Latest / Elon Musk Podcast / SpaceX Moon Mission Put on Hold

Transcript

SpaceX Moon Mission Put on Hold · Elon Musk Podcast

• 0:00
  Hi everybody and welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
• 0:03
  This is a show where we discuss the remarkable world of
• 0:07
  spacexteslax.com, Boring Company, and Neuralink.
• 0:12
  I'm your host, Will Walden. Today's episode focuses on
• 0:15
  Yusaku Mazawa, the Japanese billionaire and founder of Zozo
• 0:19
  Inc, who is set to travel around the moon aboard Space XS
• 0:23
  Starship, selected in 2018 for this important mission.
• 0:26
  Mazawa it now faces a delay in the SpaceX prepares for another
• 0:30
  test flight of the Starship rocket.
• 0:32
  We'll explore the current status of the SpaceX Starship rocket,
• 0:35
  Mozawa's other space related ventures, and the broader
• 0:38
  context of space exploration and commercial Space Flight.
• 0:42
  Now in our first segment here we look into Spacex's ongoing
• 0:45
  efforts to launch the Starship IFT 2.
• 0:47
  The company is seeking regulatory approval for a second
• 0:50
  test flight after a previous attempt in April ended in a
• 0:53
  fieryre explosion. The set back has impacted
• 0:55
  Mozawa's lunar mission initially planned for 2023, and we'll
• 0:59
  examine the regulatory challenges that SpaceX faces and
• 1:02
  the implications for future SpaceX Starship missions.
• 1:06
  And SpaceX is actively working towards the 2nd test flight of
• 1:09
  the Starship rocket, an endeavor that has faced significant
• 1:12
  regulatory scrutiny following a failed attempt in April which
• 1:15
  resulted in an explosion and considerable damage.
• 1:18
  The company is awaiting a launch license for the Federal Aviation
• 1:21
  Administration and Elon Musk. SpaceX CEO hinted at receiving
• 1:26
  approval soon, with a potential launch as early as Friday of
• 1:30
  this week. The FAA completed its safety
• 1:32
  review of the Starship license last month, focusing on public
• 1:36
  and property safety. However, the environmental
• 1:38
  review involving the US Fish and Wildlife Service has just been
• 1:42
  passed forward and they passed with flying colors, and Musk's
• 1:47
  recent social media posts suggest imminent approval.
• 1:50
  But official confirmation from the FAA or SpaceX remains
• 1:53
  pending as of this recording, and we'll update you when we do
• 1:58
  get confirmation from the FAA or SpaceX from that, we'll drop
• 2:01
  another episode for you. Now, the delay and regulatory
• 2:05
  approval underscores the challenges of launching such a
• 2:09
  huge, unprecedented rocket. It's about 400 feet tall.
• 2:12
  It's the most powerful and biggest rocket ever built.
• 2:16
  Now, Spacex's preparation for the upcoming Starship flight is
• 2:18
  crucial not just for the company's ambitions, but also
• 2:21
  for a Usaku Mazawa's lunar mission.
• 2:24
  The delay has forced MZ to consider the timeline of his
• 2:28
  Dear Moon project, initially scheduled for 2023 as SpaceX
• 2:32
  navigates regulatory processes and the future of Starship and
• 2:36
  its potential lunar exploration for Artemis 3 too remains a
• 2:40
  topic of keen interest. And while waiting for this lunar
• 2:43
  trip, Mazawa or MZ, has diversified his space related
• 2:47
  interests. In 2021, he journeyed to the
• 2:49
  International Space Station aboard a Russian rocket, and
• 2:52
  more recently he invested in Astroscale Holdings Inc, a
• 2:56
  Japanese startup focused on orbital debris removal, his $23
• 3:00
  million investment as part of a larger funding effort to address
• 3:03
  the growing problem of space junk.
• 3:07
  Now Bazawa's commitment to space sustainability is evident in his
• 3:10
  support for Astroscale's mission.
• 3:12
  This investment aligns with his broader vision of ensuring the
• 3:14
  future of space travel, and additionally, MZ has contributed
• 3:18
  to Space Data Co, a Tokyo based startup developing AI to
• 3:22
  recreate Earth in virtual space using satellite data.
• 3:26
  Now, these ventures reflect his interest in leveraging this
• 3:29
  technology for both practical money and innovative purposes in
• 3:34
  the realm of space exploration. And the delay in the Starship
• 3:37
  mission has not dampened M ZS enthusiasm for space, though.
• 3:40
  Instead, it has provided him with an opportunity to explore
• 3:42
  and invest in other a specs of space technology, from debris
• 3:46
  cleanup to virtual reality. Now SpaceX is not alone in its
• 3:50
  quest to revolutionize space travel.
• 3:52
  M ZS investment in Astroscale underscores an increasing
• 3:55
  competition and collaboration within the commercial space
• 3:58
  industry. And Astroscale, which is
• 4:01
  partnering with Rocket Lab USAA key SpaceX rival, is preparing
• 4:06
  for the world's first debris inspection mission.
• 4:09
  This collaboration is huge, as it involves one of Musk's tops
• 4:13
  competitors in the commercial space race.
• 4:16
  And Rocket Lab, known for its Electron rockets, is planning to
• 4:19
  resume launches following a set back in September.
• 4:22
  The company's ability to quickly recover and schedule upcoming
• 4:25
  flights is indicative of the robust nature of the commercial
• 4:28
  space sector, and this competition is driving
• 4:31
  innovation and providing more opportunities for missions like
• 4:34
  M, ZS, Lunar exploration and Astro Scales.
• 4:37
  Debris removal And the commercial space industry is
• 4:40
  rapidly becoming a hotbed of activity, with companies like
• 4:43
  SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and others pushing the boundaries of what's
• 4:45
  possible. This competitive environment is
• 4:47
  fostering advances in technology, safety and mission
• 4:51
  capabilities. This company's vie for dominance
• 4:53
  in space. The applications for future
• 4:55
  exploration and commercialization are vast and
• 4:58
  constantly changing. The journey to space is fraught
• 5:02
  with challenges though both technical regulatory Spacex's
• 5:06
  experience with Starship illuminates the complexities
• 5:09
  involved in launching new huge powerful rockets.
• 5:13
  In the April explosion highlighted the risks as under
• 5:15
  SCORE. The thorough safety and
• 5:18
  environmental reviewed need and navigating these challenges is
• 5:21
  critical for the success for future missions, including
• 5:24
  Mizawa's lunar trip. Innovation is also at the
• 5:27
  forefront of space exploration. Companies like Astroscale are
• 5:31
  tackling the issue of space debris.
• 5:33
  A growing concern is more missions are launched.
• 5:35
  Mizawa's investment in such ventures demonstrates a forward
• 5:38
  thinking approach to space travel, addressing current
• 5:41
  problems while preparing for future opportunities.
• 5:44
  And the advancements in technology and safety protocols
• 5:46
  are reshaping the space exploration landscape.
• 5:49
  And as companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab develop new rockets
• 5:52
  and explore novel missions, the possibilities for space travel
• 5:56
  continue to expand. These developments are not just
• 6:00
  about reaching new frontiers, but also ensuring sustainable
• 6:03
  and safe space exploration and a space economy for years to come.
• 6:09
  And space tourism is becoming an increasingly important aspect of
• 6:13
  space exploration. Azawa's planned lunar mission
• 6:16
  aboard Starship is a prime example of this new frontier.
• 6:19
  The delay in his journey highlights and as companies like
• 6:22
  SpaceX work to overcome technical and regulatory
• 6:25
  challenges, the potential for commercial spaceflight grows.
• 6:28
  The idea of just mere civilians traveling to space, once a
• 6:32
  distant dream, is gradually becoming a reality.
• 6:35
  The shift opens up new possibilities for exploration,
• 6:38
  research, and even leisure. Imagine taking a vacation on the
• 6:43
  Starship as it orbits the moon. That would be incredible.
• 6:46
  The future of space tourism is closely tied to the advancements
• 6:49
  in rocket technology and mission planning.
• 6:52
  Companies continue to innovate and improve safety measures.
• 6:55
  The dream of traveling beyond Earth becomes more accessible to
• 6:59
  a broader range of people. This evolution in space travel
• 7:02
  isn't just about reaching new heights, but also the
• 7:06
  democratization of the final frontier.
• 7:09
  And the developments of space exploration highlighted by
• 7:12
  Starship and Mozawa's lunar mission have significant
• 7:15
  implications for science, technology, and just everyday
• 7:18
  people like you and me. Advancements in rocket
• 7:21
  technology and space missions contribute to our understanding
• 7:24
  of space and its potential for human exploration.
• 7:27
  The involvement of private companies in space exploration
• 7:29
  is also changing the dynamics of Space Research and travel, and
• 7:34
  the shift from government LED missions to commercial ventures
• 7:36
  is encouraging more innovation and investment in space tech.
• 7:40
  This change is not only accelerating the pace of
• 7:42
  exploration, but also opening up new opportunities for scientific
• 7:46
  research and technological development, and also job
• 7:50
  openings for people that can make the Rockets in the systems
• 7:54
  that make the Rockets go. The societal impact of these
• 7:57
  developments is absolutely profound.
• 8:00
  Space exploration captures the human imagination and inspires
• 8:03
  future generations of scientists, engineers and
• 8:06
  explorers. And the challenges and successes
• 8:08
  of missions like Mazzawa's Lunar Trip and Spacex's Starship
• 8:12
  remind us of the potential for human achievement.
• 8:16
  I want to say thank you so much for listening to the show today.
• 8:19
  I hope you found today's discussion insightful or
• 8:22
  informative. And remember to hit the
• 8:23
  subscriber the follow button on your podcast platform to stay
• 8:26
  updated with our episodes. It's free, just takes a second,
• 8:29
  and helps us out tremendously. You can join our crew here, our
• 8:32
  flight crew, and remember every episode's 10 minutes or under,
• 8:36
  helping you quickly get caught up with the latest in the world
• 8:39
  of Elon Musk and his ventures. And until next time, please take
• 8:42
  care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you tomorrow.