SpaceX Boca Chica - SN9 Rolled Out of High Bay - Raptor SN42 Installed on Starship SN8

[@JackABeyer]

0:00 - Raptor SN42 on Scissor Lift Truck 1:00 - Raptor SN42 Lifted Into SN8 1:44 - SN8 and Launch Site 2:17 - Crane Readied to Lift SN9 2:37 - Excavator Moved 3:12 - Work Area at the Top of the High Bay 3:40 - SN9 Rolled Out of High Bay 4:22 - Crane Attached to SN9 5:30 - SN9 Lifted 8:06 - Legs Lowered 8:58 - SN9 Closeups 9:25 - Body Flap Retracted 10:06 - SN9 Lifted w/ Legs Extended 10:35 - SN9 Closeups 11:24 - SN9 Lowered Next to Transporters 11:51 - SN9 Closeups 12:09 - TPS Tile Closeups 12:33 - Transporters Moved Into Position

[@KSPGalaxtic]

Very noice

[@KSPGalaxtic]

@@Theo-de-Koning ok

[@bentstraight3239]

Thanks Jack ! Thanks Mary !

[@MSNet1]

Everything on SN9 looks so much cleaner. The welds are are cleaner.

[@_excellence_9937]

The welds are, but the wiring is still too... messy. I'm sure they'll figure out a way to clean it though.

[@anwar4227]

It's called IMPROVEMENT

[@benji37]

It's the opposite of me

[@AndreasStom]

@@_excellence_9937 They are probably going to run it trough a raceway once the layouts are more final

[@InventorZahran]

@@_excellence_9937 Cable management is very important!

[@kerbalengineer1243]

I'm so excited to see the first large grid of TPS tiles! This is showing a major step in confidence SpaceX has for the system as well as readiness for the thermal testing.

[@retokaderli9010]

Do we know more details on how those TPS are built? Looks like an Oreo sandwich now 🤔

[@Dunderwood62]

@@retokaderli9010 I suspect that is just a filler placed around the outside edge.

[@svenp6504]

@@retokaderli9010 Looks like high temperature wool insulation backing for the tiles. It is wider than the tiles so it packs in the gap between the tiles too.

[@retokaderli9010]

@@svenp6504 So, that would be a soft layer between tile and 30x? ... that might be helpful to avoid cracking on press/temp changes I assume.

[@mrdune5479]

@@retokaderli9010 they haven't implemented 30x as of yet. Currently mainly using 304L I believe

[@gerbermrsa]

Gorgeous awesome clip, thank you Mary and team. SN9 looks neater and cleaner? 08:00 SN9 STRAIN GAUGE weight 13020 kgf x 6 = 78120 Kg empty shell? ....9:00 top and bottom ring OD differences 0.41mm ( wow). 9:12 very interesting valve baffle supporting plates and serrated welding.....11:07 gorgeous DIN BOX connectors.....12:19 new method of re-entry tile fastening? ( 70 tiles)....lots and lots to unpack and digest and discuss...awesome job Mary......thanks....

[@daytoncostlow2578]

Mary out there killing it again with these great shots.

[@vail8150]

Best closeups yet...great work team! Thank you!

[@WasatchWind]

Thanks NSF for your awesome coverage of Crew-1! And thanks as always to y'all covering Starship in Boca Chica!

[@andybryson3887]

SN9 build quality looks even better than SN8. Continuous improvement

[@ianmilham7397]

Lots of heatshield tiles! So awesome

[@danmacben]

6:00 - SN9 successfully completes first suborbital hop

[@kieranleslie9576]

1:45 "Turn your head sideways and imagine sn8 bellyflopping through the air" 😂😂 gold

[@Level_Up_Nation]

Falling with style

[@David-yo5ws]

Now I have a crook neck, darn it! 🤪

[@kurtblackwell7752]

I tilted my phone sideways 😂

[@hankscally9658]

@@kurtblackwell7752 .. Thereby avoiding a strained neck. Good thinking!👍

[@kurtblackwell7752]

@@hankscally9658 it was also more fun! I could re-enact the whole landing manoeuvre.

[@shadowraith1]

Thank you Mary and the NSF edit team. :)

[@breakaway8566]

I didn't think the weld quality could get any better but SpaceX just keeps surprising me.

[@imconsequetau5275]

@@So1othurn The discolorations can be buffed out, but why bother with prototypes that do not reenter?

[@mrbundyred]

Best pics of the Raptor on launch area, so clear, well done!!

[@kenchan9123]

lets take a moment to appreciate those who got into trades.

[@QueenetBowie]

I’m sure they’re not 50k deep in loans like myself

[@davidb6576]

@@QueenetBowie Once you start buying equipment it can go a lot higher than that!

[@williamswenson5315]

Yes, thank you.

[@blueneptune5860]

That Beautiful shiny Engine with the lights and desert color in back is 1977 Tatooine now.Those top fins look 100% better now cut tip and joint covers looking awesome.

[@jhunjhuncastro3811]

Hello space Boca Chica...from Philippines Manila watching..

[@aninnocentchild4353]

Akala ko walang spacex fans sa pinas lol😆

[@MDPete_21]

Mula pa ng maiden flight ni Falcon Heavy

[@markamy357]

Wow, is sn9 the new sn8. So many great closeups of its systems😘👌🔧⚙️ interesting to see the self propelled mobile transport rig setup Looks like they have a weight on each corner to keep the center of mass a bit lower. And this is new I think, a compressor loaded on there together with a bespoke pressure control/distribution system I imagine. This may be a test for when they put the staggering tall super heavy booster on there which must be pressurized when moving to keep the dreaded buckling at bay.

[@flightofone]

Stunningly great - thank you so much.

[@WayneTheSeine]

Excavator going by reminds me of Terminator war scenes for some reason. Man...the wind is ferocious down there this morning. Great shot of the scales Mary.

[@filyn]

Can't help but comment on the way this crane looks 2:22 It has a face & it is not happy :D

[@devindykstra]

That's amazing 😂

[@sakshamsingh6892]

One step closer to Mars ❤️

[@830jps]

@@KSPGalaxtic how come your timestamp is ahead. You answer the question before it's been asked!?

[@chivvy_scientist]

@@830jps Bruh... its correct.... imagine now the time is 10 am so the question might be put up 2 hr ago so 8 am and the reply 1 hr ago so 9am.... Its ago right, the smaller the magnitude the closer to the actual time...

[@BodhiPolitic]

Sooo, looks like test mount B will be activated soon. With SN9 on it. Really looking forward to that. They really need that second pad.

[@sfsdart2036]

Thanks for all your hardwork

[@BradleyRhea]

The design has evolved so much. Is that a new method of ring joining, with a reinforcement welded over the seam? And that's a LOT of tiles on the back of SN9. It's getting closer and closer to looking like a finished product.

[@imconsequetau5275]

Vertical welds have always had second layer strip (on rings). Note the stitch welds leave some full strength sheet metal between each stitch weld.

[@imconsequetau5275]

Note how the reinforcing strips use stitch welds in parallel to the circumference. Pressure vessels have twice the force and strain around the circumference as they do lengthwise (and on hemispheric end caps). So vertical weld seams are strained the most. The adjacent sheet metal, annealed by welding heat, is often the weakest zone. Since the sheet metal has been cold-worked to increase yield strength by about X3, a lot of weakening of it is permissable - if care is taken to use stitch welding. But vertical (longitudinal) welds place the full pressure on the seam. One way to reduce dry mass is to reduce sheet metal thickness, but at some level that would require reinforcing 100% of weld seams.

[@karanguyen7569]

One step closer to Mars ❤️

[@devindykstra]

After SN8's failure I thought they would have to redesign some parts of SN8 and SN9, but it looks like that isn't slowing them down at all!

[@donjones4719]

I think they'll want more redundancy in the pneumatics that failed, but while they're designing that they're just going with SN 8 and 9 as they are. After all, Elon expects a likelihood of failure at some point in the flight. So, fly SN8 as is. After all, the alternative is parking it next to SN5 & 6. :D

[@nolsp7240]

That's assuming they have found out what was wrong. Trying to recreate the fault to confirm their initial findings is also valid IMO (quite expensive to develop a new rocket).

[@stagethree1]

Just think how far progress would of been set back if they didn't use stainless steel, sn9 is so shiny and beautiful, good work spacex

[@kotuka1]

Kus práce, klobouk dolů, můžu na vás jen koukat a radovat se. Umíte mluvit sami se sebou a poslouchat se. Práce vám kvete pod rukama. takhle se to dělá! Mám vás rád.

[@garyroberson6279]

As usual great work Mary from Boca Chica!!

[@bobgraham9481]

Great pics of SN 9

[@unusedName1]

A very professional work. Congrats.

[@justpassingthruuu]

excellent video coverage!

[@stuartwatson3959]

Kudos, as always, to Mary for her excellent camera work! I can't help thinking, though, when I see the "United Rentals" lift equipment, the skeletal framework of the pad, and the not-yet-half-built infrastructure that I'm watching some rich, eccentric engineer build a rocket in his backyard. Oh, wait...

[@3gunslingers]

8:00 it says 13,020kg Assuming an equally distributed weight among the six points of the load spreader the lower Starship half without the engines weights 78,120kg or almost 80tons. Seems like SpaceX could really hit their target empty weight of about 100tons! So exiting!

[@MrSapps]

I think this is with thicker steel too - dunno how much the heal tiles would add though

[@Radio_Nullifier]

Goal is

[@croll_uk]

Have you got Press access? These close-ups shots are fantastic and make you feel you're in amongst the action. Very impressive :D

[@Level_Up_Nation]

Just a very expensive camera with zooming abilities any pervert would die for. 🤣🍻

[@JayneCobbsBunk]

If you see the cars driving by in the foreground, they're literally recording from the side of the public road outside the facility. It's awesome they're doing all this work in the public eye.

[@JHarkness80]

Exciting stuff! I love how all other aviation and space manufacturing is done in clean hangers with all staff in clean white work gear then SpaceX come along and start knocking up these massive rockets and swapping out engines in a dusty industrial park with filthy rented equipment and staff in jeans and tshirts! Brilliant! I love SpaceX!

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

Thanks Mary 🥰

[@paulbecker9426]

Beautiful sight 2:10

[@nicholaswestbury7689]

I love Mary's videos every morning. It's really nostalgic, because its how UK Defence used to do their R&D to develop their technologies in the 1960s to 1990s. Before industry and the military beaurocracy took on a much stronger role in the process. Just a bunch of people working with users to solve real problems quickly. The bit I like that SpaceX does is innovating in the production simultaneously. With hindsight we could have done that also if we had got clever with how we placed the contracts with industry. The UK separates the research and procurement contracts, which I now think is a terrible waste.

[@peterbarratt8699]

Thanks, gang.

[@kiwigurn6328]

Wow SN9 is sleek as!

[@kiwigurn6328]

I wonder what those compressors were for? Perhaps press in hard as a smoke test?

[@NeilABliss]

I'll take raptor engines and the answer to life the universe and everything for 200 Alex! What is 42

[@curtisrendon204]

Alex will be a bit delayed in his confirmation. RIP Alex T.

[@robhaver8704]

you asked for 42. the question for this answer; 'and, as Elon Musk predicted way back; we wanna go to Mars, land there, esteblish a community of knowledgable Man & Women, and create a home away from home.

[@aninnocentchild4353]

Sn9 looks Shiny😎

[@aaryanpowardrums2851]

Love your videos man

[@Zoomer30]

So THAT'S how SpaceX gets stuff done so fast. Look how fast those guys are moving.

[@telfordguy34uk]

We have a lot to look forward to . SN8 is just the protopype , its rough and assembled as cheaply as possible in anticipation of it crashing on its 1st landing. Each additional Starship will be better than the previous one. Eventually they will look smooth and ultra slick.

[@padraigAZ]

Is it just the lighting or does this one look far 'cleaner' than the previous engines?

[@karrieann3657]

Looking Good 🥰👍

[@pigloo147]

So they swapped the hatches to the leeward side then, I was wondering about that and how the heatshield was goin going to be installed (on later versions)

[@ericpaul4575]

I noticed the same thing. I wonder how it was missed on SN8.

[@koningsbruggen]

it's gonna be so epic to have two Starships on the test stands.

[@danapted]

Man, driving a track mounted excavator on a paved highway would bring a big fine here in Alaska. They damaged a bunch of asphalt.

[@peterbondy]

Here in Australia too. I thought the same.

[@nolsp7240]

I think Space X would eventually shoulder the cost of concreting the entire stretch of that road.

[@peterbondy]

@@nolsp7240 I recon you are right.

[@thiesenf]

They should have used the SPMT for that...

[@commonmarketer6047]

BEAUTIFUL

[@imtexaspete]

SN9 reporting for duty...sir!

[@DavidKutzler]

Any thoughts on how the flaps will be deployed at launch, i.e., will they be extended or retracted for launch? I'm inclined to think that they'll be extended for launch to make the aerodynamic drag from the flaps more symmetrical.

[@StoneUSA]

So fun to see the flippy flaps move.

[@philiprobicheaux3040]

@@HR-pz7ts I feel you.... But I think we are just used to about a century of pneumatic controls. Electric motors give more torque and beyond the motor itself it's a simpler system without the hydraulic system. I think we just need to get used to it, like all electric cars.

[@cball8315]

Is that about 40t dry weight for the part(s) lifted? 13020 x6?

[@dealeru.3532]

"Turn your head sideways any imaging SN8 belly flopping through the air" @ 1:45 and I immediately think to yell "LOOK OUT STARHOPPER!"

[@christophermgwadira4400]

SN9 looks like something to take us to the moon already

[@angadsingh9314]

@@HR-pz7ts Um no. The Starship is not an SSTO. It can reach pretty high and make huge suborbital flights but cannot reach orbit

[@Spacexplorer]

@@angadsingh9314 yeah actually make some maths, full fueled and with anything inside it can, problem is it cant fly back haha

[@OrbitalCookie]

This was filmed back in the days when they called this rocket "big". I am hoping this comment will age well.

[@stekra3159]

How do we make sure all the engineering questions are answered? Send in Raptor Number 42

[@Codysdab]

The problem is with 42 being the answer, we don't know the question.

[@kingjr8334]

So can we expect a cryo test on pad B for SN9 while they fix the pneumatic system or the wiring that melted on SN8?

[@martinm4961]

Can't wait to see a Starship coated with the heat tiles. However, will it not be very side heavy with them only coating one side?!

[@kurtblackwell7752]

The wings will also be heavy, so it might balance out a bit if they’re folded back. However SN5&6 prove they can land with a single off-center raptor, so 3 raptors must have enough flight control to deal with the imbalance anyway.

[@martinm4961]

Yes, a single tile may be light but the tens of thousands it will take will be quite a weight. Anyway, I'm sure they have this already figured out. My guess is they will configure the internals to balance the vehicle out.

[@videolabguy]

Mary. You are a gift from above. It would be awesome if Elon gave you a free ticket for a Star Ship ride in the future. Lunch with him in Tokyo, dinner in London maybe? You rock! Thank you for the excellent coverage of this history in the making and to Elon / SpaceX for allowing you to bring it us.

[@Melody615199999]

Tacos in Matamoros

[@happyhome41]

Seeing the engine being installed, makes me wonder, how will they access the connection when all six engines are in there ? And will that require a new thrust puck with expanded fuel/oxidizer manifolds ?

[@kofivava6114]

there is enough room down there

[@linecraftman3907]

@Internet Critic it's only the bulkhead really. They can already put the heatshield tiles on. What they're mostly testing is gathering data on stainless steel alloys, fuselage performance, raptors and of course eventually flights

[@thiesenf]

@@kofivava6114 Giant: *exists* Also Giant: I think I'll need lube for this... KY: *extreme amounts*

[@Raydio6]

Can’t wait to see starships taking to the stars ✨

[@imconsequetau5275]

At 7:37, SN9 standing on 6 caster wheels? ! Or, are those hard-mounts? And at 7:41, why are the port holes 42% wider than tall?

[@hedf]

How will the heatshield tiles react to cryo temperatures?

[@BourbonJawnt]

so are they going to have one on each testing stand? seems risky?

[@Aragorn450]

Seeing SN9 now with the flaps put on it proves to me that they put SN8 together backwards... Or at least they changed things from SN8 to SN9... This is because on SN8, the two access hatches they used originally when building the tank sections are on the windward side of the ship which just doesn't make sense to do. Why put a hole in the part of the ship that will experience the most heat during reentry? Whereas with SN9, the two main access hatches are on the leeward side to protect them (and all the piping and such) from the entry forces.

[@philiprobicheaux3040]

Perhaps they knew SN8 was not going to be an orbital prototype but SN9 might.

[@830jps]

I like this. 👍

[@_excellence_9937]

So they're already preparing to move SN9 to the launch site? If so, then WOW that's fast

[@tcumming123]

According to the 13020 (I assume lbs) on the dynamometer, times 6 (there's six of'em). That'd be 78120 lbs, 40 tonnes, or 35000 kg.

[@rays2506]

You're right. Those Dillon dynamometers are usually set up to read in pounds. If those units in Mary's video are reading pounds and there are six of them each reading 1/6th of the load, then that SN9 propellant tank structure has 35.5 metric ton mass. The propellant load for those Starship tanks is 1200t (metric tons). So the dry mass fraction of that SN9 tank section is 35.5/1200 = 0.0296 including the thrust structure and excluding the Raptor engines. For comparison the Saturn S-IC first stage has a tank section dry mass fraction of 0.041 (including thrust structure and excluding the F-1 engines). I estimate the total dry mass of Starship to be 98t if those dynamometers on SN9 are reading in pounds.

[@donjones4719]

@@rays2506 Great info! So, add in 10t for 6 Raptors and it's at 108t. Elon was aspiring to 110, expecting about 120 for now. And that's for an operational ship with the added mass of a cargo door/mechanism, etc. If this early ship can be under 110t, even with a simple fairing/nosecone - it looks like your estimates are correct.

[@tcumming123]

@@rays2506 Thank you for that followup! It's great figuring out details such as this. Thanks!

[@briangalton7068]

There must be a better way to apply a heat shield. My thoughts are to spray on a heat shield layer by layer. In that way there are no fastening problems. After landing and on inspection, some of the heat shield was “worn away”, just Re spray a new layer. My thoughts anyway.

[@Level_Up_Nation]

Can you imagine the finale building design when that time comes, would be a Gigafactory size as tall as the high bay, and fully automated.

[@linecraftman3907]

There's no need to build everything as tall as highbay. Maybe a second high bay wouldn't hurt

[@matthewcollier3482]

@@linecraftman3907 yeah likely have a section as tall as the high bay where final stacking would occur but the rest could be much shorter. Would likely end up with a section about the size of the KSC VAB with probably more sprawling smaller sections would be my guess.

[@johnevans6399]

Did anybody else notice the spy in the blue shirt and brown overalls trying to secretly push it over!!

[@jonbong98]

Looking better and better. how fast can those flaps flap ?

[@gracey2727]

Will more of SN9 be covered in the TPS Tiles?

[@MoonlytSonata023]

5:21 I thought It's "just" a weighing scale then I looked it up on google, found out that those Dillon EDXtreme crane scales cost in excess of $3k just for 1T capacity. Probably they're using the 25T and that thing costs just shy of $9k!

[@miquelrequena2602]

Not much happening recently. We all are waiting for SN8 debut.

[@hedf]

Last weeks static fires were some real deal, engine melting stuff.

[@viktorartemiev525]

The fuel (methane or liquid oxygen) enters in preburner at a pressure much more than previous tests. In the latest version of the engine power supply, the vertical line has become much longer. That is, the hydrostatic column of liquid is much higher and, consequently, the pressure in the area of the bottom and at the entrance to the preburner is much greater than the previous tested versions. After all, the diameter of the vessel does not affect the pressure!

[@AlvinBul]

Do they have the waternozzels under the mount - as at the starhopper test... Maybe that would help with the shockwaves .. I am sure there are enough smart people working there.. just asking.. End Elon himself said no flame diverter might be an error..

[@shrikedecil]

Test stand A has two pipes, something like 3" that go all the way around the inside of the upper ring. You can sometimes pick them out from Mary's shots. They have innward facing nozzles. Can't say that they've been used as shock supression - original speculation was that they were there for putting out fires.

[@rexrider2099]

With such short landing legs, it doesn't leave much of a gap for the rocket exhaust to escape during touch down. The environment under the engine skirt must get pretty violent during that last second.

[@robyn051]

I think they’re planning on doing bigger legs later

[@peterpicroc6065]

Pretty violent environment...😄😄😄 Word!

[@philiprobicheaux3040]

I'm quite curious how many orbital flights they make before simulating the payload mass. Or perhaps not orbital but sub-orbital. Landing with an empty load will allow them to use less fuel and risk losing less work, but they will eventually need to perfect the bellyflop and righting manouver with the ship being more top heavy. It should make for a more stable landing but the bellyflop attitude may be different than the empty ship.

[@attilaaszalos9714]

What is the scissor lift truck & what is it's function please explain if you know the answer correctly?

[@zipzip3242]

Bye bye Raptor 42 you will for ever in our heart

[@laurenz5555]

Jack, aren't 41tonns exactly 41000kilograms?😝 No of course great video as always thank you all❤️😎🙏🔥🚀

[@eemage9476]

I can't wait for the movie. Even better, season one in Netflix, please, please ...

[@Madeyes6]

I’m an aircraft engineer and while I know this is a rocket & totally different there are certainly some risks working around both machines. Those spikes for seating the rings scare me. Those guys working on top could easily slip & impale themselves on those spikes. I’m a bit surprised they’re not either rounded off to prevent this or have covers on. We have covers on most pointy bits on military jets to protect the engineers. Personally I wouldn’t let those spikes past a risk assessment. It’s just a matter of time.

[@Marsupilami74]

so cool videos 👌💪🖖

[@osservatorioastronomicolod4776]

what are those TPS tiles? what does TPS stands for? Thanks

[@wes_d]

2:39 - road is definitely not going to hold up with that kind of traffic lol.

[@freakysteve140281]

What number is going to be a full size mockup of the moon lander without fins and has the midship landing thrusters?

[@MrStoney]

Do we think SN9 will end up on the same pad SN8 stands on or a potential candidate for pad B? - Noob here! - be nice

[@oldstickygummybear]

were those heat shield pins on the belly

[@wdwerker]

Anyone understand the readout on the digital crane scale ? I looked it up and Dillon (brand on the label) calls it a dynamometer. Does that equal 6.5 tons ?

[@nolsp7240]

At 8:01, what is that 13020 digital reading?

[@kerbalengineer1243]

Weight on that connection probably in kilograms.

[@treschlet]

it's a force sensor. So essentially, weight. Those probably wirelessly transmit the amount of weight on each of the 6 connections, so they can make sure they're not overstressing the craft by swinging it around too fast.

[@nolsp7240]

@@treschlet Thanks. Multiplied by 6 that's already almost 80 metric tons!

[@3gunslingers]

@@nolsp7240 Yes! Looks like SpaceX will be able to hit their goal of 100 tons empty weight of the final Starship.

[@shenkers]

@@3gunslingers I don't think so just yet, nosecone section with flaps probably will be more than 20t.

[@albertvanderheiden7419]

Why the flaps looks so buckeld?? It is only a flat plate. And to install the TPS tiles on it i guess

[@ShahbaazKhan]

The fins are already looking better.

[@halihammer]

02:38 how are 41 tons equal to 37'194kg?

[@Vikings_FAN_05]

What camera do you use for getting such sharp pictures even all the way zoomed in?