SpaceX Finally Lights Starship Engines Again! Is China Catching Up?

[@Whataboutit]

How Quick do you think will SpaceX be able to produce Starships at some point?

[@TenSoboljem]

at some point? ikd... like 1 000 000 per year?

[@khukri_wielderxxx1962]

To include the boosters?

[@mevalemadre6223]

Boeing / Airbus builds 1 ~ 1.2 airliners per day once production is up, running, stable, and mature. Might be something like say 1/2 ~ 1/3 of that, i.e. 3 ~ 5 per week. Airliner has more interior detail work for passenger compartment, SH + SS has simple interior, but way more engines, plus a labor intensive heatshield. Raptor production may be the limiting factor. Expect SpaceX to set up / run multiple Raptor production lines.

[@aarondyer.pianist]

I think they never intended to abandon the bumpers.

[@dennismartin434]

Not very quickly because flight testing miss proceed before knowing how to improve. The ships feedback is with the program needs. Why is the Democrats Kamala Harris retarding SpaceX?

[@dongreer]

Those are blast-proof walls, and there's no way it would survive an out-of-control Starship dipping on the roof. Those are hurricane-reinforced walls, made to survive 180 mph winds, seen those before at a chemical plant I used to work at in Bishop, TX. It's so that people can shelter there during a hurricane, because you can't have staff who must monitor security and chemical/pressure systems evacuate. If this were to be used during launch, you'd see something more bunker-like, similar to the pumproom they built at the launch site.

[@filonin2]

Good catch

[@Whataboutit]

While you're absolutely right, I think you're confusing something here. NASA has the same. If SLS would fall onto NASA's Launch Control which is roughly the same distance from the pad, it would not have a chance of surviving. The times of so called Blockhouses are gone. Those were way closer to the pads.

[@SoftHeartPC]

The flame coming from the bottom of the first stage is much much more than 180 mi an hour, multiply that by about 10.

[@jasond6604]

I'm a commercial carpenter. Heavy gauge steel studs are used to reinforce buildings from high wind. such as hurricanes.

[@MrGeneralScar]

Cool observation. That said, given the building is where it is. Regardless if it's manned for launch or not. It still needs to be able to survive the sound shockwaves of a launch. If it couldn't, SpaceX wouldn't build it there. Given how powerful Starship is and will be in the future, if a cat5 hurricane was to come to Boca, that building if it was sentient would likely be saying... "Only Cat5... Pfft, hold my beer".

[@PaulTopping1]

Felix, you are absolutely right to refer to China as motivation to streamline the FAA's approval processes. Hopefully that will get those politicians thinking hard.

[@BBBrasil]

America has become allergic to success

[@catbertz]

@@BBBrasil Yes indeed. Specifically those in "leadership" positions have seemingly become resistant to success.

[@davidsingh6944]

@@PaulTopping1 democrats are owned by the CcP

[@verticalfracture5683]

staffing is the biggest problem for the FAA right now.

[@calc1657]

Safety is a lot less of a concern for the CCP. But certainly, where possible, the approval process should be adapted to the higher tempo of New Space development.

[@the80hdgaming]

I'm a happy Starlink user... I've had it for over 3 years... I was a beta tester for my area and literally the first person to get a terminal in my area... Never had issues with it at all...

[@kevinim300]

too bad for starlink astronomy interference issues. bumpers

[@lilbitesgames385]

why so many ellpsis? it seems passive aggressive and goes against what your are tying to say

[@the80hdgaming]

@@lilbitesgames385 they are a habit picked up 25 years ago...

[@eugenecbell]

My starlink was just delivered. Any advice before I install it on a post in the garden?

[@eugenecbell]

@@kevinim300please explain? Shouldn’t the new telescopes that the Starship will take to the far side of the moon make up 100 fold for the small interference with vintage ground based telescopes? If you are pro Astronomy you are pro Starship.

[@MilBard]

The reinforcements of the Boca Chica office building may also be for operations up to category four or five Hurricanes.

[@GrigoriZhukov]

I'd build for stronger than a Cat5 by 50%.

[@ohertzs]

The bumpers are a hard stop and the motion of the arms creates a massive moment along their length that is almost impossible to stop. We saw that in the way they would sway after stopping. I do not know the details but I imagine they will use the hydraulic control to "stop" early and control the sway with active use of the hydraulics.

[@the_stonemaster]

In the Intro:" will they be able to catch spacex?" I lost my english for a second😂

[@nyeleskettes]

Well if china wants to catch the booster it is logical to catch spacex right? I mean if spacex catches the booster and china catches spacex technically they also catch the booster.

[@NapppleDahAppple]

Will they be able to catch up with SpaceX right ?

[@Meister1551]

I'm a child of the 1950's and witnessed a great many developments in the space industry having grown up in Woodland Hills, California. That was where Rocketdyne first developed the rockets that carried our first Astronauts into space. I've followed the space industry very closely and I can tell you that Space X is leaving Hawthorne for good. They are closing up whatever facilities that they have and moving to Texas and Florida. We are seeing Space X's new launch complex complete with control center and all the office space required to run the entire operation.

[@keppscrossing]

Often the biggest hold up for permit approvals is a manpower shortage. I've worked in the fire marshal's office for two different departments. We are very conservative here, both the fire department employees in general, and also they mayors and city councils. None of us want to cause an undue burden on developers nor business owners, and at least in the two cities I've worked, nobody wants to use the fire department to generate revenue. I know this as an insider, knowing many of our politicians and fire chiefs quite well. The delays in us getting to things are all based on lack of manpower fir the amount of work. Politicians in our area want to keep taxes down, so we're overworked. I know the cynical won't be able to comprehend this, but it's true. For example, almost all of my lunches have been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches eaten either as I drive across town to my next appointment, or while writing reports at my desk. I doubt I take a real lunch break anymore than 5% of the time. I don't mind. I love the work. Regarding the FAA, there is a reason that the phrase, "it takes an act of Congress" means it's really hard and takes a long time to get something done. Increasing the number of FAA inspectors actually does take an act of Congress. It's not surprising that lags several years behind the need. That said, sometimes Federal agencies have been used for political purposes, such as the weaponizing of the IRS. I hope that's not the case here. If it is, I'm sure it's done to please political donors; the competitors to SpaceX.

[@jeffreypierson2064]

Yup. The number of people who can check the engineering of complex aerospace systems is fairly small. They are kept busy, so the government can say they are not wasting money. Sixty days is not a long time to look at a project.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

This is such a high-quality channel for all of us space enthusiasts, and I've enjoyed it for several years now. I really think it should be up there around the million sub mark by now; if there was any justice in the world, it would be. Tell you what, Felix, why not try doing more live stuff - or even live video releases with you online - and make it so that to comment in chat and maybe get a response from you (and not just in a superchat) we have to be subscribed. Could be a booster. Anyway, I just wanted to offer a long-overdue sincere "thank-you!" to you, your family, and your team. You are the best :)

[@JimmyRussell-c2s]

Space X should file suits against the FAA for allowing Starliner to launch knowing it has helium leaks

[@colin_001-o8t]

You are so right....

[@TheAlexdx7]

The SLS had major leakage problems.

[@johnreid2851]

@@colin_001-o8t apparently so wrong, at least according to WAI's latest video...

[@colin_001-o8t]

@@johnreid2851 i only ment the file suits part...

[@RS-ls7mm]

People seem to overlook that problems were not with Boeing but with its sub-contractor. Outsourcing is what destroyed Boeing.

[@drfirechief8958]

Thanks for the indepth update of spaceship news Felix. But I have a question. Many, if not all of the delays for Starship come from the FAA. My question is why is the FAA regulating SpaceX but only NASA is regulating Starliner? They are both in the same phase of development and therefore should be on the same regulator path. The regulations state that NASA regulates during development then the FAA regulates once the rocket has been cleared for commercial operation. So why the difference? Can you explain?

[@mikegardner107]

And certain systems and launches for the government are regulated by the DOD.

[@drosendahl]

Actually very few of the delays with Starship has come from the FAA. There has been a lot of talk about it but in the end, SpaceX has never been ready when the approval has come. This might be the first time it actually is FAA that delays the launch. BUT, remember that this is also most likely caused by SpaceX failing to get permissions for things they could have applied for a lot earlier. Many month, even years before they did.

[@1973mre]

Don’t forget, they’re moving the Hawthorne location out of California to Starbase

[@RS-ls7mm]

Gee, I wonder why? Perhaps the business hostile environment of CA, the government meddling in hiring, the ever increasing taxes, the rapidly declining quality of life in the LA area, ..... Vote left, watch your city collapse.

[@friendo760]

Props to you Felix for your continued and unwavering support support of the most advanced and innovative rocket company on the planet which also operates with the most transparency out of the rocket industry field.

[@davidsingh6944]

Felix IS the Man !!!

[@benjaminblair3619]

Faa needs to be all in at boeing

[@tomkrehbiel]

You only need one launch control center per launch tower. On the other hand you need a Flight Control Center for every Starship that's in orbit. Spacex will need many more flight control centers for starships than they will need launch control centers.

[@apobg]

They can surely monitor multiple ships from a single FCC, just like they do with Starlink...

[@MustSeeInside]

@@apobg not that easy, multiple problems across multiple vehicles will quickly deplete the resource base that can solve those problems. There’s a finite amount of systems folks with control center experienced.

[@tomkrehbiel]

@@apobg I was think of flights containing humans which seems to be the ultimate goal.

[@calc1657]

The Chinese are more tolerant of rocket parts and propellant falling over populated areas. Of course, we know the citizens have little say in these. I wouldn't want China's level of regulation.

[@kjetilhvalstrand1009]

Yep, reusable rockets, make the chines rockets safer. Then one that just falls from the sky into someone’s home. 🤣

[@myintmaunmaun]

China has vast no man's land they can use, like Hoh Xil and taklimakan

[@calc1657]

@@myintmaunmaun Propellant and parts have been falling over populated areas.

[@JoseSilva-bg3uz]

I'm always surprised when people hate a specific country and decide to make comment's not actually related to the video they watching.... for your information space x can't do test 5 flight because of so bureaucracy about the deluxe water system , not about the rocket path or where is going to fall ....

[@StillAliveAndKicking_]

@@JoseSilva-bg3uzThe video spent a lot of time talking about the Chinese space programme, and if you read the press, you will see that dangerous rocket components regularly fall onto populated areas in China and elsewhere. They don’t seem to care.

[@whaletune]

That actually looked like standard spacing on the wall segments. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="527">8:47</a> But instead of a 2x4 in size, it might be 2x8 or 2x10. Perhaps to help against the vibration of Starship launches?

[@СергейБолдин-в9м]

And also against explosions on the pad. It's non-zero probability.

[@stevebroome1288]

I’m the biggest Spacex fan and attended the first Starship launch but some of their ideas need reexamining. The Chopstick arms have the least leverage possible. Design should have hydraulics on the side of the carriage so it can exert more leverage and give arms more precise movement. The Starship using small landing sockets used to insert small balls from chopsticks is asking for failure. They need to have pop out hooks and land in same manner as booster. Hinging the hooks underneath heat tiles could be extended in same manner as shuttle opened its landing gear thru heat tiles. Same with launch pad. We were told there couldn’t be a flame trench. Now pad two will have a flame trench. I hate to be negative but I would not want to land in a spaceship that had to hover to a ball and socket landing.

[@Wurtoz9643]

Elon has said that the ship will have the landing nubs in the future

[@stevebroome1288]

@@Wurtoz9643 I am glad to hear that. I worried that this would be the big flaw that could hurt the entire project.

[@nzoritchy7065]

You a weird fan... Of course the design is not good yet .... The goal is to test it with the minimum needed so they can adjust the ship with what they really need, minimizing the cost of flights

[@monty0289]

At this rate, the FAA will allow Zimbabwe to catch up with Spacex

[@PrinceRumbwere]

@@monty0289 c'mon now

[@ariesesparaguera4478]

Can't wait 'til November 😅

[@KrimsonStorm]

I have always said whoever will be best for US space exploration has my full support. This is now just another reason. I want my dad to be here and see Americans on Mars, after he saw the moon landings from a FOB in Vietnam

[@ericf5978]

November? You're so cute. Try next year under a new administration.

[@wrwhiteal]

This is Americans vs their corrupt weaponized government.

[@julianfp1952]

I'm also sceptical that the FAA/environmental holdups and objections will all be resolved by November. I fear that the delay until next IFT is going to be longer than a couple of months. I'm keeping an eye on tower 1's SQD because if SpaceX starts getting strong indications that its Starship flights are grounded until next year it might skip straight to testing a block 2 ship on the next flight. I'm not sure how good a look the ring watchers and/or any local Boca photographers have got of a block 2 SQD plate to determine if it is 100% compatible with block 1 (layout and position/height on the ship) but if its not 100% compatible then seeing more work on tower 1 SQD would strengthen my suspicion that we might have already seen the last flight of a block 1 ship.

[@Enigmatic..]

They used to tell you to turn off your phones and electronic devices when flying on planes, now they give you free wifi on flights.

[@dl4087]

Your also told not to bring water into a terminal. So they can then charge you $10 a bottle.

[@jounik]

That's because the actual reason for telling people to turn off their phones was people in planes possibly flood pinging phone towers on the ground, which stopped being a thing after the 450MHz band stopped being used for phones and the towers started looking mostly down for connections.

[@limerickman8512]

It was never the FAA who forced people to turn off their phones, but the organisation that regulate mobile companies, because of hand over between mobile towers issues at speed. They used the phone interference on planes to force and scare people.

[@zhongxina9420]

​@@dl4087blame 9/11

[@FransBlaas1]

@@Enigmatic.. free Wi-Fi that doesn't work..

[@TaylorNewberryC]

Given the delays for flight 5, why doesn't SpaceX test the catching process by having some kind of vehicle do a short hop and then come back down right away onto the pad?

[@KiRiTO72987]

That would require a license not likely they'd use a crane to "drop" a test tank on the sticks at a controlled pace

[@CrazyScubaCouple]

that would need another friggin license...

[@wrwhiteal]

Far better to test an actual launch & return than to risk vehicle & pad on a contrived partial test. SpaceX are space & engineering geniuses acting in good faith. The FAA are clueless administration hacks acting with political malice.

[@lucasrodriguez4076]

@@TaylorNewberryC I have been thinking the same thing for quite awhile however, these guys probably though of this and another 1000 things more. I think it all comes down to bureaucracy. At this point, engineering has to wait for this BS.

[@UpperDarbyDetailing]

I had that thought also. Sure, they’d need a flight license, but it should be much easier to get a license to send super heavy only to say… 1000 feet and then back down.

[@kylewood2715]

I think if you are going to build super-advanced, super-expensive rocketship facility on marshland along the Texas coast, you need to overengineer the walls of your office building (and everything else), just to make sure the office will still be there after a major hurricane inevitably rolls on through

[@ethanol8612]

Hey Felix, keep up the good work mate! Much love from Australia ❤

[@Whataboutit]

Thanks, Ethan! Greetings from Florida!

[@adamstotsky2216]

If those arms ever catch anything, I’m going to be 100% absolutely amazed

[@SoftHeartPC]

The chopstick bumpers have always needed a shock absorbing plate. They will continue to redesign until they wind up with the perfect fit.

[@kevinim300]

or adjustability...maybe? for cold and hot sizing changes.

[@mustang607]

“The best part is no part.” What was that loud crunching noise?

[@johandewet2588]

The best rocket is no rocket. But that's just boring.

[@russmarkham2197]

"the best launch is no launch" - FAA

[@MichaelCarriger]

Next question: Assuming SpaceX gets the Starship into full production (in-spite of the FAA), where are they going to park all those boosters and starships??

[@ronaldlebeck9577]

There's no suitable firm ground in the area -- it's all coastal marshy wetland. Too bad SpaceX couldn't have had a location with good solid rocky coastline well above the water level so they wouldn't have to worry about saltwater infiltration, tides, storm surges, flooding, sinking, and such.

[@mikegardner107]

On Mars

[@ssg25uret6]

They should fly the IFT4 profile again to really lock in the flight profile to the mm before trying the catch. Plus it would give the FAA time for their BS before IFT6 and a catch attempt.

[@FransBlaas1]

Spacex should move the whole operation to an island far away from faa meddling..

[@Tailspin80]

Tracy island perhaps? With Musk as Brains?

[@jme36053]

I’m taking bets the FAA is delaying approval to provide SpaceX time to complete Tower B so they can launch IFT 5 from it. To prevent subsequent fines from the deluge system on Tower A.

[@mikegardner107]

If SpaceX thought that was a viable problem they would take the time and step up their already rapid pace on pad B

[@dragoncarver287]

Prepping Hoppy for testing launch tower catching. Try a little one first and practice. Then try a half-size booster. Practice. Test. Adjust. Practice. Test... etc.

[@tiagopinto365]

Já estava na hora da FAA atualizar os seus processos para o sec.21 e acompanhar a rápida evolução que a SpaceX trouxe🎬

[@iandyer4712]

Idea!. How about launch from Tower 2 and catch with Tower 1?

[@SQLMonger]

Just a wild hair thought, but SpaceX should use old design/scrapped ship heat tiles to protect components on Stage Zero. As long as they can be affixed securely enough not to be blown off by the launch/landing blasts, they would provide excellent thermal protection.

[@ghostworxx]

Great update! Lots of great info in this one. Keep up the great work!

[@glenword1846]

Those are steel studs used for walls, there are gonna be a lot of walls in the office building. They are replacements for two by fours as are used in home building. Also, they are much more resilient in commercial building structures.

[@jensjacquemyns7400]

Chopsticks Idea: What if they add a cushioning system into the chopstick bumpers, Making the arms' impact cushioned while closing on the booster, and the booster taking minimal force to its sides, completely removing the need to add cushioning into the arms where it will touch the booster.

[@GrayWolfe-34]

No Felix You Rock!

[@Whataboutit]

I'm not the only guy on the team. I feel very fortunate to be working alongside all those people you don't even know. Stefanie, Cary, Alex, Penny, John x2, Sean, Jordan, Indigo, Elliot, Arvid, Jonathan, Ry, Szablocs, Eryk, Oskar... They're what makes up WAI!

[@tearuapart1]

The steel wall (steel studs) is standard building material. Nothing is being reinforced.

[@marcmercury1]

Felix, that was funny. It’s like launching a large spaceship from walk-in closet. Yes, I agree. It’s a good thing. They’re gonna expand the control center.❤

[@jimmyholloway8527]

Once seen on a flat bed 18-wheeler, the actual scale of these parts can be appreciated. On the ground next to each other, or after construction, how huge they really are is tough to determine.

[@thomascharlton8545]

Hi Felix, It’s good to have oversight anytime safety of the public is of concern. BUT . . . Why is spaceflight not the exclusive purview of our National Aeronautics and “Space” Administration? In my opinion: Federal “Aviation” Administration should be limited to clearing the airspace above and downrange of each launch site. Note to FAA bureaucrats: Lead, Follow or Get Out of The Way. -- Reply from the FAA: We’re not happy until you’re not happy. (grin)

[@Winkkin]

I'm beginning to wonder if we will ever launch enough ships to require a factory to build them

[@PlanXV]

Good question 😊 maybe launch factories 😮

[@1mariomaniac]

Once Starship is complete, these FAA slowdowns should be much less frequent and launch cadence should increase dramatically. Right now it's because Starship is an experimental vehicle. Flight hardware and mission profile are changing with just about every launch, so they need to keep getting new licenses from the FAA. That doesn't make it any less infuriating, though, SpaceX is constructing and testing _rockets_ faster than the government can shuffle paper around.

[@Winkkin]

@@1mariomaniac when is pretty big four letter word

[@codycupps]

Starships will be growing and the tower appears to be the same height. Only outlier is OLM. I had a thought, to compensate for additional height, could they shorten the OLM and continue the trench for the flame diverter. Seems the most logical to me to accommodate V2 and even V3 ship and booster.

[@RovshenNazarov]

Thank you for great coverage as always!

[@Charity4Chokora]

SpaceX needs to make a third tower. It would surprise me if the FAA started regulating tower upgrades and delaying launches from certification timelines. 1st Tower meeting FAA launch requirements. 2nd Tower under FAA launch approval. 3rd Tower under upgrades and repairs. If damage occurs to a tower, things could really slow down without at least 3 launch site's just for development. Maybe those Oil Rigs should be developed now.

[@mcgruppjunction5326]

Extra reinforcement is likely just a code requirement for HURRICANE resistance.

[@someguy8412]

I'm surprised they don't have a small test vehicle that can fly and hover, at least that way they can do more realistic catches with the chopsticks. Before the real thing with super heavy, something like hoppie would be a good idea.

[@julianfp1952]

Well Felix, did say in this video that Hopper/Hoppy/Hoppie is having some work done on it so just maybe ..... Only joking, but wouldn't that be an amazing twist. The Starship followers' community would go wild.

[@pilotdawn1661]

Hmmm.... FAA slows down SpaceX while China catches up...Whaaa??????

[@PlanXV]

Hoorah for dixie 😂

[@admarsandbeyond]

@@Styrofo4m this isn't about products, this is about whether a totalitarian system dominates space or the free world.

[@sonarsphere]

@@admarsandbeyond ha ha what do you call "free world"? Western block? You must very naive.

[@admarsandbeyond]

@@sonarsphere Well, whatever problems the free Western world currently has, inflicted by a certain mindvirus, it's still FAR freer than the totalitarian regime ruled by the iron fist of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party.

[@Junk-t6v]

@@pilotdawn1661 It’s all about empowering our enemies.

[@hoffbd1]

F the FAA!

[@realulli]

Already got vacation approved for the week before Oct. 12th. Planning to go!

[@PaulTopping1]

Are the replaced bumpers the same length as the old ones? Are the new ones in the exact same position as the old ones? So many questions.

[@kevinim300]

so many unknown theories of operation...

[@edboughton8792]

The bumpers always were needed or the Chopsticks will dent the Boaster turning it to a single-use rocket. The problem is they need to be at the end, not the pivot because of the flex in the arms. They need to be at the end. If SpaceX was smart they would be trying to catch a StarHopper, FlyingSilo or one other Starships waiting to be scraped, not a first with a falling Booster

[@malhardeshkar5650]

at first it was just low key but now i completely hate faa

[@ghdwk5596]

At least their methods are extremely slow and ineffective. They should restructure to be more efficient and effective

[@zmblion]

Probably should ramp that up to the rest of government...

[@Forgetten55]

What spacex did caused this.Everytime they launched they changed so many things which required a new permit. Faa being adult here and whoever complain about how slow they are being childish.

[@zmblion]

​@@Forgetten55right... And the IRS knowing what you owe but want you to know how bad they ram you with no kiss isn't childish.. the government isn't here to help.

[@zmblion]

​@@Forgetten55if they decided today to just go with the same flight profile they would still be grounded even tho they have permits for that.

[@mikegLXIVMM]

"Hoppy" is historic and should be saved.

[@kevinim300]

I believe the first part of removing the original bumpers was for the obvious welding upgrades. :-=) after that. i guess reinstalled for some sort of adjustable debouncer...maybe

[@lanav9679]

Love the Channel Metrics, So Cool !

[@twistedgamer6]

They're not beams. They're metal 16ga studs for framing walls. It's an office building. Why they're going with 16ga vs 18ga or 20ga, probably wall height or large opening for windows. Who knows.

[@MrGeneralScar]

Launch control or not, that office building is close to the pad and faces the pad. It's flat land to the pad, no obstructions. That building would need reinforcement against the sound waves. We all saw the sound shock waves on flight 4. Also, if you noticed the shaking of screens in the building where Elon was, I assume that was the Stargate building. Stargate building has a megabay and high bay, plus star factory between it and the pad. If you just put a glass wall in a direct line of sight to that pad, it likely wouldn't be a glass wall for long.

[@petermcguire8260]

The chopstick bumpers need hydraulic actuators within them. Because when you start with a hot starship and fill it with cold propellant it changes sizes drop right off your rack if you're not careful. And then again the one coming back from space isn't pressurized either.

[@kevinim300]

interesting theory...temp related? i too once considered a hydraulic cylinder between the rams...long ago...for speed. but hmmm not for temp. imho

[@everettputerbaugh3996]

U.S. regulatory sluggishness is not limited to space launches. Nuclear power regulation have as well not been particularly updated since the 1960s. Same goes for ocean shipping.

[@lordinquis8r679]

Thanks, Felix!

[@lanav9679]

D-Ultimate Super Cool ! WAI ROCKS !

[@johnleonard1784]

Those metal studes are for drywall they are put up with screws and are not for structural reinforcment

[@tomwinston6758]

Thanks for the important information.

[@Fistfullofpizza]

Had to go back to <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="595">9:55</a> to make sure about what I saw....

[@patpozzuto4809]

SpaceX should include all fines from FAA and all other regulatory agencies on the bill for NASA in "BOLD".

[@petermcguire8260]

SpaceX built nearly 100 of those raptor ones in the early editions for upgrades on Happy The starhopper. So they have lots and lots of extra parts laying around but won't fit anything else they need to put starhopper back into production and practice catching with it. Just for fun. Maybe even.

[@The1BlindBandit]

Those "beams" look like metal studs, just an office buildings equivalent to a 2x4 stud you would find in a single family home.

[@scottmcelhiney323]

I wonder if SpaceX is going to use Hoppy in a catch attempt prior to trying to catch a booster that is returning from space... seems like it would be a cheap test to ensure that the chopsticks can catch something hovering without crushing it.

[@Wurtoz9643]

I’m fairly sure it’s way beyond repair.

[@thecharlestongeek]

Nah. So hoping something into chopsticks has a similar risk as dropping a near empty booster. And you don't really learn anything from the hop procedure. Like they say in Texas. Go big or go home!

[@pauljcampbell2997]

Thanks Felix!

[@paulveitch]

LC should be on top of a megabay

[@AJonVolk]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="568">9:28</a> I know structures that house sensitive technology (EW tech, rocket engine plans etc.) that needs to comply with ITAR need to be in structures with a certain level of hardiness, depending on plans that reinforcement might be to comply with those secure facility requirements.

[@ParkourBrian]

They just looked like metal interior studs to me… am I missing something?

[@antman6495]

Those are common 2x8 steel studs, used in place of wood and is the best for hurricane resistance and wind shear, Not for Blast protection

[@Lynn-w1i]

Great job as usual!

[@Starship29andB11]

Felix you rock

[@jameslandon9194]

Felix, I appreciate your updates. Thank you for keeping politics out of your reports. It can be tough these days. You are doing great. I have resubscribed. Thank you for your work.

[@sagecoach]

How will the FAA know if it is safe until a controlled test launch is made to proof test it? You know, like crash testing cars. If this is not understandable it must be government work. Smile please.

[@rzero21]

wonder how secure SpaceX documents are... wouldnt be surprised if someone leaked documents

[@christopherwoodfine]

Thanx

[@stevewall6748]

They're still building prototypes. The high-capacity, automotive-type production facilities can't be optimized and put into service until the rocket design has stabilized.

[@MrPDawes]

I'm sure the joint wasn't designed to take lateral loads hence the upgrades. Someone probably did some simulation and showed potential failure after prolonged usage.

[@lnr12241]

Man I would love to be part of the work on those towers. If I lived in Texas, I'd be trying to get on that crew every day

[@bertupg]

Could be that the bumpers were removed temporarily to modify them and implement a dampening system? One of the new bumpers seems to have a hole...

[@Hellkinssince1989]

Have they built a prototype with a cockpit? Just wondering how that change will affect weight and balance issues?

[@imconsequetau5275]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="675">11:15</a> The HSR is not causing instability. It's just too much unplanned weight.

[@tennesseetrucker9622]

They’re just metal wall studs. The same used when building walls in commercial buildings.

[@Team.Louish]

The longer it takes for EPA approval and certifications; the easier it is for China to catch up. Seems like the epa and FAA are dropping the ball giving china extra lead time.

[@87Aljack]

Will the upgrades force a new approval?

[@yurttgjk]

I can't understand why booster catch tests are so static, why don't they hang the booster to the crane and try to catch it in full-scale tests by lowering the booster into arms?

[@rargoth3197]

Felix i suggest you put wayyyy bigger text when you use new video different from what you are saying! It is really easy to miss theese last minute update, expecially if one is not really focusing on the video but just the voice

[@CooperHawkins4]

What I’m wondering is where there gonna store all the starships and boosters that aren’t in flight cause I can just imagine a huge rocket garden with hundreds of starships and boosters

[@imconsequetau5275]

Spare boosters maybe will be stored in the rocket garden. Ships will mostly be queued in orbit approaching depots to transfer propellant, or queued waiting return to launchsite. A few will be delivering satellites or on missions to the Moon and Mars. @@CooperHawkins4

[@craiggbrown]

I think what we need in the US is our own government space oversight agency separate from the FAA so that we have a dedicated space launch safety administration. The FAA is so busy with everything aviation and space. Just like we split the Air Force from the space force…it’s that time.

[@markwebster8371]

Those aren't beams. Those are simple steel-studs that go inside walls. Walls seem to be a bit thicker than the norm tho.

[@briancorrell9325]

Why does Starship V2 not need to do a fight test like the original testing Starships (the 13k ft launch, belly flop, vertical flip and landing)? Since this is a design change, wouldn't SpaceX want/need to verify it will have proper control like the larger flaps had?

[@chaztech9824]

that kind of stuff makes me smile

[@wal_rider8479]

If everyone says that China is catching up with USA in space, maybe it will be enough to put NASA into spotlight again and boost the space industry more.

[@Wurtoz9643]

People will probably say that “we should cut nasa funding because they’re not doing anything with it” due to thinking they get drastically more that they do

[@Nuke-MarsX]

NASA is long gone, the stage is just for private space agencies, NASA stays behind and gives funding, NASA has close to zero chance to develop anything that could compete to starship

[@budmanzoom4441]

Is NASA water deluge system similar to SpaceX and, if so, is the FAA/EPA stopping them too?

[@KiRiTO72987]

The FAA isn't the one harping about deluge that's the TECQ and EPA

[@budmanzoom4441]

@@KiRiTO72987 Yes, I thought about that directly after I posted it - thanks. Do you have any comment on my question?

[@imconsequetau5275]

TECQ: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

[@Baldorcete]

Probably solved decades ago.

[@budmanzoom4441]

@@imconsequetau5275 Do you know the answer to my question?