Finally Happened! SpaceX's NEW Pad Design Construction Begins...NASA Shocked.

Finally Happened! SpaceX's NEW Pad Design Construction Begins...NASA Shocked.
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0:00-0:33: Intro
0:34-3:55: The second tower foundation
3:56-8:34: How does the tower catch Starship?
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#alphatech
#techalpha
#spacex
#elonmusk
#nasa
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Sources of image & video:
iamVisual:
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Finally Happened! SpaceX's NEW Pad Design Construction Begins...NASA Shocked.
There is no doubt that Starship will be bigger and more powerful in the future. To achieve these spectacular launches, Starship will undoubtedly need a more robust launch platform than anything it currently has.
That's when we talk about the launch system—the second Starship launch tower that SpaceX is constructing.
Unlike the old launch tower, the new launch tower at Starbase has been upgraded from the foundation stage, promising to create a much more solid structure.
So, how has SpaceX built the foundation of the second launch tower?
Let's explore this in today's episode of Alpha Tech!
Finally Happened! SpaceX's NEW Pad Design Construction Begins...NASA Shocked.
First, we must thank Benedikt 3D for helping us better understand how all these components are assembled for the second launch tower foundation. Supporting him by following Benedikt's X page to motivate him to create even more incredible works in the future.
It all begins with the drilling of 133 small holes, each 32 meters deep. These holes will be arranged in a symmetrical square pattern. After drilling, concrete will be pumped into them.
Finally Happened! SpaceX's NEW Pad Design Construction Begins...NASA Shocked.
Immediately after pumping the concrete, the next step is to place the rebar cage. This must be done while the concrete is still in a liquid state and has not yet hardened. Then, a thin bonding layer will be poured over the structure to facilitate the subsequent work. At the base of the vertical rebar bars, small concrete blocks will be added to reinforce the piles, preventing them from tilting or bending.
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[Ryan-mqmi]

It's incredible how much SpaceX physically builds itself. I think the 2 thing that aren't getting the recognition they deserve are the construction and software branches

[angryscottishmechanic]

if Elon comes up with a way to put rebar in concrete when it's not in a liquid state, I say we elect him King of Earth.

[tuttappanna]

Is so amazing how the engineers and Elon do the work like magic, true magic. space X you are amazing
Happy birthday Elon

[WezTuppeny]

They do need a new launch launch licence if they want to catch it with the arms dude, the FAA said this 2 days ago a few channels have shown including the Angry Astronaut who asked the FAA directly as he's close to some of them

[wingssoon]

No flights and it is already a Phenomenon ❤

[riparianlife]

You said the second tower might be ready by early 2024. I'm guessing 2025.

[connecticutaggie]

On discussions on the 2nd tower, I have not heard any comments on the flame arrestor plate. If they are going to have a plate, it would seem that it would be easier to install the plate during the launch pad but I have not heard anything about the plate or the associated water tanks. Is it possible that the 2nd tower is going to be only for catches (not a launch tower)?

[nelsonlanglois]

This Tower be be Taller to accommodate the more recent Starships & Boosters

[nelsonlanglois]

These " Holes " form the Pilings...which with concrete n rebar connect with the LaunchTower base...which is a innovated design in itself...with Upper n lower rebar " Matts " connected with more rebar " J " connectors , that once poured with more concrete forms One Hugh base = Foundation for the Launch Tower

[jefferi]

many thinks spacex should not attempt the catch landting, but the reward is high if they managed to do it. the later spacex do it, the later they will learn about the catch landing, the later the spaceship will fly man to the moon. as elon said, the tech is not our problem but time is. we can't afford to delay the testing just to protect the launch tower, we can replace the launch tower but we cannot replace the time we pass.

since they're building the new launch tower, the old one will be use to catch it. regardless it is successful or not, we are ready for the next launch on the new tower. maybe just a bit lost time due to FAA need a full report regarding on the fail catch landing.

[AdvantestInc]

How does the symmetrical square pattern for the small holes in the foundation enhance the stability and strength of the structure?

[nelsonlanglois]

It'll be interesting to see if SpaceX will construct / deploy a Flame Deverter trench & Water Deluge system

[albertross]

I think that it would be more reasonable to extend the height of the starship and putting it together as a two stage for the moon landing with the second stage using a heat shield and able to land on one of the two land based or on one of the drone ships in the Atlantic. Using this method will reduce the multiple refusing tankers. While the second stage will give the third stage the ability of being able to make it's way back to earth with the gravity assist of the planet.

[ghost]

If the catch goes bad, will that mean a new FAA delay?

[k.sullivan]

Launch pads will continue to be a huge problem in the future just as the heat shields will. They may get better, but maintenance and rebuilds will have to be a continuous and frequent process. This will ensure that Starships will not be able to be launched every day or every week for a long time into the future. These problems will hopefully be almost eliminated one day, but no time soon. That's what Shag Wellington said anyway.

[Memestape]

I’m sure Elon said other tower is only a catch tower.

[Ryan-mqmi]

lmao 6:11 there's no way this is gonna work 🤣

Admittedly, I never thought I'd see two or even one, booster land itself. But the precision that's needed in this, when dealing giant heavy things, and you're right it wont just be Starship perfectly placing itself. It's going to require a precision, delicate dance by a thing so big its called Mechazilla, and the biggest rocket ever made.

[StEvEn-dpri]

I'm thrilled to see Mechazilla catching a 23-story building falling from the sky, but I doubt the large steel beast will catch the Booster on the first attempt. This is just my opinion, and I hope to be proven wrong.

[garylester]

Fun watching Elon and Tribe develope these toys. Just an amazing variant of all possible ways to do this.

Hopefully the upcoming competition will try other methods and not just copy SpaceX.

If it was me, I'd be looking to make the ships as self sufficient as possible, and need as little infrastucture as possible.

Say like making the booster stubby and fat, with a stabile base due to diameter. Like the method used on early Starship tests.

And I would look into landing starships onto the booster stage directly. If they are stage seperation durable, should be about the same thing.

I think the current issues stem from Rocket Nerd Rut thinking, that all rockets must be cylindrical tubes.
Beck talked about the ideal shape being like a traffic cone...

Too bad those engineers at SpaceX cant think like that, or figure out how to create such shapes out of flat metal.

If they could, and then design a flat plate landing area with the water wash down in segmented areas, they could create a vertical landing field, with multiple target areas and use them to relaunch the ships with no towers or cranes necessary.
Then you could pipe fuel and oxydizer to each pad for refilling.

Would be more like an airport, and less like an erector set. 🤣

I'll have to think about that booster geometry, maybe not as inclined as a traffic cone, but definitely a larger diameter at the base than at the seperation ring. I know Tipi skins, and how to cover a 60° cone with a single sheet. Might have to play with that method with tapered tubes.
So you arent doing as much cutting and welding, as welding and rolling.

Tapered rollers would do the shape from your flat layout pattern.
Meaning you could butt weld your roll stainless side by side, lay out your skin for the tapered tube in sections, and then roll it and weld them up. Then maybe bridge those seams with your wiring and plumbing trunks.
Internal structures could then be tapered or stepped.
Basically it would be a mimic of nature and inherent stability physics, like a tree trunk or a tapered rock pinnacle.
Interesting thinking... Free standing boosters designed for the ships to do a hop flight back onto them. And not need these tower systems...

Just sayin' 🤭

[contestvoter]

I don't know why the chopsticks still haven't had catch practice before the real thing!