Hello, we are TheSpaceXFans and welcome to TheSpaceXShow, the place where you can stay
up to date with everything SpaceX.
Today we will begin by looking at yesterday’s launch of the Space Force’s GPS 3 satellite
and other SpaceX bits.
Then we have some standard updates on activity in Boca Chica, plus we have SN5 but today
there will be no SN6 or SN7, but there is the start of a new Starship.
Let’s head straight in and get up to date…
As I said, starting today with the recently launched GPS 3 satellite.
It lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 to deliver the Space Force’s satellite into
orbit.
The booster, B1060, then landed for the first time, but not just the first time for this
booster.
This is also the first time landing a booster from a mission for the U.S military.
The next launch of Starlink-9 which had previously been delayed multiple times looks set to launch
in about a week.
As you can see on TheSpaceXFans website, it’s now expected to liftoff on July 8th around
4pm UTC or 12pm EDT.
In this SpaceNews article, it talks about how the Space Force is becoming a lot more
receptive to reusable boosters.
Previous missions such as the last GPS mission used expendable boosters.
This was because the U.S Air Force didn’t think the rocket could achieve the required
mission trajectory and also bring the first stage back.
Launch services provider Exolaunch has apparently signed an agreement with SpaceX for future
launches.
The contract will allow Exolaunch to integrate NanoAvionics cubesats on SpaceX rideshare
missions.
Apparently the first of these cubesats will launch on the planned December 2020 rideshare
mission.
Not a huge amount of news but there is an article which is an interesting read about
SpaceX’s operating systems.
It also talks about other commonly used apps and software that is also used on Falcon 9
rockets.
As a web developer I think it’s really interesting that they use stuff like Linux, Chromium and
even JavaScript in their vehicles.
With the SpaceX updates covered, let’s now head over to Boca Chica as always and see
the action.
We’re starting in the test area with the new walls we’ve recently been seeing constructed.
As you can see they’re still being worked on and look to be progressing well.
Next, we don’t have many changes over here, but you can see the latest view of the Super
Heavy launch pad.
Workers are continuing to work on the foundations and get it ready for the structure that is
planning to be built.
On the same launch pad construction note, we recently saw a couple of augers in use.
However, as you can see here, some drill bits were recently spotted being transported away
from the facility.
Now, over at the construction area, the work on the Manitowoc crane has progressed.
Could be wrong, but it looks to me like there is not too much left before this machine will
be ready for use.
Also related to the construction of the new high bay, some more parts have arrived.
Some more metal beams and support structures have been spotted on trailers.
Mostly unchanged, you can see that the nose cone and nose cone stack are still sitting
outside.
As you will see shortly, I’m beginning to think that these might just be pathfinders.
Last episode, we saw a brand new downcomer pipe which feeds Methane through the LOX tank.
It has since been moved inside the gates of the construction area, but it’s still unclear
what vehicle this may be for.
My current guess is SN7, maybe SN8 because I would assume SN6 probably already has one.
Spotted under the downcomer as you can see by Jack Beyer’s great editing are some possible
leg pieces.
They don’t look entirely like what we’ve seen on SN5 so will be interesting to see
what these pieces are used for.
I also want to show you a scrap pile that was spotted with what looks to be parts of
the new nose cones.
These scrap nose cone pieces look like some of the tapered sections we’ve seen recently.
Maybe it's an indicator of what’s to come for the other existing noses.
You can also see here a bunch of scrap rolls of steel.
Before we take a look at SN5 and what to expect, we have one little bit of starship information.
SpaceX & NASA not long ago announced the Starship variant known as Lunar Starship which will
be used as part of the Artemis program.
There is a new article with information about how it will land and be controlled.
One key thing in the article is “In a recent discussion on the Deep Astronomy YouTube channel,
Nick Cummings of SpaceX stated that the new methane/oxygen RCS thrusters share a lot of
heritage with the Raptor engine, and that testing activities are planned to start next
year.”
Finally we have the SN5 tank which for a while was hanging out in the midbay, and for some
time alongside SN6.
In the last video we saw it rolled out and hooked up to the new launch mount.
Here is a great view panning down the rocket, it’s currently looking amazing and almost
ready for testing.
Since then, the vehicle has undergone its first cryogenic proof test.
Unfortunately, I’m unable to show the video right now.
You can see here that they filled it with Liquid Nitrogen for what was expected to be
a full cryo test.
However, they didn’t appear to do a full test and started detanking.
Before we finish up the video, we will take a look at some new Starship pieces.
These new bulkheads have been spotted in an onion tent.
It’s hard to say what these are for as we don’t know what’s next.
Musk recently mentioned a new SN7 bopper but I can also see a thrust section, so maybe
a new SN7 or SN8 full size tank.
As always, an enormous thank you goes to Mary, BocaChicaGal for capturing all of the awesome
footage she does.
Also an enormous thank you to the NASASpaceFlight team who does an incredible job sharing all
space related stuff.
You’re all truly awesome and we are grateful to you.
As you will have seen, I’ve changed the introduction slightly; I was unsure of the
change at first but think it’s more engaging this way.
Let me know if you prefer the new intro format down below.
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!