SpaceX just Revealed New STRANGE Upgrades on Starship Nosecone! S40 Static Fire Test Abort...Why

Which piece of news were you most excited about? The first static fire test attempt for S-40 didn't happen, so what went wrong? And take a look at this, a new nose cone has appeared inside Starfactory. Can you guess what upgrade it might contain? Meanwhile in Florida, the chopsticks for the SLC-37 launch tower has begun moving, and NASA is considering spending billions of dollars to upgrade Florida's launch infrastructure. Is that investment really worth it? Let's break down each story on today's episode of Great SpaceX, and be sure to let me know which one interests you the most. The recent movement of S-40 has finally brought Starbase back to life after days of relative silence, and naturally, attention quickly turned to the long-awaited static fire test. There was no delay in getting started. After arriving at Massey's on the 24th, testing preparations began almost immediately as venting activity intensified at the tank farm, signaling the start of propellant loading. Frost soon formed on the vehicle with the liquid oxygen tank appearing fully loaded while the liquid methane tank remained only partially filled. Everything seemed set for a powerful engine firing, but that never happened. Observers reported what appeared to be a brief ignition attempt, visible as a flash inside the engine section. However, no sustained firing followed. Instead, detanking operations began shortly afterward, with propellant drained from the vehicle as testing came to an end. That leaves two likely explanations. The first is that the test was aborted. Something may have gone wrong during the countdown, forcing SpaceX to halt the firing before all six Raptor engines could ignite. Historically, static fire aborts are often linked to engine or propellant system issues, including leaks, flow irregularities, sensor discrepancies, or ignition system anomalies. If that was the case, it's not necessarily bad news. Finding and fixing a problem during ground testing is far better than discovering it during Flight 13 when mission success is on the line. The second possibility is that a full static fire was never planned. SpaceX may have been conducting another cryogenic proof test to verify the integrity of the vehicle's structure, tanks, plumbing, and engine systems under flight-like conditions. In that scenario, the brief flash may have been nothing more than an igniter test, rather than the start of a full engine firing. These verification tests remain especially important following the S-36 incident. After major anomalies, SpaceX has often adopted a more cautious approach, gradually increasing test complexity before moving on to full-duration engine firings. If that's the case, the next major test could happen very soon, possibly even before this video reaches you. So, which explanation do you think is correct? Was this an aborted static fire, or was it simply a planned cryogenic test from the start? Despite the lack of a full engine firing, progress still appears to be moving in the right direction. S-40 is expected to complete its static fire campaign this week before returning to the production site for final preparations. That timeline still supports the possibility of a July launch for Flight 13. Of course, the schedule also depends on Booster 20, which remains inside Mega Bay, undergoing inspections and engine installation following its cryogenic test earlier this month. But before any launch can happen, S-40 must successfully complete its static fire campaign, making it one of the most important Starship stories of the month. Now, after S-40, let's head over to Starfactory, where a fascinating new piece of hardware has appeared. Recent images reveal a newly built nose cone inside the facility, and while its bare stainless steel framework and lack of heat shield tiles suggest it was only recently completed, one unusual feature immediately stands out. Photos captured on the 19th showed a large reinforced opening cut into the nose cone, resembling access points commonly seen on Starship's tank sections. Beneath it sat a highly reflective metallic plate, while several circular and square openings were visible above. Then, on June 23rd, the hardware became even more intriguing. SpaceX added what appears to be a pipe-like structure extending from the opening, ending in a ring lined with numerous small holes that could serve as some type of connection interface. At the same time, the reflective plate disappeared, exposing six circular openings hidden beneath. The location of these modifications is particularly interesting as they sit in the upper portion of the nose cone near the lower region of the liquid oxygen header tank. SpaceX has not commented on the hardware, so all interpretations remain speculative. One possibility is that this nose cone belongs to a future Starship tanker If so, the hardware may not be the fuel transfer interface itself but could instead be a docking mechanism that provides a stronger connection between two Starships during propellant transfer. Another possibility is that it belongs to the human landing system variant. If that's the case, the hardware could serve as a docking interface for Orion during future Artemis missions since many HLS concepts place the docking port near the top of the vehicle. An even more intriguing theory is that it could be related to HLS maneuvering thrusters. You see, unlike standard Starships, the Lunar Lander requires specialized thrusters for landing, ascent, and attitude control during mission operations. There's another clue as well. The area surrounding these modifications features markings that differ from those seen on other Starship variants, and it roughly matches the location where windows are often depicted on HLS concept artwork. That said, this is probably not the operational Lunar Lander that will eventually carry astronauts to the moon. If a crewed HLS vehicle were only now entering production, the timing would be unusually late. Especially since previously leaked images appear to show more advanced HLS hardware already under development. If the nosecone is tied to the HLS program, it may instead belong to a test article or demonstration vehicle intended to support docking demonstrations for Artemis III. Whatever the answer, this nosecone appears destined for a highly specialized Starship variant rather than a standard cargo or satellite deployment vehicle. The timing is also notable. If development continues at its current pace, the vehicle could be completed and stacked before the end of the year. That aligns well with expected orbital refueling demonstrations in late 2026 or early 2027, as well as the current Artemis III schedule. So what do you think this upgrade actually is? A future tanker docking system? An HLS docking port? A maneuvering thruster installation? Or something entirely different? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section down below. Now, after visiting both Massey's and Starfactory, let's travel over to Florida, where SpaceX has also taken another major step forward. In addition to the ongoing work at LC-39A, progress is accelerating at SLC-37, where SpaceX has fully entered the construction phase after demolishing the previous infrastructure and clearing the site last year. Recent reports suggest tower stacking may already be underway, marking the first major stage of launch tower construction if confirmed. As tower assembly progresses, attention will eventually shift to other major milestones, including flame trench excavation and construction of the orbital launch mount beneath the tower. Even before those phases begin, however, SpaceX has already taken another significant step forward. On the 24th, one of the giant tower arms were transported to SLC-37, passing NASA facilities and LC-39A before reaching its destination. With the first arm now on site, it would not be surprising to see the second arm and eventually the massive Chopsticks carriage follow in the near future. Of course, delivery does not mean immediate installation. The tower itself still appears incomplete, and the Chopsticks system cannot be installed until tower stacking is finished. In many ways, Starship is moving beyond the era of two towers and into a new phase, where Florida stands ready to become a major Starship hub alongside Starbase. The question is, are you ready for it? And while we're in Florida, let's discuss a major NASA proposal that could shape the future of American launch operations. NASA's return-to-the-moon ambitions face a challenge that receives far less attention than rockets or spacecraft. Launch infrastructure is rapidly becoming a major bottleneck. According to a new report from NASA's Office of Inspector General, launch facilities at Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility are nearing their operational limits as demand surges from NASA and commercial providers such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA. The growth has been dramatic, with NASA-supported launches in Florida rising from 31 in 2020 to 109 in 2025, while Wallops increased from just 3 to 17 over the same period. By 2030, NASA expects activity across these facilities to increase by roughly 150%. The challenge extends far beyond launch pads. Much of the supporting infrastructure dates back to the Apollo era, including hundreds of kilometers of roads, pipelines, and power systems that were never designed for today's launch tempo. Pressure on the system is expected to intensify as next-generation vehicles enter service. SpaceX plans to operate both LC-39A and eventually SLC-37 for Starship missions, with a long-term goal of up to 120 launches per year from Florida. The Artemis program adds another layer of complexity, as each lunar mission could require at least 15 Starship tanker launches to support orbital refueling. Blue Origin faces similar demands with New Glenn and Blue Moon and has already warned that a single launch complex may not be enough to support future operations. The report also highlights a critical issue. Many key resources are shared among multiple operators. For example, existing nitrogen infrastructure cannot simultaneously support both an SLS launch and a New Glenn launch, creating the potential for delays lasting weeks or even months. To address these concerns, the OIG recommends major upgrades to transportation networks, electrical systems, and industrial gas infrastructure, along with new funding models that would allow commercial operators to contribute more directly to expanding shared facilities. NASA estimates those upgrades could require at least $1 billion U.S. dollars. With budgets already under pressure and multiple programs competing for funding, the agency faces a difficult question. Is investing another billion dollars in infrastructure worth it? The question is no longer whether launch demand will continue to grow. It's now whether the infrastructure can keep pace. And that brings us to the end of today's episode. Thank you so much for tuning in. As always, this has been Kevin from GreatSpaceX. And until next time, keep looking up.