Hello, we are TheSpaceXFans and welcome to TheSpaceXShow, the place where you can stay
up to date with everything SpaceX.
For the standard SpaceX updates we have almost nothing except a delay to the SXM-7 launch.
In Boca Chica however, we have a whole bunch of updates including the SN8 remains and SN9
problems.
Let’s head straight in and get up to date…
SpaceX were expected to launch the SXM-7 satellite on Friday, but scrubbed the launch just before
liftoff.
They tweeted “Standing down from today’s launch attempt to perform additional ground
system checkouts; teams are working toward no earlier than Sunday, December 13 for next
launch attempt”.
So, as you can see on TheSpaceXFans website, we can expect it to lift off today at 4:22pm
UTC or 11:22am EDT.
An interesting article has been posted where apparently Indonesia has invited SpaceX to
assess the possibility of setting up a launch site there.
As I said we have very few standard updates, so in Boca Chica we can see engineers have
been working on the suborbital mount at pad B.
This was possibly in preparation for SN9’s arrival which has now been delayed.
Also possibly in relation to SN9, we have SpaceX’s giant rented crane known as Tankzilla
seen on the move.
Forklifts were seen assisting Tankzilla by grabbing beams of wood from the rear to continue
the path forward.
Outside in the construction yard, we have a great shot of the collection of Super Heavy
ring stacks as well as the Starship nosecone and other pieces.
Starship Mark 1 was SpaceX’s very first full size Starship and the nose has been disassembled
further as you can see.
The windbreaker building which SpaceX now uses for stacking Starship nosecones to barrel
sections has a ring stack sitting inside.
Also, in terms of noses, inside the nosecone fabrication tent we have some under construction.
This nose in front is possibly for SN10 and already has aerosurface covers for the canards.
A new ring stack was seen moved outside and this is the section to be sleeved with an
upper bulkhead for the forward stack of a new Starship.
There was a Liquid Oxygen downcomer seen being moved around, this feeds propellant from the
nosecone header tank down to the engines.
For those who may have missed it, SpaceX launched SN8 on Wednesday not long after my updates
video.
Here’s some great tracking footage from Mary’s view.
She was out there for many many hours to film this.
Also, NASASpaceflight member Jack Beyer, who usually edits the NSF videos was out there
for many many hours capturing more awesome footage.
I want to share an epic shot of the SN8 launch which SpaceX posted on Twitter, just spectacular.
SpaceX also posted this phenomenal footage from below of the SN8 landing flip manoeuvre.
For those who didn’t watch my video on Thursday, here is a tweet from Elon Musk explaining
why the prototype didn’t stick the landing.
He said “Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity
to be high & RUD, but we got all the data that we needed!”.
He also tweeted after the test flight “SN8 did great!
Even reaching apogee would’ve been great, so controlling all way to putting the crater
in the right spot was epic!”
Looking at the remnants of SN8, Steve Jurvetson who is a SpaceX board member responded to
a tweet from SPadre.
He added some up-close shots of the SN8 wreckage.
Looking at the remains some more, Elon and his dog called Marvin the Martian were spotted
walking around and inspecting the prototype pieces.
A whole bunch of other people were seen heading onto the landing pad at some point to take
a look.
Here’s another great view where you can see some damage caused to the tent at the
orbital launch pad area.
The lesson they will probably learn is don’t put a tent next to a landing pad for a test
vehicle.
There was a tweet from SPadre with a picture of the SN8 nosecone tip which survived in
somewhat good condition considering the explosion.
Elon Musk was asked if SpaceX could save the nosecone to be kept as a monument to remember,
he said “Agreed, should be preserved in memory of SN8!”
With SN8 now gone, it was looking good for SN9 which was ready and hanging out in the
high bay.
Then, in order to hopefully begin the testing campaign for SN9, SpaceX had a road closure
on Monday for the SN9 rollout as you can see on the Cameron County website.
Unfortunately though, this prototype has had an incident where it’s now fallen and is
resting on the high bay wall.
It’s believed that the stand it was sitting on collapsed.
Here you can see some of the damage caused and this will definitely have an impact on
the development and testing schedule.
Here’s another view where you can see one of the body flaps and it’s looking like
it’s got a bit of damage.
There’s also a view of the nosecone which is now leaning on the high bay wall.
It’s ironic that SN8 got damaged after achieving so much and SN9 didn’t even leave the production
area before sustaining damage.
Tankzilla which we saw on the move earlier was indeed moved over to the high bay to assist
SN9 to place it back upright.
Also seen being moved is a new transport stand for SN9 to sit on.
We will have to see what happens with SN9 but it’s definitely not going anywhere at
the moment.
So with that unfortunate news, it’s not all doom and gloom as the SN10 tank in the
mid bay is probably now waiting for its body flaps then a nosecone.
Alongside it in the mid bay structure is the Starship serial number 11 prototype tank which
is continuing to be worked on.
To finish up the video, I’ll also share the updated diagram thanks to Brendan Lewis.
We now have SN8 gone, but she left a great mark on the Starship program.
As I always do, I’d like to say thank you to Mary, known more commonly as BocaChicaGal
who goes out literally all day, every day to film this amazing footage.
Also behind the scenes is the NASASpaceflight team working super hard with livestreams and
other amazing space coverage, so thank you to them as well.
That’s it for this episode of TheSpaceXShow, I hope you enjoyed the video, if you did,
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Thanks for watching and have a great day!