YTread Logo
YTread Logo

How Did SpaceX Starship Do During The BIGGEST Test Yet? - Largest Rocket Ignition In History Next!

Mar 22, 2024
OMG it worked! They did it! My name is Felix and I'm the host of today's episode of What About It. Phew! Today's episode is great! SpaceX made the Starship Wet Dress and we are doing a detailed analysis! Ship 24 is preparing for orbital launch and Super Heavy Booster 7 is about to perform the

largest

rocket

burn in human

history

! On top of that, ULA's Vulcan has arrived at the Cape and is preparing for its maiden flight, Rocket Lab has made a first launch from US soil, and Neutron, Rocket Lab's new futuristic super

rocket

, is making rapid progress! Stay tuned and let's dig in!
how did spacex starship do during the biggest test yet   largest rocket ignition in history next
Starship Updates Cool transition animation and boom! Starbase! SpaceX did it. Starship's wet dress rehearsal on January 23 was a huge step forward for humanity's future in space. SpaceX continues to prove that impossible is just a word and that anything is possible with perseverance and hard work. Let's dream big and follow me as I explain what exactly happened in Starbase, Texas. Stunning views from Chief's WAI Cam as the world of spaceflight enthusiasts sat back waiting for SpaceX to conduct the first practice launch. For those unfamiliar, a wet dress rehearsal is a full-scale

test

of a rocket's launch systems, including ground support equipment such as the fuel tank and orbital launch support, fueling and countdown procedures, but without actually launching the rocket.
how did spacex starship do during the biggest test yet   largest rocket ignition in history next

More Interesting Facts About,

how did spacex starship do during the biggest test yet largest rocket ignition in history next...

The purpose of this

test

ing is to ensure that all systems are working correctly and to identify and fix any issues before the actual launch. On January 23, SpaceX conducted a wet dress test of the Starship prototype, which was the first of its kind for this rocket. The test was a major milestone for SpaceX and the Starship program. The test also included a full countdown simulation and all systems appear to have worked as expected. This wet dress rehearsal was a key step toward SpaceX's goal of conducting an uncrewed test flight of the Starship perhaps in early February. SpaceX aims to use Starship to send humans to the Moon and Mars, as well as perform satellite launches and point-to-point travel on Earth.
how did spacex starship do during the biggest test yet   largest rocket ignition in history next
Starship is being developed with fully reusable technology in mind, which will significantly reduce the cost of space launches and make space travel more accessible, perhaps even for all of us. If it works, it won't just be a bigger rocket. It will change that fundamentally limiting factor in the spaceflight industry, which currently limits spaceflight to very expensive niche products. Dollar per kilogram to space. If this is significantly reduced, all kinds of new opportunities become feasible. Needless to say, I've spent the last few days watching footage of the Boss countless times. Back and forth, frame by frame, editing, analyzing and simply enjoying the scene.
how did spacex starship do during the biggest test yet   largest rocket ignition in history next
And, of course, also looking for signs of trouble. Problems such as the fall of thermal plates or the reaction of the hull to the stress of a 5,000-ton fuel load. And I couldn't see anything. Nothing out of the ordinary if that term even fits this type of test. The heat shield looked good. The hull contracted under the immense cold and the ship shrank a few inches as fuel was loaded. But still, nothing worrying. The fuel farm did its job from supply to unloading. The OLM did not crumble under the immense weight of SpaceX's fully fueled Starship, and Spacecraft 24 and Booster 7 performed as planned.
Yeah!! SpaceX kept us informed! Many thanks to the communications team! These messages are greatly appreciated! I quote: "Starship completed its first wet flight-like dress rehearsal today at Starbase. This was the first time an integrated spacecraft and booster were fully loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant." They added that the "test will help verify a complete launch countdown sequence as well as the performance of Starship and the orbital platform for flight-like operations." During the wet dress rehearsal, the rocket's fuel systems were tested with liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellants. This means that the tanks containing the fuel were filled with real propellants, and the various systems that distribute the fuel throughout the rocket and to the engines were activated and verified for proper operation.
It was an important step in determining that the systems were working as designed. In addition, the team also conducted a full countdown simulation, which is a rehearsal of the entire launch process, from the final checks before launch to the moment of takeoff. This allows the team to verify that all systems are working correctly and that the team has a good understanding of the launch procedures, and also to identify and correct any problems before an actual launch. This was a critical step in the Starship prototype development process and is an important milestone for the program. While updating everyone on my Twitter account, which is very much worth following, questions were raised about the huge vapor trails that were visible during the fueling process.
They came from the main booster methane tank, so the question arose as to whether this was dangerous. After all, methane is flammable and the right mix can create problems. We've seen this before, for example with booster 7 on July 11, 2022. SpaceX had a problem with a combustible methane-oxygen mixture under the booster. It ignited and created a powerful explosion. So if it is methane, can it be dangerous? The answer is most likely no. What you're seeing here is not actually methane coming out of the main fuel tank. Instead, the long white vapor trail is caused simply by methane. To be precise, extremely cold methane.
When this comes into contact with the surrounding moist air, it causes water in the air to condense, creating this huge white vapor trail. So while there was methane escaping from the tanks, the vapor trail is not a good indicator of how much methane was vented. There might actually be very little methane there. So, keep calm and think about the alpha base on Mars. In conclusion, the recent wet dress rehearsal at Starbase, Texas, was a major milestone for the SpaceX Starship program. It marks a significant step toward SpaceX's goal of providing more accessible space travel. However, as always, SpaceX did not sit still after this.
Quote again: "After completing Starship's first full flight dress rehearsal, Ship 24 will be unstacked from Booster 7 in preparation for a static firing of the Booster's 33 Raptor engines." YEAH!!! Ha ha! We couldn't be more excited right now. SpaceX's Starship program is unusual in many ways. In other large rocket prototypes, we sometimes have to wait months or years to take the

next

step in testing. Not so with SpaceX. It's probably already happened while you're watching this episode. When writing the script, I only had the prompt written, and you're probably looking at the beautiful footage of the Boss right now!
This is Ship 24, returning to the production site. Do not be disappointed! This is a good thing! Below are the latest ground handling checks, validations and removal of hard spots on the nose. After that, Ship 24 will be practically ready for launch. For going to space and proving that impossible is just a word if you work hard. And that's just the icing on the cake of Starship's orbital launch. Next, as SpaceX said, we will see the

largest

and most powerful rocket burn in

history

. The static fire of 33 engines will mark an essential point in the development of Starship.
Such a large rocket had never been ignited. Never run 33 Raptor v2 engines at once. I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to this! Will we see a total destruction of the orbital launch support or will it work just fine? What do you think? As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments! I'm looking forward to discussing it with you! Also, hit the like button now. Make it burn. Subscribe, share the video and leave a comment! That's the grease that keeps the WAI gears turning. Thank you so much! We continue with the latest achievements of Vulcan and ULA!
No, not Star Trek. "Live long and prosper!" The Vulcan Centaur is ULA's

next

-generation launch vehicle and is designed to replace the Atlas V and Delta IV heavy rockets, which have been in service since 2002 and 2004. So what sets the Vulcan Centaur apart from those two? rockets? First, the Vulcan Centaur uses a new type of rocket engine called the BE-4. 250 Tons of thrust at sea level. This engine is designed and manufactured by Blue Origin, a private space company founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The BE-4 is a more efficient engine than the Atlas V's Russian-made RD-180 and uses methane.
The same fuel that SpaceX chose for its Raptor engine and a cleaner fuel that reduces the rocket's carbon footprint. The Vulcan Centaur also has a modular design. This means the rocket can be configured for different types of payloads, such as satellites or manned missions. The Atlas V, on the other hand, was designed primarily for military and scientific payload launches and crew capability was an afterthought. The Vulcan Centaur also has a higher payload capacity than the Atlas V. It can carry up to 27 tons to low Earth orbit and up to 14.4 tons to geostationary transfer orbit. Even a translunar injection, that is, the payload to our Moon, amounts to an impressive 12.1 tons.
And the concept seems to work for ULA. At a cost of $110 million per launch, the system is cheaper than anything they could previously offer their customers, and the results are already available. More than 80 contracted missions are already on the books, and the rocket has yet to fly for the first time. . But something recently arrived at Port Canaveral. At first, these are images of Jerry Pike. A little-known drone pilot in the Cape. He was very kind to give us his material for today's episode. If you think his work should be shown more like I do, follow him on Twitter!
A link is in the description! And what you're looking at here is ULA's Rocketship. A unique vessel used by the launch alliance when larger items need to be transferred from its rocket factory in Decatur, Alabama, to the Kennedy Space Center. And this time the load was very special. Vulcan arrived at Port Canaveral in the early morning hours of January 22! That first rocket will have to prove everything. A very important release for ULA and one you definitely shouldn't miss! Only on this first release was a stunning red flame decal applied. After this, Vulcan will likely be white to avoid the extra weight of the livery.
And even the first payload scheduled to launch in the first quarter of this year is very special. Astrobotics is sending a lunar lander to the Moon as part of NASA's commercial lunar payload services program. Brief, CLPS. A launch date for the maiden flight has yet to be announced, but there aren't many steps left to get it started! Production and transfer to the launch site are now complete. On January 25, Vulcan Centaur arrived at the ULA Vehicle Integration Facility and was lifted to an upright position. Next in line will be a static shot or, as the ULA calls it, a flight preparation shot.
After that comes payload integration, and then the big show awaits us! Congratulations to Tory Bruno and the entire ULA team! Watching a new rocket prepare for its maiden flight is magical, and this one certainly qualifies as very special! Speaking of specials, we have another release that deserves a mention in today's episode! Rocket Lab launched its first rocket from US soil, marking a huge step forward for the company in providing better, faster service to its customers around the world. Founded 16 years ago, in June 2006, in Aukland, New Zealand, Rocket Lab is known for its launches from Launch Complex 1, located on the Mahia Peninsula, east of Wairoa, on the northern island of this remote country. in the Pacific Ocean. .
In 2013 the company decided to move its headquarters to Huntington Beach, California. Largely motivated by funding from American sources, Rocket Lab moved to the United States. But if you're headquartered in the US, it also makes sense to have launch capabilities in the same country. This is where Launch Complex 2 comes in. NASA's Mid-Atlantic regional spaceport has relatively low activity, giving Rocket Lab access to a very large portion of the launch schedule and therefore a lot flexibility in exchange. Construction began in October 2018 and now the time has cometo make an inaugural flight. And what a flight it was! The fact that Electron is a unique rocket in its own right, with its 3D-printed and electrically powered Rutherford engines, carbon composite hull, and exceptional small satellite capabilities, is a spectacle in itself.
However, seeing it launch from American soil for the first time gave it that feeling of a special occasion. The payload? HawkEye 360. An RF data analytics company and returning Rocket Lab customer based in Herndon, Virginia. The perfect example of why Rocket Lab wanted this platform in the US. Why? Because 189 miles is much less than “sorry”, which translates to 8,529 miles or 13,726 kilometers. Yes, New Zealand is a very remote place. So having a US-based launch pad makes a lot of sense for Rocket Lab. Sometimes it can be incredibly interesting to analyze a launch failure. But you know what? I like episodes about successful launches better, even if the anomaly generates more views.
And there's not much to say about this release other than well done. Perfect work. Incredible performance from the entire Rocket Lab team and a testament to “these guys know what they are doing!” One of the main advantages of the Electron rocket is its low cost, which allows more frequent launches and greater access to space for small satellite operators. Rocket Lab's launch services start at just $5 million. Significantly less expensive than traditional launch services! This makes it possible for more organizations, including universities and research institutions, to access space and conduct experiments and research. And with reusability on the horizon, development of the Electron Rocket is far from over.
On top of all this, Peter Beck, the company's CEO, recently provided some updates on its new Neutron Rocket. Much larger and fully reusable, it will mark Rocket Lab's entry into a completely new market segment with a very innovative idea. I'm still planning a maiden flight in 2024, still sticking to the carbon composite idea and still being huge to look at. Launch Complex 3, which will be built near Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, will give Rocketlab the ability to launch the rocket. A recently released image shows two halves of giant tanks intended for Neutron's main propellant tanks. The worker in the foreground makes a good size comparison.
And if that doesn't give you a good feeling, here's a comparison of the dome of an electron tank in the foreground with the dome of a neutron tank in the background. A completely different story. Buzz Lightyear for scale included! If Rocket Lab can make a maiden flight in 2024, it would be an incredible achievement. 13 tons to low Earth orbit, 1 point 5 tons to Mars. Reusable. 40 meters high and 7 meters in diameter. Although it is not as tall, it is almost as wide as a Starship. And with 480 tons of takeoff mass, it is close to a Falcon 9. And with its 7.5 kilonewtons of maximum thrust, it is practically on par with a Falcon 9.
And the trick? Upper stage in a fairing. This is how they plan to do it and it has the important advantage of being able to reuse the fairings without having to take them or remove them from the ocean. Rocket Lab is one of those launch providers to consider. Great plans backed by great results. Congratulations to the entire team for getting Launch Complex 2 up and running and for sending the first electron into space from US soil. Fingers crossed for Neutron and a maiden flight in 2024! Is all for today! Remember to like and subscribe! This is how we finance our work!
And if you want to get even smarter about space and rockets, watch this video below to continue the journey. Thank you so much for watching and we'll see you again in the next episode!

If you have any copyright issue, please Contact