Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast. This is a show where we discuss the critical Crossroads, The Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink, and I'm your host, Will Walden. If you want uninterrupted episodes of the Elon Musk podcast, please go to clubelon.supercast.com to find out how there's a link in the
show notes. SpaceX is poised for a March launch of its Starship rocket, as revealed by company CEO Elon Musk. And this development comes after a period of intense preparation at Spacex's Texas facility, where the latest rocket, booster and ship was recently transported to the launchpad, marking a significant milestone for the upcoming third test flight, known as Starship Integrated Test Flight, or IFT 3.
Now, recent footage from local media and Spacex's social media channels showcase the Starship Super Heavy rocket booster and its second stage position on the launchpad undergoing preliminary launch procedures following the assembly of the second stage atop the booster, the booster and the rocket were subsequently dismantled to facilitate work on the booster's upper segment near the stage separation ring, which is that innovative feature introduced following a prior launch mishap.
Now the stage separation ring, a novel addition to the Starship design was implemented after the inaugural test flight encountered a critical failure during the separation of the 1st and 2nd stages, culminating in an in flight explosion. Now this incident underscored the importance of continuous enhancements in the raucous design to ensure the success of
future missions. Now, despite the anticipation that followed the 2nd Starship test, flight updates on testing activities at Boca Chica Starbase have been sparse in 2024. However, it is now confirmed the SpaceX plan to conduct in space propellant transfer test later this year in addition to 1/3 and subsequent test flight. Now the succession of the test flight forms the core strategy of Starships program along SpaceX to gather valuable data to refine and improve its rockets for forthcoming
missions. This iterative testing process is crucial for the advancement of the program. Now a resurgent of activity around a resurgence of activity around the Starship project has been noted, Elon Musk providing a new timeline for the third test flight. Initially stated for February, the flight was postponed due to the FA as disclosure the SpaceX had yet to submit certain documents from the 2nd test flight indicating a potential
delay. Now Musk responded to an inquiry from rapper Easy indicated that the next test flight is scheduled to occur in about 3 weeks, confirming that February will not see the starship's third flight attempt. This time might suggest a launch in March, nearly a year after the program's first Test flight of the installation of a new water value system on the launchpad.
Of course, following the initial test flight significantly impacted the testing schedule, resulting in only two flights in 2023. And despite this, Spacex's commitment to a hardware rich program remains unwavering. Speculation about the construction of an additional launch site at Spacex's Texas facilities suggests that future Starship launches could occur more frequently, contingent upon
FAA approval. Now the current regulatory framework allows only one test per authorization, underscoring the FA as cautious approach to certifying the world's largest rocket flight. Now, Elon Musk's recent statement on social media platform X, where he advised waiting for additional tests before boarding, highlights the imminent nature of the third test flight.
This interaction with EZ reflects the long standing rapport between the two public figures and underscores the broader interest in Spacex's endeavors. Now Starship, which is designed to transport humans and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond, comprises a super heavy first stage and a 165 foot tall upper stage spacecraft, both powered
by Spacex's Raptor engines. The vehicle's design emphasizes full and rapid reusability, which is a cornerstone of Spacex's vision for the future of space exploration. Now to date, Starship has completed two test flights with the first ending and a controlled detonation due to multiple issues including the failure of stage separation and the second flight demonstrated improved performance, though it ultimately resulted in the destruction of both stages.
Now, preparation for the third flight has been ongoing, with recent activities including the rollout and assembly of both Starship stages at the orbital launch mount. However, the FAA's ongoing investigation into the previous launches events leaves the timing the next license uncertain. Buskas hinted at future iterations of Starship, suggesting that the rocket will grow in size by 10 to 15 meters in its third version. This evolution reflects Spacex's ambition to continually enhance
the rocket's capabilities. Recent progress on the Third Flight's readiness includes the Full Assembly Booster 10 and Ship 28 on a launchpad, with upcoming Rd. closures indicating a potential wet dress rehearsal for these components in the coming days. Now, this step is crucial for validating the rocket's readiness for flight, and the assembly process for Booster 10 in Ship 28 was completed within 56 hours, and that shows that SpaceX has inability to maintain
a rapid case in operations. There's a critical factor for increasing the flight cadence of Starship for future launches to the Moon and to Mars. Now modification to the liquid oxygen, the Locks Tank and Booster 10, including the addition of slosh baffles, demonstrates Spacex's responsive approach to addressing issues encountered in previous flights,
such as the Booster 9 failure. And these wet dress rehearsals, both partial and full, will test the rocket and its support systems, including significant changes to the tank farm. These rehearsals are essential for ensuring the rocket systems function as intended for streamlining the loaded process.
Now, despite the temporary destacking of Ship 28 from Booster 10 to address potential clamp issues, the rapid restacking indicates Spacex's efficiency in resolving technical challenges, and this readiness sets the stage for the WDR test campaign and moves the Starship program closer to its next major milestone. I FT3. Hey thank. You so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your support.
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