SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Nears with Successful Booster 20 33-Engine Static Fire and Pad 2 Upgrades, Alongside Global Space Mission Updates

Marcus House

Starship Flight 13 Nears Readiness [00:00:04]

SpaceX is nearing the launch of Starship Flight 13, with significant progress made this week, including a new celebratory video release titled "Critical Path".

• Flight 13 Target Dates and Profile [00:00:52]

  • Initial hints from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicate a "No Earlier Than" (NET) timeframe for Starship Flight 13 from Wednesday, July 15th through the 21st.
  • Notices to Mariners and Air Missions show launch and reentry hazard areas for Starbase, Mexico, and the Indian Ocean are identical to Flight 12, suggesting the planned flight profile remains unchanged.

    

• Expected Improvements for Flight 13 [00:01:36]

  • The mission aims for a clean improvement on stage separation and Super Heavy performance.
  • It is hoped there will be no missing vacuum engine on the Starship during ascent.
  • A clean in-space Raptor relight is another key objective.

• Implications for Future Missions [00:01:51]

  • Success in Flight 13 with these improvements could lead to Flight 14 being an orbital mission carrying real Starlink Version 3 satellites.
  • For Flight 13, a similar dummy satellite stack is expected. The Starlink loader box has been seen preparing a payload for Ship 40.

Booster 20 Static Fire and Pad 2 Preparations [00:02:19]

Extensive preparations and a record-breaking static fire have readied Booster 20 and Pad 2 for the upcoming flight.

• Pad 2 Readiness and Refurbishments [00:02:25]

  • Scaffolding around Pad 2 has been completely removed.
  • The inside and tower side of the launch mount received a fresh coat of paint.
  • Booster quick disconnects were purged and retracted.
  • Work on the extra cryogenic pipe behind the tower is nearing completion.

    

• Mechazilla Arm Testing and Improvements [00:03:03]

  • The tower arms underwent rigorous testing from the top, simulating a Super Heavy catch.
  • Individual arm testing showed improved speed and stability with new electronic actuators, eliminating wobble seen with old hydraulic ones.
  • Resonance and tuning were carefully analyzed to ensure safe operation when grasping returning rockets.

    

• Booster 20 Rollout and Engine Details [00:04:33]

  • Booster 20 rolled out for its static fire with chines covered and a black coat of paint around the aft section.
  • Eight engines, plus one more in the inner ring, were identified as part of the original set of 10 engines from Booster 19's static fire, which had a hard shutdown. These engines were thoroughly examined and tested before being reinstalled.

    

• Record-Breaking 33-Engine Static Fire [00:05:52]

  • After ambient pressure testing and grid fin checks, Booster 20 was filled with liquid oxygen and liquid methane.
  • In a surprising move, SpaceX performed an immediate 33-engine static fire without spin-prime or ignitor testing, setting a new record for the longest 33-engine static fire at approximately 25 seconds.
  • The new pad infrastructure demonstrated its resilience, handling the immense power of the most powerful rocket in history.

    

    

SpaceX's "Critical Path" Video Insights [00:06:52]

SpaceX released "Critical Path," a video offering an in-depth look at Pad 2 and Starship operations.

• New Views of Pad 2 Infrastructure [00:07:04]

  • The video provided unprecedented views from within the flame trench, revealing the colossal scale of the infrastructure.

    

• Water Deluge System and Heat Testing [00:07:29]

  • Detailed explanations of the water deluge system, including tests for excessive heat using sophisticated thermal load sensing devices made of different metals.
  • The top deck deluge system was shown in action, demonstrating the extensive water flow for launch cooling.

    

• Launch Clamp and Quick Disconnect Operations [00:08:04]

  • Drone footage captured the Super Heavy launch clamps and quick disconnects retracting in real-time, showcasing the precision of these systems.
  • Views of the Ship quick disconnect in action further highlighted the complexity and functionality.

    

    

• Starship Recovery Operations [00:08:40]

  • The video emphasized the importance of capturing multiple angles during Starship splashdowns for heat shield analysis.
  • It concluded with a shot of Starship 39's remains floating in the ocean, a stark reminder of recovery efforts.

    

Ongoing Starbase Construction and Upgrades [00:10:54]

Construction work at Starbase continues to progress rapidly, with significant upgrades across the site.

• Pad 1 Trench Reconstruction [00:10:54]

  • The center of the flame trench at Pad 1 reached its final depth, revealing six giant piles from the previous launch mount.
  • The next step involves "cropping" these piles to expose steel bars for tying into the trench foundation.
  • Hundreds of embeds for trench walls and the deluge system are piling up, along with massive steel supports and large diameter water pipes.
  • Trench walls are being assembled in sections, reaching two sections high and five sections wide, indicating a rapid construction approach.

    

    

  • The Ship Quick Disconnect extension was cut away and placed on the ground, indicating modifications.
  • Roofing modifications are underway, with smaller reinforcements being welded between beams. The roof superstructure on the ground is fully assembled.

    

    

• Tank Farm Expansion [00:12:41]

  • The electrical bunker that supplied the original tank farm was flattened and moved due to the new trench design.
  • Small tanks were removed, and new methane tanks were installed on pedestals, with two more planned.
  • Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Nitrogen farms are expanding, with pedestals for four more tanks, aiming for no gaps between tank sets.
  • New sheet piles indicate the installation of a blast wall alongside the tanks.

    

    

• Masseys Test Site Enhancements (Booster Header Tank) [00:13:42]

  • The testing cage at Masseys was reconfigured for in-depth testing of the booster header tank.
  • The tank was removed, and three new beefy steel supports were installed, presumably to connect to actuators for push and pull testing.
  • The tank was equipped with a cap and cables for compression tests.

    

• Super Crusher Modifications (Arm Simulators) [00:14:14]

  • The B18.3 test unit is undergoing new squeezing tests after hot stage design validation.
  • The previous setup with a ship aft skirt and compression cap has been removed.
  • Two steel beams were installed across the top of the super crusher to suspend arm simulators, indicating preparation for the first catch attempt from Pad 2.

    

• Gigabay Construction Progress (Texas and Florida) [00:15:08]

  • Ship 41 (allocated for Flight 14) returned to the megabay for engine installation, signaling more static fire action soon.
  • The new LR1300 crane at the Texas Gigabay is rapidly constructing the back of the bay, completing three levels and moving to the factory side.
  • Cladding for each level is being installed in large portions due to limited space.
  • Three of the four tower cranes are at their final height, constructing the seventh level, which will house the roof and a penthouse.

    

    

  • In Florida, a colossal 420-ton bridge crane has been installed in the Gigabay, capable of lifting Starship and Super Heavy vehicles upright after horizontal transport.
  • This new crane significantly increases lifting capabilities compared to the 180-ton cranes in Texas Megabays, which often required tandem lifts.
  • Pedestals for workstations are also being created in Florida, similar to those in Texas's Rocket Garden, for use in the Gigabay.

    

    

    

Falcon 9 Missions and Reuse Milestones [00:17:10]

Falcon 9 had a busy week with multiple launches, setting new reuse records and deploying diverse payloads.

• Starlink Group 10-50 with Besxar Fabships [00:17:14]

  • A Starlink Group 10-50 mission launched from Space Launch Complex 40, carrying two reusable manufacturing pods called Fabships by Besxar, integrated into Booster 1090 on its 13th flight.
  • The test aimed to assess the Fabships' ability to withstand launch and reentry environments. The booster successfully landed.

    

• Transporter-17 Rideshare Mission [00:18:12]

  • The Transporter-17 mission launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying 81 separate spacecraft into a Sun-synchronous orbit.
  • Booster 1097 completed its 11th mission. Fairing halves have flown over 35 times, surpassing Falcon 9 booster reuse counts.
  • The mission involved a 20-minute deployment marathon for most payloads, with the final CAS500-4 Earth observation satellite for South Korea deployed after several upper stage burns.

    

    

• Falcon 9 Booster 1067 Sets Landing Record [00:20:18]

  • Booster 1067 launched for Starlink Group 10-42, successfully achieving its 36th landing, setting a new all-time record for reusability.

    

• Falcon 9 Booster 1071 Nears Landing Record [00:20:46]

  • Booster 1071 launched for Starlink Group 17-48, completing its 35th landing, just behind the record holder.

    

Blue Origin's New Glenn Pad 36-A Rebuilding [00:20:59]

Blue Origin is actively repairing and rebuilding Launch Complex 36-A after a pad accident.

• Launch Bridge Recovery and Reusability [00:21:04]

  • The gigantic, almost four-million-pound (1,800 metric ton) launch bridge was successfully lifted by cranes.
  • Despite falling partly into the flame trench during the accident, the launch bridge is reportedly in good shape and will be reused.

    

    

• Extent of Damage and Rebuilding Efforts [00:21:39]

  • Post-accident images revealed that the Transporter Erector completely tumbled over the launch bridge, and the launch mount fell entirely into the flame trench due to lack of support.

    

China's Long March 10B Reusable Rocket Recovery [00:22:12]

China achieved a significant milestone in spaceflight with the debut and successful recovery of its Long March 10B rocket.

• Debut Launch and Unique Capture System [00:22:17]

  • The new Long March 10B rocket launched with an undisclosed payload.
  • Shortly after stage separation, the booster flew towards a recovery vessel in the ocean.
  • Unlike Falcon 9 or New Glenn, the Long March 10B booster lacks landing legs. Instead, the recovery vessel uses four arresting cables that close in as the booster enters a capture box. The booster extends hooks to grasp these cables.
  • This system successfully caught and secured the stage, marking the first recovery of a rocket using this kind of capture system.

    

    

    

• Significance for China's Lunar Ambitions [00:23:49]

  • China is now the third nation (alongside SpaceX and Blue Origin) to capture an orbital-class booster for reuse, intensifying competition in space.
  • The recovered booster could be refurbished and launched again by the end of the year.
  • This rocket is crucial for China's lunar landing plans, as three Long March 10B boosters will be strapped together to form the full Long March 10, carrying their next-generation crew capsule to the Moon.

    

    

Asteroid Exploration Updates [00:24:10]

Two major asteroid missions provided exciting updates this week from China and Japan.

• China's Tianwen-2 at Quasi-Moon Kamoʻoalewa [00:24:26]

  • China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft, launched in May last year, has arrived at Earth's quasi-moon asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3).
  • It sent back an image from 20 kilometers away. Kamoʻoalewa is estimated to be only about 27 meters (90 feet) in diameter, making it the smallest asteroid ever visited.

    

  • As a quasi-moon, it orbits the Sun in tandem with Earth, following a similar 365-day orbit, completing one rotation around Earth in about 45 years.
  • Tianwen-2 will study its shape, composition, and rotation before attempting to grab samples from its surface, with samples expected to return to Earth in November next year.
  • After sample return, the spacecraft will continue to asteroid 2013 P5, known for growing multiple comet-like tails.

    

    

    

    

• Hayabusa2's Extended Mission Flyby of Torifune [00:26:48]

  • Japan's Hayabusa2 probe, which previously collected samples from asteroid Ryugu and returned them in 2020, reached the first target of its extended mission.
  • It flew past asteroid 98943 Torifune, a roughly 450-meter-long, peanut-shaped asteroid, at a distance of 800 meters.
  • Hayabusa2 captured an infrared image of Torifune.

    

    

    

    

• Future Target: Asteroid 1998 KY26 [00:27:51]

  • Hayabusa2's final target in its extended mission is asteroid 1998 KY26, a near-Earth asteroid, expected to be reached around July 2031, taking another five years.