Space News Pod

Hey folks, have you heard about SpaceX gearing up for their next Starship test? After the FAA finally gave them the thumbs up, they're looking at launching on November 17 from Boca Chica. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster since that dramatic mishap in April, huh? Starship is seriously massive, like 400 feet tall! It's a huge deal for SpaceX, not just for their Mars dreams but also for NASA's Artemis program. But after what happened last time, the FAA had them jumping through hoops. They needed to fix a whole bunch of stuff, over 60 things, I think. They've done a lot to get here, like adding this new flame deflector to protect the launchpad. Plus, they've tweaked the self-destruct system to be more reliable. It's been a huge undertaking to get back on track.

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship" ►► https://starshipshirts.com ►► https://open.spotify.com/show/0jW7nOHQNi1Xlr3v7UMi2p ►► https://discord.gg/dMXghpX ►► https://twitch.tv/spacenewspod ►► https://facebook.com/spacenewspod ►► https://patreon.com/spacenewspod ►► https://twitter.com/spacenewspod ►► https://instagram.com/thespacenewspod

The latest news about SpaceX, NASA and Spaceflight.

Earlier in 2023, SpaceX experienced a significant setback with the failure of its Starship/SuperHeavy launch vehicle during its inaugural flight. This highly anticipated test, conducted from Starbase in Texas, ended in the loss of the rocket due to multiple engine failures, causing a catastrophic spin. This event marked a pivotal moment in SpaceX's ambitious space exploration program, highlighting both the potential and challenges of such cutting-edge technology. As SpaceX gears up for the second test flight involving Booster 9 and Ship 25, optimism is cautiously high. Both components have undergone extensive testing, including two static fires for Booster 9, marking a first for the SuperHeavy series. Ship 25 has also had a flawless testing campaign, raising hopes for a successful flight. However, given the complexity of the mission, the launch timing remains fluid, with SpaceX committed to ensuring maximum data collection and safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration's safety review of SpaceX's Starship marked a significant milestone for the aerospace company. After the explosive test flight in April, the FAA grounded Starship to conduct a thorough investigation. This review was not just a procedural step but a deep dive into the technical and operational nuances of SpaceX's ambitious project. The FAA evaluated the Super Heavy booster's performance, specifically focusing on the unexpected "rock tornado" and the subsequent damage to the surrounding environment. SpaceX's commitment to safety was put to the test as the review scrutinized the mishap's causes and examined the company's safety culture, system safety processes, and quantitative risk analysis for launch and reentry operations.

Such high-tide flooding that inundates roads and buildings along the west coast of the Americas tends to be uncommon outside of El Niño years, but that could change by the 2030s. An analysis by NASA’s sea level change science team finds that if a strong El Niño develops this winter, cities along the western coasts of the Americas could see an increase in the frequency of high-tide flooding that can swamp roads and spill into low-lying buildings. El Niño is a periodic climate phenomenon characterized by higher-than-normal sea levels and warmer-than-average ocean temperatures along the equatorial Pacific. These conditions can spread poleward along the western coasts of the Americas. El Niño, which is still developing this year, can bring more rain than usual to the U.S. Southwest and drought to countries in the western Pacific like Indonesia. These impacts typically occur in January through March.

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship"

Sales for Starlink are on a trajectory to overtake the launch business soon, which means more and more regions will have access to SpaceX’s internet services. Think about it: a service that started off with test satellites is now on the verge of being the main moneymaker for one of the most talked-about companies in the world. And while SpaceX keeps a tight lid on their financials, we've gotten a peek behind the curtain. A valuation of $150 billion was pinned on the company after a recent tender offer. Those numbers aren't just stratospheric; they're astronomical. This valuation reflects not only the commercial success of their launches but also the potential of their satellite-driven internet business.

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship"

The latest news about SpaceX, NASA and Spaceflight.

The planned launch hinges on the critical approval from regulatory bodies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are in the final stages of an environmental review, scrutinizing the launch site nestled among the wetlands of South Texas. Despite the pending approvals, SpaceX's announcement hints at a confident stance that the necessary endorsements are within reach, aligning with insider reports suggesting federal consent is imminent.

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship" ►► https://starshipshirts.com ►► https://open.spotify.com/show/0jW7nOHQNi1Xlr3v7UMi2p ►► https://discord.gg/dMXghpX ►► https://twitch.tv/spacenewspod ►► https://facebook.com/spacenewspod ►► https://patreon.com/spacenewspod ►► https://twitter.com/spacenewspod ►► https://instagram.com/thespacenewspod

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship".

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship" ►► https://starshipshirts.com ►► https://open.spotify.com/show/0jW7nOHQNi1Xlr3v7UMi2p ►► https://discord.gg/dMXghpX ►► https://twitch.tv/spacenewspod ►► https://facebook.com/spacenewspod ►► https://patreon.com/spacenewspod ►► https://twitter.com/spacenewspod ►► https://instagram.com/thespacenewspod

Dr. Lisa Watson-Morgan is a linchpin when it comes to the mission of landing humans back on the Moon. She's working on some hefty challenges, but as she puts it, "Right now, today, I don't see anything that's stopping us." Watson-Morgan appreciates the innovations SpaceX has contributed, particularly with its advancements in rocket capabilities. SpaceX’s partnership with Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin, experienced from their Orion program, also bodes well for the Artemis missions. But the excitement doesn't come without a dose of realism. As the senior director of Human Spaceflight Programs at SpaceX, Benji Reed, put it during a fireside chat, "launch is signal and everything else is noise." The emphasis is on doing rather than theorizing, on testing rather than speculating. It's this hands-on approach that is shaping the HLS program's future.

SpaceX kicked off Sunday with a bang, launching the largest batch of second-generation Starlink satellites from the West Coast. This liftoff was particularly noteworthy as it took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a change in SpaceX's usual launch sites. The Falcon 9 rocket soared into the sky with 22 satellites in tow, making it the first time a Falcon 9 has carried such a heavy payload of second-generation V2 Mini satellites from this location.

In this episode, we sit down with Gwynn Shotwell, the COO of SpaceX, for an exclusive interview about the company's past, present, and future. From the early days of Falcon to the latest advances in Starship development, Shotwell shares her unique perspective on the challenges, successes, and vision of SpaceX. Tune in to learn about the inside stories of the Falcon and Starship launches, the intricacies of working with Elon Musk, and Shotwell's own insights into the future of space exploration. This is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the final frontier and the innovators pushing its boundaries.

In today's episode, we're unpacking the recent updates on SpaceX's Starship, which has been in the spotlight for both its technological advancements and regulatory delays. SpaceX has performed all necessary pre-flight operations, but the massive rocket still awaits crucial permits from federal agencies. While many look to the skies with eagerness, Starship is grounded, as the completion of the launch licensing process remains a pending affair. SpaceX had its second test flight planned for Starship and even completed a full wet dress rehearsal. However, the company faces multiple regulatory hoops before the rocket can break Earth's gravitational pull. One of the last major hurdles involves a review by the Federal Wildlife Service (FWS) in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This review is a detailed examination of Starship's potential environmental impacts, particularly focusing on the newly installed water deluge system at the Boca Chica launch site in Texas.

The initial observations of this awe-inspiring event came from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) project. This network of telescopes alerted Matthew Kenworthy, an astronomer at the Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands, about the near-total dimming of a sun-like star, designated ASASSN-21qj. Now, such dimming could be caused by various phenomena, but what piqued Kenworthy's interest was that this star had also shown a sudden increase in brightness about two and a half years earlier. A connection seemed likely, prompting him to investigate further.

The work of scientists like Henri Samuel, Amir Khan, and others makes it clear that our understanding of Mars is still developing. We may have rovers on the planet's surface and satellites in its orbit, but the red planet continues to be a source of intriguing mysteries. Who knows what other surprises lie beneath its surface, waiting to be discovered? For those of us intrigued by the prospects of interplanetary travel and colonization, these findings offer more than just scientific trivia. They provide a fundamental understanding of what makes up Mars, and by extension, offer clues into the origins and makeup of other celestial bodies in our solar system.