SpaceX Gives New Starship Launch Date Estimate! Ready Or Not?

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Starship is undergoing final Starship testing! But something isn’t right! SpaceX wants to build a brand-new Starship Launch Complex! And it won’t be at Starbase! SpaceX hits another record! Nova-C sends pictures of our planet! And Japan’s incredible H3 rocket finally reaches orbit!
#SpaceX #starship #elonmusk #starbase
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Editing: John Young, Alex Potvin, Stefanie Schlang
Photography: John Cargile, John Winkopp & Stefanie Schlang
3D Animation: Voop3D
Script & Research: Eryk Gawron, Oskar Wrobel, Felix Schlang
Host: Felix Schlang
Production: Stefanie & Felix Schlang
Graphics & Media Processing: Jonathan Heuer, Felix Schlang
Credit:
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📄Links for this Episode:
www.spacex.com
www.spacex.com/starship

[@Whataboutit]

Visit linqto.com/wai, use WAI500 at checkout & save $500 on your first Quantum investment with Linqto! Could early March still be on the table for Starship IFT3, or are you skeptical about the estimate given by Elon Musk himself? Place your bets in the comments.

[@BBBrasil]

Seems likely, it is not the same "Elon Time" as in when the base was destroyed by a concrete hurricane.

[@thomasdickson35]

March! 🤞

[@Chris_Harris]

MezaNEEENE. That's how you pronounce mezzanine. Not mezanin. Dude, you need me to go over your scripts because this isn't the first mashup for you.

[@getone007]

March pending FAA approval and the weather

[@claudelebel49]

I will be back in March. Thanks ​@@getone007

[@1jipjapjoe]

One thing that’s a guarantee is when the title says new launch date, you can be sure there will not be a new launch date.

[@jasonsinclair6949]

I’m glad I’m not the only one getting disappointed by clickbate.

[@KBProfile]

True

[@lordleonusa]

WAI has sadly become nothing but Schlangbait, that's why I unsubscribed

[@jmuench420]

That's why I ignore his videos. Thanks for saving me the trouble of watching it

[@themistoverthelake7883]

​@@lordleonusaI agree. I will unsubscribed. I just subscribed a minute ago. Now I changed my .ind because I hate my time being wasted

[@3-5-9-61]

wtf is the new launch date or do you just keep using that title as clickbait?

[@undertow2142]

One hiccup with starship and everyone panics and terabytes of content is generated “spaceX a failure?” Meanwhile SLS is 20 + years deep reusing hardware to still be behind schedule and people be like good job Boeing.

[@genemetz1945]

What SpaceX failure. These are learning incidents. i haven't run accoss anyone that has panicedbecause of any SpaceX hickup. SLS and Boeing? :-) I ran a CADD project that used Boeing Software on IBB and AIX and we lost a ton of money as their software was flawed. did not do what they claimed.

[@MJ-zo5gb]

Space fans love to know all the details. It’s like a hobby to us.

[@The_CGA]

You’re not wrong But it’s also kinda key that SLS is 100% ready for humans and starship (at least earth launch) is a loooong way from being human rated

[@alexlabs4858]

Not to mention Boeing Starliner LOOOOL

[@TNT_FPV]

no one thinks boeing is doing a good job

[@airbreath]

So… what’s the IFT 3 timeline? I guess I missed that part.

[@appliedfacts]

Just before this video I watched a WAI vid from Oct 2020. What a difference 3 1/2 years has made. Felix has lost wieght. 😎 The other video showed the launch tower with only the legs sticking out of the ground and there were only a few tents at the Boca Chica site. Booster 1 (one) was just starting to have its segments put together. Even the Starship test hops were still in the future at that point. I recommend seeing it.

[@mikakettunen7939]

Yes - this is something that all should be aware of and respect

[@curtiswfranks]

Wow!

[@Darsh0606]

1:59 that gives a good perspective on the size of the rocket.

[@friendo760]

Not so much switching around on the images would be beneficial. Otherwise great job and Thanks!

[@andrewplumb6544]

Agree. I stopped watching TV even BBC in th UK because of constant image changing. I'll just not watch if it becomes a habit. The world around me doesn't do it. So I'll stick with that. It's awfull.

[@appliedfacts]

Sometimes I pause the videos so that I can take a good look at a particular image. I would be fine with a longer/slower paced video because it would give me time to digest what Felix is saying. I also watch mulitiple times. 😂

[@mynameIan]

Agreed. We aren’t all ADHA teens that require over stimulation. Would be nice to look at some details.

[@kohanrains776]

I disagree as long as they are related and real then keep em coming I like to see the information and I'm sure many more people do

[@olly7248]

Anyone tell me what the point of going to Mars is❓ It’ll consume countless Earth resources and achieve what exactly❓ I love watching all this rocketry but don’t understand how going to Mars achieves Elon’s goal of making humanity multi-planetary 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tmg7476]

I believe a major stumbling block to SpaceX Cape expansion (whether pads 37, 39C, 39, or 50) is the road required to get Starship from the Roberts Road factory to the pad and back. Starship, SLS, and Saturn are different in their size and vertical integration before moving to the pad area. That is why you have the crawler road coming out of the VAB. SpaceX will need a similar road coming out of Roberts Rod facility. Or locate mega bays nearer to the pads. This isn't nearly as simple as converting an existing pad to BO's or Relativity's needs. Any road from Roberts Rd to the Space Force station would have to cross the Banana River. The road could not be just a simple causeway since NASA barges use that river to get to and from their VAB turning basin. The entire area is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve and the Canaveral National Seashore. This puts special environmental rules and regulations on the area. Felix, suggestion for a WAI special -- using maps, ground, and aerial photography, do a tour of Merritt Island from Port Canaveral in the south to Playalinda in the north. I'm sure that a lot of your viewers really have no idea of the layouts and various locations and uses that compete in that area.

[@Whataboutit]

What you have to keep in mind is that SpaceX does not have to move a mobile launcher together with the rocket. The need for the crawler way was solely based on having to move half the launch pad for every launch.

[@Unmannedair]

Right, 95% of the rockets weight is fuel. Biggest obstacle is the size.

[@tmg7476]

@@Whataboutit Agreed -- it moves by its self. But almost two years ago SpaceX requested widening the roads to get to 39A -- Starship is bigger than anything not using the crawlway. Existing roads are not going to suffice.

[@getone007]

Unfortunately the design will be the one that impacts the environment the least

[@jamescobban857]

Note that SpaceX uses a 2-lane Texas state highway to move boosters and orbiters to and from the launch facility. Why would they need anything more at Canaveral?

[@getone007]

March 14,15,16 if the fcc license is approved

[@LordDTwigo]

Is this the new dates?

[@lordleonusa]

Yawn

[@markl3893]

Beware the Ides of March!

[@getone007]

More like operational target dates, FAA approval and the weather are the other drives.

[@getone007]

More like operational target dates, FAA approval and the weather are the other drives.

[@alexlabs4858]

Dude no new launch date has been given. Please don’t say that they gave a new launch date in your title when they haven’t done so. Clickbait is driving more people away than it attracts nowadays. People like to be respected and not feel tricked. Taking a break from this channel until it gets a little more integrity if that ever happens. It’s not too late.

[@Barthhhelona]

I think it says launch estimate (3 weeks), not launch date.

[@francocastilloAR]

Stop assuming that if it unstacks it's because something is wrong.

[@Vastafari34]

I'm guessing that it was a planned small-scale test of all the new tank-farm equipment! No worries here!!

[@chiaricharlie6608]

Thanks Felix!

[@guyjordan8201]

So many people have criticized Boca-chica as a viable site because Cape Canaveral is already approved for all of this activity should take notice… 2+ years just for EIS in Florida is proof that bureaucracy is the biggest threat to SpaceX.

[@rossjybuis]

No date given. You are welcome.

[@tommorningstar6373]

At long last... a REAL Felix Fix. Mystery stuff in the testing is always tantalyzing.

[@ghost307]

The animated astronaut is a cute touch.

[@xixixexe9381]

Title: "Space X gives new Starship Launch date" Felix: "Have no idea. You tell me in the comments"Bravo

[@jenohathazi920]

Thanks a lot dear Felix

[@schrodingerscat1863]

There are some pretty complex updates to the GSE so no surprise there are many fuel load and other tests being carried out. It isn't that easy configuring all the control systems so get both booster and Startship loaded with fuel and oxidiser all at the same time. Handling that much cryogenic liquid all at the same time is insanely complicated. The booster and Starship are likely only there at the moment to facilitate GSE testing and setup. A WDR will likely only take place after they have a successful tank/de-tank cycle completed and that seems a way off yet.

[@forgegamer3118]

LOL right before the video I got an ad for redlineheli 😂😂😂

[@ruschein]

The customers obviously have a say in risking their payloads, too!

[@robertkerby2581]

An Absolutely Amazing group of updates on SpaceX; USSF and the like! Well done, Felix!

[@brandenvs]

My most antcipated part of my day 😁. Thanks for a consistent delivery of such awesome content!

[@Whataboutit]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@appliedfacts]

Yeah, me too. I start anticipating these video drops on Sunday then watch the clock on Tuesday morning. 😁

[@vasisir]

Congrats Felix. TJ is superb.

[@MrMaelstrom07]

So.Many.Ads!!

[@markysspotlight2472]

Welcome back Felix we appreciate you.

[@Whataboutit]

Thank you!

[@Bigglare]

Starlink in Lunar orbit would make too much sense.

[@Unmannedair]

Not for Earth communications... Lunar orbit is 10x further than geostationary.... And that means you need a 100x stronger signal and more power with 20x more lag.

[@happy.in.philippines757]

@@Unmannedair Lunar starlink wouldn't be used for communications on Earth. Instead it would enable communication from lunar orbit to anywhere on the moon's surface. It could also relay from lunar probes and spacecraft on the surface to Earth.

[@ryanharkins]

Great episode as always! Look forward to these every Tuesday and Friday!

[@SunriseSearcher]

I am I the only one that got dizzy from the fast change of videos?

[@christophermaguire9206]

Great update You rock

[@johnscott8745]

Thanks!

[@timothyyork8403]

Another great video! Thanks Felix and WAI team!

[@Whataboutit]

[@bbbenj]

Thanks.

[@rocroc]

I heard yesterday that the military was now investigating their own Starship launch site in Florida. I suspect this will muddy things up quite a bit. They'll all be competing for those properties.

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@greggweber9967]

9:14 It's like building a battleship. The first thing that you start making is the big, heavy, long lead-time gun barrels. You might change your mind, but you can use it on another ship.

[@henkhenkurd8490]

Hai Felix, You are always naming values in also the metric system as well as the imperial system. It sounds a bit obligatory and annoying. Maybe you can call the metric values and show the imperial values in the graphics. It would be a great improvement!

[@coreyperez13]

16:05 There is NO WAY that the driver was paying ANY ATTENTION to the road or where they were going!

[@RedRyan]

They should call it slick 51

[@DeanStephen]

If this new building is a “mezzanine” that rather implies that the factory building is eventually going to be built over and around it.

[@Nathan-vt1jz]

It makes sense for them to build a starship site in Florida. Thanks for the great videos! Y’all do a great job.

[@greggweber9967]

0:45 If so, it's better here on the ground where you can fix it rather than in flight where you can watch the RUD.

[@benoitbourdaire4194]

The more problems they find, the happier I am as it maximises the chances of success of IFT3

[@jeffreylee8014]

Thank you, I love the visual cues.

[@Whataboutit]

Glad you like them!

[@davidlitzmedia1682]

So freaking excited!!! I've lived by the Cape since the 80's. I've seen everything!! I can't wait for this!! Wow 😎💪💪💪

[@getone007]

Space X and Starlink will Need to develop combo comms & GPS satellites net for both moon and mars

[@appliedfacts]

Yeah man! You are right on with that idea! Current landers are trying to use photo analysis software to guide themselves to their target landing site. That is still being refined. Let's skip that and just put existing tech in lunar and Mars orbit. Then landers can use existing tech too. 😎😎

[@JeannineDC]

Your remote 📷 are awesome and work really well. You guys rock ❤

[@Whataboutit]

Thank you so much 😁

[@kstricl]

If they go with Slick-50, it will flow slowly, but should quiet all those noisy tappets...

[@catsfive]

I'm really warming to your channel and your style isn't as crazy as it was to me initially. Great job

[@Whataboutit]

Thank you. ❤️🙏

[@SergejKolmogorov]

Let's see!

[@gregorychaney7604]

SpaceX will need to build Slick 50. The more control they have the better for everyone.

[@jpeterd92]

I've been using starlink in rural Ontario Canada for almost a year now, and in that time the speed has gotten noticeably better When I first got it I usually got about 7 megabits per second download and one megabit per second up. Now it's usually around 40 megabits per second download and 7 megabits per second up

[@kathrynck]

I have much faster download (several hundred m-bits), but only around the same up as you. I frequently choke on the upload, and during slowdowns in the upload it gets down to like 1m-bit. And it goes out entirely all the time... How's the latency with starlink? 40 m-bits down is perfectly acceptable, if it "works" and doesn't have finicky times of day, etc. Really sick of "the cable company".

[@SP4CEBAR]

The office building reminds me of Kerbal space program's crew building

[@edwardvinchinski7670]

Light this damn candle already!

[@rexjohnson1905]

Nobody likes being tricked into watching a video that doesn't match what the title says. Even us longtime subscribers get pissed.

[@YouveGoneOrbital81]

Knowing SpaceX they will do both SLC37 and SLC50. fingers crossed

[@USNCspartan]

I had to come over and say well done Luca ! The WAI website is soooo clean and slick, works well and is my go to! I understand that others may have played a part in it also. Kudos to you all at WAI really loving the info I didn’t know I needed 😂. Keep it coming WAI !! 🚀!

[@Whataboutit]

Awesome, thank you! And Luca is the hero!

[@BusstterNutt]

nice one Felix

[@GlennSteffy]

the delays are just ahat they need to be!!!! NO ONE wants to fix stuff that's on or surrounded by fire!! let's give the guys and gals the space they need to do this right!!🙂❤

[@robertmartens7839]

"evidently learned its lesson as evidenced by..." You have a way with words.

[@nathanielbyrne1132]

The first metholox engine ignited in space is quite a big milestone actually. The Expanse: flip and burn

[@edh6096]

LOL - thanks, Felix, for the quick shot of the machine from the AWESOME movie CONTACT !!!

[@uaateacher]

The objective is to launch and land somewhere, so Cape Canaveral could also launch and receive a Starship...

[@swiftwing21]

with or without slc 37, slc 50 should be started imo... They've proven with falcon 9, the pads are staying busy.

[@petribz400]

Check out the Raptor Roost it is the closest viewing point and they are awesome

[@navinshivashankar7905]

Niceeee🎉

[@KomradZX1989]

I like the episode counter on the title screen. I can’t believe you’ve done almost 350 episodes! 🤯 Here’s to 350 more!!! ❤

[@charleslord2433]

And as I watch this, Ship 28 is on pad B and Booster10 is rolling back to the production site. Even a March launch is looking iffy...

[@mattoverbee7632]

I can’t watch this anymore. The number of ads is out of control.

[@michaeljohn5175]

Is it just me, or have we not already known they are building a second Starship pad at the Cape for at least a year now? They simply released a little more details on it. The big news should be they have not cancelled it, considering they are moving the tower parts to TX. What is going to be the next click bait? They are building a high bay in FL? lol

[@gearboxscott]

One would think that they would make an administrative building in the shape of a X. Yeah, yeah, I know they don't have room for that at Chica

[@Michael-jd5vf]

Hey Felix, I appreciate your content a lot, and I've noticed a shift in the titles recently. It seems like they're becoming a bit clickbaity and reminiscent of other B-level content out there. I genuinely love what you do, so I wanted to share my concern. The alarmist narrative with phrases like "Is everything okay?" feels unnecessary. I've seen some comments expressing similar sentiments, and it's affecting your subscriber count. Remember, you're among my top 5 SpaceX channels, alongside Marcus, NASA Spaceflight, and CSI Starbase. Your content is top-notch, so please consider reevaluating the advice you're getting on your titles. Don't let external pressures compromise the quality you've consistently delivered. YOU ROCK!

[@allanrose3661]

LC-49 would also close Playalinda Beach which means another Public Beach is impacted by Starship developement. There was always room available further south of Complex 39. Don't know why they didn't consider going south of 39 in the first place.

[@julianfp1952]

Are you sure that car park is going to be as huge as you show in the render? I haven’t read the planning application but I’m wondering whether that big square-footage number you quote is the total floor (parking) space rather than the footprint of the building so, with 6 floors, the footprint would be about 1/6th of what you show in the render I.e. pretty much going where the current parking lot is. That still increases the parking spaces there by a factor of 6 and seems more appropriate to me than the huge thing you show in the render.

[@user-gv4cx7vz8t]

A lot of big parking lots can be paved and dug up for the cost of going up six floors. "Watch this space," but don't blink!

[@JeffBrazeel-fe4wc]

I Wonder Tho, with Space-X Stating that IFT 2 didn't Achieve ORBIT was Due to No Payload. Will they Simulate a Payload with IFT 3? IMHO THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD!!!!

[@harvhurley]

Maybe checking the booster integrity with a loaded starship setting on top of it. Maybe the last booster failed because of a buckled or wrinkled booster tank when it was mostly empty.

[@Gilgwathir]

Imagine spending 100M on an office complex, that's marginally better than office containers 🙈

[@rafalg5442]

Honestly, I am getting sick of that in every title is "lunch date". And there is non

[@ZapperGazer]

Both launch sites will be built up, but it could take 4 or 6 years. The need will force both.

[@robertheinrich2994]

the one record that is really impressive to beat: the rocket with the most launches. that's still soyuz. and that record is just 200-something launches away. essentially, 2025.

[@markl3893]

Elon has shown himself to be overly optimistic on time schedules. When it comes to his timelines, I'll believe it when I see it.

[@peterclarke3020]

Just maybe all of those things ?!

[@odysseusrex5908]

SLC-37 or SLC-50? Embrace the power of *AND!*

[@johnd.7792]

I think the problem was with the farm revamp... they tried a work around, it didn't work... specially with how much work they've done it... I still say mid to late march. Full send

[@velisvideos6208]

"Spacex is all about efficiency". Really? They are all about activity, like an anthill. Efficiency has is something else altogether.

[@appliedfacts]

Anthilll is a good description! They are all over the site all the time. Of course they work in as much efficiency as possible but no research or construction process was ever fully, 100% efficient. Its the cost of doing business in that setting so allow a little bit of non-absolutism.

[@RockGift9]

What's the latest on that patch of land thats not part of Boca Chica ? Luv the show by tge way.✌🏽🚀

[@peteregan3862]

Given the nearby derelict sites nearby, Pad 37 looks good for Starship. However, it will rattle windows for kilometres, the Space Force Station will likely need some upgrades

[@Whataboutit]

It will cause noise complaints. That's for sure.

[@peteregan3862]

But non space civilian, and space force are in a different category. Appears proper civilians are about 13 km away.

[@appliedfacts]

I would pay extra to live and/or work where Starship launches could rattle my windows, at least for a few years. 🎉😁🎉

[@bruceatkinson5357]

Felix, of all the space you tube channels, I watch WAI almost exclusively. I enjoy your accurate information and consistency. Most of the other sites are often "over the top" with false enthusiasm. I prefer your much more reasoned, level-headed reporting and still have fun. Thanks for your efforts.

[@Whataboutit]

Thank you so much for the comment! This made my day!

[@appliedfacts]

I agree completely. WAI is my #1 channel for space news. I even recommend WAI in my comments on other space news channels! That is, when those commenters complain about AI narrations and their copy and paste videos. WAI has none of that. I am subscribed and staying that way. I only wish that I could donate more.

[@StereoSpace]

I'm gonna predict we'll see the third flight test by March 15th.

[@kentscoffey]

Why not colonize the moon first? Techniques and hardware can be developed on the moon before making the extended trip to Mars.

[@jacobjuneau5705]

march 14 or 16 for launch

[@richardloewen7177]

Request, Felix: develop a T-shirt having a diagram showing the various Kennedy launch sites--existing and proposed--re SpaceX, ULA and BO.

[@anthonyschirillo4377]

I think they will need both

[@AndrewGallagher1968]

They will do both.

[@pmshop100]

Felix, since SpaceX changes rapidly, how about marking slides and videos that are less than 2 weeks old with dates captured so we can tell the difference on what recent video entries you are catching us up on compared to new info? What about it? 😁😁😁

[@markcors949]

They will get both 37 and the build the 50 launch site. They can get 37 up and running fast and build out 50 as they launch from 37. If you look at the number of launches they are planning they will likely have 6-10 more launch sites beyond these..

[@RacefanPat68]

Stop click bait Its a prototype, so every one is different and issues to be expected. But unlike others it creates a few days to a few weeksmax delays, where others would take weeks to years.... Secondly, the whole fuel farm is being rebuilt, so again problems not really a shock. Why is this a huge drama? Naturally thiswill be ignored,

[@RacefanPat68]

Or not...

[@stefanieschlang8975]

I am voting for IFT3 on March 24th 😍

[@Whataboutit]

Haha!!!! Yes, please!