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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[@ghost307]

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

[@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….

[@EdwardNathanielDeLosSantos]

Who's excited for flight 5?

[@robertscraneart174]

Me!!!!

[@EdwardNathanielDeLosSantos]

@@robertscraneart174 it's going to be amazing

[@The1QwertySky]

Who tf isnt is the real question

[@petercozzaglio6070]

Totally.

[@Codysdab]

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

[@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"

[@guppy277]

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.

[@guppy277]

“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!

[@gmergulhao]

thanks for not adding background music!

[@warpedfusion]

There is background music, it's just quiet.

[@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.

[@gabrielgolding5380]

Now we have Hoppy and Slappy!

[@davidg3944]

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

[@TwstedTV]

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

[@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. ✌️

[@BenjySparky]

Ryan and NSF, y'all rock! Peace

[@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+

[@gordonstewart5774]

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

[@MrKellymcilrath]

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

[@joshwright9136]

Lets freaking goo!!!

[@corrinastanley125]

Great update Ryan and NSF team, thanks.

[@stevemak8620]

Yay! Ryan is great!

[@TroyRubert]

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

[@davideberhardt4977]

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

[@Ron4885]

Me too. 🤯

[@mikeg9b]

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

[@sunny18814]

Can’t wait for flight 5

[@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...

[@BusstterNutt]

Thank you, a great synopsis as alway.

[@AlpInceiplik]

That new crane should be named "Cranzee"

[@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.😊

[@Gorgrak]

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

[@imtired1696]

Sir....

[@mahlkov]

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

[@palmedor9916]

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

[@toddincabo]

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

[@Ch33ziTzsk8R]

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

[@Santiagogleissner]

Go SpaceX!

[@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

[@rocketdan1430]

Here we go 😎

[@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.

[@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.

[@dungeonmaster8612]

Catch up will be Epic!

[@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!

[@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.

[@kiefox7162]

Lets go!!!

[@ryann6919]

Love this coverage. Mechzilla is epic!

[@christophermaguire9206]

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

[@waynehunter8928]

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

[@Booster-13I]

!slap when?

[@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

[@KrogerKing]

You are my favorite communicator on this channel!

[@Grundewalt]

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

[@oldmanstumpie1061]

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

[@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.

[@alx-vla4986]

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

[@garethashley9128]

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

[@user-uk7fy7fe8j]

Love B14.1

[@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 🤔

[@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.

[@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.

[@dangorneanu9616]

Slappy!

[@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.

[@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".

[@therogue9000]

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.

[@maziarmansoori6068]

best music

[@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)

[@riparianlife97701]

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

[@glitchered]

about that last segment. they should and probably will attempt a spot landing. need good last moment aero and a quick fuse to turn the booster down coming in off trajectory. hit the beach. we dunno what happens if they hit the chops top side. instant upgrade to the smaller version. yeh. if they thread the needle they got the gridfins to hang on if it falls thru. this is testing with kinda big hardware. but it's gotta be done at some point. yo

[@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.

[@donjones4719]

During the catch of a SH, if the arms bounce and don't catch the pins, they'll still catch the forward flaps, right? Hopefully those will hold long enough for the arms to lower SH onto the mount. The arms would only have to hold SH in place, the mount would carry the weight.

[@knowledgeisgood9645]

They would not be able to get the bottom level on the OLM. They would have to use a transport stand and do it by hand, or simply empty the booster then drop it. It will not be simple.

[@guppy277]

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.

[@DarioushAryan]

bravoo

[@slateslavens]

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

[@TerryOnTuesday]

Always thought a line of tractor tyres (or bigfoot tyres) along each arm would help to soften the catch and minimise damage.

[@David-yo5ws]

I'm sure the resulting black smoke, as they start burning from the landing Raptors, will be seen for miles. Maybe stainless steel springs along the plate?

[@jameskrienert2137]

space X should try a return booster catch with a Falcon Nine Booster, they seam to have that accuracy now.

[@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...

[@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.

[@alangreen_za]

Thanks for the update. That hair though. Decisions are mostly valuable

[@davidreed628]

Thank you for mentioning that hair...😞

[@schlenbea]

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

[@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.

[@iantibbetts6823]

Might we just call the new crane T-Rex?

[@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.

[@briangodfrey7424]

I have a heat shield question. We know the ship is hitting the upper atmosphere at high speed and we know the plasma is really hot. But there isn't a lot of actual air up there, so how much air pressure or "wind" does the ship experience during its re-entry and descent?

[@David-yo5ws]

That's a loaded question. It is by virtue of there being 'no atmosphere', that the reason for the plasma heating event occurs. And while things get heated up, there is essentially very little 'pressure' on the Ship. It is the next event, where it starts to enter a slight atmosphere (which is extremely cold and full of mostly nitrogen) that you get another type of 'friction' from particles rubbing past the Ship, that causes the air braking, whilst still heating the contact points. It is then you get a pressure against the 'hull' which builds up. I think it gets up to 6 g's at it's peak. It is then you get the added problem, as the air starts to thicken and you get the presence of oxygen. This is where you saw the Right Forward Flap on Ship29 start to glow white hot. It's like oxyacetylene cutting torch's. Once the steel you are cutting, gets to a red hot glow, you pull the trigger on the torch, which introduces a higher proportion of oxygen and that causes a 'chemical reaction' with the steel, which creates the cutting effect and the white hot glow. This is essentially what we saw on the flap hinge. Then the Ship slows down enough and begins to behave like a skydiver. That's as simple as I can put it. I am sure a Physicist with a degree in atmospheric pressure, could write a book on Re-Entry.

[@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?

[@tashi7160]

why FireFly guy is reporting SpaceX news/updates? or may be I am missing something.

[@David-yo5ws]

There was a test launch today or as they were going to air. But due to some ground zero problems, it was aborted at 8 seconds then scrubbed after restarting the countdown.

[@oldmanstumpie1061]

What a great slap-a -thon. I wonder if there will be any impact/resonance issues that cause a Raptor or two to fall off. Thanks for the update Team NSF.

[@Barthhhelona]

They can't simply fall off lol. Besides the intensity of vibrations from the other raptors during lift off is probably wayyyyyy more intense than an impact from the chopstick slap.

[@oldmanstumpie1061]

I understand it’s very unlikely but so is liftoff during a static fire and we’ve just seen that happen for the first time.

[@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.

[@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

[@AbideVibe]

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

[@abhishekdk5040]

When is ift5 scheduled?

[@briangodfrey7424]

Regarding the chopsticks, maybe the left chopstick will be stationary during the catch while the right one closes after the booster positions itself next to the stationary left one. That seems more controllable than having both of them in motion during the catch.

[@colingibson5966]

Doubt it, the right one had an upgraded actuator whilst the left is yet to receive it's one. So that's why they won't have tried the left yet. Once they are finished changing the lefts actuator I suspect then run the same test on it and then on both together.

[@DocWilco]

Both will have to move. If you look at the Falcon 9 landings, they're pretty precise in the grand scheme of things, but having only one chopstick move would mean needing landing precision of less than an inch. Which is definitely not something Falcon 9 is able to do. Having both chopsticks move means the booster or ship only needs precision measured in feet, which is much more obtainable.

[@silasbr.]

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

[@stevenhamerlinck6832]

I heard "slapping the hooter", my bad ...

[@caseykey385]

I'd say its the first starbase update with no vertical tankfarm 😅😅

[@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

[@marinmitu995]

Then what good are the two proximity sensors mounted at the base of the two arms? Only for lifting?

[@knowledgeisgood9645]

They are not proximity sensors. They are used to modify the vertical position of the booster.

[@David-yo5ws]

The sensors guide pins into sockets on the booster. They can then pivot the top to align the one axis and push or pull the downward arms to align the other axis.

[@knowledgeisgood9645]

@@David-yo5ws They have cameras. I am not aware of any other "sensors".

[@megaskod9343]

Slappy should get a place next to starhopper

[@FreeRadicalX]

BUT HOW CAN THEY SLAP!?

[@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.

[@Takumi-San]

I think they could delay the catch attempt until the 2nd tower is operational. No tower = no more launches for xx months?

[@zachb1706]

Why?

[@Takumi-San]

@@zachb1706see last sentence: Was thinking of the halt to the flight test program if the only stage zero currently is massively damaged / destroyed. Recall recovery time after IFT1's crater as a baseline guestimate. Then again, given the switch to starship v2/v3, this version of the OLM and launch tower might be obsolete. Therefore stage 0 suffering an IFT-5 catch- attempt mishap may not impact the overall program development time frame. as while spacex finalizes initial design iterations for v2/v3 based on lessons learnt from IFT5, damaged stage 0 can be recovered even though the 2nd tower is not yet completed.

[@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.

[@MrWillywillmore]

Couls a new tower with a flame trench be lower than the first one? Making the tower automaticlly higher in reletive terms?

[@David-yo5ws]

I guess you mean the OLM being lower. Yes, that technically makes the Tower higher. But what would the consequence of the '33 Raptor sound', reflecting off the closer surrounding concrete area introduce? Maybe cracking concrete and liquifaction?

[@rokadamlje5365]

5th launch, July 26th?

[@saskcanada94]

Why no more videos about the progress in Florida at the cape

[@HaharuRecords]

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

[@riparianlife97701]

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

[@hamzahkhan8952]

you mean the grid fins? they might get sheared off if that happens. im pretty sure they are not designed to handle the wheight of the booster.

[@BradiKal61]

That's certainly a possibility. The good thing is that no matter how badly a landing fails we know that Space X will keep moving forward.

[@riparianlife97701]

@@hamzahkhan8952 That's been discussed. They have a pretty good dynamic load coming down hypersonic.

[@riparianlife97701]

@@BradiKal61 True that. Their first launch was a disaster for stage zero.

[@hamzahkhan8952]

​@@riparianlife97701 thats true. if i remember correctly, im pretty sure the original plans were to catch the booster by the grid fins.

[@NoMoreVoxPops]

Hurrican Beryl ahoy!!