It happened! Starship and SuperHeavy Did Launch for the second time. All 33 raptors were working. Hot staging went as planned. But then both the Booster 9 and Ship 25 were lost. What exactly went wrong and what does it mean for the future of Starship?
This week at Starbase a new sign is installed at the launch site, Booster 10 appears nearly complete, and construction continues at the build site, Massey’s Test Site, Sanchez and the launch site, while over at Cape Canaveral, SpaceX continues Starlink launch and recovery operations while getting ready for the next Falcon Heavy launch, and we review the latest batch of flyover photos courtesy of Greg Scott and Farielle Mohan.
SpaceX’s newly leaked version of the lunar Starship has been significantly updated to overcome the unique challenges of lunar exploration, demonstrating their commitment to developing technology essential for future missions to the moon and Mars.
Questions to inspire discussion.
What updates have been made to SpaceX’s lunar Starship?
—The newly leaked version of the lunar Starship has been significantly updated to overcome the unique challenges of lunar exploration.
The impact of nature and technical challenges on space missions highlights the complexities and challenges inherent in space launch vehicle development.
Questions to inspire discussion.
What is the significance of the upcoming X-37B space plane launch?
—The upcoming launch of the X-37B space plane on SpaceX Falcon Heavy marks a significant milestone in space launch vehicle development, with potential new mission aims and the need for enhanced lifting prowess.
Summary: In a rare sight that captivated local communities, SpaceX Superloads have been reported passing through Kansas. These massive transports are carrying essential components for SpaceX’s ambitious aerospace projects. The transit of such large cargos demonstrates the intricate logistics involved in the space industry and showcases the growing presence of aerospace innovation in the heartland of the United States.
Understanding SpaceX Superloads A “Superload” refers to a cargo that exceeds the standard size and weight limits for road transportation. In the context of SpaceX, these could be parts for their launch vehicles, such as Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rockets, or perhaps sections of the stainless steel Starship being developed for missions to Mars.
The Passage Through Kansas Reports have surfaced that residents along certain highways in Kansas have witnessed the procession of these massive SpaceX components. The journey necessitates meticulous planning and coordination with local authorities to manage road closures, traffic control, and sometimes even the removal of street signs or lights to facilitate passage.
In the exercise, an engineer equipped with a set of virtual reality (VR) goggles is orchestrating the robot’s actions.
Advanced proposition.
Nadia, a cutting-edge humanoid robot, is engineered with a focus on achieving a remarkable power-to-weight ratio and extensive range of motion. This is made possible by leveraging innovative mechanisms and advanced composite materials.
The robot draws its namesake from the renowned gymnast Nadia Comăneci, reflecting the ambitious aim of replicating human range of motion. Funding for Nadia’s development is derived from various sources, encompassing support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Laboratory (ARL), NASA Johnson Space Center, and TARDEC. This diverse funding base underscores the broad interest and recognition of Nadia’s potential applications across military, space exploration, and technological research domains, according to IHMC.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is set to play a significant role in upcoming space missions, including potentially repairing the Hubble Space Telescope, and is making strides in space exploration alongside other companies and countries.
Questions to inspire discussion.
What role will SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket play in upcoming space missions?
—SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is set to play a significant role in upcoming space missions, potentially including repairing the Hubble Space Telescope.
SpaceX’s Starship has the potential to revolutionize space exploration and launch costs, posing a significant challenge to China’s aspirations for space supremacy.
Questions to inspire discussion.
What is the potential impact of SpaceX’s Starship on space exploration?
—The Starship has the potential to revolutionize space exploration and launch costs, posing a significant challenge to China’s aspirations for space supremacy.
SpaceX has made significant upgrades to their launch site and achieved success with the hot staging system, signaling progress towards the next Starship flight, and revealed new details and plans for the future of the Starship program.
Questions to inspire discussion.
What upgrades has SpaceX made to their launch site?
—SpaceX has made significant changes to their launch site, including removing parts of the building, upgrading piping and booster hold down clamps, adding more propellant offloading points, and new tanks.
I’m going to read this later but the idea of light kinda/sorta traveling back in time a bit is intriguing.
Light can be reflected not only in space but also in time—and researchers exploring such “time reflections” are finding a wealth of delightfully odd and useful effects.
By Anna Demming
