust, securing its title as the most powerful rocket ever flown. Standing at 121 m tall, this vehicle represents a new era in launch capability. Once it has passed all required testing and certifications, NASA intends to use it for both crude and cargo missions to the moon and possibly even for the first voyages to Mars. Progress on the booster has also been advancing rapidly. On the afternoon of the 20th, B-15's hotstaging ring was transported from the Star Factory to Mega Bay 1. Later that evening, the ring was lifted into place and within hours the crane was lowered without it, confirming that installation had been completed successfully. This marked another key step forward. What remains uncertain is whether the FTS has already been fitted. If not, this step is expected to occur quickly in the coming hours or days. The condition of B-15 is especially significant as it is a reused stage. Many of its engines previously flew on flight 8, which makes this an important test of SpaceX's ability to reuse its largest hardware. Ensuring the booster is in top condition will be crucial since its success is tied directly to the success of flight 11. Once all installations and verifications are completed, B-15 will be ready to move. Though the exact timing will depend on the dismantling of the ship's test stand and refurbishment of the launchpad. Current estimates suggest a roll out later this month. As for S38, its timeline appears less certain. It may be transported by late this month or early next month, depending on the pace of final preparations. Given this schedule, breaking the turnaround record of 37 days set between flight 5 and six seems unlikely. Still, records are secondary to reliability, and SpaceX has made it clear that ensuring success will always take priority over speed. With each step, SpaceX continues to demonstrate its ability to overcome obstacles and maintain steady progress. Flight 11 is shaping up to be another critical milestone, one that will test both the vehicle's systems and the company's growing ability to reuse its most powerful hardware. Leave a comment saying keep progressing down below to show your support for SpaceX during this important time. And remember to like the video and subscribe to the channel so you can stay up to date on SpaceX's remarkable journey into the future of space exploration. At the same time, NASA's work on Mars has captured global attention with a discovery that could reshape our understanding of the red planet's past. Scientists recently revealed that a rock sample collected by the Perseverance rover points to potential signs of ancient life. This announcement has fueled new momentum in ongoing research and set the stage for expanded exploration. Building on this discovery, a new study suggests that possible signs of life may extend beyond a single site, reaching further into the Jezero crater region. Over the past three years, Perseverance has meticulously gathered data using its advanced instruments, including an X-ray device known as Pixel. Researchers then applied a newly developed algorithm called Mist, which allowed them to identify 24 distinct minerals and piece together a minological archive of Jezero's geological history. The findings reveal a crater floor shaped by both volcanic origins and long episodes of interaction with water. Although the study did not directly analyze the Sapphire Canyon sample, it provided broader evidence that Jezro underwent multiple phases of water activity. Each of these episodes created conditions that could have supported life. Study lead author Eleanor Morland of Rice University summarized the implications in a statement explaining that there were several periods in Mars' history when volcanic rocks within the crater came into contact with liquid water. Each of these occasions potentially produced environments suitable for life. This repeated pattern of water rock interaction highlights Jezero as one of the most promising regions on Mars to search for bio signatures. To ensure accuracy, the research team carried out extensive laboratory simulations with mineral samples. They discovered that the oldest rocks on the crater floor bore evidence of exposure to hot acidic fluids. Minerals such as greenolyte, hingerite, and fereral aluminino saladonite recorded these conditions. Scientists believe this environment would have been challenging for life since high temperatures and low pH can damage biological structures. Yet, as study co-author Kirstston Seabbeck noted, Earth hosts thriving life forms even in extreme places like Yellowstone's acidic pools. That fact means such conditions, while harsh, do not entirely rule out the possibility of habitability. Subsequent stages of water activity left behind different minerals, including minotite and clinylite. These formed in cooler, more neutral waters, which would have been far friendlier to microbial life. Most intriguingly, the team identified widespread deposits of sepulite, a mineral known to form in low temperature alkaline waters that are considered highly favorable for life on Earth. The presence of sepulite AC across all regions Perseverance has explored points to a broad period of habitable conditions in Jezero's past. As Morland explained, the mineral record tells a clear story of environmental transformation. Mars shifted from hot and acidic waters to more neutral and alkaline ones over time. A progression that scientists view as increasingly supportive of life. Alongside these alteration minerals, the study also confirmed volcanic building blocks such as pyroine, feltspar, and olivine. These findings reinforce the prevailing theory that Jezero's floor was created by ancient lava flows which were later reshaped by water activity. Taken together, this growing body of evidence strengthens the case for life having once existed on Mars. The presence of minerals associated with multiple types of watery environments suggests that the planet hosted not just isolated episodes, but prolonged opportunities for habitability. However, while Perseverance has provided a wealth of insights, the ultimate confirmation of life requires returning samples to Earth for detailed laboratory analysis. This is where challenges remain. NASA has yet to finalize a workable plan for bringing Martian samples home, even as China pushes forward with ambitious timelines for its own Mars missions. Beyond the immediate question of sample return, the global scientific community is also preparing for the longerterm goal of sending both uncrrewed and eventually crude missions to the planet. At present, SpaceX's Starship remains at the forefront of those efforts with its development closely tied to future interplanetary exploration. For now, the discoveries in Jezro Crater serve as powerful motivation. They not only deepen our understanding of Mars, but also strengthen the argument for accelerating humanity's push toward the red planet. The more we learn, the clearer it becomes that the incentives for exploration are growing stronger than ever. Meanwhile, Japan is once again testing the limits of asteroid exploration through its Hayabusa 2 mission, though the next phase is proving far more complex than expected. After making history by visiting the asteroid Ryugu and returning samples to Earth in 2020, the spacecraft is now on course to rendevous with asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031. Yet, recent observations revealed that the target is drastically different from earlier predictions, presenting new obstacles for Japan's bold plan. Originally, KY26 was thought to measure about 98 ft or 30 m across with a rotation period of 10 minutes. small and fast, but still within a manageable range for spacecraft operations. Updated data from telescopes worldwide, including the European Southern Observatory's very large telescope in Chile, along with radar studies, corrected these assumptions. KY26 is only about 36 ft or 11 m wide, small enough to fit inside a telescope dome, and rotates twice as quickly as first estimated, completing a spin in just 5 minutes. Astronomer Tony Santana Ross, who led the study, explained, "We found that the reality of the object is completely different from what it was previously described as." He emphasized that no mission has ever attempted to visit such a tiny asteroid, making Hayabusa 2's challenge both unprecedented and scientifically valuable. Early indications suggest KY26 may be solid rock rather than a loose rubble pile, which could simplify surface operations, but this will remain uncertain until the spacecraft arrives. Olivia Hano of the European Southern Observatory noted that while the smaller size and faster spin complicate operations, they also make the mission more exciting. The science potential is immense, especially considering that no one has directly studied such a small asteroid inside 2. Hayabusa 2's earlier triumph with Ryugu, a 2,953 ft wide asteroid, already provided groundbreaking insights into the origins of the solar system and the building blocks of life. But KY26 presents a completely new scale of difficulty. Nearly 100 times smaller than Ryugu and spinning far more rapidly. Navigating, landing, and anchoring to such a body will require innovative solutions from mission engineers. The effort carries practical significance beyond pure science. Objects only slightly larger than KY26, such as the one that exploded over Chelabinsk, Russia in 2013, can cause major damage on Earth. Studying KY26's structure and behavior could help refine planetary defense strategies, providing critical knowledge for protecting Earth from future impacts. Santana Ross also stressed the broader potential as techniques developed in this mission could support future asteroid mining or exploration ventures. For Japan and the global space community, KY26 represents both a daunting obstacle and a remarkable opportunity. Never before has a spacecraft attempted to land on such a tiny fast spinning asteroid. Success would set a new milestone, proving humanity's ability to reach and interact with even the smallest celestial bodies. The years ahead will test the ingenuity and perseverance of the Hayabusa 2 team. Navigational precision, spacecraft stability, and surface interaction all pose major risks. Yet overcoming these hurdles could unlock an entirely new frontier in asteroid science and planetary defense. For now, the world watches as Japan prepares for one of the most daring and scientifically rich missions in space exploration. The challenge is great, but so too is the promise of discovery. This has been Kevin with Great SpaceX. Don't forget to like the video and subscribe if you haven't already to stay up to date with yours truly on the latest milestones in SpaceX's journey. Thank you so much for watching and always remember curiosity, imagination and inspiration will follow you so long as you keep looking up.