Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the Elon Musk Podcast. Today we're diving into a topic that's been at the forefront of headlines, debates and tech conversation. The Federal Aviation Administration's FAA recent closure of its investigation into Spacex's Starship Launch Failure that occurred on April 20th, 2023 to tell it mishaps, triumphs and unyielding aspiration and encompasses Spacex's mission to
revolutionize space travel. This show is made possible by all of you wonderful listeners who support us through the Elon Musk Investors Club to help us keep bringing you daily updates exploring the frontiers of technology and innovation. Please consider joining the club by going to join Club elon.com. Your support ensures we can continue in this fascinating universe of Elon Musk on a daily basis. On April 20th, 2023, SpaceX launched its first integrated Starship and super heavy vehicle.
But instead of a grand success, the mission concluded in an explosion, prompting an FAA investigation.
Starship is the cornerstone of Spacex's vision for the future of space travel with its ability to carry a large payload and humans to the moon into Mars. Now the recent investigation looked into what went wrong and outlined 63 corrective actions the SpaceX needs to implement before taking to the skies again, the FAA made it clear that this isn't a complete green light for SpaceX. They stated that SpaceX would need to implement all corrective actions that impact public
safety and apply for and receive a license modification from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental, and other application regulatory requirements prior to the next Starship launch. Now, one of the critical issues was the failure of the two stages of a Starship separate, triggering Starships Autonomous Flight Safety System and causing
the vehicle to be destroyed. Moreover, the power of the Super Heavies 33 Raptor engines resulted in damage to the Starbase launch site, creating a crater and launching debris into the air. These are among the aspects that SpaceX will need to refine before the next test flight. Now, Elon Musk, Spacex's head, took to social media to express that the company has already made numerous improvements.
He noted that thousands of upgrades have been applied to both the Starship and the launchpad, and one of the most significant changes is the shift to hot staging, a complex process where the second stage engines begin firing before full separation from the first stage. Now this new strategy requires SpaceX to install new hardware, including a heat shield and a
venting interstage. And another update involves fortifying the ground beneath Starbase's orbital launch mount with a steel plate that has a water spot or a deluge system. This deluge system is intended to dissipate the extreme force generated by super heavy 33 Raptors. The idea is that the water will act as a cushion against the engine power, reducing the chances of damaging the launchpad as occurred during April mishap. But the path to the next launch is not entirely free of
roadblocks. There's the FBA's expectation that SpaceX will need to obtain a license modification, which means proving that all safety and environmental protocols are met. That's a tall order, and SpaceX hasn't yet announced one they'll apply for this modification, or when they expect to undertake another test flight. Spacex's Starship program isn't just a lark or an ambitious pipe dream, and has significant implications for the future of
space travel. NASA plans to use Starship and its upcoming Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the moon. Moreover, Starship is critical for Spacex's Starlink settling Internet service, currently providing connectivity across 50 countries. The legal landscape is equally complex. Environmental and cultural heritage nonprofits have raised questions about the environmental impact of Spacex's
test flights. SpaceX and the FAA are defendants in a lawsuit alleging failure to conduct an appropriate environmental review prior to the first Starship test flag. This is Spacex's flagship project aimed at creating a fully reusable spacecraft that can carry humans to Mars and beyond, possibly to the outer solar system. Is that just a concept? On paper, it's an engineering marvel, the design to accomplish tasks previously considered near impossible, the capacity to
carry up to 100 people. Eventually, along with ample cargo space, this rocket can undertake long duration voyages. Places like the Moon, Mars, and perhaps even more distant celestial bodies. Imagine it as the foundational block of Spacex's ambition to make life multiplanetary the
Super Heavy rocket. The first stage of the Starship system comes with over 30 Raptor engines and serves as the workhorse for getting the second stage Starship out of Earth's gravitational pull by the height of about 230 plus feet. Super Heavy is designed to be not just powerful, but also efficient. Once it gets Starship to a certain altitude, it disengages and returns to Earth, where it can be refueled and launched again.
Now this reusability feature is crucial for reducing the cost of space travel and making it more accessible to a broader population. Now the second stage Starship is not just a vessel for reaching other planets, It's essentially a mini habitat that can sustain life for extended periods of time. About life support, system spaces for scientific research and cargo areas for essentials like food and equipment. It's an all in one vehicle for
exploring the cosmos. The spacecraft will be designed to execute pinpoint landings on celestial bodies that lack atmosphere using its own propulsion system. This provides the potential for establishing bases on the Moon and Mars and facilitates the transportation of resources between Earth and these extraterrestrial locations. Together, Starship and Super Heavy aren't just rockets.
They are the cornerstones of a vision where interplanetary travel becomes a common aspect of human civilizations. Now, while the FAA recent decision marks progress, it doesn't mean that SpaceX can proceed without obstacles. Corrective actions need to be implemented and licenses need to be updated, and multiple stakeholders from regulatory agencies to environmental groups are keeping a watchful eye.
Space Texas Starship could launch anywhere between two weeks or two months, so we're not exactly sure when this is going to happen. After the FAA approval, maybe there's going to be other environmental assessments and possibly SpaceX could get those 63 items done faster than we expect. So please stay tuned. Hit the subscribe or follow button on whatever podcast platform you're on right now to keep up to date with all the
latest Starship news. Also, please take care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you in the next episode.