SpaceX Is Already Preparing Starship Flight 13!?

[00:01] As only two weeks after these crazy scenes of the first Starship Version 3 taking flight, can you believe we are already having testing kickoff for Flight 13? It has been another busy week for the SpaceX team,

[00:13] but what was more surprising perhaps were these statements made by Blue Origin after this gigantic disaster last week. As always, there is a lot of all that and much more to catch up on today. Hey, hey, Mark Earth-Hanselby here, and let's start off with a question I'm sure you all have.

[00:32] What is going on towards Starship Flight 13? We first have to head over to the megabase to check out these views, thanks to RGV Aerial Photography. Both the vehicles for Flight 13, which are Booster 20 and Ship 40,

[00:45] started the week positioned on their workstands, having any finishing touches or modifications needed from the data gathered during Flight 12. The Super Heavy, which was in the front left stand of Mega Bay 1, which we could just see through the door, was preparing for its first cryogenic and thrust simulation testing.

[01:02] This booster thrust simulator stand had been moved here beside the bay, so it was a good hint that its move to Matic for testing couldn't have been far away. Well, indeed, here Booster 20 was in the middle of the Mega Bay, sitting on that stand, and then of course, just yesterday in the early hours of Friday morning, we were watching it depart and roll down the road. Not as smoothly as we would have lights, though, as we can clearly see thanks to NSF. It was stuck on and off the road for hours, and eventually they just had a team come in and replace the Power Pack on the right transporter. By then, the sun was already beginning to rise, so it was a long night.

[01:41] In two masses it moved, and Sean finally had those shots of it here on sight. At this point, SpaceX should be preparing for its first cryo test, so stay tuned for that. Sure hope they work.

[01:53] Yeah. Anyway, the upper-stage Starship is a little harder to track, but Ship 40 should be on the back-left stand. The next step for this ship, of course, is to roll out two masses to kick off its static-fire campaign.

[02:05] First, though, it needs those Raptor 3 engines installed. Well, we have just seen these moving around the ring yard on Thursday and Friday, so not much longer to wait on that. Speaking of, the trench at Massive has actually been occupied with this ship thrust simulator stand,

[02:22] presumably here to make sure everything checks out before ship 41 needs to head out for its own set of tests. That's the ship for Flight 14. Now, while preparing for Flight 13 vehicles, how is the launch site looking?

[02:34] Well, if you take a look at the exterior of the pad, you would almost not even notice that the world's most powerful rocket ever has launched from here just two weeks ago. It seems that the insane water deluge systems installed at Pad 2 has significantly outperformed over the previous Pad 1.

[02:52] As always, there can be tweaks made to improve the system even further, and it has been fun watching SpaceX rip into work at the site here. There were some small casualties during the launch, but none to do with the mount itself.

[03:04] A bit of the border wall seems to have fallen over during the launch, and SpaceX has had the crew begin to dig that up. It will likely be replaced with a reinforced footing to help it survive better in future. As we pointed out on the launch day itself, the Gageway to Mars sign had all been but completely destroyed.

[03:21] It wasn't the best spot for that, obviously, so they've completely removed what remained from the wall. I mean, it was a neat presentational addition to the launch site, but had of course been built a long time back when the site design was quite different.

[03:35] Maybe the next version of that will return made from some sort of steel or something, but we'll just need to wait and see. Over the last week, workers have also returned to the launch site to install a nest of scaffolding here,

[03:47] likely to help with all that examination work needed. They would want to be scanning over all of the various welding and connection points on the launch mount, and of course they wanted Deluge system to study how the most powerful rocket ever made

[04:00] impacts the design after launching. It's kind of mad to think that all this thrust ramping down from the Super Heavy can be countered by this robust design. It all needs to hold up to equally brutal frequent flights

[04:12] just like this while needing to do next to no maintenance in between. So they will be skimming over everything to ensure the design has held up exactly as it was designed. Interestingly they have just

[04:24] removed all the booster clamps and their shielding which hopefully is just another part of that deep inspection process. Now, the tower arms have also been quite a focus this week.

[04:36] They've had each catch rail from both arms removed, and by the looks of this replacement sitting on the ground in the flyover, they look to be trying to cut even more mass from the systems that literally grasp Starship vehicles from the air.

[04:49] Yes, I can't wait to see this again. Chrome Kiwi has put together another great diagram showing how each design differs, and you immediately notice the removal of these circle cutouts across the length of the rail,

[05:01] leaving behind only what is structurally necessary. The first modified rail was installed on Thursday morning, with the second being lifted just hours later. Spaceless also began to remove some of the rail dampeners,

[05:15] which are used to cushion the impact on the arms. We're thinking that with the lighter rails now, some modifications are probably needed to the dampener's sensitivity, but will know more once it's all reinstalled.

[05:27] SpaceX has also been performing some high-speed movements with those electromechanical actuators, making sure that they still operate as expected. That included performing around 30 extension and retraction tests in rapid succession.

[05:41] So yeah everything seems to be looking good for Flight 13 with nothing overly serious being addressed It now just a waking game for SpaceX to work through all of the investigations into the root causes of the Flight 12 issues

[05:53] We know that they are looking further into the most engines cut off process during that super heavy boost back burn, along with the vacuum engine issue on the upper stage with that flight. Now as a side note, to answer the same comments that I've been getting after every flight for the last few years,

[06:08] Yes, it is. Most engines cut off. I'm not saying it wrong. In the case of the Super Heavy Booster, SpaceX doesn't shut down all of the engines at that point. Because of the hot staging process, some engines remain lit throughout.

[06:22] I'm fully aware that for most, rocket-sies is indeed main engine cut off. SpaceX simply created a play on the traditional acronym for Starship, which is still catching a few people out. Now, along with all that,

[06:34] there has been plenty more going on around all these Starbase sites. The borders connecting Pad 1 to Pad 2 are getting a little harder to define, with construction efforts continuing along the newly acquired expansion area.

[06:46] The road, which went between both pads along the Blast Wall, is being broken out so that SpaceX can begin to work on extending the tank farm and building out Pad 1's water deluge farm.

[06:58] With that, there are even more piles being drilled for foundations to expand their existing liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen storage now that the old methane tanks are gone. Those removed tanks are actually still sitting at the port waiting to be shipped away,

[07:12] along with the brand new tanks to come in and to be installed onto those pedestals once complete. We are also seeing work for the future liquid methane generation plant. You can see these large sections of the launch site expansion now being covered with their final top slab built from rebar and concrete.

[07:31] This large patch over here is where that liquid methane generation plant will go, and this other one here towards the corner of pad one is where the future liquid natural gas liquefaction plant will go.

[07:44] Now speaking of pad one, check out the truckloads of flame trench wall pieces being delivered this week thanks to the news from Avid Space. Given that the trench is still early in its exploration phase, these may sit around for a while, but they are moving quite quickly on everything here.

[08:00] Across the road at the air separation unit's construction, the bunker housing, the motors and the compressors are being surrounded with precast concrete segments. Like with many areas that SpaceX have been working on, these are assembled together to keep everything modular and transportable.

[08:16] Heading up the road and calling into the Sanchez area of the site, launch mount sections have continued piling in. All four quarters of the top deck water-cooled plate are now on site.

[08:28] This one, in fact, was being delivered right during this RGV flight, actually. There are also now three sections of that first level staged on their pedestals waiting for the corners to arrive, which will set off that welding campaign.

[08:42] Now heading on over to Matthews, obviously Booster 20 is getting ready for its testing campaign here, so that is going to be exciting to watch over this next week. I think it's worth noting, though, that the B18.3 test structure

[08:55] has now completed over 20 Kritanic tests. All this seems to be running very smooth here now after its initial failure that required it to be largely rebuilt. Since making its return, it has smashed out every test that SpaceX has thrown at it.

[09:10] Loads of bending and compression tests have been done now to prove the brand new hot staging truss and three grid fin design is holding up to everything needed. That's good news for the version 3 Super Heavy.

[09:23] We then have the S49.1 test unit over here, which is being used to provide data on different tile attachment methods using both large and small tiles. This week, Sean had also even spotted this Super Heavy Liquid Oxygen Landing Tank test article

[09:39] still frosty after being tested overnight, so it's a more busy location than it may first appear. Along with the Flight 13 Super Heavy being tested here, we are also expecting Ship 40 to roll in over the flint trench for static fly soon,

[09:53] but no doubt to fear there was still scaffolding lining the edges of the trench, and a lot of that still seems to be there. Now, continuing on with the story of this Starship transport drone ship, you'll thank me later.

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[11:44] The link is right there below. Thank you, Odoo. Okay, so back to the Starship Transport drone ship you'll thank me later. Early in the week, a booster of transport stand followed by a ship transport stand the next day on Tuesday rolled on board, and that was it.

[11:59] The drone ship departed back to Florida for its first delivery job. Now, these stands are going to be used to transport vehicles vertically between the Florida Gigabay and the appropriate launch sites in future.

[12:13] Speaking of Florida, though, Greg Scott was able to grab us some shots of the ever-growing activity here at Space Launch Complex 37. As you can see, the LR13000 crane has been raised now, and that looks to be about ready to kick into gear to begin stacking new launch tower sections.

[12:29] You can see that SpaceX has begun to fit the lower sections with their cladding already, so they're getting a head start on some of that work. You may also notice the pile drillers in the foreground here, which are perhaps giving the foundations for the second tower and pad.

[12:44] It's kind of crazy that we're watching SpaceX develop four pads at once between Florida and Texas. More Starlink action through the week too, of course. Group 1741 was away on Saturday morning from Vandenberg,

[12:58] and SpaceX shared these great ground shots of the ascent. I love this shot from way back showing the Californian coastline. A foggy spot from the launch site, though, but a beautiful ascent. Moments later there was Booster 1082's 22nd landing there on Of Course I Still Love You.

[13:14] The next, Group 1747, was away from Vandenberg again just before 9am on Wednesday. Booster 1088 was touching down for its 16th time, with this droneship now being out for the second catch of the week.

[13:27] After this mission, SpaceX actually shared a nice video of the deployment of this one. It's always nice to see these views, and this is a batch of the 24 satellites separating there as the sun lights up the horizon in the background.

[13:39] Gorgeous shot, that one. Now this just left the Group 1043 from Space Launch Complex 40 across the country on Thursday, just as the sun was about to rise. Booster 1090 was on Flight 12 for this mission.

[13:52] The booster separated successfully and began making its way down to a shortfall of gravitas, which was waiting downrange. But keep a close eye on this grid fin on the right. You can see it's just locked up, and it doesn't seem to move again all the way down to the deck.

[14:07] Luckily, this seems to have failed only once its impact on control was negligible. The rest of the control system still had it nicely on target, but that may have been a very close call for booster of T-90.

[14:19] I suspect if that grid scene had failed even 10 or 20 seconds earlier, the outcome wouldn't have been quite so good. So, Spokespace has been back again sharing their exciting tests from their Moses Lake test site.

[14:31] I think it's been great seeing them continuously kicking goals while going through the Xenus engine hotfire process, and as you can see, they've been having a bunch of fun with this drone. Right behind it, the first-stage structure with a thin layer of frost

[14:45] was clearly visible as they filled it with liquid oxygen and nitrogen. We even have a few updates from VAST, announcing that they are establishing their European headquarters in Paris.

[14:57] They have, in fact, signed an agreement with the French government for two astronaut missions plans for 2027. First legendary French astronaut Thomas Busquet is to return to orbit as commander in a private mission to the International Space Station,

[15:10] but the bigger news is the second mission. ISAC astronaut Arnaud Prost is expected to fly on the first crewed test flight of vast Seven-One Station, which, if all goes to plan, would mean that he'll be one of the first humans ever to visit the first commercial space station.

[15:27] Both missions are expected to last around two weeks, of crews launching aboard SpaceX's driving with Falcon 9. Beyond simply sending astronauts to orbit, though, the flight assessed to carry French science experiments

[15:39] and technology demonstrators as the space industry transitions towards commercial stations in low Earth orbit. Speaking of, you may recall a few months back that NASA announced they were reviewing alternative approaches

[15:52] for replacing the International Space Station. That included the possibility for developing a government-led core module for the station. For that idea, it would detach from the International Space Station once the time was right and simply become a core module of a future commercial space station.

[16:09] Interestingly though, the feedback from the industry argues that they already have the transportation capabilities and business plans needed to sustain stations beyond CISS. So yes, if true, that means that NASA's potential plan there would undermine the very market that they're trying to create.

[16:25] So NASA is shelving that idea for now to let the industry lead. This to me seems like it is probably for the best, because then NASA just becomes a customer, utilising the station and helping to pay that cost, rather than trying to half manage the whole situation.

[16:41] Now after last week's horrible explosion at Launch Complex 36, we've had a number of surprising updates from Blue Origin after they were able to get back in there to scan over the pad and all of the infrastructure around it.

[16:53] Given that all the fire lasted for hours, it took a little while to get back in there. But yeah, there was soon plenty of efforts to secure the area and begin assessing all that damage. Very surprising to all of us, much of the critical infrastructure appears to have survived.

[17:08] According to Dave Limp the entire propellant farm including the liquid oxygen hydrogen and liquid natural gas storage tank remains largely intact That definitely a significant win because replacing those components would have eaten up a lot of time

[17:24] Along with that, the site's water tower, which definitely looked very toasted in these images by Greg Scott, also escaped any major damage and can be repaired in place, so there's not a lot to worry about with any of these storage systems.

[17:37] The huge launch support tower, which remained standing, obviously took some substantial damage, but they've said here that this can be repaired in place instead of rebuilding a new launch tower from scratch, so this alone potentially saves months of time.

[17:52] We were also very happy to see that the horizontal integration facility near the launch site has also come out with very little damage. This contains the new Grand Booster at Never Tell Me The Orange, along with three upper stages, all appear to be at initial glance in good condition. I imagine

[18:08] they still need to do some more extensive scans before they know for sure, but given all the fires and blast damage, this is incredible news. As we had all been speculating last week, we had wondered if Blue Origin might just take the rebuild opportunity

[18:23] to skip ahead and move to the future 9x4 new green vehicle, but Dave has already officially dismissed that idea. Instead, he stated that the production of the current 7x2 vehicle configuration

[18:35] is proceeding at a strong pace, with stages continuing to roll off the production line and being stored for future flights. I think the most interesting part of these updates here, though, was around the obliterated transporter erector.

[18:49] Indeed, it seems like Blue Origin had already planned to replace this with a vertical integration structure anyway. Following this gigantic explosion, they will move directly to that system rather than building a replacement transporter erector.

[19:04] So, this is all better news than I think any of us would have expected, but, as usual, we have those extremely optimistic targets here now, suggesting that Ukraine will return to the pad and fly before the end of this year.

[19:17] Yes, look, that would be incredible to see, if true, but there is a staggering amount of work to be done for that to be even remotely possible. They do have one of the richest dudes in the world behind everything here, though, so who knows?

[19:29] Now this whole debacle has certainly left a gigantic issue for Amazon's LEO constellation work. While Blue Origin is busy undertaking this huge rebuild just a few miles down the coast,

[19:41] United launch alliance shot off the next batch of satellites to orbit aboard the LEO Atlas 7 mission. I have said this before, but Vulcan's limited flights are pretty problematic right now. Atlas 5 here, which we are watching launching from Space Launch Complex 41, is a rocket no longer in development.

[19:57] In fact, I believe there are only seven remaining. Six of those are allocated to Starliner currently, which, let's face it, has had no shortage of issues right from the start. So I wonder if some of those Atlas Vs may just get reallocated.

[20:11] But right now, that only leaves one more Atlas V launch for the LEO conservation. Of course, in this mission, ULA had no issue at all delivering everything exactly as expected. So we should see them back again in July for the next and final mission for Amazon

[20:27] if it remains that way. After that, it'll all be down to Vulcan and other launch providers to deploy the rest of the first-generation constellation. Remember, that is planned to have at least 3,200 satellites,

[20:40] but even after this mission, they've only got 330 satellites in orbit right now. New Green is obviously currently out of the equation for quite some time, and Vulcan is still grounded due to the investigation on the Sollent rocket boosters.

[20:53] In April, Northrop Grumman performed a successful static fire of a Gen 63XL SRB for the investigation, but I don't believe we've heard anything more on that since then. As a side note, if for any reason Blue Origin's BE-4 engines are shown to have been linked to the explosion from Newgren last week,

[21:12] you would assume that this would need to have its own investigation before Vulcan can fly. We did see these new images during the week from Amazon showing the completed integration of the first LEO-optimized Centaur upper stage, so that is something.

[21:25] This is Vulcan inside Amazon's dedicated vertical integration facility, so this will allow you, Elaine, to begin the next phase of testing for those upcoming LEO-Vulcan launches from Space Launch Complex 41. The thing is, while we are waiting for Vulcan and also New 3, that only leaves SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Ariane 6 even capable of launching any Amazon Rio satellites into orbit at all.

[21:49] Here is the thing, though. The next Ariane 6 is preparing for the first ever launch using the Block 2 upgrades, I believe. That looks to be scheduled in at the end of this month, and it'll be using higher-thrust P-160 booters instead of the P-120s.

[22:04] Now, with those, it'll be capable of launching 36 satellites into orbit instead of what we saw with the previous two Ariane 6 missions, which each had sets of 32 on board.

[22:16] Anyway, this means that it's not just another repeat mission for Ariane Space. They are introducing pretty significant performance upgrades for the first time, which can always cause some hiccups and further added delays.

[22:28] With that, I currently don't see an Amazon Rio mission coming up for Falcon 9 anytime soon, So with all these challenges, how quickly Amazon can realistically get satellites up there remains to be seen.

[22:40] So I hope you enjoyed this video, my friends. If you did, don't forget to hit subscribe so we get to keep making them. If you want to continue with more space goodness, check out this video here next. Thanks for watching all this way through. As always, I'll catch you next weekend.

[23:03] Thank you.