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Jack, do you have unlimited access at Starbase? I mean, obvioiusly you have to comply with pad clearing etc. but other than that? Can you go wherever you like?
Can I just say, I love your new intro with the remastered(?) music and the 4K shots of Delta IV Heavy and SLS lifting off. Hope to see equally amazing footage of a full Starship stack lifting off added to the intro soon.
Im tempted to buy some of that Soylent green powder to get you guys some sponsorship money to buy a headset that costs more than 15 bucks… otherwise cool episode as always.
I'm thinking that SpaceX having such an agressive and more regular launch schedule will give tourists to Florida an alternative to theme park visits, perhaps? Given the choice I'd choose watching a live launch. I expect there is growth potential in the tourist industry, yet to come, maybe?
Currently out there, going to try to watch the Inmarsat launch in an hour or so. The frequency of launches definitely made the idea of coming here from Europe more appealing. Update: incredible. One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
Another great video guys! Between Jack’s new update episodes and the expansion of these weekly episodes, NASASpaceflight has really stepped-up its game. Keep up the excellence!
@@berty1422 🙄 SpaceX ALWAYS planned to launch from Florida. They had started and paused Starship work at LC-39A, BEFORE work at Boca Chica took off. Apparently, Boca Chica was as much about learning how to build a Starship facility as it was about building and testing Starships. At the end of 2021, once SpaceX had figured out what they wanted from a Starship facility, they cleared away the initial work at LC-39A and started building the tower and OLM. SpaceX is building factory buildings at Boca Chica AND and KSC. The FAA review lists 5 sub-orbital and 5 orbital operational launches per year from Boca Chica (pg 14). That is almost certainly due to the Texas law on not being able to restrict access to public beaches. The Texas legislature already had to modify the law years ago to allow SpaceX even the limited closures that they have now. Some Texans are saying that SpaceX closes the beach too much already. To get the launch cadence that some want at Boca Chica, Texas would have to permanently close Boca Chica Beach and Texas does not look willing to do that. Musk has said that Boca Chica will be an R&D.
Great new format for these videos guys.. I like the way you transition the video at the very end, and fade the outro music up - it prepares the viewer for the end of the video - much nicer than the sometimes harsh "cut to outro with instantly loud music" from previous videos.. good editing.. :) Thomas's audio was a big scratchy though, not sure how you'd clean that up..
Thanks, really interesting assessment. Particularly appreciate the focus on discussing what's happening and not doing a lot of speculating. All the best
Been watching your launch coverage for many, many months now... Now I have FACES to go with the voices !!!!! Your coverage gets better every month as you get more practice.
You guys are doing an excellent job of keeping all of us up to date on the happenings at KSC. So cool to see all the different companies at work there to further our future in space.
I have to say the videos with voice are way better then subtitles, even if you just did narration to the videos would be 2X better even if you didn't show your beautiful faces. I'm truly grateful for everyone's hard work and dedication to bring us the latest news and events. The activity in space almost needs a daily news segment because not everyone knows or understands what they are looking at. Good luck and GOD speed to everyone.
@@Blacktrous I have to stop using voice to text ugh. I know I suck at grammar but can rebuild an engine without repair manual. Maybe I should switch to chat GPT LOL
@@rchilton Yes INDEED. I was just saying that a voice narration would be 2X better than none. Having the faces to go with is 10X better. I greatly enjoy all content from NASASpaceflight and many others
We touched on that on an earlier video and the bottom line is we just don't know right now and no work is underway on any location for a third starship tower. Right now it looks like they're just building it for when they actually are allowed to build the next tower and go and put it right away instead of waiting to build it. They're also taking it slowly, the main structure is built but things like pipes and cables haven't been installed yet and the concrete is only been poured now. Compared to how they built 39A, that's rather slow.
@@jeffmentzer9186 Gwynne Shotwell announced a few days ago that the two rigs are being sold and plans for sea launches are now on hold until they gain experience in launching Starships from land.
@@ale131296 My take on this has been they had the crews and setup for building the Pad 39A tower in place and up to speed so they logically kept going, just at a reduced pace. They may now wind down once the structures reach a certain point.
Spacex is moving the crewed launches to slc-40 and building the next starship pad in the current pad39a. Maybe that's why the tower is shorter since pad39a is a bit higher than the current starship pad foundation.
The sheer amount of narrated content you make now is crazy, and I'm sure you guys are still setting things up, but consistency in audio quality and looking at the camera while talking would make watching the videos less awkward :) Just saying
Yes, just like Falcon 9, an elevator will be installed (a maintenance elevator currently exists in both towers) and a crew access arm will likely be installed If not, they will lift crew within Starship who boarded at ground level atop Superheavy Nothing is confirmed yet
That is likely years away. Elon Musk said that it will take hundreds of successful, operational Starship flights to prove its reliability, before humans could be put on board. The SpaceX planned cadence for Artemis III is 1 Starship variant launch every 12 days per page 10 of the GAO report denying the HLS complaints. So it will likely take a number of years to get hundreds of flights.
The structure at SLC36 is a 2nd-stage T/E for testing 2nd-stage engines over the flame trench. It will lock in to the same hinge pins as their main T/E.
Likely will be a backup until LC-49 starts construction. Then it would go there. SpaceX sold the oil rigs and may revisit ocean platforms in the future once Starship is operational.
@@steveaustin2686 I don't see LC-49 on Google Maps. Can you orient me to it? I know there are some barely developed sites at the northern end of the Space Force base, in my own mind they're possible sites if the tower will only catch initially. (Building one up to full launch status will take *a lot* more time and money. Especially money. SpaceX's supply isn't infinite.)
@@donjones4719 LC-49 is a notional launch area just to the NW of LC-39B. NASA and SpaceX are already working with the FAA for Starship launch approval from that area. If approved, which seems likely as that area was supposed to host another full LC-39 pad, then the land would need to be cleared and construction would start. So LC-49 would possibly be available for Artemis III, if it slides to 2026 like the NASA IG predicts.
@@steveaustin2686 Ah. I knew of the notional launch area but not that it's designated LC-49. Thanks! I've been looking up and down CCSpace Force Station at the current and derelict pads and all look too close to active pads or Space Force facilities to be used for Starship launches, considering the acoustic energy. I used the distance from pad 39B and the KSC main facilities for reference. Some could be used for catching only, of course. Hmm... It's plausible (on the SpaceX scale!) that they'd temporarily place Tower 3 on a simple pad on the Space Force base for catches. Plenty of old pads as candidates for that. This can be used while they prove catching enough to be allowed to use 39A. Meanwhile LC-49 can have all the infrastructure built - the tank farm, pilings, and OLC, etc. Then move Tower 3 there in sections - it'll be *relatively* easy to disassemble, it won't have complex plumbing. I'm hung up on the idea of NASA & DoD being very averse to catching at 39A for a while, a RUD will be very bad for Dragon-ISS launches. As of now NSSL FH launches require 39A. Crew Dragon is slated to launch from SLC-40 but the timeline is unknown. (Brings up another topic, will the NSSL VIF-MST now be built at SLC-40?)
The OLM is evidently around 370 tons, so the chopsticks might not be able to lift it. Both Superheavy and Starship (second stage) are less than 150-200 tons.
@@steveaustin2686 But do we actually know the limits of the chopsticks? Also, by using the chopsticks to take some of the weight, they could also do a tandem lift with the crane, removing the need for the awkward lift to avoid the chopsticks. The chopsticks would also provide very solid control of position that the crane would have to work really hard to deal with while getting the OLP in place. I believe the crane is also only rated up to around 350 tons, so a tandem lift might be just the thing they need to lift and move it into place.
@@JeffreyNaujok Why would there be such an extra capacity on the chopsticks, since the SpaceX plan is to pare down the mass of Starship, not increase it. Most likely, they won't lift the OLM, until the chopsticks can move. Then you open them and put them at the top of the tower. Then the lift can be between the chopsticks and well under them.
@@steveaustin2686: A landing Super Heavy with fuel and moving at 2-3 meters per second would put a lot of extra mass equivalent on the chopsticks. Also, a returning Starship carrying 150 tons of cargo would exceed the mass of Super Heavy. Starships returning cargo has often been talked about in the past. After all, returning 100 tons of moon rocks would be a massive boon to science as Apollo returned a total of 842 pounds of rocks. And, without landing gear, the only way to land the ship is with the chopsticks. If there's one reason to over-build the chopsticks, it's because they can't be allowed to fail, and their mass has no impact on the launch. My guess is that the chopsticks are MASSIVELY over-engineered. The winch, if it's in the class I think that it is (30-40 tons) added to the pulley block, and its 16:1 ratio should be capable of lifting around 500-600 tons. I don't know, it just feels to me like they did the whole thing backward if they weren't going to use the chopsticks to lift the OLT. Why put on the chopsticks first?
What would be the point of building a catch only tower? The whole point of Starship is rapid turnaround. Can’t do that if you have to transport the vehicles to an entirely different launch pad.
@@DavJumps The only explanation for Spacex doing that (that I can think of) would be a compromise with regulators. eg. if they weren't allowed to catch on the launch tower (for reasons like safety of propellant infrastructure), but don't want to make huge redesigns to boosters by making a version with giant legs they could give up the turn around time for now. It's not like they will achieve same day launches in the first years anyway (there will be tons of inspections initially). Perfect can't be the enemy of the good. Sometimes you have to slow down and make smaller steps.
The ML-1 is going to be used for Artemis I through Artemis III and is already built. The ML-2 for Artemis IV+ is expected to slide to at least 2027 and probably further per the NASA IG.
The USSF-67 mission had funding for a Vertical Integration Facility for NSSL payloads on the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. SpaceX has yet to start construction on the VIF.
Ya'll are awesome!!!! When ya gonna make StarShip Thermal Canisters and maybe a Donut Coffee Warmer for it to sit on? Or poke the Elon to see if he likes the idea and green lights it for us 'enthusiasts '. I personally would gut an extra and try to get it to fly ^_^
Certain military vehicles and planes have parts designed "for, not with" widget x. This allows for simple upgrades when/if desired. I suspect the catch arms at 39A are designed to catch but won't be used until catches have been well proven. This works in reverse for Tower 3. It'll initially catch only and then hopefully be upgraded with an OLM and full set of GSE. SpaceX's financial resources are large but not infinite, they can't build all of this in a year or two, especially since they're also upgrading SLC-40.
SLC-40 crew tower means SpaceX can use 39A for Starship without NASA getting worried about damage to the only active US crew launch facility. Certify SLC-40 and that worry goes away.
Not necessarily. The Falcon Heavy only launches from LC-39A. So unless SLC-40 is upgraded to also handle Falcon Heavy, the USSF and NASA would have problems if LC-39A is unusable due to a Starship RUD.
@@DavJumps SpaceX has to make changes at LC-39A to fit in the Falcon Heavy. Likely the biggest issue would be if SLC-40 was designed for rockets as large as the Falcon Heavy. It may be built that large, but I don't know for sure. The LC-39 pads were built for rockets twice the size of the Saturn-V, so Starship fits into the already approved size at LC-39A.
@@steveaustin2686 Eh, I was probably mostly asleep when I wrote that. Sounds like I was responding to the idea FH only launched from SLC-40. Does it only launch from LC-39A? Then this is the same deal with crewed flights and don't see why FH was even brought up. I should note I'm mostly asleep now, too, so this is probably just more nonsense.
Which launchpad is directly across the river from Shiloh's to the left (North) of the VAB? There's a huge black tower being built, is that the Starship tower? It's really tricky trying figure where the launchpads are from ground level across the river. If you drive South on US-1 it gets even harder because things in the distance that should be way South now look like they are way North (or maybe the other way around)! I'm guessing due to the curvature of the Earth?
Has anyone speculated that the second Mechazilla at KSC might be utilized at SLC-40 for crewed Falcon 9 launches and then converted to support Starship in the future?
Yes, but that does not seem to be what the crew tower at SLC-40 will be. Apparently, it is shorter than a Starship tower and likely will be very similar to the one at LC-39A.
@@DavJumps KSC has two undeveloped launch sites north of 39A and B. Most speculation is that SpaceX will use one of those. I can see them mounting the second Starship launch tower at SLC-40 with a crew access arm for Falcon 9, but no support equipment for Starship. In two to three years when Falcon 9’s are retired, it could be converted to Starship launches.
Many have speculated about it and we tackle that exact same question on this video. No, the tower at Roberts Road is 100% for Starship not for Falcon 9.
@@markellis9967 NASA and SpaceX have been reported as working with the FAA for a year, about one or more Starship pads at LC-49, to the NW of LC-39B, which is where those unbuilt LC-39 pads are at.
@NASASpaceflight Clearly they’ll not lift the OLP until the drawworks are in place and they can lift the chopsticks up the tower and plenty out of the way.
@NASASpaceflight How do I disable chapters on the AppleTV TH-cam app? I can’t skip back 10 seconds if I missed something - I get shot back to the beginning of the previous chapter. Total pain the butt, especially since going back is also a crap shoot if I can avoid getting tossed ahead a chapter or two. Understand why you use them, but they are devil spawn to me.
Why? The Firefly Alpha small lift booster is roughly half as tall as the F9 booster and half the diameter. And the Antares 330 booster that they are developing with Northrop Grumman is a medium lift booster that will like be similar in size to the F9.
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I did *not* expect Jack to be the Athletic Greens spokesperson!
Most of the other TH-cam channels are pushing razors made with aerospace technology 🤔, I'm guessing that not very compatible with this channel?🧔
I don't think foods can be claimed to be superfoods anymore, not in UK anyhow.
Jack, do you have unlimited access at Starbase? I mean, obvioiusly you have to comply with pad clearing etc. but other than that? Can you go wherever you like?
The audio quality isn’t the best from Thomas, but a great update as usual! Thanks NSF
Sounds muffled: Highs and mids are mushy.
Pretend like he's flying an airplane.
Yeah, it would be nice if they all had proper streaming mics.
Thomas has a really nice silky smooth voice but yeah a mic improvement would be the go.
Somebody get them a razor 😬 Looking like mountain men
Can I just say, I love your new intro with the remastered(?) music and the 4K shots of Delta IV Heavy and SLS lifting off. Hope to see equally amazing footage of a full Starship stack lifting off added to the intro soon.
Thanks guys! A bacon sponsor would have been much more convincing though. 🥓
The extent and speed of SpaceX operations is truly amazing, and inspiring.
The audio quality in this video is lower than your other videos.
Narration! thank you!! Thank You!!! THANK YOU!!!
the dedication you guys put into these updates and coverage is amazing. we love you nsf
Im tempted to buy some of that Soylent green powder to get you guys some sponsorship money to buy a headset that costs more than 15 bucks… otherwise cool episode as always.
Thanks guys great team work
Another great round up video. Thanks!
Athletic greens must have a monster ad budget. They are now advertising on just about every youtube channel I watch
Can't wait til we get to see a falcon 9 and a starship sitting side by side at 39a!!!!
Such a great radio voice...my speakers were booming lol
I'm thinking that SpaceX having such an agressive and more regular launch schedule will give tourists to Florida an alternative to theme park visits, perhaps? Given the choice I'd choose watching a live launch. I expect there is growth potential in the tourist industry, yet to come, maybe?
Currently out there, going to try to watch the Inmarsat launch in an hour or so. The frequency of launches definitely made the idea of coming here from Europe more appealing.
Update: incredible. One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
It is on my list.
In Summer we also want to fly from Europe to Florida an i Hope to see a Launch. Is there a place you can recommend?
@Frederik Kerger I drove around Cocoa Beach for a few hours once. When I go down there, that is where I hope to explore for a while.
@@frederikkerger2675 personally stayed at the Marriott across from the Cape and watched it from the space bar.
I'd like Thomas to narrate my everyday life
That opening sounds like he should be narrating a true crime podcast. “What we saw, solved a months old mystery”
Thank you guys for keeping us updated! You are all the best.
Such exciting progress! I am loving these narrated videos!
Thank you for the video team NSF. Excellent work
Another great video guys! Between Jack’s new update episodes and the expansion of these weekly episodes, NASASpaceflight has really stepped-up its game.
Keep up the excellence!
They have to step up, as once Boca is closed down, they have nothing. Even the overflight in Florida will be shutdown.
@@berty1422 Don't hold your breath as Boca will NOT be closing for many years yet.........nice try though!!!
@@berty1422 🙄 SpaceX ALWAYS planned to launch from Florida. They had started and paused Starship work at LC-39A, BEFORE work at Boca Chica took off. Apparently, Boca Chica was as much about learning how to build a Starship facility as it was about building and testing Starships. At the end of 2021, once SpaceX had figured out what they wanted from a Starship facility, they cleared away the initial work at LC-39A and started building the tower and OLM. SpaceX is building factory buildings at Boca Chica AND and KSC.
The FAA review lists 5 sub-orbital and 5 orbital operational launches per year from Boca Chica (pg 14). That is almost certainly due to the Texas law on not being able to restrict access to public beaches. The Texas legislature already had to modify the law years ago to allow SpaceX even the limited closures that they have now. Some Texans are saying that SpaceX closes the beach too much already. To get the launch cadence that some want at Boca Chica, Texas would have to permanently close Boca Chica Beach and Texas does not look willing to do that. Musk has said that Boca Chica will be an R&D.
Bacon is the food of Gods 😋 see Al Murray...
Pro intro but I still miss the super excited "watertowers CAN FLY!!!"
@nasaspaceflight thank you for including so many presenters and so much information. This format was packed with good stuff!
Great and interesting updates, thanks NSF team.
Thanks NSF team. I look forward to every video you make!
Great sponsorship ad delivery by Jack. Keep up the good work, NSF!
Great again
Big win with this all hands on deck digest format!
Great job. More of these, please. 👍🏼
Great new format for these videos guys.. I like the way you transition the video at the very end, and fade the outro music up - it prepares the viewer for the end of the video - much nicer than the sometimes harsh "cut to outro with instantly loud music" from previous videos.. good editing.. :)
Thomas's audio was a big scratchy though, not sure how you'd clean that up..
Word.
I really like the videos of this format.
But definitely get Thomas a new mic for the next one :D
Love you stuff. Thank you to you all.
Thanks, really interesting assessment. Particularly appreciate the focus on discussing what's happening and not doing a lot of speculating. All the best
Been watching your launch coverage for many, many months now... Now I have FACES to go with the voices !!!!! Your coverage gets better every month as you get more practice.
If your beard turns green from AG1 your hair will be Epic
thanks a lot for your hard work and good informations!
You guys are doing an excellent job of keeping all of us up to date on the happenings at KSC. So cool to see all the different companies at work there to further our future in space.
Thanks for the update
I have to say the videos with voice are way better then subtitles, even if you just did narration to the videos would be 2X better even if you didn't show your beautiful faces. I'm truly grateful for everyone's hard work and dedication to bring us the latest news and events. The activity in space almost needs a daily news segment because not everyone knows or understands what they are looking at. Good luck and GOD speed to everyone.
Way better than*
@@Blacktrous I have to stop using voice to text ugh. I know I suck at grammar but can rebuild an engine without repair manual. Maybe I should switch to chat GPT LOL
Hold up, there were beautiful faces? 😘
@@rchilton Yes INDEED. I was just saying that a voice narration would be 2X better than none. Having the faces to go with is 10X better. I greatly enjoy all content from NASASpaceflight and many others
Thanks for that update, but after the intro I hoped to hear about where the 3rd Tower will be built.
We touched on that on an earlier video and the bottom line is we just don't know right now and no work is underway on any location for a third starship tower. Right now it looks like they're just building it for when they actually are allowed to build the next tower and go and put it right away instead of waiting to build it. They're also taking it slowly, the main structure is built but things like pipes and cables haven't been installed yet and the concrete is only been poured now. Compared to how they built 39A, that's rather slow.
@@ale131296 Nobody is mentioning the repurposed oil rigs. Why couldn't it possibly be for one of the new sea launch towers???
@@jeffmentzer9186 Gwynne Shotwell announced a few days ago that the two rigs are being sold and plans for sea launches are now on hold until they gain experience in launching Starships from land.
@@ale131296 My take on this has been they had the crews and setup for building the Pad 39A tower in place and up to speed so they logically kept going, just at a reduced pace. They may now wind down once the structures reach a certain point.
@@donjones4719 Thank you Don, I had not heard that. Much appreciated buddy!!!
Sweet bud guys nice work
So deep. sooo deep. Sloooow Deeeep.
What is this athletic greens?!!! How have I not heard is this before on every other TH-cam channel I watch?
That ad came out of nowhere
Thomas rocking that VOICE of GOD tone, while Jack is going with the cardboard box sound. 🍺😁 (jkjk)
bad audio quality from first guy, but great vid
Where do you find info about the lots and diagrams like the one at 8:36?
Public records, probably. Construction and environmental plans need to be filed with local governments and accessible to the public.
I hear them saying "It taste great!", but the look in their eyes...
I want that orange shirt NOW!
Love the BTS
Spacex is moving the crewed launches to slc-40 and building the next starship pad in the current pad39a. Maybe that's why the tower is shorter since pad39a is a bit higher than the current starship pad foundation.
The crew tower at SLC-40 is apparently going to be like the crew tower for LC-39A and not use the 3rd tower segments.
So where is the 3rd tower for then?
Yeah, when I heard the teaser, I was hoping for THAT answer. That’s the big question, folks; where are your mind-reading skills when we need them? 😊
Likely as a backup until LC-49 starts construction.
You guys need to level the audio better. The intro music was ear piercingly loud
Does Thomas have a cold is there a problem with the mic audio ??? Even Jack sounds different
13:22 wen crew tower launch?
Some really cool beards guys…
Great job guys and now we have the answer to our questions 😊 I’m surprised a pig farm isn’t sponsoring Jack 😂
Jack's hair needs to be investigated by science, as it seems to respond to gravity more than everyone else's hair. 😎
I bet all those new landing strips will be for Dreamchaser and the like. Maybe even X-33? haha just kidding, would be cool though
I wonder if Dream Chaser has any facilities at KSC.
They’ve already got one of the world’s biggest landing strips. They’re just adding ramps and industrial facilities alongside.
It's still no launch table in Florida.
Hi 😎👍✌💯
Tower 3 may still be heading to LC40.
Nah, apparently the filings for SLC-40 are for a shorter tower. Not to mention that the crew access tower doesn't need the Starship lift stuff.
The sheer amount of narrated content you make now is crazy, and I'm sure you guys are still setting things up, but consistency in audio quality and looking at the camera while talking would make watching the videos less awkward :) Just saying
How will people board starship when it's ready for people. Will there be an elavator in the center of the tower?
Yes, just like Falcon 9, an elevator will be installed (a maintenance elevator currently exists in both towers) and a crew access arm will likely be installed
If not, they will lift crew within Starship who boarded at ground level atop Superheavy
Nothing is confirmed yet
That is likely years away. Elon Musk said that it will take hundreds of successful, operational Starship flights to prove its reliability, before humans could be put on board. The SpaceX planned cadence for Artemis III is 1 Starship variant launch every 12 days per page 10 of the GAO report denying the HLS complaints. So it will likely take a number of years to get hundreds of flights.
Intro sounds like he's voicing it from the helicopter!
Darth Burghardt!
Great info kids. Thanks!
Slc-40
The structure at SLC36 is a 2nd-stage T/E for testing 2nd-stage engines over the flame trench. It will lock in to the same hinge pins as their main T/E.
Fear the BEARDS!
Still no words on where the third tower will go.
Likely will be a backup until LC-49 starts construction. Then it would go there. SpaceX sold the oil rigs and may revisit ocean platforms in the future once Starship is operational.
@@steveaustin2686 I don't see LC-49 on Google Maps. Can you orient me to it? I know there are some barely developed sites at the northern end of the Space Force base, in my own mind they're possible sites if the tower will only catch initially. (Building one up to full launch status will take *a lot* more time and money. Especially money. SpaceX's supply isn't infinite.)
@@donjones4719 LC-49 is a notional launch area just to the NW of LC-39B. NASA and SpaceX are already working with the FAA for Starship launch approval from that area. If approved, which seems likely as that area was supposed to host another full LC-39 pad, then the land would need to be cleared and construction would start. So LC-49 would possibly be available for Artemis III, if it slides to 2026 like the NASA IG predicts.
@@steveaustin2686 Ah. I knew of the notional launch area but not that it's designated LC-49. Thanks! I've been looking up and down CCSpace Force Station at the current and derelict pads and all look too close to active pads or Space Force facilities to be used for Starship launches, considering the acoustic energy. I used the distance from pad 39B and the KSC main facilities for reference. Some could be used for catching only, of course.
Hmm... It's plausible (on the SpaceX scale!) that they'd temporarily place Tower 3 on a simple pad on the Space Force base for catches. Plenty of old pads as candidates for that. This can be used while they prove catching enough to be allowed to use 39A. Meanwhile LC-49 can have all the infrastructure built - the tank farm, pilings, and OLC, etc. Then move Tower 3 there in sections - it'll be *relatively* easy to disassemble, it won't have complex plumbing.
I'm hung up on the idea of NASA & DoD being very averse to catching at 39A for a while, a RUD will be very bad for Dragon-ISS launches. As of now NSSL FH launches require 39A. Crew Dragon is slated to launch from SLC-40 but the timeline is unknown. (Brings up another topic, will the NSSL VIF-MST now be built at SLC-40?)
LZ 1 or LZ 2
Jack is that a orange (fruit) sticker on that orange (color) shirt during the sponsor read? very clever
I miss "Yikes, you bet, concur".
So do I 😢
Well you shouldn't miss it for a narrated video cause we've never done it for them heh
Can we assign some of the NSF budget towards getting Thomas a new mic? Otherwise fantastic video yet again!
I only eat lazy greens.
Why not use the chopsticks (with straps/cables) to lift the OLP into position?
The OLM is evidently around 370 tons, so the chopsticks might not be able to lift it. Both Superheavy and Starship (second stage) are less than 150-200 tons.
@@steveaustin2686 But do we actually know the limits of the chopsticks? Also, by using the chopsticks to take some of the weight, they could also do a tandem lift with the crane, removing the need for the awkward lift to avoid the chopsticks. The chopsticks would also provide very solid control of position that the crane would have to work really hard to deal with while getting the OLP in place. I believe the crane is also only rated up to around 350 tons, so a tandem lift might be just the thing they need to lift and move it into place.
@@JeffreyNaujok Why would there be such an extra capacity on the chopsticks, since the SpaceX plan is to pare down the mass of Starship, not increase it.
Most likely, they won't lift the OLM, until the chopsticks can move. Then you open them and put them at the top of the tower. Then the lift can be between the chopsticks and well under them.
Clearly they’ll not lift the OLP until the drawworks are in place and they can lift the chopsticks up the tower and plenty out of the way.
@@steveaustin2686: A landing Super Heavy with fuel and moving at 2-3 meters per second would put a lot of extra mass equivalent on the chopsticks. Also, a returning Starship carrying 150 tons of cargo would exceed the mass of Super Heavy. Starships returning cargo has often been talked about in the past. After all, returning 100 tons of moon rocks would be a massive boon to science as Apollo returned a total of 842 pounds of rocks.
And, without landing gear, the only way to land the ship is with the chopsticks. If there's one reason to over-build the chopsticks, it's because they can't be allowed to fail, and their mass has no impact on the launch. My guess is that the chopsticks are MASSIVELY over-engineered. The winch, if it's in the class I think that it is (30-40 tons) added to the pulley block, and its 16:1 ratio should be capable of lifting around 500-600 tons.
I don't know, it just feels to me like they did the whole thing backward if they weren't going to use the chopsticks to lift the OLT. Why put on the chopsticks first?
Bacon 🥓 lol! Grate video nsf!
But it's Bacon.... ...BACON !
indeed, you just don't need to advertise bacon. Name says it all.
Thanks for all your work and thomas you are one of the best. But can you please get your self a new microphone?
Great vids all but Thomas needs a better mic lol, he got a deep voice like myself so yer , change your mic next time lol
A catching only tower doesn't need to be as tall as a stacking and launching tower
Mmm 🤔
What would be the point of building a catch only tower? The whole point of Starship is rapid turnaround. Can’t do that if you have to transport the vehicles to an entirely different launch pad.
@@DavJumps The only explanation for Spacex doing that (that I can think of) would be a compromise with regulators. eg. if they weren't allowed to catch on the launch tower (for reasons like safety of propellant infrastructure), but don't want to make huge redesigns to boosters by making a version with giant legs they could give up the turn around time for now. It's not like they will achieve same day launches in the first years anyway (there will be tons of inspections initially). Perfect can't be the enemy of the good. Sometimes you have to slow down and make smaller steps.
Love the Florida updates. Thank you for your hard work!
Does anyone know if SpaceX is acquiring additional drone ships to support the accelerating launch cadence?
Would love to see any updates on the mobile launcher for artemis as they upgrade it for the crewed launch
The ML-1 is going to be used for Artemis I through Artemis III and is already built. The ML-2 for Artemis IV+ is expected to slide to at least 2027 and probably further per the NASA IG.
Would falcon heavy require vertical stacking? 🚀
The USSF-67 mission had funding for a Vertical Integration Facility for NSSL payloads on the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. SpaceX has yet to start construction on the VIF.
Ya'll are awesome!!!! When ya gonna make StarShip Thermal Canisters and maybe a Donut Coffee Warmer for it to sit on? Or poke the Elon to see if he likes the idea and green lights it for us 'enthusiasts '. I personally would gut an extra and try to get it to fly ^_^
I heard Green, and thought Soylent... 🤔
Also thinking ZZ Top... 😉
And no solar panels on the SpaceX building...
Love the vids, maybe Thomas needs a mic upgrade 😅
Certain military vehicles and planes have parts designed "for, not with" widget x. This allows for simple upgrades when/if desired. I suspect the catch arms at 39A are designed to catch but won't be used until catches have been well proven. This works in reverse for Tower 3. It'll initially catch only and then hopefully be upgraded with an OLM and full set of GSE.
SpaceX's financial resources are large but not infinite, they can't build all of this in a year or two, especially since they're also upgrading SLC-40.
They’d have had all the money they ever needed if Elon could have left Twitter well enough alone and not tanked Tesla with his right wing pandering. 😕
They already have parts for that third OLM and there's no indication they're building a catch-only tower
SLC-40 crew tower means SpaceX can use 39A for Starship without NASA getting worried about damage to the only active US crew launch facility. Certify SLC-40 and that worry goes away.
Not necessarily. The Falcon Heavy only launches from LC-39A. So unless SLC-40 is upgraded to also handle Falcon Heavy, the USSF and NASA would have problems if LC-39A is unusable due to a Starship RUD.
Wouldn’t they just need to cut a bigger hole in the back of SLC-40’s HIF and cart the Falcon Heavy strongback over to 39A?
39A supported the Saturn 5 and Space Shuttles. Falcon Heavy should be doable.
@@DavJumps SpaceX has to make changes at LC-39A to fit in the Falcon Heavy. Likely the biggest issue would be if SLC-40 was designed for rockets as large as the Falcon Heavy. It may be built that large, but I don't know for sure. The LC-39 pads were built for rockets twice the size of the Saturn-V, so Starship fits into the already approved size at LC-39A.
@@steveaustin2686 Eh, I was probably mostly asleep when I wrote that. Sounds like I was responding to the idea FH only launched from SLC-40. Does it only launch from LC-39A? Then this is the same deal with crewed flights and don't see why FH was even brought up.
I should note I'm mostly asleep now, too, so this is probably just more nonsense.
Which launchpad is directly across the river from Shiloh's to the left (North) of the VAB? There's a huge black tower being built, is that the Starship tower? It's really tricky trying figure where the launchpads are from ground level across the river. If you drive South on US-1 it gets even harder because things in the distance that should be way South now look like they are way North (or maybe the other way around)! I'm guessing due to the curvature of the Earth?
39A
Has anyone speculated that the second Mechazilla at KSC might be utilized at SLC-40 for crewed Falcon 9 launches and then converted to support Starship in the future?
Yes, but that does not seem to be what the crew tower at SLC-40 will be. Apparently, it is shorter than a Starship tower and likely will be very similar to the one at LC-39A.
They might want to put the second tower on one of the Falcon landing pads?
@@DavJumps KSC has two undeveloped launch sites north of 39A and B. Most speculation is that SpaceX will use one of those. I can see them mounting the second Starship launch tower at SLC-40 with a crew access arm for Falcon 9, but no support equipment for Starship. In two to three years when Falcon 9’s are retired, it could be converted to Starship launches.
Many have speculated about it and we tackle that exact same question on this video. No, the tower at Roberts Road is 100% for Starship not for Falcon 9.
@@markellis9967 NASA and SpaceX have been reported as working with the FAA for a year, about one or more Starship pads at LC-49, to the NW of LC-39B, which is where those unbuilt LC-39 pads are at.
I'm hearing all these sections will go to Starbase for a second tower.
@NASASpaceflight
Clearly they’ll not lift the OLP until the drawworks are in place and they can lift the chopsticks up the tower and plenty out of the way.
my guess for MegaZilla is 5 1/2 weeks.
674k subs should be enough to buy dear Thomas here a new microphone :)
What’s up with your voice?
Bad mic
Who's voice?
@@kokomo9764 Thomas is pretty muffled to me
@NASASpaceflight
How do I disable chapters on the AppleTV TH-cam app? I can’t skip back 10 seconds if I missed something - I get shot back to the beginning of the previous chapter. Total pain the butt, especially since going back is also a crap shoot if I can avoid getting tossed ahead a chapter or two.
Understand why you use them, but they are devil spawn to me.
Oven bacon!
(wild theory) Firefly buying a launch tower?
Why? The Firefly Alpha small lift booster is roughly half as tall as the F9 booster and half the diameter. And the Antares 330 booster that they are developing with Northrop Grumman is a medium lift booster that will like be similar in size to the F9.