64 | SpaceX Starship Testing Continues - Pad 39A & Fairing Upgrades For U.S. Space Force

Welcome to Episode 64 of What about it!?

In this Episode, we will take a look at the sudden explosion of SpaceX's test tank for the second generation Starships and why it occurred. We will also take a look at the latest progress at Kennedy Space Centers Pad 39A, a mobile gantry and the reason for SpaceX wanting to upgrade their Falcon fairing size.

✔️Twitter: @FelixSchlang

Credit:

⭐Mary Twitter: @BocaChicaGal
⭐Austin Barnard: @austinbarnard45
⭐Joe Wattz: @CoronaCreatorEO
⭐Marek Cyzio: @MarekCyzio
⭐Marcia Dunn
⭐Thumbnail Art: @GravitationInno

📄Links for this Episode:

[Whataboutit]

How long do you think will SpaceX need to build Starship SN 1 and does size really matter when it comes to rockets?

[Marklek]

Excellent Felix. A 5.4 meter fairing is why the Ariane 5 is being used for the James Webb telescope.
One correction, though. At ~7:15 you say "six manned launches to the Moon". It's six to the surface. There was also Apollo 8, 10, and 13 that went *to* the Moon.

[myfavoritemartian]

They changed their testing methods too. The first test was a chamber of gaseous vapor under compression.(Which is why the top dome launched up so far.)
The second test, on the smaller tank, was a hydrostatic test. (The vessel is filled with water, then the only compression is in the small gaseous bubble) That way when it does burst, it only vents the bubble, then water dribbles out. Not like the first test where it had a gigantic compressed chamber, that had the expansion force of a small bundle of dynamite. Watch and notice on the second test that liquid runs out for several minutes after the event.

[alonzoellis]

Size matters when you are going to like say to mars, are to one of the moons of Jupiter. But just going to our moon the Star liner is fine for that, but on a long trip you need room. for like say a doctors place to work, a better place to take a dump, a gym, a place to work for the crew, a place to relax, in other words we need a Star Ship as in Space X. Great stuff Star Ship The only way to explore Space.

[Strike_Raid]

@5:10 If only it were so simple. The 1.41 safety margin (8.5 barr) is for a tank with a complete paper trail; every weld x-ray’d, every step documented and inspected, etc, etc. They are in an uncharted area with tanks that are made like those Starship tanks are, I’m not so sure they will get a 1.41 for those tanks, maybe 1.5 or even more (the closest analogy would be ASTM and a safety factor of 2). You don’t certify a tank, you certify a tank design and the manufacturing process used in making it. Tanks have to be generically certified because they can’t be individually proof tested (I mean, the ultimate certification proof test, they do get proofed at lower pressures). Reaching 1.41 on a test article tank is just the beginning. If you were to pressurize the tank again, it could explode. You now have to cycle the test article to its destruction to find out how long it will last. I imagine a further 1.41 safety factor would be applied to the ultimate cycle value (then subtract 1 for the flight readiness proof test prior to delivery). I think the Shuttle SLWT was delivered with 8 available cycles, and the LWT had 12 for comparison. So it’s impossible to do a certification on a tank without a paper trail since doing so would expire all the tank cycles just in finding out if it’s acceptable. The fabrication process and procedure, along with the quality assurance that verifies those procedures were followed, is really what certifies a tank (to 1.41 that is).

[jatigre]

If SpaceX ever decides to go crowd funded, they'll be flooded with money

[mikoske]

Great episode yet again! Hadn't heard about the plans for vertical integration before this, also fairing war seems intriguing :D

[chrischeshire]

Once again you provide a very comprehensive update, thanks Felix. SpaceX keeps testing their ships along with testing themselves. This is such a new venture for all private companies perhaps you could tell us about the company's who tried but gave up.

[spaceshipmania]

I love the bloopers at the end, this confired to me that im not the only one that has to do so many retakes!xd

[KevinDavis]

I'm glad that progress is being made. I'm also glad they stopped the race between Boca Chica and Coca. I think it caused quality control issues.

[Thee_Sinner]

Not that it matters too much, Felix, but at 10:12 when you say "eligible" it sounds very similar to "illegible." In "eligible" the first syllable gets the emphasis and in "illegible" the second syllable gets it. It probably wont, but could cause some confusion in certain sentences.

[_mikolaj_]

I'm satisfied with last pressure test. Much more efficient as it doesn't use entire spacecraft, so not everything goes to trash, and shows big improvements.

[mikeemery]

Kind of glad ULA and Boeing are not sharing their "intellectual property" ... They are living in the past. Still using hydrazine, no concept of reusable rockets, and I believe somewhere around a year and a half behind schedule, and over 2 billion over budget. Oh yeah, and they can't seem to find the ISS either... Time to move over and let the next generation fly. Pretty sure SpaceX is on the right track... Thanks again Felix for your very good content. I always enjoy your episodes.

Felix, i saw your channel grow up since the begining and im so glad you improve a lot. Thanks for your videos!!

[leefisher]

Been watching what about it videos for few months now and I only one complaint.... I need a daily dosage please felix.

Love the work and thank you!

[vidartraeland]

So the workpreassure of the tank is 6 bar, and they are satesfied if it can take 8, 5 bar before exploding..? Thats the lowest safetymargin i have ever heard of. Normally preassurevessels have atleast 300% safetymargin.. I think if they want to mass produce these bulkheads, they should use large sheets of steel, and hydroform the bulkheads in one piece.

[rustyfox]

Question, starship as we know is made from stainless steel, which can survive maybe 1500C on re-entry. I assume the SS will be the same temperature on the inside surface. Therefore the passenger area on the upper section will need thermal insulation on the inside, correct ?

[sammyspaniel]

2:09 It doesn't surprise me that Spacex has mastered time travel but they've gotten a bit sloppy allowing that pimp mobile to enter the frame. Tighten up people.

[k.chriscaldwell]

4:03 What a joke, the stainless steel prop supposed to be a rocket.8:12 Now, that's a real rocket. See the difference. _Starship_ is a con. A scam.

[montigobear]

this episode was particularly content rich. Most informative.