SpaceX Gears Up for First Super Heavy Booster Catch! 🚀 | Starbase Update

There’s been significant progress on Ship 30 and the second Orbital Launch Tower, with an estimated completion date in sight. But the real highlight? SpaceX's intense preparation for the first-ever catch of a Super Heavy booster using the Chopsticks! Join us as we dive into the latest developments, including the ongoing infrastructure work at Starbase and much more in your Starbase Update!
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🤵 Hosted by Ryan Caton (@DPodDolphinPro)
🖊️ Written by Adrian Beil (@BCCarCounters)
🎥 Video from BocaChicaGal, Jack Beyer, Sean Doherty, Starbase Live, SpaceX.
✂️ Edited by Ryan Caton (@DPodDolphinPro)
💼 Produced by Kevin Michael Reed (@kmreed)
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#SpaceX #Starship #SuperHeavyBooster #StarbaseUpdate #SpaceNews #ElonMusk #SpaceExploration #NASA #Spaceflight #SpaceTechnology #OrbitalLaunch #RocketScience #Spacecraft #Starbase #SpaceXUpdates #Ship30 #LaunchTower #SpaceInfrastructure #ChopsticksCatch #SpaceCommunity #SpaceIndustry #Astronomy #SpaceInnovation #FutureOfSpace #RocketLaunch #Space #Mars #RocketLab #SpaceMission #SpaceHistory #SpaceXLaunch #SpaceXStarship

[@EdwardNathanielDeLosSantos]

Who's excited for flight 5?

[@robertscraneart174]

Me!!!!

[@EdwardNathanielDeLosSantos]

@@robertscraneart174 it's going to be amazing

[@Nuke-MarsX]

Who tf isnt is the real question

[@petercozzaglio6070]

Totally.

[@Codysdab]

Ah, it's going be really boring and excitement is not guaranteed. Only joking

[@ghost307]

A great example of why you never stand underneath a suspended load.

[@BartoszZasieczny]

"Slapping the booster", ok that's another creative euphemism.

[@haydentravis3348]

Hard to remember this is all first generation field testing. This stuff usually happens in top secret, in the middle of nowhere with no witnesses. This is weapons grade development done in the open and under intense scrutiny by the public. There's never been anything like this in history.

[@ryann6919]

"My mom caught me slapping the booster. Looked her right in the eye and proceeded with static fire"

[@guppi277]

So is, “prevent is too optimistic a terminology, ‘mitigate’..?” Simple and effective. The guy’s too good. A broadcast quality presenter, NSF must keep him on.

[@guppi277]

“Fast plus heavy equals momentum … or something like that …!” Bugger.., go on. We notice you remember your physics lesson.

[@geraldwinburn9288]

You are about more up to date than what a bout it broadcast and more entertaining so thank you. Keep up the great work.

[@lordleonusa]

Yeah, and no Schlangbait!

[@TOMKATPEDALS]

Damn those chopsticks are like 25 meters long! Hard to comprehend something that big moving that fast

[@philippeferreiradesousa4524]

Starship: Hi

[@TheMattfullen]

That's what she said

[@ryanhamstra49]

@@TheMattfullenmore like 25mm….

[@cboy-ou2hr]

The sheer inertia the chopsticks are experiencing!!!

[@gmergulhao]

thanks for not adding background music!

[@warpedfusion]

There is background music, it's just quiet.

[@EnerGeezerSquirrel]

LOL! "A few hours later and the *forward* nose was nearly half-way covered." ( As opposed to the *aft* nose?! ) Thanks kid, I was in need of a good laugh...

[@davideberhardt4977]

If they are successful catching the booster on flight 5, my mind will be blown.

[@Ron4885]

Me too. 🤯

[@MrKellymcilrath]

Great Starbase Update Ryan, Also thank you Mary, Sean, & SBL for the awesome video footage!! GO NSF!!

[@badrinair]

thank you, Sean, Jack, Mary and the entire NSF team for sharing such amazing updates here. The catch of the booster will be like magic. engineering miracle

[@erfquake1]

Do you think it will really work? My gut says they'll eventually abandon the concept & go back to landing legs. I can just see those chopsticks puncturing/denting the booster tank wall over and over again....or worse, dropping it.

[@TheOceanLoader]

@@erfquake1 I thought the same many years ago about the concept of a reusable space craft.

[@kf4ms]

DROP the air quotes.....professionalism....and get a haircut.....you would be great on radio....smile

[@John_L]

Agree about the "air quotes" - maybe OK once but repeated use rapidly becomes irksome. Not so bothered about the hair - I was young once, long long ago, with hair that I now wince at. More interested in the content and anyway we're only young once!

[@TwstedTV]

5:51 Does that guy have a bag of ice on his neck? 😂😂😂

[@gordonstewart5774]

Isn't the new tower getting an additional segment that is not built yet?

[@markcarey8374]

Thank you, NSF for all your coverage and updates! I grew up watching every launch possible. Thanks to your channel it is much easier to watch. ✌️

[@gabrielgolding5380]

Now we have Hoppy and Slappy!

[@davidg3944]

Their older brother, Explody, was unable to make the family reunion due to prior RUDgerous testing...

[@Gorgrak]

This week on Fuzz Update, work continues on Ryan's chin.

[@imtired1696]

Sir....

[@AlpInceiplik]

That new crane should be named "Cranzee"

[@TroyRubert]

Rip vertical tank farm. You were always there for us.

[@waynehunter8928]

Love the guy on the nosecone with a bag of ice on his neck. A little warm maybe? LOL.

[@stevemak8620]

Yay! Ryan is great!

[@BenjySparky]

Ryan and NSF, y'all rock! Peace

[@corrinastanley125]

Great update Ryan and NSF team, thanks.

[@riparianlife97701]

I predict thwy'll miss the lifing lugs, and catch it by the fins.

[@ethanellis1881]

Can’t wait for flight 5

[@joshwright9136]

Lets freaking goo!!!

[@Pegaroo_]

8:55 they should look into the paint used on the Forth Rail Bridge. It used to be that once they had painted from one side to the other it was time to start painting the first side again but now they have a paint that lasts for 20 years+

[@hitdrumhard]

Everything about this is nuts. I really hope it works, but man, the potential carnage if it doesn't is hard for me to imagine.

[@Booster-13I]

!slap when?

[@guppi277]

Ryan. You are too big a personality than you present in the video. I am a big fan of your voice, language and presentation. May be , that you’re a native English speaker it makes it easier but I have known, even within NSF that are native English speakers but aren’t half as good. John Galloway & Ryan Caton are two fav presenters. NSF is merely a YT Channel but guys like you raise it way above it. 🎉 Great going. Rock on.

[@thesurvivalist.]

Why not use an Electro-Magnet, to stop the catch arms from Swaying. When it contacts the vehicle turn on electromagnet, and the catch arms will adhere to the vehicle. Problem solved!

[@owensparks5013]

Most grades of stainless steel don't react to magnets.

[@ghost307]

Perhaps because stainless steel is non-magnetic?

[@knowledgeisgood9645]

Electromagnets are heavy. The arms+magnets would sway much more than the do already. Also stainless steel is not very magnetic.

[@thesurvivalist.]

@@owensparks5013 Even better, add a 3 foot wide Forris Plate to both side to the vehicles.

[@clmcoclmco2222]

I know I am being a bit petty. but can we Stop with the x formally known as twitter please. It is not necessary at this point especially on a site dedicated to Elon Musk founder of x. Other than that great content

[@Quad373]

I feel like the idea of the catching arms just caused way more problems cause I dont trust it to actually catch it booster at all, 0 confidence with it. The precision needed just doesn’t seen possible to do repeatably, this is accuracy within inches. Next few years will be spent just rebuilding launch towers over and over. Also the idea of having to somehow PREBUILD a tower on Mars before humans arrive is stupid. I hate the catching system sm

[@Chillz_OG]

I think you are a bit misinformed man. Landing legs will be used on Moon and Mars landings, no prebuilding towers nonsense. Also as a side note, I think you are heavily overstating the precision needed. It will still be precise, just not impossibly so like you seem to imply.

[@Ch33ziTzsk8R]

The chopsticks have a sort of wiggle twist vibration to them, interesting. 16:35

[@christophermaguire9206]

Thank you for the update. Your coverage at NSF is spectacular. I hope Jack is OK.

[@Freezar1985]

Missing Jack

[@59seank]

I like Ryan. I like Jack. Adrian doesn't write as many jokes for Ryan. Ryan has a more "Just the facts ma'am" approach while Jack has a wonderful enthusiasm for his reports. NSF has a lot of great talent.

[@Freezar1985]

I didn't say that I don't like Ryan, but that I'd like to see Jack again.

[@59seank]

@@Freezar1985 I know.

[@Grundewalt]

in meantime pls go tell the dickheads down in the comments complaining about Ryan to kindly go FO

[@palmedor9916]

15:19 here slap one just sound wild 😂😂😂😂

[@mahlkov]

B14.1: Thank you, sir! May I have another!

[@oldmanstumpie1061]

Can you go over the "side by side" of the towers again, I didn't quite get it. 😉

[@schlenbea]

We need a name for the Terex Crane.....how bout "BIG BIRD"

[@TheCritterWindow]

Yea not ready for a catch on next launch. More landing testing needed. Also gives tower 2 time to be built for the first catch test. To much risk to tower one.

[@ghost307]

They're probably ready to rework and upgrade tower 1 and will switch to tower 2. That way if tower 1 gets damaged it being "out of service" will already be part of the plan.

[@alx-vla4986]

One arm points to the sea, limiting how far the booster will go, and the other closes the grip.

[@kevdel]

The official term is coating, not paint. From a nerdy coating engineer

[@dangorneanu9616]

Slappy!

[@Midcon77]

I've been wondering if - in order to reduce risk - they might keep one arm static and fly the booster in a way where the other arm is the only one to move? Probably not, but it might make things more simple for a first catch attempt?

[@David-yo5ws]

That's exactly my thinking. This is a concept they do for 2 ships at sea, when they need to pass a line over for a Replenishment At Sea (RAS) or for putting a bosuns chair across. One ship steers a fixed compass bearing and speed and the 'receiving' ship comes from astern and alters heading and speed to come alongside but with a distance between them.

[@spacenerd6356]

Great update, as always. When I hear the words "In the not too distant future..." I instantly hear the MST3K theme in my mind.

[@BradiKal61]

Nummy Muffin Coocol Butter!

[@shannon9993]

next sunday A D

[@garethashley9128]

Lol 'Multi-storey Car Park' - spot the Brit!

[@Tomfoolery1972]

Doesn't it feel like they should do at least one more virtual tower first?!? Idk 😬

[@knowledgeisgood9645]

It depends on how sure they are about nailing the landing.

[@mikeg9b]

2:25 Good use of the word, "penultimate."

[@toddincabo]

👍 Thanks for reminding me that around the clock includes the middle of the night.

[@kiefox7162]

Lets go!!!

[@BusstterNutt]

Thank you, a great synopsis as alway.

[@WilboBaggins-dm7ub]

Perfect; fast paced; well written and no umms and errs; ahem: some space media types should note. No worries NSF you're well ahead!

[@mattjackson9859]

I'd rather they used landing legs like on F9, even if it means a mass penalty. The catch thing just seems to be too exacting to be reliable.

[@hamzahkhan8952]

but you cant rapidly reuse deployable landing legs. using fixed ones would add mass and make reentry more difficult. they already have experience with doing precision landings using grid fins with F9, and the last starship launch had the booster perform a precise landing despite an engine failure. but it does come at the risk of damaging a launch site rather than a landing pad in the event of a failed landing attempt. everything has its pros and cons.

[@BradiKal61]

​@@hamzahkhan8952 I agree that the mass penalty of landing legs is seems prohibitive, but at the same time the risk of damaging your launch tower during every landing seems pretty high. The degree of control of booster descent rate and positioning necessary to allow a catch by the arms might also mean that you'd be able to do a gentle enough landing on some type of landing feet that you wouldn't risk wrecking the booster when it landed.

[@hamzahkhan8952]

@@BradiKal61 thats true, but it seems like that is a risk spacex is willing to take. using some type of landing feet system would also increase the mass of the booster, since it would need a bit more hardware for the landing (but not as much as deployable legs). i'm pretty sure the reason they are not doing some thing like that would be because the booster would require some sort of transportation after every landing, which is something that is not needed if it is caught by the launch tower.

[@David-yo5ws]

Well, no one thought they would be able to land a Booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, on a rolling sea. Not till after 4 attempts at least. Then after that, the naysayers went very quiet. 🤐

[@hamzahkhan8952]

@@David-yo5ws nah, they just started babbling about starship.

[@flyingaxeman7343]

Striking the booster with the arms also tells them how much if any damage occurs with small impacts. I'm sure some of those strikes were intentional.

[@RocketIIIman]

could they not have some active counterweights on the end of the sticks, like in tall buildings?

[@davidg3944]

The added mass could require even larger actuation cylinders and pumps.

[@ryann6919]

Love this coverage. Mechzilla is epic!

[@djspecialpaul]

This whole area looks so amazing - I remember very good how everything started :) Really amazing progress. BTW - nice to see this Sarens crane - We use alot of Sarens crane for our work special when we lifte huge machine parts or offshore parts.

[@alanletterman]

Pretty bold to do a Starbase Update while wearing a FireFly shirt

[@Grundewalt]

you are new to the channel? go back to watch the announcement of the collaboration. It is not unusual.

[@01_SPACE_C0WB0Y]

Catch doomers in this comment section are out of control.

[@Grundewalt]

not less than idiots that take offense at Ryan for whatever reason, dip5hits probably never been to college;

[@jamesbuchanan4414]

The paint is probably a heavy TNEMEC or something similar. Stuff is THICK, almost like batter, rather than liquid, but it's good stuff.

[@Squiddledorf]

I really love these videos, very well put together and Ryan is a very good host but I can't just ignore it anymore. The way this man pronounces his Ls, it's crazy. Almost like he's trying to swallow his tongue on every L. I don't have any ill will here, just can't get over it :o

[@dougrogers327]

Why don't they put an inflatable balloon in the Starship payload bay so it will inflate after reentry and stop the Starship from sinking? This way the Starship can be recovered and inspected - they would learn so much!

[@richardknapp570]

Is there nickname for new crane yet? CC would work. If this tower is going to be taller (by Elon), where will the extra height be done: base or just under final segment?

[@simonscofield8825]

Im just worried that the booster will not come down evenly and that the chopsticks will have to move different distances to make contact with the booster - i just hope SpaceX have taken this into consideration, not just how far up or down on the booster the arms will touch...

[@narayananb2252]

Isn't it more useful to increase the length of the booster catch pin..for more probability of catching

[@BradiKal61]

Also do they need MORE catch pins in case the booster is slightly rotated from the desired position? Maybe an entire raised RING to guarantee contact (even though that will add weight)

[@rudivandoornegat2371]

They only have one hydraulic actuator per arm. For precise control you need a contra hydraulic actuator, pushing against the movement other actuator, but with less force. Just like muscles. Or if you would push your left and right hand against each other, but with a netto result of a movement to the right.

[@martinmorehouse9645]

That was the method used to make the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park move smoothly; opposing actuators.

[@Merlmabase]

I'm looking forward to seeing well-used boosters with dents and paint marks around their catch points... like an airport runway streaked by rubber tires

[@davidredfern836]

Every time space x test fires their engines they should have test tiles in the line of fire to see which materials are better suited for such extreme temperatures. Seems like they could kill two birds with one stone if you will. Anyway I'm sure Elon and Co will figure it out

[@jameshoiby]

That dome top? It's the top of the prototype gigaDalek, DoD's vision for what they can put on top of their own Super Heavy fleet.

[@elizabethhoeppner8881]

Enjoyed this update of the Starship work and testing of chopsticks for booster catch. Been on vacation with friends and they enjoyed hearing stories of the slap test.😊

[@DocWilco]

I'm surprised they aren't using input shaping for moving the chopsticks. Or at least, it looks that way to my untrained eye.

[@starz_yeep]

Under 1 hour 👇

[@dominicdodd9759]

As the booster is made of steel could the chopstick not use powerful induction magnets to help slow booster's fall and dampen oscillations of arms as they close? Good use of several tons of Telsa batteries?

[@jhfu64]

It makes me nervous to see all that grinding and sanding to remove the old tiles. It'd be nice to see a cryo imo Also, Ryan, you're so underrated. I wish you hosted more.

[@landcruiser801]

If they catch this next booster, will they re-use it or will it be binned?

[@davefarmery8180]

Binned, to many upgrades in the pipeline to be reused

[@peterford5408]

​@@davefarmery8180 Testing those upgrades ASAP is valuable. But so is testing reusability! I'm guessing at least 10% chance of a re flight if it's caught undamaged.

[@davefarmery8180]

@@peterford5408 10% sounds reasonable 🤔

[@anthonypra8899]

The melt of fuel to land a rocket on the ground instead of using the parachutes parasails. That's a lot of money wasted.

[@jcole4]

What will they do if the current hurricane churning in the gulf turns a little north? Are the towers on hinged bases and lay flat? Oh oh! 😅

[@billyeomans6098]

Think they should put flexible wheels on the chopstick to allow a gradual slowdown running all the way long ways

[@benedictmarshall7031]

I’m wondering whether SpaceX will switch from launching from the original launch tower to the new one (once complete with its own flame trench)? This would allow the old launch tower to be used for catching only.

[@ghost307]

Or upgraded.

[@knowledgeisgood9645]

No tower at Boca Chica will be for "catching only".

[@01_SPACE_C0WB0Y]

The only use for catch only towers are for logistical reasons and it's very likely the only reason one is being built at LC-39a. With an increased cadence, there very well could be a full stack on the pad when a ship is returning for a landing.

[@ingoos]

just as boat / ship docks use tires, the chopsticks could also try & use some when pinching starships.

[@silasbr.]

Any thoughts about the additional tower segments Elon mentioned in Tim’s interview?

[@maziarmansoori6068]

best music

[@BradiKal61]

Still waiting to see how flat arms are going to catch a round object. Any deviation by an incoming booster from the desired orientation in one or more axes will get real interesting very quickly.

[@alesksander]

Again flat arms are ONLY solution to this. Its needs just be accurate with its motion and object detection.

[@alesksander]

@@josh....... Ofc its gonna be RUD XD Also i think just land on fins. But if you can make system accurate small designed knobs are much more structurally efficient (lower moment arm etc). Grid fins catch wil lbe "plan B". XD Anyway anything more than RUD would be bonkers.

[@marcoantoniopadillaorozco3591]

The same way they lift it. The lifting points will serve this purpose

[@ZoidedLast]

Thank you for always putting a smile on faces. The content is pure joy.

[@notsomadscientist9602]

They damn sure ain't doing a catch attempt with that giant expensive crane sitting nearby. I doubt we even see flight 5 before the tower is stacked and the crane removed.

[@David-yo5ws]

Nope. They will do what they always do. Move the cranes to the far end and lay them on the ground.

[@notsomadscientist9602]

@@David-yo5ws Moving that big crane isn't a simple feat like the other smaller crane. I don't see it happening. Especially if its in its final configuration. That crane is massive my guy.

[@gusdixon8988]

So there will not be any pilots for Starship right, fully automated?

[@wonderingmind28]

Wen slap???

[@ghost307]

Soonly.

[@garyh4696]

didnt mention the slap would be over 500 tons of steel hitting each other, thats a rash

[@slateslavens]

So the Chopsticks 'slap' now. Does that make them "Slap-Chops"?

[@randytaylor4766]

Lifestyles of the rich and famous... only old people will get it.

[@rocketdan1430]

Here we go 😎

[@Santiagogleissner]

Go SpaceX!

[@BrettCooper4702]

The orientation of the catching lugs seems dodgy. the rocket would have to be square so the lugs connect to the catching rail. That seems super hard as it's more that landing in the zone but also that the body of the rocket is facing the right way around.

[@David-yo5ws]

Elon said there was about a 12 degree tolerance. Which is very small for a singular point of contact. I have to now start looking at the Falcon9 Boosters, to see if their landing orientation is the same each time or random. (In case they used them as testers for the avionic software) There are a number of ways you could determine 'The Front' of the Booster with reference to the Tower. Laserbeam from the tower on a sensor on the Booster, GPS sensor on the Booster that is set to a compass bearing, Booster Camera lens lined up on one of the tower uprights, with vertical lines on the lens to line up to.

[@rgberry69]

Thanks Ryan and NSF team. Brilliant update.

[@TheOceanLoader]

The level of ingenuity and engineering innovation is impressive. If 20 years ago you had told me we were to catch parts of a rocket, I would never have believed you - let alone the fact we would be reusing rockets.

[@AbideVibe]

new word for me: Penultimate"" means “next to last.”

[@tracybone3730]

Join the movement boycott McDonald's, pass it on

[@FreeRadicalX]

*slaps roof of test booster* this baby can fit so many metric tons of methane

[@mongolloyd8310]

Heat shield must be a real pain in the ass, and not the good kind.

[@HaharuRecords]

We need some hold and locking mechanism in the chopstick like some loving kindness don't let go baby hugging