Hello, we are TheSpaceXFans and welcome to TheSpaceXShow, the place where you can stay
up to date with everything SpaceX.
Today we have just one small SpaceX article to look at, so most of the video will be spent
over in Boca Chica, as well as looking at Starship.
So let’s head straight in and get up to date…
Starting this video is a new article from CNBC with regards to a SpaceX presentation
to the FCC last month.
During the presentation, apparently SpaceX said that they were producing 120 Starlink
satellites per month.
Not only that, but apparently SpaceX have invested over $70 million developing and producing
thousands of consumer user terminals per month.
As I said, just one bit of SpaceX information so now let’s go to Boca Chica and see what’s
up.
Something we’ve not seen too much recently, here we have workers pouring concrete over
by the Super Heavy launch pad.
I just want to show you a cool aerial shot once again from Mauricio at RGV Aerial Photography.
Just a reminder that the Cessna and pilot services to get the awesome aerial photos
is expensive.
If you can, go and support their Patreon, link in the description.
Anyway, here you can see that we have a great shot of the launch pad foundations and it’s
looking good.
We’ve recently seen the arrival of a new Manitowoc crane that was also seen being put
together last episode.
They’ve also been spotted with a Manitowoc 14000 crane over at the launch pad construction.
Whether it’s the same crane, I’m not sure but either way, this thing is a behemoth.
Also spotted has been a bunch of rebar bits and pieces I believe.
So hopefully in the not too distant future, we might start seeing them build the actual
structure for the pad.
Not too far away from there is the launch mount in which SN5 recently lifted off from.
You can see that SpaceXers are continuing post-hop work and repairs on the mount in
preparation for future testing, more on that later in the video.
Nearby, the company has been beginning some work with the ground, and whilst I may be
wrong, I believe here they’re driving piles.
I wonder what it is they're planning to construct here.
Just behind the test mount for Starship prototypes there was recently another test tank which
was SN7.
Whilst it has been removed since its test to failure, it appears that workers are now
doing further work over by the test area.
Next to the Starship launch mount, there were some new buildings being constructed and a
wall going up.
Looks like now there’s even more foundational work going on for yet another building.
At the moment, it’s not clear what exactly the newly built structures will be used for,
nor what this new one will be.
However, here we have a closer view of part of what has already been constructed.
If you know what this could be, let me know down in the comments.
As you will all have probably seen in recent videos, SpaceX have been working on a new
restaurant or eating area.
They added the old Mk1 fins to make the place look cooler and now they’ve added some greenery
to make it a more relaxing environment.
This area is turning into such a cool place.
At the production area of the facility, the high bay construction has obviously progressed
some more.
All 4 corners are now put together and so next up for Bluezilla will be to level up
the high bay with level 4.
To finish up the Boca Chica updates before we look at Starships and future testing to
expect, we have the scrap pile.
What you can see is some old Starship legs that are no longer needed.
However, there are some new legs that have been spotted at the SpaceX facility, likely
the version 1.1 legs that Musk mentioned.
Moving onto Starship pieces, over by the nose cone area, a nose was moved inside the tent
once again.
A new section inside of a tent with TPS tiles has also been spotted.
You can see the X shape the workers have created with these heat shield tiles, I wonder what
Starship serial number this will be for.
Right now I’m going to guess SN8.
There’s also a fantastic close-up of these thermal protection tiles.
I’m not sure what this attachment method is, although I do know that they’ve previously
attempted stud welding.
Will be interesting to see how these hold up when the Starship that this section belongs
to flies.
In terms of heat shield tiles, Musk was asked “Are these different heat shields on each
vehicle?
Are you still experimenting with materials/welding technique for the tiles?”
He responded by saying “Same hex tiles, slightly different mounting method.
Need bigger sections of tiles to see how they hold up with cryo shrinkage, pressure expansion
& body bending.”
So, another interesting thing we’ve seen recently is work being done on the retired
SN2 bopper.
This test tank is still undergoing work with what appears to be some sort of piping.
Again, it’s always uncertain what they’re doing when they do unexpected stuff like this.
With a closer look inside the concrete stand the tank is sitting on, you can see even more
piping.
The only thing that I can think they might be doing is building a storage unit for some
sort of liquid.
Moving onto SN5 which has recently still been chilling out on the landing pad after it’s
awesome little flight.
SpaceX have been working on preparing the vehicle to move it back to the construction
yard as well as doing some inspections.
Then, early in the week, the tank was placed onto the roll lift.
On Tuesday, the road to the Boca Chica beach was closed and the SN5 prototype started rolling
down the road.
Some hour or so later and it had pretty much arrived in the production area to go through
some probably very thorough inspections.
They should hopefully get some very good practice for the many tests to come.
Just before we move onto information about testing, you can see here we have SN6.
It’s still hanging out in the mid bay along with the partially stacked SN8 prototype.
However, SN6’s time in the mid bay is now over and her spot will be replaced with SN5.
As always, Everyday Astronaut asked Elon Musk on Twitter about what we can expect with SN5.
He asked “Will it fly again?
Will it get 3 raptors and fly a little higher?
Will it Hopper and just watch the others fly?”.
Musk responded with some exciting information by saying “Not sure yet, but hopefully.
Will need leg & other repairs.
Probably SN6 flies before SN5.
We need to make flights simple & easy - many per day.”
So here’s the crazy part, whilst SN5 was rolled back into the construction yard, SN6
was rolled out.
It was placed onto the roll lift just outside the mid bay in order to head over to the pad
and hop on the test stand.
It was then obviously rolled down the road and into the testing area of the facility,
thanks SPadre for filming this.
SN6 has not yet been placed on the test stand since I believe it’s still undergoing some
preparations.
However, hopefully we don’t have nearly as many delays with this prototype as with
SN5.
Yesterday, Musk also tweeted a picture of the two Starship prototypes side by side in
the construction area.
He tweeted SN5 and SN6 at Starship production complex in Texas.
In response to his own tweet with the picture of the two tanks, Musk added some information
about SN7.
He said “SN7 will be new alloy test tank taken to burst pressure.
SN8 will have body flaps & nosecone.”
Incredibly exciting and I cannot wait until SpaceX are testing and flying more regularly.
With 2 Starship tanks in the inventory, plus a whole load of Starships in the works, we
could start seeing it more often.
As always though, an enormous thank you to the one and only Mary, otherwise known as
BocaChicaGal for her time and dedication.
Also thank you to the rest of the NASASpaceFlight team for all their coverage and livestreams,
as well as Jack Beyer with his great editing.
We all thank each of you immensely.
Also, thank you to Mauricio of RGV Aerial Photography for his time and own money he
spends getting incredible aerial photos.
Remember, the flights are expensive so the Patreon link is down in the description.
That’s it for this episode of TheSpaceXShow, I hope you enjoyed the video, if you did,
make sure to hit the like button and leave a comment down below.
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Thanks for watching and have a great day!