Hello, we are TheSpaceXFans and welcome to TheSpaceXShow, the place where you can stay
up to date with everything SpaceX.
Today’s episode we will begin by looking at various SpaceX updates including the launches
that are coming up in a matter of days.
Then we have updates in Boca Chica, plus a bunch of views of SN5 including the rollout,
and testing dates.
Then finally we have a little SN6 and SN7 so let’s head straight in and get up to
date…
Starting off today is the Starlink-9 launch which was meant to lift off on multiple different
dates recently.
SpaceX had tweeted that they were targeting Friday 26th.
However, on Friday, they then tweeted “Standing down from today’s Starlink mission; team
needed additional time for pre-launch checkouts, but Falcon 9 and the satellites are healthy.
Will announce new target launch date once confirmed on the Range.”
Also on launch information, we have another launch on Tuesday 30th, as you can see on
TheSpaceXFans website.
SpaceX should launch the Space Force’s GPS 3 SV03 payload at 7:56pm UTC or 3:56pm EDT.
The Falcon 9 booster to launch this mission is B1060 and it will be a brand new booster.
So right now looks like GPS3 will lift off before the Starlink-9 launch.
With some Crew Dragon related news, there is a Tweet from Marcia Smith of SpacePolicyOnline.
She quoted something that somebody called Steve Stitch at NASA said recently.
He said they would be testing how 4 crew members in the capsule would work.
Also he said the earliest return of Endeavor would be August 2nd.
Just before we check out the Boca Chica and Starship stuff, let’s take a look at a Tweet
from Musk.
Rafael asked when the Starship presentation would be this year.
Austin replied to say probably September as all of the previous presentations have taken
place during that month.
Then Elon Musk confirmed that September sounds about right.
Now let’s take a look at some things over at the Boca Chica facility.
Starting with the construction work we’ve recently been seeing, and you can see it’s
progressed quite a bit.
Also work continues over at the Super Heavy launch pad.
There’s a new machine spotted that has been digging further holes.
I don’t know what exactly it’s for, nor do I know what the machine is but I’m sure
somebody in the comments will be able to tell us.
Over at the construction yard, Elon Musk recently tweeted this awesome aerial photo of SN5 and
SN6.
He tweeted it with the caption “two Starship tanks in the midbay”.
I’m going to call it a midbay now since the Super Heavy assembly building will definitely
be the high bay.
Also in the construction yard, work is continuing on the giant crane that will help build the
highbay.
You can SpaceX using a big crane to build the even bigger Manitowoc crane.
RGV Aerial Photography often hires a Cessna and pilot to go and take incredible shots
of the SpaceX facility from the air.
They want to do more regular trips to get further awesome photos, but the services they
hire are not cheap.
If you can, go and support their Patreon, there’s a link in the description.
This photo shows the new crane and gives a much better scale as to how huge this thing
will actually be.
You can see here that it’s being put together next to the highbay foundations.
Plus, there are loads of metal structures which I’m guessing are most likely for the
enormous building.
Hopefully it won’t be too long before it starts rising.
Before we check out the latest with Starship SN5, let’s take a look at some other Starship
things.
To start with, you can see here a scrap ring that was spotted moving out of the construction
yard.
Also, there is a new downcomer that recently arrived in the construction area.
As you can see from Jack Beyer’s awesome editing skills, it feeds the Methane through
the LOX tank.
Not sure if this is the section we recently saw outside, but here is another thrust section
spotted in an onion tent.
Whilst we can’t be sure what vehicle this will be for, I’m going to guess either SN7
or SN8.
Because we’ve had a little SN7 tank, the next full size tank build could be SN8, but
we will just have to wait and see.
Engineers were continuing to work on getting the test stand ready for the arrival of SN5.
Next to the mount, you can also see a very big crane.
That crane was also seen extending in order for it to be able to lift the test tank.
Then, as per last episode, on Wednesday 24th, the SN5 vehicle was filmed rolling down the
road and into the test area.
After being rolled in by the roll lift and moved over to the test stand, they got ready
to lift it.
Then the next step was to hook it up to the crane which is what they did.
I love this shot because it gives a great sense of scale with the people standing on
top of the vehicle, and this is without the nose cone and some more rings.
Finally, later in the day they started lifting the tank in order to be placed onto the test
stand.
So finally, about a month after the demise of SN4, we now have a new full size test tank
standing tall on the mount.
I’ll show you some views of the SN5 vehicle, starting with the test heat shield tiles you
can see.
Whilst a bunch of previous vehicles had them, I don’t think any have had this many.
Also this vehicle has varying sizes of TPS tiles attached so not entirely sure what they’re
wanting to test this time.
Another great view that was captured was the underside of the vehicle.
Not too long ago we saw the arrival of some new legs for this Starship, and here you can
see them currently chained up.
Whilst SN5 may now seem like it’s ready for testing, that’s not quite the case.
It usually takes them some days to add final preparations and hook the prototype up.
However, that is happening fast and it’s going to be ready very soon for testing.
In terms of testing, in the last video we saw some scheduled road and beach closures.
However, as is always the case, the dates have changed a little.
As you can see, the Monday 29th road closure was cancelled, but June 30th and July 1st
appear to still be on the table.
Not really much more to see but let’s have a brief look at SN6 and SN7.
Even though SN5 has left the midbay and is preparing for testing, SpaceX are continuing
with the next tank.
SN6 has had further work to get it ready for testing, but I don’t think it’s far off
where SN5 is.
The midbay shot from Elon Musk earlier showed the vehicles looking almost the same, at least
from above.
Finally, with SN7’s recent pop there is a giant mess of Stainless steel.
Workers have obviously been working to get rid of the remains of this bopper.
It didn’t take very long for them to get rid of SN4 so it shouldn't take long to get
rid of this either.
I’m so excited now that SN5 is hooked up, cannot wait for testing.
As always I want to say a massive thank you to Mary, BocaChicaGal, who films the incredible
footage we get to see.
Also huge thanks to the rest of the NASASpaceFlight team for all their incredible hard work and
for sharing these insights.
Jack Beyer has also been doing a great job recently with editing and adding handy labels
to the clips.
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!