Bang! SpaceX Tests Catching Superheavy With Mechazilla! - SpaceX Weekly #121

Teams were hard at work this week, with crews at the launch site performing first-of-its-kind booster catch and landing simulations. Scrapping of the old cyro tank farm continues, a new crane is added to the skyline, and work continues on the new launch tower. Over in Florida, we also see the first Falcon Heavy launch of 2024, and ULA's next Vulcan Centaur arrives ahead of its second certification flight.

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[vix]

Never fails to amaze me how much gets done at Starbase! Thanks for the weeklies @LabPadre, they're a great reminder of what's gone on! <3

[Anmeteor]

Build build build launch launch launch build build launch build build build launch launch launch repeat

[StephenBoyd]

I can't keep up with all these launches. It's incredible.

[Ultrex_Idk]

The baby booster got slapped.. also left the nest

[bobrobert]

I was able to see the Vandenberg launch from my front yard in northern Arizona. It is the first SpaceX launch I have seen live. Very exciting. Thanks for the update Lab!!

[richbinaz]

Nice jellyfish shot. At 8:41, the white dot in the vapor trail is the 1st stage booster.

[derkatzenfuerst]

Thanks for the summary of everything that's going on!

Flying a single booster 22 times is crazy. Sure, there are costs for logistics and refurbishment, but SpaceX can use nice engines, where other companies would have to build 198.

[ESowder]

Smashing the old tanks with the crane seems like it would be a fun stress free job!

[erickdanielsson]

Your weekly updates are greatly appreciated. Thank You!!!

[danapeck]

Thanks, 🎉 the pace, chopstick closeups were really interesting, all the best

[MrKellymcilrath]

Another awesome SpaceX Weekly Update! Thank you so much Lab Padre, and thank everyone involved in bringing these Weekly Updates to us. I really enjoy these!!!

[johnhjic]

Hello LabPadre, I know I have been following your channels for over a year now. I just like to thank you for all your amazing coverage. Thank you.

[Wrangler-fpei]

Thanks for another excellent update! I had laugh that the crane's load spreader lifting 14.1 had words "Booster" written on it. It seem seem like it was pretending to boost the booster.

[dphuntsman]

As always, thanks, guys. - Dave Huntsman…..Out!

[mmarke]

For the first time, I noticed the date in the bottom left of the screen and find it most helpful.

[RWBHere]

Thanks Lewis. SpaceX look set to achieve their record number of launches for 2024. They are launching more than 50% of the world's total number of orbital rockets.

[richardknapp]

I didn't think there were hand-held plasma cutters. The cutting torches appear to be OxAcetylene torches.

[joshwright]

Are the landing rails also used for stacking or is that a different part of the arms?

[Knochi]

I wonder how they will manage to align this small load points to the tower/chopsticks during land.

[bushigongzuomayi]

Greetings from Austria! I never watched anything more exciting and fascinating. I do not understand how your explanations found me 😂😂😂 The most impressiv for me is the landing of the returning booster. I had no internetconnection and no imagination how this probably works. Thanks a lot! Great Nation you must be very proud of the engeneers, logistics and workers.