Hello, we are TheSpaceXFans and welcome to TheSpaceXShow, the place where you can stay
up to date with everything SpaceX.
We have quite a few updates to cover this episode, starting with a delay to the Transporter-2
mission.
SpaceX tweeted that the delay was to allow additional time for prelaunch checkouts prior
to the mission.
So, taking a look at TheSpaceXFans website, we can see when the Transporter-2 mission
is expected to lift off.
Hopefully the rideshare mission will launch on Tuesday 29th at 6:56pm UTC or 2:56pm EDT.
SpaceX also posted another tweet with more information about this mission.
They said “This mission will launch 88 spacecraft to orbit and more customer mass than SpaceX’s
previous dedicated rideshare mission.”
Tory Bruno posted an infographic about orbital debris decay and how long debris from different
altitudes takes to deorbit.
Musk responded and said “Good chart.
This is a major reason why we moved Starlink from ~1100km orbit to ~550km.
Atmosphere automatically clears the lower altitude within a few years, so space junk
cannot accumulate.”
There was another Starlink tweet with a question asked many times which is “Any thoughts
on Starlink IPO we would love to invest in the future.
Any thoughts on first dibs for Tesla retail investors?”
Musk responded with “At least a few years before Starlink revenue is reasonably predictable.
Going public sooner than that would be very painful.
Will do my best to give long-term Tesla shareholders preference.”
Musk posted a tweet saying “Starlink simultaneously active users just exceeded the strategically
important threshold of 69,420 last night!”
Then he posted another tweet saying “All 72 orbital planes activate in August, plus
many other improvements, enabling global coverage, except for polar regions, which will take
another 6 months.”
In response to that first Starlink tweet, he was also asked “Airline wifi when?”
Musk responded and said “Schedule driver there is regulatory approval.
Has to be certified for each aircraft type.
Focusing on 737 & A320, as those serve most number of people, with development testing
on Gulfstream.”
Speaking at a conference where she received an award, Gwynne Shotwell gave some Starlink
information.
She said ‘Once the Starlink satellites from the most recent launch "get to their operational
position, so roughly six or so weeks from now, we will have full global continuous coverage
of the Starlink constellation.’”
With the Of Course I Still Love You droneship heading to California, The Panama Canal posted
a tweet with a picture of the barge heading through the canal.
Over in Boca Chica, here’s a view of the orbital tank farm tanks currently in place.
Beams between the orbital launch mount legs are now being installed.
A mount was attached to suborbital Pad A for booster testing.
The huge crane is hooked up to the next vehicle integration tower segment.
The integration tower segments are continuing at the propellant production site.
On the left here, you can see the cryo tank shells are progressing well too.
Scott Manley posted a tweet about Super Heavy’s hot gas thrusters we saw recently.
He said “Starship test flights have all used compressed nitrogen for reaction control
thrusters, this looks likely to be the hit has version.
Little rocket motors using pressure fed Methalox in gas form - pressurized gas makes them easier
to turn on and off for accurate control.”
Musk responded with “Cool, but an unnecessary complication for now.
These are being removed to speed up time to orbital launch.”
There was some information from Gwynne Shotwell with regards to the first orbital Starship
Super Heavy flight.
This CNBC article says “Elon Musk’s SpaceX is “shooting for July” to launch the first
orbital spaceflight of its Starship rocket, company president Gwynne Shotwell said Friday.
‘I’m hoping we make it, but we all know that this is difficult,’ Shotwell said,
speaking at the National Space Society’s virtual International Space Development conference.”
Gwynne Shotwell also said some more on Starship as you can see in this tweet from Michael
Sheetz.
It says “Shotwell, on Starship: ‘I don't think that people really have even comprehended
what that system is going to do.’
‘I'm not trying to take anything away from the Falcon and Dragon teams, those are amazing
machines, but this is a leap forward from that capability.’”
A ground support equipment tank upper bulkhead was seen on the sleeving mount.
The ground support equipment tank, GSE-3, sat in the yard for a while was seen being
worked on.
Crews have been working on Starship SN16 too.
The Super Heavy BN2.1 test tank was moved off its stand recently at the launch site.
The tank was then rolled back to the production site.
On Thursday, there was a tweet about the Super Heavy BN2.1 test tank being moved from its
stand to be transported.
It said “BN2.1, SpaceX’s Super Heavy test tank, has been lifted from its testing mount
stationed between Pad A and Pad B. With today’s road closure canceled, a rollback is now expected
in the coming days.”
Musk responded with “We’re almost done with first prototype booster.
This will go to test stand A. Next one will fly to orbit.
Team has been crushing it many days & nights in a row!”
I believe this is another Super Heavy section being prepared for stacking in the Highbay.
As always, the final thing to show for this Sunday video, we have the latest Starbase
production diagram thanks to Brendan Lewis.
To finish up this video, I have to say thanks to Tyler Gray who has been out in Boca Chica
filming the amazing content.
Also, thanks to the hard working NASASpaceflight team behind the scenes putting together their
videos, livestreams and other space content.
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!