The path to launch is filled with obstacles and success is only possible through the tireless efforts of many working together towards a common goal. “Critical Path” continues the ongoing Starship series, following SpaceX engineers through the final days before launch of the first Starship V3 and the challenges that come with development of the world’s most powerful and fully reusable rocket.
VIDEO OF CHANG ZHENG 10B CATCH
That's... a lot of smoke from the interstage lol. But they caught it!
This capability allowed SpaceX to become *the* launch superpower. China could now do that too.
https://t.co/O4tFOlzwqH
Artemis IV hardware is on the move!
Teams recently moved the liquid oxygen tank, which will form part of the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage for the @NASAArtemis IV mission, at #NASAMichoud ahead of inspections and the next phase of production.
LAUNCH! The final Atlas V (with a satellite - with still some potential Starliners) launches with Amazon Leo (LA-08) from SLC-41.
https://t.co/84i15ayxFQ
We're not rebuilding the same pad for New Glenn. We're moving to a horizontal/vertical hybrid configuration to get us flying again this year at 36A. We were already working on something similar for 9x4 at 36B. Let me explain what that means. We mate the stages horizontally in the Integration Facility (IF). Then we bring the integrated vehicle out to the pad, use a crane to perform the vertical breakover, and mate the payload once New Glenn is vertical. This new ConOps has the added benefit of increasing our flight cadence as well.
An Antonov AN-124 watching the Sunday night SpaceX Falcon 9 launch carrying the SXM-11 payload.
This was the view from Sheltair at KMLB, where the plane was overnighting, waiting for big payload to be loaded. The plane departed Monday morning, bound for the Pacific Northwest.
With TWO back-to-back top deck deluge tests and a frosty S41 at Masseys, it was definitely a productive day at Starbase! @NASASpaceflight | https://t.co/yA1JjgzD0x
600+ feet of crane assembled incredibly fast by the team. We will start pulling down the tower (segment by segment) so we can modify each piece in parallel.
Quite a sight to see the progress this team has made since May 28. Wreckage recovery from start to finish was completed in 9 days, and all debris has been cleared from Launch Complex 36. Huge shoutout to the team who have been working 7x24. We have started reconstruction and still plan to fly again this year. Will have more details on the new conop soon.
STATIC FIRE! Ship 40 has fired up an engine to check another box ahead of Flight 13, NET later this summer. This appeared to have been an approximately 10-second burn with a single engine.
Ongoing coverage here: https://t.co/ZilNz6ze8D