[00:00] It finally happened. After days of drifting across the Indian Ocean, S-40 has officially been brought under control.
[00:15] A tow line is now attached, marking the beginning of one of the most ambitious spacecraft recovery operations ever attempted. So how is the recovery progressing? What major starship milestones should we watch for this month?
[00:28] And why are launch regulations and even NASA's latest on-orbit rescue mission making headlines? Let's dive into all that on today's episode of GreatSpaceX to find out more. Like many of you, I've been checking for S-40 updates almost every day.
[00:44] After all, this is the first starship that has a realistic chance of making it all the way back to Starbase. And now, this historic recovery has reached another major milestone. According to multiple reports, Norman Ranger, one of the three recovery vessels sent to S-40's location,
[01:03] has successfully attached a co-line and begun pulling the spacecraft towards shore. For anyone who hasn't been following the recovery from the beginning, here's a quick recap. The first vessel to arrive was Go Australis, which located S-40 and began assessing its condition.
[01:20] It was later joined by Norman Ranger and Skimmer Tide. At this stage, Norman Ranger appears to be serving as the primary tug, while the other two vessels monitor the operation and stand ready to assist if necessary.
[01:33] Perhaps even more exciting, we've finally started seeing the first images of the towing operation. Satellite imagery later highlighted by CNN appears to show the recovery effort underway. The images aren't Hollywood-quality close-ups, but they're enough to confirm that real progress is being made.
[01:49] Hopefully SpaceX or members of the recovery team will eventually release much clearer photographs. Those are definitely worth looking forward to. Another strong indication that towing has officially begun comes from marine tracking data.
[02:03] The status of Norman Ranger changed to restricted maneuverability. For tugboats, that's an important detail. It generally indicates the vessel is engaged in towing operations or performing work that limits its ability to maneuver freely.
[02:17] In other words, it's exactly what we'd expect after connecting to F-40. The operation isn't easy either. The tug is now pulling an enormous spacecraft while fighting ocean currents flowing in the opposite direction.
[02:30] That naturally reduces speed and increases the load on the vessel's engines. Initial towing speeds are expected to be around one knot. As conditions improve, that could gradually increase to roughly four knots.
[02:43] It won't be a fast journey, but it's a steady one. We also now have a better idea of S-40's destination. Earlier speculation suggests that the spacecraft might be taken to Perth. Instead, current reports indicate it's heading for Dampier, located in northwestern Australia.
[02:59] Dampier is Australia second bulk export port and one of the busiest industrial ports in the country When the tour began S was still more than 850 nautical miles away
[03:12] At the faster end of current estimates, the trip could take approximately two weeks. If weather and sea conditions become less favorable, it may stretch closer to a month. Either way, S-40 should be back on land before too long.
[03:24] And that's when things become really interesting. Once the spacecraft reaches Australia, engineers can begin their first detailed inspections. These initial examinations will provide valuable information while SpaceX prepares the next phase of recovery.
[03:40] Eventually, a much larger transport vessel will carry S-40 back to Starbase. Unlike the relatively short tow to Australia, the trip back to Texas covers nearly half the globe. Leaving the spacecraft in the water that entire time simply is impractical.
[03:54] Instead, SpaceX will almost certainly lift S-40 completely onto a transport ship to minimize corrosion and protect the vehicle during its weeks-long voyage. It's an operation unlike anything SpaceX has attempted before.
[04:08] We're literally watching the largest spacecraft recovery effort in the company's history unfold in real time. If you've been following S-40's incredible journey from launch to splashdown and now recovery, let us know in the comments by saying, I'm still here.
[04:22] Now, while the recovery continues, let's shift our attention toward Flight 14. It's already been nearly two weeks since Flight 13. Much of the engineering effort has understandably focused on analyzing flight data and organizing S-40's recovery.
[04:38] But Starbase certainly hasn't been sitting still. Flight 14 hardware continues moving forward. Let's quickly review where things stand. S-41 completed cryogenic testing near the end of June between S-40's two static fire campaigns.
[04:53] After returning to the production site in early July, it remained inside Megabay 2 for additional work. At this point, engine installation appears to be largely complete. One notable update came on July 27th when Raptor vacuum engines were delivered to Megabay 2.
[05:08] That's another strong indication that final assembly is progressing. Meanwhile, B-21 completed its own cryogenic testing during the third week of July, shortly before Flight 13. It also returned to the production site and engine installation could begin soon, pending final inspections.
[05:25] Together, these developments suggest Starbase is ramping up again. If the schedule holds, S-41 could begin static fire testing in the first half of August, followed by one to two weeks of final inspections before launch.
[05:39] V-21 could start testing in the second or third week of August, leaving the door open for a launch attempt near the end of the month. Of course, schedules can change. If SpaceX spends more time addressing booster issues or waits for engineering data from S-40's recovery, the mission could slip into early September.
[05:57] Even so, a late August or early September launch would be another major step towards SpaceX's goal of monthly Starship flights. That milestone is about more than setting records A higher launch cadence is essential for perfecting orbital operations commercial payload deployment booster and ship recovery and perhaps most importantly orbital refueling
[06:19] With NASA's Artemis program approaching, Starship cannot afford to fly only a handful of missions each year. Orbital refueling alone will require multiple tanker launches,
[06:31] repeated demonstrations, and constant refinement. That's only possible with a high flight rate. So while static fire tests may not be as exciting as launch day, they're among the most important milestones in Starship's development.
[06:44] This next test campaign could mark the start of an incredibly busy period at Starbase. Are you ready for it? Now, let's move to another important story. Launch licensing. As many of you know, one of the biggest factors delaying previous Starship launches wasn't always technical.
[07:02] Sometimes it was paperwork. Environmental reviews and regulatory approvals have repeatedly slowed the licensing process. Now, the U.S. Department of Transportation wants to change that. The department has proposed exempting commercial launch licensing from portions of several environmental regulations.
[07:18] Not surprisingly, the proposal has already sparked significant debate between the launch industry and environmental organizations. If adopted, the new rule would allow the FAA to exempt commercial launch licenses, re-entries, and launch sites from requirements under 13 federal laws and related regulations.
[07:36] The Secretary of Transportation could grant those exemptions after consulting other agencies, providing they don't compromise public safety, property, national security, or U.S. foreign policy. One of the biggest changes involves the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.
[07:52] Following a 2025 Supreme Court decision narrowing NEPA's scope to the direct impacts of proposed actions, the Department of Transportation says it's time to reassess how environmental reviews apply to commercial space launches.
[08:05] The proposal was published in the Federal Register on July 30th, beginning a 30-day public comment period before the FAA decides whether to finalize the rule. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the proposal, saying,
[08:18] America won the first space race, and we can do it again, but only if we get government red tape out of the way. Commercial launch providers have largely welcomed the proposal, arguing environmental reviews consume significant time and money while rarely stopping projects.
[08:32] The Commercial Space Federation says the changes could speed up licensing and help the U.S. keep pace with growing launch demand. Environmental groups strongly disagree. They argue the proposal weakens not only NEPA, but also protections under laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act.
[08:51] Rakin Jordal of the Center for Biological Diversity criticized the proposal and continues pursuing legal action over a proposed 715-acre land swap near Starbase.
[09:03] So while these changes could significantly accelerate commercial launches, they still face substantial legal and political hurdles before becoming reality. Finally let talk about NASA latest orbital rescue mission On July 3rd NASA launched the Swift Boost mission aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket
[09:25] Its payload was a servicing spacecraft named Link, developed by Arizona-based Catalyst Space Technologies. The spacecraft's mission is both fascinating and ambitious. Its goal is to rendezvous with NASA's Neil Garrel's Swift Observatory, inspect the aging spacecraft, attach itself using robotic arms, and eventually boost Swift into a higher orbit to extend its operational life.
[09:48] Unfortunately, things haven't gone entirely according to plan. In an update released on July 28th, NASA announced, Catalyst's Link Servicing Spacecraft experienced issues with attitude control,
[10:02] causing the spacecraft to spin and resulting in sporadic communications. Fortunately, NASA says the spacecraft remains healthy overall, despite the malfunction. Preliminary analysis indicates that two of Link's three reaction wheels are no longer functioning properly,
[10:17] along with a partial loss of capability in its cold gas thruster system. Ironically, the Swift Observatory experienced its own reaction wheel problem in 2022, forcing it into safe mode.
[10:29] Now the spacecraft sent to rescue Swift is dealing with the same issue. Sometimes space has a strange sense of humor. Mission controllers hope to use Link's electric propulsion system to stop the spacecraft's rotation and regain full attitude control.
[10:44] If successful, they'll determine whether the servicing mission can continue. The mission is worth saving. Swift has been gradually losing altitude for years and has no propulsion system to raise its orbit. Link was designed to dock with the observatory and use its own thrusters to boost it into a higher orbit, potentially extending its mission for years.
[11:04] Since launching in 2004 at a cost of roughly $250 million, the Neil Garrel's Swift Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy cosmic events.
[11:17] In 2022, it detected the famous BOAT event, short for Brightest of All Time, the most powerful gamma-ray burst ever observed. Missions like this also highlight a growing need in spaceflight.
[11:31] As more spacecraft remain in orbit longer, servicing, repair, and rescue missions will become increasingly important. And when people think about spacecraft rescue today, it's hard not to think of SpaceX. The company has already demonstrated exceptional rendezvous and docking capabilities,
[11:46] and its role in safety, bringing NASA's Starliner Ashok home, only reinforced that reputation. Whether NASA turns to SpaceX for future orbital servicing remains to be seen. But one thing is clear.
[11:58] As space becomes busier, rescue missions may become just as important as launches, and SpaceX is positioning itself to play a major role in that future. In any case, folks, if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a like,
[12:10] subscribe to GreatSpaceX, and ring the notification bell so you never miss the latest updates on Starship, SpaceX, and Humanity's exciting journey into the future of space exploration. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next one.