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. February may be a pivotal moment for the SpaceX Starship with preparations underwear for this underway for the Starship Systems third test flight potentially launching from Texas in the coming month. Now the successful conduct of the second test flight in November of 2023, which left the launch of the structure
unscathed. His field expectations for an expedited timeline for the forthcoming Integrated Flight Test, or IFT 3, in the development that underscores the growing anticipation within the aerospace community.
A report by Christian Davenport in the Washington Post says that the Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA may be on the cusp of granting a launch license for IFT 3 for Starship, possibly in mid February. This period is notable because it's congested with a series of significant space missions marking a critical phase in US space endeavors.
Now the Starship Spacex's towering ambition is an engineering feat, nearly 400 feet tall, composed of two rockets, each capable of independent launch. And the recent focus has been on testing the full stack powered by the massive super heavy booster. Although initial tests included the 2nd stages, independent
vertical takeoffs and landings. Now today's news cycle has been dominated by Starship, the new reports highlighting the Pentagon's outgoing interest in leveraging the Starship for its diverse missions. Spacex's vision for Starship extends to commercial aviation, which plans to use the second stage for rapid passenger transport across the globe.
Now adding to the daily significant announcements, Airbus has selected Starship for the ambitious task of launching a space station in a single mission, which is key for SpaceX and Starship because they've unmatched capabilities in the current aerospace sector. They're the biggest rocket, most powerful and can take the. Biggest payloads. The largest payloads, the heaviest payloads to low Earth
orbit. But you know, the cadence of the Starship test is driven by Spacex's obligations under multibillion dollar contracts with NASA. The 2024 testing campaign is set to prioritize the management of cryogenic fuels in space, which is a critical component for the success of extended missions for the Artemis program for NASA. Now, an update from Christian Davenport VNX Post indicates that the FA as approval for the Starship launch could arrive by
February 14th now. This timeline aligns with Spacex's own projections and follows extensive upgrades to the Texas launch site. Now, the inaugural Starship test nearly about a year ago in April of 2023 was a partial success. The rocket ascended and approached the second stage point despite multiple failures of the engines.
However, the failed separation led to the vehicle's destruction, which shows that the Starship isn't quite ready to go fully orbital yet, and after the initial test inflicted damage to the launchpad, SpaceX undertook significant upgrades and secured necessary clearances, paving the way for a successful execution of IFT 2. This test marked a notable improvement with both steps performing the rules, Florida State a crucial step towards operational readiness.
Now, the upcoming tests carry immense weight, as reaching orbit with a second stage remains A crucial milestone for SpaceX. And achieving this goal is essential for the commencement of operational flights, which will support significant payloads, including Starlink satellites and NASA missions. Now the space community. While we're watching this the progress of Starship on a daily basis, it's a critical threshold in the annals of space
exploration. Its success could redefine the parameters of space travel, opening new frontiers for scientific research, commercial ventures and also interplanetary journeys for robots and also humans. Now, the FAA's forthcoming decision on the IFT launch license represents more than a procedural hurdle, though. It is a decisive factor that could either advance Spacex's agenda or necessitate for the refinements the agency's
comprehensive review process. It ensures that such pioneering endeavors adhere to the highest safety and environmental standards. Now the Pentagon, they sustained engagement with Spacex's Starship, and it's with strategic significance of Spacex's advancements. The military's interest suggests a range of potential applications, from rapid global transport to the deployment of critical payloads in support of National Defense. The international collaboration with Airbus shows that SpaceX
can do things across the globe. They're entrusting Starship with the launch of their space station. Airbus is placing a significant bet on Spacex's promise to revolutionize space launch capabilities, further weaving commercial partnerships into the fabric of space exploration. Let's go back to the management of cryogenic fuels in space, what we talked about a little bit earlier about SpaceX doing
this for the I FT3 mission. It's a formidable challenge, one that SpaceX is determined to tackle this upcoming tests. Estering this aspect is crucial for the viability of long duration missions. As SpaceX prepares for IFT 3 now, we're going to see if it's going to be a transformative event, if they can hit all of their milestones, if they can launch separate, do a kickback burn for the booster and send the ship on its trajectory towards Hawaii.
They have two obligations here. One is to do in in orbit transfer protocol and the other is a possible Starlink door opening. So they're going to test some of the systems for Starlink and also transfer fuel in space, which is a huge deal. And there's broader implications for this too. The future of humanity's engagement with space is at stake.
A successful test could catalyze the paradigm shift in space exploration, positioning Starship as a cornerstone of a new epoch in human connectivity and discovery in our solar system. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your
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