---
title: 'SpaceX Reveals First Starship V3 Launch Schedule to Make History'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=IFhHsBYAl50'
video_id: 'IFhHsBYAl50'
date: 2026-08-10
duration_sec: 3543
---

# SpaceX Reveals First Starship V3 Launch Schedule to Make History

> Source: [SpaceX Reveals First Starship V3 Launch Schedule to Make History](https://youtube.com/watch?v=IFhHsBYAl50)

## Summary

This video covers the latest developments in SpaceX's Starship program, including the successful wet dress rehearsal for the first V3 flight, the upcoming launch schedule, and the challenges of orbital refueling for lunar missions. It also discusses China's Tianzhou 10 cargo mission, NASA's Psyche flyby, and the delays in Axiom's spacesuit development, highlighting the competitive landscape of space exploration.

### Key Points

- **Starship V3 Wet Dress Rehearsal** [00:09] — SpaceX completed a full wet dress rehearsal for the first Starship V3 flight, loading over 5,000 metric tons of propellant in 35 minutes, a record for the program.
- **Propellant Loading Achievement** [01:31] — The loading process peaked at 10:20 a.m., lasting only 35 minutes, matching the previous record despite the larger vehicle, showcasing significant efficiency gains.
- **Additional Tests During Rehearsal** [02:35] — During the fuel loading, SpaceX tested the ship's flaps and the deluge system, holding the fuel for about 20 minutes to verify stability in cold conditions.
- **Post-Test De-stacking and Launch Prep** [03:14] — After the test, S39 was de-stacked from B19, and SpaceX announced a launch target of May 19th, with backup dates extending to the 28th, after initially considering the 15th.
- **China's Tianzhou 10 Cargo Mission** [05:42] — China launched Tianzhou 10 on a Long March 7 rocket, carrying 7 tons of supplies to the Tiangong space station, including scientific experiments and the last of three new spacesuits.
- **CRS-34 Mission to ISS** [08:14] — SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft is set for its 34th ISS resupply mission, with launch conditions only 35% favorable initially, later postponed to May 13th due to weather.
- **Space Station Competition** [10:56] — The rivalry between Tiangong and the ISS represents different models: international cooperation vs. independent ecosystem, with the ISS nearing decommission and Tiangong expanding.
- **Psyche Mars Flyby** [12:04] — NASA's Psyche spacecraft will pass within 2,800 miles of Mars on May 15th for a gravity assist, reaching 12,333 mph en route to asteroid 16 Psyche.
- **Starship Refueling for Lunar Missions** [23:01] — NASA's revised plan moves crew transfers to Earth orbit, bypassing the NRHO, saving 400-450 tons of fuel and reducing tanker flights from 16-20 to 10-20, with V4 tankers potentially cutting that to 5-6.
- **S41 and Ship Catching** [34:41] — S41 is being prepared for the first ship-catching attempt on Flight 14, requiring two perfect soft ocean landings first, with upgrades like reinforced catching pins and enhanced heat shielding.
- **Axiom Spacesuit Delays** [46:27] — NASA's OIG report reveals Axiom's next-gen suits are behind schedule, potentially delaying Artemis and ISS demonstrations to 2031, prompting consideration of SpaceX's proven EVA suit as an alternative.

### Conclusion

The video underscores SpaceX's rapid progress with Starship V3, the strategic shift in lunar refueling, and the competitive pressure from China, while highlighting the critical bottleneck in spacesuit development that could impact NASA's timeline.

## Transcript

by finishing major preparations for the first ever flight of Starship V3. We'll also check on China's intergalactic version of a high-speed grocery run and SpaceX's support of the ISS as NASA manages the ultimate form of property
management. Which will work better? After the shiny new S39 was brought to the pad to stack onto B19 like the world's most expensive game of Tetris, the next milestone to be considered was the full wet dress rehearsal. However, a
problem with the venting tube on the tower caused the May 9th attempt to be scrubbed, but the issue was quickly fixed on the 10th. An opportunity opened up on the 11th. At the scheduled test time, the road was closed and the
transport stands left the launch site like they were clearing the room for a dramatic entrance. Chopsticks opened and rose to the launch position, which is easily the most intimidating piece of cutlery ever
invented by human hands. That is when the test began and boy was it a show. Strong venting indicated the amount of loaded fuel was more than in any previous test, which is basically the rocket version of a size matters flex.
The loading process seemed to start at 9:45 a.m. evidenced by the appearance of frost. The process peaked around 10:20 a.m. meaning the loading process lasted only 35 minutes, which is the same as the previous record and honestly
impressive given how much more work was involved this time. Things were further highlighted when SpaceX released an update that looked like it was directed by someone who really loves lens flares and high definition drama. Images from
special footage set up by the company continued to show the impressive results of the test and the internet collectively lost its mind. In the said, "Launch rehearsal complete during a flight-like countdown, more than 5,000
metric tons, or 11-plus million pounds of propellant, were loaded on the fully stacked Starship and Super Heavy V3 vehicles for the first time. Yeah, thousands of tons, or millions of pounds of fuel, were loaded in just 35 minutes
across both stages, which is an incredibly insane capability that makes my car's refueling speed look like a joke. Showing a significant advancement for SpaceX in the pre-flight countdown phase, this clearly increases efficiency
and reduces flight risk, which is great, because I prefer my rockets to stay in one piece until they're not supposed to. Returning to the test during the fuel loading process, other tests were also conducted, including testing the ship's
flaps and the deluge system, which is essentially the world's most powerful bidet. When the fuel reached its peak, it was held for approximately 20 minutes to make sure everything was vibing correctly in the cold. At 10:40 a.m.,
the detanking process began as fuel was drained from the tanks, evidenced by the gradual disappearance of the frost, which is a very satisfying thing to watch in time lapse. A few hours later, the chopsticks returned to their
original positions to hold the ship like a protective parent. Thus, the test was completed successfully, and no further testing will be needed as the scheduled shutdowns on the 12th and 13th have been revoked, which is the space equivalent
getting to go outside to play. Therefore, it's time to talk about the final preparations and what will actually happen next. According to the transport stand has returned near the
pad, which is the universal sign for something is about to move. This indicates that S39 will definitely be de-stacked from D19. The question is whether it will move or not, and the suspense is living rent-free in my head.
Currently, there are two possibilities for how this drama unfolds. One is that production site for checks, which is something most of us don't want because we're impatient, and the two-way movement along the check time would
likely cause the current launch window to be missed. The second possibility is at the pad because why go home when you're already at the party? The simple lift is just for convenience during checks at each stage and S79 may already
have all the necessary installations such as payloads and the FTS system, so rolling back becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, at the time of this video being uploaded, no road closure schedule for move movement had been announced,
which is a good sign for those of us who hate waiting. More importantly, not rolling would ensure the feasibility of the launch schedule, which is what we all want. SpaceX has several days before the earliest possible launch on the
15th, which is more than enough time for them to conduct thorough checks of the rocket and launchpad. Therefore, I believe the second possibility will occur and there will be no roll. The entire vehicle will remain at the pad
until launch because they are ready to send it. Therefore, it's time to count down to the flight we've been waiting for for months. It's closer than ever and the hype is real. Are you ready? Can we go? Respond go now in the comments to
Then don't forget to like the video and subscribe to our channel to continue following SpaceX's development journey because we are all in this together, lot to us and I'm not just saying that because I like numbers. We've surpassed
199,960 subscribers, meaning we're just a few dozen more to reach 200K, which is a huge milestone for this community. I hope those who watch and like our videos but haven't subscribed yet will do so
right now. A simple click of a button can give us great motivation to continue our journey with you and SpaceX, while you will also be among the first to receive updates on SpaceX and aerospace as a whole. Join us now and let's hit
that goal together. Meanwhile, let's move on to updates on the cargo mission to Tiangong because SpaceX isn't the only one crushing it in orbit. Specifically, China just launched a cargo spacecraft carrying 7 tons of
supplies to the Tiangong space station, which is a lot of space snacks and science gear. The mission named Tianzhou 10 was launched by a Long March 7 rocket from the Wenchang space launch site on Hainan Island at 8:14 p.m. Eastern on
the 10th. 5 hours later, Tianzhou 10 docked with Tiangong, the T-shaped three-module space station that China finished assembling in low Earth orbit in late 2022. As its name suggests, Tianzhou 10 is the 10th Tianzhou
spacecraft to take flight. Those freighters, whose name translates to celestial vessel, are disposable, burning up in Earth's atmosphere when bit tragic, but very efficient. The
that have a total weight of about 7 tons, according to the state-run Chinese broadcaster CCTV. The cargo haul includes about 620 lb of scientific experiments in fluid physics and other fields, along with 1,540 lb of
propellant and the last of three new space walking spacesuits. The first two of those suits were delivered on the ninth Tianzhou cargo flight, which lifted off last July and departed Tiangong on Wednesday to make room for
the new arrival. In general, China is still maintaining fairly stable space station supplies station supplies with the current station configuration. The current Tiangong was built in April of 2021 when this country launched the core
module known as Tianhe, which translates to harmony of the heavens. The two other modules, Wentian and Mengtian, launched in 2022 to complete the set. Tiangong generally supports three astronauts at a time, and the trio currently living
aboard the orbiting lab are Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongjiang, who arrived on the 31st of October. But the space station will soon expand, doubling to six modules in the coming years to support more astronauts and research.
station's fourth module, scheduled to launch later this year or early next year. This will put even greater pressure on the cargo supply system, and China will certainly need to expand, allowing vehicles from private companies
station's resupply is likely the next step. So, let's see what progress China will make as they build their own orbital empire. Speaking of supporting the space station, SpaceX will also soon have a mission to the International
Space Station. In a recent update, the company released images of the Dragon cargo spacecraft stacked on a Falcon 9, which is a sight that never gets old. Both are currently at launch pad SLC-40 in Florida, just waiting for the green
launch anytime soon, as SpaceX says they conditions are currently only 35% favorable for launch. This is the 34th cargo mission to the ISS, hence it's called CRS-34.
SpaceX continues to demonstrate high reliability in its effort to support the ISS, which is crucial since NASA is still very much in the game of keeping that station running. Recently, the agency decided to maintain
a 6-month cycle for each mission after considering extending the duration of each mission. Therefore, earlier this month, NASA announced that Crew 13 would launch in September instead of November. Crew 13 also had a fully identified
astronaut crew, including NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Jessica Watkins, and Luke Delaney, along with Joshua Kutryk and Sergey Teteryatnikov. I don't know if I read that right. I'm so sorry. NASA did not disclose
details about its decision to move up the Crew 13 launch, but it was probably part of efforts to maximize the use of the ISS before its scheduled retirement. NASA started discussing plans last year to extend missions from six to eight
flying one fewer mission every two years. When Crew 11 launched in August of 2025, NASA had not yet committed to an 8-month stay. Therefore, before its February launch, Crew 12 was expected to spend 8 months in space, but according
to the current calendar, it only has 7 months left. Bill Spetch, the NASA ISS said, "As administrator Aschbacher has talked about, we're trying to get the most out of station as we can. And so, we were able to move up that next
mission. We plan to stay on about that 6-month cadence as we go forward. It schedule is quite busy, so it might It may not be exactly 6 months in between each mission." Spetch added. Therefore, the plan to extend the duration of each
mission will likely be implemented in subsequent missions in the coming years. Roscosmos, which also had exchange crews on Soyuz spacecraft every 6 months, 2024. Overall, regardless of any changes, NASA
and the ISS will likely still rely heavily on Dragon for both personnel and cargo resupply. This is especially important given that Starliner is unlikely to launch at least this year while the debut date of Dream Chaser
remains uncertain. That role will become even more significant as commercial stations are built and put into operation. Looking further ahead, China's and the US's space station ventures represent a competition between
Tiangong and the ISS. The rivalry is no longer simply a technological story, but different directions in space development. The ISS represents a decades-long model of international cooperation, while Tiangong demonstrates
China's ambition to build an independent ecosystem. As the ISS nears its decommissioning, Tiangong enters a period of expansion reflecting the reality that the modern space race is about lasting influence. Please tell me
you haven't booked your trip to Starbase yet. Many people probably have planned to do so, fueled by the kind of optimism I usually reserve for thinking I will actually use my gym membership this month. But, hold on just a second.
Perhaps we should wait a little longer as many unexpected developments have occurred and will continue to occur prompting you to readjust your schedule like me trying to find a weekend where none of my friends have a destination
Similarly, the DRS 34 mission has also been postponed proving that even multi-million dollar space missions have I can't even days when the weather doesn't cooperate. Meanwhile, NASA's Psyche spacecraft is
about to fly by Mars, which is basically the celestial equivalent of a high-speed the celestial equivalent of a high-speed drive-by to use someone's Wi-Fi. We just witnessed an incredible and impressive full wet dress rehearsal as a highlight
of Starship's robust testing campaign and it was honestly more satisfying to watch than a perfectly organized spreadsheet. Following the test, S39 was de-stacked from B19 and we all collectively expected some simple pad
checks and a smooth countdown to launch on May 15th. But, surprisingly there were some major changes that came out of left field much like an unexpected bill you signed up for three years ago. Firstly, regarding the launch date,
after much anticipation SpaceX finally released a spicy update on X. Starship's generation Starship and Super Heavy Vehicles powered by the next evolution of the Raptor engine and launching from a newly designed pad at Starbase. The
launch is targeted as early as Tuesday, May 19th. In the web update, they further indicated a launch time of 5:30 p.m. Central, which is perfectly timed for those of us who want to ignore our evening chores. Additionally, the launch
mentioned in the update, but we'll discuss that in a later episode because my brain can only handle so much technical brilliance all at once. Musk also emphasized the timeline with a classic succinct tweet, Starship launch
next week. In fact, the launch date has been revealed slightly earlier in an update related to the flight hazard warning, which is the adult version of a do not enter sign on a bedroom door. It showed that the launch date had been
postponed on the 19th with backup dates extending from the 20th to the 22nd and the 26th to the 28th. The update also included a map clearly outlining the hazardous operation area with the previously published new route, which
looks like a very intense version of a Google Maps detour. That means the launch dates from the 15th to the 18th are now omitted and my most recent prediction was wrong, which hurts my pride almost as much as seeing my screen
time report on a Monday morning. The launch schedule will be delayed by at least 4 days. As I said, it's not too long of a wait, but it will still require you to rearrange your schedule, especially since this event will fall in
the middle of the week. That may be quite inconvenient for many people who have things like jobs and responsibilities to attend to, which personally attacked at this point. Of course, May 19th will still only be the
primary launch date and we all know how primary dates like to play hard to get. out until the end of the month, so you can still make predictions about the launch date, even though SpaceX provided an official update. The question we're
all asking is why the delay? So, it's possible that SpaceX just needs more which is the aerospace version of measure twice, cut once. The week from the test completion until May 19th will allow SpaceX to roll the
hardware, which is a logistical ballet involving giant machines and nerves of steel. Initially, I thought the roll wouldn't happen, but the reality once again shattered my predictions much like my smartphone when I dropped it face
The schedule for the roll was announced and on the morning of the 12th, S39 moved back to Megabay 2 to get some TLC. As for B19, that same afternoon it was lifted away from the pad with the kind of precision that makes me jealous.
Immediately afterward, it was rolled back to Megabay 1. With these movements, with the support of the high-tech systems inside the bays. These checks to ensure we don't have any mid-air whoopsies. First will be the engines and
fuel tank, which are the parts directly involved in the latest testing effort and are essentially the heart and lungs of the beast. They must ensure stability to ensure a successful launch because nobody wants a rocket that decides to
take an unscheduled break halfway to orbit. Parts not directly involved in shield on the ship, the navigation systems, and the hot staging on the checks will ensure that the systems will function smoothly just as they did
during the rehearsals. Besides the vehicle, this checking time is also dedicated to the launch pad, which takes a literal beating every time those testing campaign, problems appeared in
many locations, which is expected when you're playing with fire on this scale. in the flame trench pipe, the venting tube on the tower, and even debris flying out from the pad damaging the gas generator. The launch pad needs to be
closely monitored for the remainder of the mission to ensure success in those crucial first first few seconds of flight. After the checks are finished, the final installations will proceed. These include the payload on the ship
and the FTS, or flight termination system, on both stages, which is the self-destruct button we hope never gets pushed. So, what happens next? Will both stages return to the pad for launch immediately? Currently, it's quite
keep us on our toes more than a fitness instructor. Along with the movements, a temporary flight restriction notice was issued for operations from the 12th to the 15th indicating coverage of Starbase including the launch site. Such coverage
could signal a major test such as a static fire, which is always a crowd-pleaser. And if it's the Massey's area, it can only be for the ship, which is the star of the show. At this point, there are two possibilities, either for
there are two possibilities, either for S40 or S39. If it's S40, everything is normal as it follows the usual procedure after the ship completed its cryogenic testing earlier this month. But, if it's for S39, that would be a genuine
surprise, like finding an extra chicken nugget in your 10-piece box. Because S39 the pad for the wet dress rehearsal, another test would be an extra layer of caution. Of course, the chances of testing the S39 again are quite low
because testing and moving it would take a lot of time. SpaceX has already scheduled a launch for May 19th, and they aren't exactly known for wanting to sit around and wait. However, if SpaceX is determined to test the S39, they
could do so and then postpone the launch as the launch window seems to be open until the 28th. SpaceX also stated on its website, "As testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change." So, hopefully, you
SpaceX during this crucial final preparation period. Please, let me know within I'm still waiting in the comment section so I know I'm not the only one refreshing my feed every 5 minutes. Then, don't forget to continue liking
to continue following SpaceX's development journey with flight 12 the next massive highlight. And on behalf of the great SpaceX team, I want to send big thanks to all the viewers for your support. You crazy people have helped us
reach our dream milestone of 200k subscribers. We jokingly call it our second YouTube silver play button because one just isn't enough for our growing space family. This is definitely a significant milestone for the channel
after many years and we are fortunate to have so many loyal viewers who have followed us through every scrub and every landing. Of course, we're not going to stop there as our next goal is more than double this one that we just
achieved. We're going for 500k, half a million. And eventually, who knows? A million subscribers? Sounds like a lot of people, but hey, space is pretty big, so why not? To achieve that, we have to improve and upgrade many things like the
Starship V3. But your support will certainly be a deciding factor in our mission success. A simple subscribe click will bring us closer to those goals while you'll be among the first in the world to receive the latest updates
on SpaceX and the aerospace industry. So, what are you waiting for? Join our community now. All right, now let's move on to other industry news because SpaceX isn't the only one trying to leave the planet. Firstly, we'll talk about the
CRS-24 mission which we discussed in the previous episode. Originally, SpaceX aimed for a launch on the 12th, but as we mentioned, life happened. The launch has been postponed and SpaceX announced on X due to unfavorable weather, now
targeting tomorrow, the 13th, for Falcon 9's launch of the CRS-34 mission to the space station. The launch time is set at 6:50 p.m. Eastern, which is prime time. This was actually predictable as in the
first update, SpaceX indicated the weather on May 12th was only 35% favorable and I know some of you gals out there don't like those odds for your hair, let alone a rocket. So, if all goes well, this spacecraft will get to
the International Space Station on the 14th around 7:35 a.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time. That is when the Dragon capsule docks autonomously to the forward port of the Harmony module, which is basically a very high-speed,
high-stakes parallel parking job. The capsule will stay attached to the ISS for just a month, returning to Earth in mid-June to tell all its friends about the trip. In any case, safety is a top priority for an ISS resupply mission,
which takes place months apart and keeps the astronauts from having to forage for mission progresses and hope the weather decides to be a team player. And now, let's talk about the journey of the NASA Psyche probe as it passes near Mars,
which is a huge deal for anyone who likes shiny rocks. On the 15th of May, NASA's Psyche spacecraft will pass within 2,800 mi of Mars to gain a gravity assist. This boost helps the craft reach 12,333
mph as it heads towards 16 Psyche, a 173-mi wide asteroid in the solar system's bad neighborhood. Arriving in 2029, the mission will study an exposed
planetary core, which is like getting to see the engine of a car without having to take the whole thing apart. To save on xenon propellant and calibrate its multispectral imager, the craft will capture thousands of observations of the
red planet. This work has already begun as the spacecraft is currently squinting ahead. Sarah Bearsto, Psyche's mission planning lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a NASA statement,
"We are now exactly on target for the flyby, and we've programmed the flight computer with everything the spacecraft will do throughout May. This is our first opportunity in flight to calibrate Psyche's imager with something bigger
observations with the mission's other science instruments." This flyby offers a chance to capture high-resolution photos that impressively showcase the spacecraft's journey, like taking a selfie at a rest stop on a long
road trip, but with much higher resolution. These observations will provide further insights into Mars before humans actually reach the planet on what is sure to be a wild ride through the gravity well. Today, we're
heading back to the moon. Now, I know what you're thinking. Been there, done that. But this time, instead of a tiny tin can, we're sending a massive stainless steel skyscraper. Of course, there's a giant liquid oxygen-sized
system. People have been looking at Starship's massive scale and asking how on Earth are we going to fill its tanks for a deep space trip? Well, the few clever tweaks to the mission profile, even NASA skeptics are admitting SpaceX
might actually pull this off. How are they solving this gas station headache probably know by now, the Artemis midlife crisis this year. The schedule has shifted, the tasks have been
shuffled, and everyone is trying to make sense of the new mission board. Artemis test effort, which is basically NASA's way of saying we need to make sure the plumbing works before we send people down to the dusty surface.
From Artemis 4 onwards, the real fun begins with the actual crew landing efforts on the lunar South Pole. Starship is the designated chariot for these missions, representing SpaceX in a way that would make a Falcon 9 look like
a hobbyist's model rocket. When the plans changed and the lunar gateway, the orbit the moon, got pushed back or canceled in various configurations, NASA made a pivotal decision. They decided to conduct crew transfers directly in Earth
orbit. The logic here is actually pretty solid. It's about receiving timely support, reducing the immense pressure on the SLS and Orion systems, and providing a more direct highway to the lunar surface. I like to think of it
like this. If your home is at the very last station on a long train line, you that goes straight through instead of the one that stops at every single tiny village along the way to pick up snacks. However, as the responsibilities of
Starship increase, so does the pressure on the refueling system. Now that we're to handle a lot more of the heavy lifting, including the return journey after the crew finishes their rock hunting mission on the moon. According
to current NASA estimates, the number of refueling trips required is looking like it'll be somewhere between 10 to 20 tanker flights. Now, before you start hyperventilating at the thought of 20 rocket launches just to fill up one
based on the current version of the hardware. We're going to talk about the future versions in a minute, and that is where things get really spicy. In the current V3 version of the Starship, each ship can carry about 1,600 tons of fuel.
The problem is that once you launch and reach orbit, most of that fuel is gone. You're basically sitting there with an empty tank and a very long way to go. The V3 is expected to carry 100 tons of payload, and the tanker variant will be
stripped down and optimized specifically for carrying fuel. This means it might carry 1,700 tons at liftoff, using 1,600 tons just to fight gravity, and 100 tons to actually give away to the main ship. If those numbers are accurate, you're
looking at 16 tanker flights to fully top off a Starship HLS. That's a massive in the vehicle, the launch pads, and the the history of aerospace. Not to mention, performing 16 separate docking
and undocking maneuvers in orbit is like trying to parallel park a semi-truck 16 times in a row without scratching the paint. Each one of those is a risk. Then there's the issue of fuel viability. Keeping that supercooled liquid oxygen
and methane from boiling away into the void of space while you wait for the next tanker to arrive. It sounds like a logistical nightmare, right? Well, Well, that's where NASA's change to the HLS route comes in. By moving the crew
transfer from lunar orbit down to to Earth orbit, they've unlocked a secret shortcut. This move allows Starship to bypass a step that consumes a massive amount of delta five, specifically the near rectilinear halo orbit, or NRHO.
This was the specific orbit that chose for the Gateway, but it turns out it's a comparison to the official NASA documents, entering that NRHO orbit requires Starship to burn about 45 tons of fuel just to compensate for the 1,050
m per second of delta 5 consumed. Now, 45 tons might not sound like much when the ship holds 1,600, but in the world of orbital mechanics, every kilogram counts. To get those 45 tons of fuel all the way to a lunar orbit, you don't just
need 45 tons. You need a massive amount of supporting fuel just to transport the like trying to deliver a gallon of gas to a car in the middle of the desert, but you have to drive a gas guzzling truck 500 miles to get there. By the
time you arrive, you've used up most of what you were bringing. NASA estimates that transporting that small amount of fuel to NRHO actually costs about 400 tons of total fuel in the broader system. By bypassing that stop and going
directly from Earth orbit to low lunar orbit, SpaceX can save between 400 to 450 tons of fuel, and in rocket terms, that's a huge discount. It means they tanker launches by four or five missions. When you're trying to launch a
fleet of rockets, reducing the workload by 25% is the difference between a mission being a headache and a mission being a success. What's really interesting here is that these analyses are coming from NASA research itself.
from the rooftops that refueling in space is an impossible dream that will sink the Starship program, but these objective analyses from NASA are confirming that there is a path forward. By optimizing the flight path and
the Gateway for early missions, the system becomes significantly more feasible. This is especially vital in these early stages when the launch rate is still ramping up and every launch pad is a precious resource. Once SpaceX
Starship can finally stop worrying about its gas gauge and start focusing on the massive potential of its design. With NASA's support and the streamlined process, the confidence levels at Starbase are through the roof. But, of
course, that is just one part of the puzzle. SpaceX is not just waiting for NASA to change the rules, they're changing the game themselves. Musk media that shifted the conversation entirely. He stated Starship V4 tanker
versions will deliver more than 200 tons of propellant per flight. So, more like five or six tanker flights to refill the lunar transit Starship in orbit. If that holds true, we're looking at exactly that. Five or six tanker flights to
refill the lunar ship instead of 16 to 20. Musk followed that up with a classic bit of optimism saying, "Shouldn't be too much of a problem if we're doing more than 10,000 flights per year." He also touched on production scale adding,
"Yes, at massive volume, maybe as high as 10,000 ships per year." Now, the 10,000 flights number is definitely in the realm of future vision Elon time, but that 200-ton transfer capability is the key that unlocks the entire
architecture. It's important to realize that 200 tons is not just the weight of the ship, it's the actual amount of fuel that can be handed over to another ship in space. Compared to the current V3, the amount of fuel a single tanker can
deliver is basically doubling. This tells us that the V4 is reaching a efficiency. If a trip to the moon needs 1,200 tons of fuel and each tanker brings 200, the math is simple. You launch six tankers and you're ready to
go. This changes the entire risk profile of the mission. When you need 10 or 20 of failure that can derail the whole timeline. But, when you drop that number down to five or six, the complexity plummets. You have fewer docking
to break, and a much higher overall probability of success. To get to that 200-ton figure, the V4 isn't just going to be bigger, it's going to be smarter. aerodynamic wing and heavy thermal shields from the tankers since they
don't necessarily need to survive a high heat re-entry in the same way, or they'll optimize the flight path to ensure they arrive in orbit with as much gas left in the tank as possible. This 200-ton transfer is also a reflection of
how far the Raptor engine has come. You can't push that much mass into orbit efficiency and power. Without synchronized improvements in the engine, pumping systems, a transfer rate that
let's not forget the psychological advantage. In the great moon race, the nation that can move the most mass most efficiently is going to win. While other to get a small capsule to the moon, SpaceX and NASA are planning a logistics
chain that could support entire cities. Musk's vision of 10,000 flights a year might seem far off, but if they can even get to a fraction of that, allocating a few hundred flights for refueling is a drop in the bucket. It means we could be
delivering a million tons of cargo to the moon or Mars, building self-sufficient colonies rather than just temporary research outposts. One of debate is that SpaceX leaders seem almost bored by the challenge of
docking two identical Starships is actually easier than docking a Dragon capsule with the ISS. Why? Because Starships are twins. They share a common origin, the same sensors, the same
software, and the same docking hardware. The Dragon and the ISS, on the other systems built years apart by different teams. If SpaceX has mastered the art of decade, docking two Starships should be a walk in the park, assuming that park
a walk in the park, assuming that park is in a vacuum moving at 17,500 mph. Of course, I would be a terrible host if I didn't mention the challenges that still remain. Space is a very harsh teacher, and it doesn't give out gold stars for
effort. Ensuring fuel availability in orbit is going to be a constant battle in the unpredictable conditions of space. Things don't just stay put. If perfectly, your fuel can freeze and block the lines, or it can evaporate and
vent out into the void, leaving you with an empty tank and a very awkward phone call to mission control. Then there's the danger of space debris. Even a tiny piece of junk moving at high velocity could puncture a fuel depot, causing a
SpaceX is going to have to implement some serious defensive measures to protect their orbital gas stations. And at the end of it all, awaits the mission's greatest test, touching down on the moon. Once you've refueled, flown
through the void, and reached the moon, you have to land a vehicle that is at least 50 m tall. To put that in perspective, that's like trying to land rocky, uneven surface. With a diameter of only 9 m, there is a
very real risk of the ship being unstable or even tipping over if the landing site isn't perfectly flat. In these early stages, before we have giant catchment towers or landing pads on the moon, this is a major concern. There
have been some wild theories about sideways landings, but for these first crude missions, NASA is sticking to the vertical plan. The ship has to take off to land perfectly. This means the selection of landing sites and the
design of the landing legs are going to be some of the most analyzed pieces of engineering in human history. But how exactly are they going to design legs that can support a massive steel skyscraper on the lunar dust is a story
the edge of a new era where the logistical problems that once seemed through clever math and sheer engineering willpower. The refueling system is no longer a deal breaker, it's just another hurdle on the track. When
we see that first successful transfer of 200 tons of propellant in orbit, we will know that the moon is no longer a distant dream, it is a destination. So, what do you think? With the new NASA flight paths and the V4 tankers, is the
know your thoughts in the comment section down below. And while you're subscribe to the channel so you can keep following every twist and turn of SpaceX's journey to the stars. We're talking about the next evolution of the
Starship system and the stakes have never been higher. We've been watching as 39 get ready for its first V3 flight and as 40 is looking more and more like the vehicle that will finally conquer the orbital hurdle with confidence. But
there is a new player in the stacking base that has everyone leaning forward in their seats. We're talking about S41, a vehicle that is currently being assembled with a very specific, very daring destiny in mind. This could be
the first ship to return home and be caught right out the sky by the giant robotic arms we affectionately call the chopsticks. So, how exactly is SpaceX rocket for its first ever catching mission? As we move through the early
months of 2026, it's clear that SpaceX is operating with a level of extreme the early days, they were happy to blow things up just to see what happened. The fail fast, learn faster philosophy. But now the opportunities for failure are
getting thinner. SpaceX has a mountain of goals to conquer and they can't the ocean if they want to hit their deadlines for the moon and beyond. Catching the ship is not just a cool party trick, it's the final boss of
space rocket capability. It represents the holy grail of full reusability. If you can catch the booster and the ship, you can theoretically turn them around and launch again in hours rather than months. Or in SpaceX's case, weeks.
That is the dream that keeps the lights on at Starbase at 3:00 in the morning. According to the current road map, flight 14 is the big one where SpaceX Musk recently set the stage for this by stating, "Should note that SpaceX will
only try to catch the ship with the tower after two perfect soft landings in the ocean." That's a very high bar to clear and S41 has been tapped as the attempt. The preparation for this flight is already well underway, and watching
the stacking process is like watching a giant high-tech LEGO set come to life. Back on April 17th, the S41 PEZ dispenser arrived at Mega Bay 2. For those who might be new to the terminology, the PEZ dispenser is the
mechanism, which basically spits out satellites into orbit like, well, a giant candy dispenser. Seeing that piece arrive is always a sign that a ship is moving from the parts bin to the assembly line. By April 20th, the nose
cone and the payload section of S41 were moved into Mega Bay 2, where they were lifted up to accommodate that dispenser. Just a day later, the install jig that building, meaning the internal components were officially locked in
place. The same day, the forward dome section arrived to be mated with the nose cone. It's a fast-paced dance of steel and precision. We expect the full stacking of S41 to be completed sometime in May. Once it's all one piece, it'll
have to wait its turn in line behind S39 and S40 before it can head out for testing and its eventual journey around the planet. But, completing that journey is a lot harder than it sounds. We've seen SpaceX land the Super Heavy booster
a few times now, and while that is incredibly impressive, the booster is a much simpler beast compared to the ship. Super Heavy only reaches an altitude of about 90 km. It stays relatively close to home, and its return journey is a
vertical dive from the edge of space. The ship, however, is a different story entirely. To reach orbit, it has to circle the Earth at 17,000 mph. When it comes back, it has to survive a brutal reentry where the atmosphere turns into
a literal wall of fire and plasma. It has to endure that heat, stay stable, navigate across thousands of miles, and then perform a belly flop maneuver to the last second to be caught by two giant robotic arms. There's zero margin
for error. If the timing is off by a second or the position is off by a few millimeters, you don't get a catch, you get a very expensive explosion on your launchpad. Musk was very clear about the danger involved, noting in the same
tweet about the catching attempt, "The risk of the ship breaking up over land needs to be very low. This is why the upgrades we are seeing on S41 are so upgrades designed for this catching mission, the first thing that jumps out
is the catching points. These are the small reinforced pins on the side of the ship that the chopstick arms will actually grab. These pins have been present on the V2 ships as part of a testing phase to see if they could
survive the heat of re-entry. So far, the results seem positive, but with the move to V3 and S41, it's time for the official heavy-duty version of these pins to debut. During the roll-out of the S41 nosecone, Eagle Eye observers
catching points is being heavily protected by the heat shield. But there is a very interesting and somewhat mysterious detail, a strange red spot right beneath the catching pins. On closer inspection, these look like heat
shield tiles, but they are a different color than the standard black ceramic tiles we are used to seeing. This has sparked a lot of conversation in the community. Are these a special type of high-durability tile made from a
catching points are a critical failure point. If those pins melt or warp during re-entry, the tower won't be able to grab them, and the whole mission fails. These red tiles might be a specialized mixture designed to withstand even
higher temperatures or provide better structural integrity, ensuring that the hardware is in pristine condition for the catch. But the upgrades don't stop there. Right below the catching points on S41, there is a new black layer that
looks almost like wallpaper featuring a strange square white hole right in the middle. This is a detail that was completely absent on S39, but
has started appearing on S40 and now S41. Since S40 and S41 are the ones destined for orbit, this enhancement is likely tied to the extreme heat they will face during an orbital re-entry. It's positioned near the payload
section, so it might be there to protect the delicate cargo or the internal mechanisms during the approach. However, since it's also in the neighborhood of the catching pins, it could serve as a heat sink or a thermal dissipation layer
to keep the heat from bleeding into the catching hardware. As for that white square, it's positioned perfectly in line with the catching points. This could be a venting port for gas to help stabilize the ship during the final
seconds of the landing or perhaps a sensor window that the tower uses to track the ship's position. Whatever it is, it's clear that SpaceX is adding giant steel skyscraper survive its
The heat shield, which I like to think of as the Starship's suit of armor, is also getting a massive overhaul starting with S39. On the windward side, which is fire during re-entry, SpaceX is moving away from testing and into a final
complete armor state. When you look at the tiles on the V3 ships, they actually look different. They seem more durable and the fit is much tighter. In earlier versions, we saw them experimenting with metallic tiles, but those seemed to have
a bad habit of oxidizing or rusting when exposed to extreme conditions of flight. doubling down on optimizing the ceramic tiles. The goal here is not just for the ship to survive, but for it to be ready to fly again almost immediately. Full
reusability is only useful if you do not have to spend 3 months replacing 18,000 tiles every flight. SpaceX wants these tiles to stay stuck, stay cool, and stay in one piece so the ship can be turned around and launched again with minimal
noticeable changes in the thermal protection system is that it's no longer just hugging the windward side. It's starting to creep onto the leeward side as well. Recent images of S39 show that the heat shield has been significantly
enhanced on the hull with four new rectangular zones of tiles, two on each fuel tank. This is a very deliberate addition. The fuel tanks are incredibly sensitive areas. If the heat or pressure causes the structural integrity of a
tank to fail, the whole ship is toast. We saw exactly how bad things can go during the S36 testing incident at Massey's where a tank failure resulted in a spectacular destruction of the vehicle. By adding these extra zones of
weak spots and making sure the ship can handle the uneven pressures that occur during the chaotic moments of re-entry and landing. The flaps are also getting departments. While the forward flaps have stayed mostly the same in terms of
their shape and size since version one, they are notoriously difficult to modify. However, their position makes them very vulnerable to the plasma flow during re-entry. We've seen them get a little toasted on previous flights,
which is fine for a sea landing, but not great for a ship you want to reuse 50 times. Since they can't easily change the shape without redesigning the whole ship's aerodynamics, SpaceX has opted to just armor them better. The aft flaps
now feature a large block of tiles that covers almost the entire leeward side. This extra protection ensures that the flaps can continue to do their job, without melting into a puddle of steel
before they reach the tower. Of course, a ship is only as good as the engines pushing it, and the Raptor 3 has finally arrived to take center stage. We have stages, and the results are looking incredibly promising. These tests have
thrust adjustment and gimbal flexibility needed for the delicate dance of a tower catch. In the final seconds of the mission, the engines need to be strong enough to stop a falling skyscraper, but precise enough to hover it gently
between two robotic arms. It's a level of control that has to be adjusted to the millisecond. Reliability is the name of the game here. In previous versions, we saw issues with engines failing to restart after they shut down in space.
For a catching mission, that is a non-starter. If the engines don't light up for the landing burn, the ship becomes a very large, very fast lawn dart. SpaceX has upgraded the igniters, the turbo pumps, and the plumbing to
make the Raptor 3 the most reliable engine they've ever built. They've also the crazy spaghetti of pipes we saw on earlier versions. This reduces weight, importantly, reduces the number of things that can go wrong when the heat
is on. It's safe to say that S41 is going to be the most advanced piece of hardware ever to roll out of the Starbase bays, but the success of the ship. It depends on the ground systems, too. Megazilla Tower and its chopstick
arms have been going through constant testing, but we're all waiting to see how they perform when they actually have to grab a multi-ton rocket moving in the real world. The path forward is not going to be easy. As Elon said, they
need those two perfect soft landings in the ocean first. Flight 12 will be the big test for the V3 upgrades, and flight 13 will be the one that tries to prove they can consistently reach orbit and come back in one piece. If either of
catch attempt on flight 14 could be pushed back, and that would put SpaceX in a very tight spot. The clock is ticking for the 2027 Artemis 3 mission, and every 2026 milestone is critical for SpaceX. Successfully catching S41 would
be a historic pivot from disposable rockets toward routine, affordable space transportation. As preparations for flight 14 ramp up, we're witnessing the potential birth of a multi-planetary civilization. It's going to be a wild
ride you won't want to miss. While we usually spend our time worrying if lunar landers will have a midlife crisis at 30,000 ft or if the engines will actually ignite, the real threat to the Artemis timeline is surprisingly fashion
forward. It turns out the biggest bottleneck for the moon and the ISS isn't a massive rocket, but a high-pressure pair of pants. NASA's watchdogs have uncovered significant delays in Axiom Space's next-gen suits,
leaving our lunar ambitions potentially stuck in the laundry for years. It makes you wonder if SpaceX is about to swoop in like a knight in shining pressurized armor to solve the agency's wardrobe malfunction once and for all. When we
think of Axiom Space, we usually picture the high-end concierge of low Earth orbit. The sophisticated hosts managing private International Space Station vacations for the ultra-wealthy. They ensure the zero-gravity espresso is
hot and the view of the Sahara is crisp for their high-paying guests. However, behind that five-star travel agency exterior, they're also NASA's primary tailor tasked with building the suits for our next giant leap. Originally,
for our next giant leap. Originally, NASA tried to hedge its bets by hiring two providers, Axiom and Collins Aerospace. It was supposed to be a classic competitive sprint, but Collins soon exited the race, leaving Axiom as
the sole survivor in a very expensive game of solo tag. Unfortunately, being the only shop in town seems to have encouraged a bit of a Sunday afternoon pace at the office. Axiom is currently juggling space stations, private
missions, and lunar fashion all at once. This versatility might be their undoing you're trying to rewrite the entire handbook for living among the stars. The project at the center of this cosmic
wardrobe malfunction is the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit or AxEMU or AxEMU. While it sounds like a specialized robotic bird from the Australian Outback designed to kick moon rocks, it's actually a life-critical
garment for the most hostile environment known to man. Recently, the vibes around this suit shifted from launch-ready to a trip to the principal's office. NASA's Office of Inspector General dropped a blunt report on X that served as a
massive red flag. The post stated, "After nearly two decades, NASA's next-generation spacesuits remain incomplete. Today, the agency continues to face delays and is reliant on Axiom Space to develop both the Artemis lunar
Space to develop both the Artemis lunar suits and updated ISS suits. This is a stinging acknowledgement of a systemic failure in contractor selection reminiscent of the struggles with Boeing's Starliner." NASA invested
heavily but received a pile of disappointment and some very empty chairs at the victory party. The official NASA report dives into the math of this delay and the numbers are not pretty. By losing Collins, NASA left
a single provider to carry the entire burden of keeping astronauts alive. This has challenged the agency to ensure readiness for the 2028 Artemis landing and the ISS before its 2030 decommission. The "What We Found"
section of the report argues that Axiom's progress is falling short of every critical milestone. The report concludes with a terrifying prediction, "Based on our analysis, if Axiom experiences design and testing delays in
line with the historical average for recent spaceflight programs, the Artemis and ISS demonstrations may not occur until 2031." If you're a fan of logical timelines, that 2031 date is the stuff of
nightmares. You can't exactly walk on the moon in your pajamas, and with no room for maneuver, this delay puts the US in a precarious position. The pressure from China is immense. They plan to land their own crew by 2030, and
no one knows if they might pull a fast one and arrive sooner. If we slip to 2031 because we couldn't get the zippers right, we might be watching the first lunar base being built on a Chinese livestream. This isn't just about pride.
It's about real estate. This time we aren't just visiting. We are settling. We need to claim the best spots near water ice and resources before the no vacancy signs go up. It's the world's most expensive game of musical chairs,
and the music is starting to skip. The urgency for the ISS is just as high. The current suits are 50-year-old antiques that probably remember the invention of the disco ball and the rise of bell-bottom jeans. If the Axiom isn't
ready until 2031, it'll be arriving at a station that is already being deorbited. roof for a house that's currently being demolished by a wrecking ball. While Axiom has released flashy videos of their suit running and swimming, looking
ready is not the same as being ready. The suit has to survive lunar dust, glass that want to shred seals and eat joints. Testing for that takes time,
much of, especially with rumors of financial crises and a brain drain of veteran personnel who actually know how to build hardware. This is where SpaceX enters the chat. Unlike Axiom, SpaceX has already proven its suits in the
actual vacuum of space. Their IVA suit revolutionized the look of space travel in 2020, and they've already iterated that into a functional EVA suit. This during the Polaris Dawn mission commanded by Jared Isaacman, who just
happens to be the current NASA administrator. Isaacman has actually used the SpaceX suit in a vacuum. He has felt the mobility and seen the integration firsthand. The SpaceX EVA suit is flexible, integrated, and ready
to go. Because it's part of the Dragon ecosystem, it could be swapped in for the ISS almost immediately. SpaceX also brings massive scalability to the table. While Axiom is spread thin, SpaceX lives for rapid iteration and mass production.
They could likely take their existing EVA design, add some lunar dust protection and better life support, and have it ready for a 2028 landing mission without breaking a sweat. Compared to Axiom, SpaceX has the resources to make
the moon a priority right now. It would solve the scheduling bottleneck and ensure the American flag is the first one back on the lunar surface. Ultimately, NASA faces a difficult choice between a struggling contractor
with a long-term plan and an agile partner with a working product. It's a battle between speed and perfection. Given the geopolitical stakes, a combination of both might be the only way to secure a sustainable future on
the moon. What do you think NASA will have to choose in this situation? It's a tough call, but if we broaden our perspective beyond just the traditional contractors, we might see some excellent solutions that are already staring us in
the face. When we talk about space suits, SpaceX is now a force that is no important thing about SpaceX is that their product has already been proven in the real world. But for those of you who have just heard about SpaceX's IVA and
EVA suits, let me give you a very very detailed glimpse at how the suits evolved and their impact on what could be the most challenging leg of the race yet. First, there was the IVA suit, the one that supports the crew inside the
spacecraft. It launched in 2020 and completely changed the concept of what a space suit should look like. It wasn't just fashionable, it was compact, flexible, and actually comfortable, which are three words that were rarely
used to describe the old NASA suits. Based on that success, SpaceX continued to iterate and created their own EVA suit, which supports operations outside the spacecraft in the cold dead vacuum. This suit was famously launched on the
Polaris Dawn mission, which was commanded by Jared Isaacman. The EVA suit was developed directly from the successful IVA suit, and of course, a ship is so much harsher, the EVA version is larger and has more complex
life support systems, which makes it a bit less compact than its predecessor. But, it's still a masterpiece of system integration. The SpaceX EVA suit demonstrates a level of flexibility and comfort that makes the older NASA suits
look like medieval suits of armor. Its ability to work perfectly at extremely mission has proven it to be truly excellent hardware. Given that the the Dragon system and has been personally tested by the current head of
NASA, choosing the SpaceX suit as the main one for ISS operations is an entirely feasible idea. It possesses all the technological strengths and meets the needs of the crew, arguably surpassing what the Axiom suit is
currently offering. Furthermore, because it's a SpaceX product, it has much greater scalability. While the Axiom suit is mostly focused on its own niche, the SpaceX suit can support multiple different stations like Vast or Starlab,
simply because all of those missions are already powered by the SpaceX Dragon. And here is the key advantage. SpaceX suits have already been tested in practice. They're ready to support the ISS right now, as well as any commercial
station that launches next year. There are no more years of waiting or historical averages of delays to worry about. These advantages would also be program. Based on their current suit design, SpaceX would likely only need to
add a few specific improvements to make the suit suitable for the moon, such as and better thermal control for the extreme lunar temperatures. They could also add the necessary durability to withstand that nasty abrasive moon dust.
I truly believe they could be fully ready for a 2028 crew landing mission if SpaceX could even provide a high-fidelity simulator for a test mission as early as next year. Compared to Axiom Space, SpaceX has the resources
and the focus to make the moon a priority right now. It would address all the scheduling concerns that NASA is currently facing and ensure that we Since the current administrator of NASA has personally experienced the SpaceX
hardware, it's entirely possible that this alternative becomes the primary choice. So, do you support NASA choosing the SpaceX spacesuits right now instead finished? Let me know with a yes or a no in the comment section down below. It is
abundantly clear that NASA is once again facing a tremendously difficult choice, one that will undeniably impact America's position as a global leader in space exploration. The journey back to the moon is supposed to be a story of
incredible boundary-pushing ambition, but right now that ambition is currently being held back by a bizarre bottleneck in wardrobe design. You can build the and design a lander that looks like a futuristic skyscraper, but if the
astronauts don't have the right high-tech pants to wear outside, they staring out the window like kids on a rainy day. The xEMU project was expected to be the rock-solid foundation for our lunar future, a bespoke piece of
engineering marvel, but the reality of its sluggish progress suggests we might desperately need a backup plan before the clock runs out. NASA has a fundamental choice to make: stick with the original plan that is clearly
falling behind schedule, or pivot to the disruptive partner that is already crossing the finish line with hardware in hand. Ultimately, this competition is aerospace company is better. It's a profound question about how we manage
our return to the lunar surface in a highly competitive era. Axiom represents a long-term, highly specialized approach. They're like a boutique tailor trying to craft the absolute perfect zero-compromise lunar tuxedo, which
naturally takes a staggering amount of time and a few too many fittings. SpaceX, on the other hand, offers a flexible and immediate solution. They the rack today and trust to keep you alive tomorrow. One needs much more time
perfection, while the other has the massive advantage of being ready for deployment right now. This stark contrast creates a bit of an opens up a brilliant opportunity for balance. Perhaps NASA doesn't actually
have to pick a single winner and send the other home empty-handed. They can strategically use SpaceX's immediate readiness to secure short-term goals, ensuring we actually make that 2028 landing and keep the ISS spacewalks
operational, while still investing in Axiom to perfect their long-term solution for the permanent lunar bases of the 2030s. In a space race that is especially with the mounting pressure from other nations who are certainly not
zippers, cooperation and strategic balance might be just as important as the technology itself. Will NASA bet entirely on speed to win the sprint, or will they stubbornly hold out for a perfection, or will a clever combination
ultimate key to our sustainable and fashionable future on the moon? Thank you for tuning in on this deep dive into the cosmic wardrobe. This has been Kevin from Great Space X. Until next time, keep