Latest / Elon Musk Podcast / Elon Musk Weekly News Update - Twitter Drama, SpaceX and Tesla

Transcript

Elon Musk Weekly News Update - Twitter Drama, SpaceX and Tesla · Elon Musk Podcast

0:00
China has leapfrog SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, and Jeff Bezos's
0:05
company Blue Origin. When they successfully launched
0:08
the world's first methane fueled rocket into orbit.
0:12
The Chinese company Land Space accomplished his feet with a
0:15
rocket that was launched from the Gobi Desert.
0:18
This not only marks a significant step forward in
0:20
China's ambitious space program, but also underscores the
0:23
escalating competition in the field of space exploration
0:26
globally. Now, American companies like
0:29
SpaceX and Blue Origin have also been working on developing
0:32
methane fueled rockets, also known as methylox, largely due
0:36
to their environmental and cost benefits.
0:38
However, their attempts so far have been met with setbacks such
0:41
as the destruction of SpaceX Starship and the failed launch
0:45
of Relativity Spaces terran one. With China's successful launch,
0:48
the landscape of the International Space race
0:50
continues to shift rapidly. We'll dive deeper into what this
0:54
means for the future of space exploration after this quick
0:57
commercial break, so stay tuned for more exciting insights on
1:01
this topic. Welcome back, everybody.
1:04
In a notable stride in the high stakes race of space
1:06
exploration, China has outpaced US firm SpaceX in Blue Origin by
1:10
successfully launching the world's first methyl locks
1:14
rocket into orbit. This achievement underscores the
1:16
fierce competition in constant innovation in this new frontier,
1:20
reshaping the dynamics of the International Space Race.
1:24
Now this China company, Land Space, launched its rocket from
1:28
the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert last Tuesday.
1:31
The rocket ascended into the Earth's orbit shortly afterward,
1:34
marking a significant milestone in China's ambitious space
1:37
program. The successful launch was
1:39
further confirmed by the US Space Force tracking the rocket,
1:42
according to a tweet from astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell
1:46
on Wednesday. What sets this rocket apart from
1:49
its contemporaries is its use of Methalox, A composite liquid
1:53
fuel derived from methane and oxygen.
1:56
This fuel type is garnering considerable attention from many
1:58
U.S. companies, all of whom have so far not managed to reach
2:02
orbit with their Methylox fueled rockets.
2:05
SpaceX is colossal. Starship mega rocket is about
2:08
400 plus feet tall, another entrant in the methane fueled
2:12
category. Many cataclysmic end in April,
2:16
but it was destroyed on a stevia launch.
2:18
Similarly, Relativity Spaces Terran One, which also employs
2:21
Methalox, failed to achieve the orbit in its maiden launch in
2:25
March. Now Jeff Bezos is Blue Origins
2:28
New Glen. Its future hangs in the balance
2:31
after the explosion of the BE4 engine during a test in June, as
2:35
reported by space.com. And all these developments
2:38
underline the difficulties faced by the space companies in their
2:41
quest to develop a methane fueled rocket capable of
2:45
reaching Earth's orbit. Now what makes methyloxy coveted
2:48
fuel for deep space exploration and reusable rockets is its cost
2:52
effectiveness, stability in environmentally friendly
2:56
attributes, all superior to conventional kerosene based
2:59
fuels. Furthermore, the potential of
3:01
mining methane offworld, for instance on Mars, makes it a
3:05
compelling choice for companies like SpaceX aiming for the
3:08
colonization of the Red Planet. Now, this latest launch marks
3:12
only the second launch attempt for this company.
3:14
Also known as Redbird 2, the rocket encountered A malfunction
3:19
during its first launch in December of 2022, and the medium
3:23
sized rocket, standing about 162 feet tall, is designed to
3:27
transport payloads into low Earth orbit and further into
3:31
space. However, while the successful
3:33
launch is a undeniable triumph for China, it's important to
3:37
note the loftier ambitions harbored by U.S. companies for
3:40
the methane fueled rockets. For instance, SpaceX, a Starship
3:43
which is about 2.5 times taller than the Red Bird, has been
3:48
conceptualized to ferry cruise to the moon, adding layers of
3:51
complexity to its launch. Also, that rocket will be
3:54
launching people to Mars someday and also building a space colony
3:59
on the surface of Mars. Now Relativity Space is
4:02
attempting to revolutionize the industry by 3D printing most of
4:07
its rockets, an unprecedented move in the industry.
4:11
Nonetheless, the successful launch of the Redbird rocket
4:15
represents another feather in the cap of China's rapidly
4:18
growing space program. Over the past five years, the
4:21
program has accomplished huge, major feats, including launching
4:25
A crude space station into orbit, landing a Rover on Mars,
4:29
and sending a probe to the far side of the moon.
4:32
Since the Chinese government opened the space sector to
4:34
private investment in 2014, private firms have been vying
4:38
for supremacy in this lucrative industry.
4:41
Land Space, one of the earliest entrants, has emerged as one of
4:45
the best funded entities in the Chinese private space sector.
4:48
And as the latest achievement shows, the competition in the
4:51
International Space Race is really heating up, with China
4:55
demonstrating its formidable capabilities.
4:59
Starship is the most groundbreaking rocket system
5:03
that's ever happened to humanity.
5:05
But Elon Musk SpaceX relies on a chemical propulsion system for
5:09
its Starship spacecraft, utilizing a mix of liquid oxygen
5:13
and methane as fuel. Now, in contrast, British
5:16
startup Pulsar Fusion is venturing into a radical new
5:19
direction in the field of aerospace engineering,
5:21
developing a nuclear fusion rocket engine.
5:25
Now this technology aims to fuse 2 lighter atoms together to
5:28
create a heavier atom, releasing an enormous amount of energy in
5:32
the process. And the result of this, it's a
5:35
journey to Mars that could potentially be completed in half
5:38
the time currently achievable by Spacex's Starship.
5:42
Furthermore, Pulsar Fusion is pioneering the use of artificial
5:45
intelligence in the realm of space propulsion technology.
5:49
Collaborating with Princeton Satellite Systems, Pulsar Fusion
5:52
is using machine learning simulations to predict and
5:55
control the behavior of super heated plasma under
5:59
electromagnetic confinement, an essential part of their fusion
6:02
based engine. Now while SpaceX has made
6:05
significant strides under Musk's leadership, Pulsar Fusion's
6:08
innovative approach can revolutionize our understanding
6:11
of interplanetary travel. Now don't go away just yet.
6:14
We'll be right back with more fascinating insights into the
6:17
future of space travel after this quick commercial break.
6:21
An ambitious British startup is breaking new ground in the
6:24
aerospace sector with a game changing approach to space
6:27
propulsion. A Pulsar Fusion is at the
6:29
forefront of developing a nuclear fusion rocket engine
6:33
that could potentially have the journey time to Mars.
6:36
Based in Bletchley, England, Pulsar Fusion is committed to
6:39
developing a propulsion system that can reach speeds upwards of
6:43
500,000 mph or 805,000 kilometers per hour, and it will
6:49
endure the most scorching temperatures in the solar
6:51
system. At the heart of this venture
6:54
lies nuclear fusion. This is the same reaction that
6:57
powers our sun and gives it is tremendous energy.
7:00
Nuclear fusion is a process within two lighter atoms
7:04
combined under high temperature and pressure conditions to form
7:07
a heavier atom, releasing huge amounts of energy in the
7:11
process. The scientists globally have lot
7:14
of the potential of this near limitless 0 carbon energy source
7:18
as the potential successor to fossil fuels.
7:21
Ironically, the applications of nuclear fusion as a game changer
7:25
in our quest for cleaner energy might first be demonstrated in
7:28
the depths of deep space before we can fully harness it on our
7:32
home planet of Earth. Now space is the ideal
7:35
environment for fusion with its vacuum conditions in the extreme
7:39
cold, says Richard Dinan, the CEO of Pulsar Fusion.
7:43
He said contrary to a ground based fusion power station,
7:47
fusion propulsion for space doesn't require an enormous
7:50
steam turbine. And if you could be sourced
7:52
externally rather than being manufactured on site, Dinan
7:55
plans to channel this energy directly into the engine to
7:58
achieve propulsion, a goal he believes is attainable within a
8:02
short timeline of just about four years.
8:04
And the technical challenges are immense.
8:07
But the team at Pulsar Fusion remains undeterred.
8:11
The primary challenge lies in successfully confining the Super
8:14
heated plasma within an electromagnetic field, explains
8:18
Doctor James Lambert, chief Financial officer at Pulsar
8:22
Fusion. He adds the plasma behaves much
8:25
like a weather system, unpredictable and hard to
8:27
control under conventional techniques.
8:30
Now, as the plasma heats up to hundreds of millions of degrees,
8:34
the reaction simply ceases due to the turbulence.
8:37
However, recent scientific breakthroughs have propelled
8:39
this concept closer to reality. In December and milestone was
8:43
reached with the first fusion reaction that produced more
8:46
energy than it took to initiate, a feat hailed as one of the most
8:50
impressive scientific achievements of the 21st
8:53
century. Now, encouraged by these
8:54
advances and the promise of artificial intelligence, Pulsar
8:58
Fusion is collaborating with Princeton Satellite Systems,
9:00
based in the US, to simulate and predict plasma behavior under
9:04
electromagnetic confinement. These AI guided machine learning
9:08
simulations will inform the rocket engine's design process
9:12
and Pulsar Fusion's roadmap includes demonstrating that the
9:14
rocket can achieve fusion temperatures by 2027.
9:17
If successful, this would represent a significant step
9:21
towards the world's first commercially viable fusion based
9:24
engine, they said. Our technology could have
9:27
mission times to Mars and reduce the flight time to Saturn from 8
9:31
years to just two. Ultimately, it could empower
9:35
humanity to venture beyond our solar system.
9:37
We're going to be shifting our focus to X or Twitter.
9:42
Let's call it Twitter for now. Twitter's freshly minted X
9:45
symbol has hastily removed from its San Francisco headquarters
9:48
on Monday, following city official stern reproach for its
9:52
unpermitted installation. The massive attention grabbing
9:56
sign set high above Twitter's building began to flash its
10:00
presence last week, part of the social media giants latest
10:03
rebranding effort. So the San Francisco Department
10:05
of Building Inspection cited the company after receiving a flurry
10:09
of 24 complaints, flagging concerns about the structure
10:12
safety in the glare of its intense illumination.
10:16
City regulations demand a building permit for the
10:18
insulation and even dismantling of such a sign, a stipulation
10:22
overlooked by Twitter. Yet due to immediate safety
10:25
concerns, the removal was permitted to proceed, as
10:28
confirmed by Patrick Hannon, the department spokesperson to NPR.
10:33
Now the conflict comes on the heels of sweeping changes
10:35
announced by Twitter just last week.
10:37
The removal, which came less than three days after an initial
10:40
visit by a city inspector to Twitter's headquarters on
10:43
Friday, indicates escalating tensions between the tech
10:46
company in the city. The inspector responding to the
10:49
city's complaint was called to evaluate the controversial
10:52
rooftop signs adherence to city codes.
10:55
The company's response was less than accommodating, with a
10:58
Twitter representative denying the inspector access.
11:01
The representative, however, stated that the structure was a
11:04
temporary lighted sign for an event, only to be countered by
11:08
the inspectors firm declaration that an unpermitted signage must
11:12
be taken down. Repeated attempts at inspection
11:16
were met with continued resistance.
11:18
The second visit to the headquarters on Saturday
11:20
resulted in another denied request for rooftop access.
11:24
Twitter as of yet has not responded for requests for
11:28
comment. Elon Musk, the current Twitter
11:30
owner, however, offered a cheeky response to a tweet claiming San
11:34
Francisco authorities were attempting to strong arm the
11:36
removal of the X sign. Musk replied with a laughing,
11:40
crying emoji, a dismissal of the ongoing drama.
11:45
Now, this isn't the first encounter of regulatory friction
11:47
of Twitter in recent days. The company faced reprimands
11:50
from San Francisco with city officials last Monday for
11:53
removing its original signage, which featured its name and I
11:56
Bluebird logo, without securing the necessary permits.
12:00
Furthermore, the city criticized the company for neglecting
12:03
pedestrian safety measures such as sectioning off the sidewalk
12:07
during the removal process. The current clash underscores A
12:10
fraught relationship between the social media Titan and it's host
12:14
city as it embarks on its bold new rebranding journey.
12:18
Thank you so much for listening to the show today, and I
12:20
appreciate all of you and all of your time.
12:22
So please, if you could take a second and hit the subscribe
12:25
button or the follow button on whatever podcast platform you're
12:28
on right now, that would really help out the show.
12:30
And help me continue to do these.
12:32
We delve into the most recent developments at the social media
12:35
powerhouse X, formerly known as Twitter, Now under Musk's
12:39
dynamic leadership and in a significant organizational
12:42
shift, Musk, along with Chief Executive Linda Yakarino, will
12:46
be at the helm of the platform's trust and safety team.
12:50
This team, responsible for content moderation, has been in
12:53
the limelight following concerns about potential strikes and
12:56
harmful content. Yet Musk and Yakarino seem
12:59
poised and ready to address these challenges.
13:01
Under the new structure, Musk will oversee X's product and
13:05
engineering team, while Yukarino will manage all other divisions,
13:09
including human resources, legal, finance, sales and
13:13
operations. And the duo of stewardship
13:16
promises to usher in a new era for X, potentially refining the
13:20
norms of social media engagement and safety.
13:22
Now, Yacorino has also disclosed plans to recruit a new leader
13:26
for brand safety and suitability.
13:28
But what does this all mean for X's future?
13:31
We're set to dive into this and more in today's episode, but
13:34
before we do, we're going to take a quick break for a word
13:37
from our sponsors, so don't go anywhere.
13:39
Elon Musk acquired the social media platform previously known
13:43
as Twitter last year, and Linda Yakarino, the executive chief of
13:47
the newly dubbed company X, will jointly supervise its trust and
13:52
safety team. This recent development was
13:54
officially reported by X on Monday, sparking debates and
13:58
attracting considerable attention to the future path of
14:01
the popular social media platform and at the helm of the
14:04
Trust and Safety Team. The two high-ranking executives
14:07
will focus on managing the platform's content moderation
14:10
mechanisms in light of the recent controversies.
14:14
This move emphasizes the company's commitment to ensuring
14:17
a safe and secure environment for its users.
14:21
The new arrangement involves the division of leadership
14:23
responsibilities between Musk and Yacorino.
14:26
Elon Musk will manage X's product and engineering teams
14:29
guiding the design, development, and operations of the platform.
14:33
And on the other hand, Yacorino's expanded role will
14:36
cover a broad ray of other divisions, including human
14:39
resources, legal, finance, sales and operations.
14:44
Now, the Truth and Safety team has been under scrutiny,
14:48
particularly after Musk's acquisition of the former
14:51
Twitter in October. Critics and researchers have
14:54
raised concerns about X's content moderation policies,
14:58
accusing the company of easing content restrictions, and such
15:01
changes have allegedly contributed to an uptick in
15:04
harmful posts. However, X defended its stance,
15:08
arguing that a considerable majority of content views belong
15:11
to quote healthy posts, reinforcing the platform's
15:15
dedication to creating a positive user experience.
15:19
Now, in an internal e-mail circulating among exemployees on
15:22
Monday and later shared with Reuters, CEO Linda Yakorino
15:26
disclosed the company's plans to recruit a new leader for brand
15:29
safety and sustainability. This vacancy emerged following
15:33
the departure of A J. Brown, the former head of brand
15:36
safety, who had spearheaded initiatives to prevent ads from
15:40
appearing adjacent to unsuitable content.
15:42
Now, Yakorino's e-mail also revealed a frustrating plan for
15:47
the Truth and Safety division, delegating different
15:49
responsibilities to 3X leaders. These responsibilities encompass
15:54
law enforcement operations and measures to disrupt potential
15:57
threats, reflecting the company's proactive approach to
16:00
platform security. Now the reshuffling of the Trust
16:04
and Safety Team's leadership comes in the wake of Ella
16:07
Irwin's resignation from the head of the team in June of last
16:11
year of this year. Sorry 2023, and However, despite
16:15
the notable staff changes and growing competition from
16:18
emerging platforms like Mastodon, Blue Sky and Metas
16:23
Threads, X seems undeterred in its pursuit of innovation and
16:27
growth. Now defying the critics who
16:29
anticipated the platform's downfall following Musk's
16:32
turbulent takeover, the tech billionaire asserts that X is in
16:35
an upward trajectory. He recently revealed that the
16:38
platform had reached a new high of 541 million monthly users by
16:43
the end of July. This figure that Musk insists
16:46
has been adjusted to exclude bots, highlighting the
16:49
platform's genuine user growth and engagement.
16:52
All these changes signal that X has committed to evolving its
16:56
policies and management to ensure a new, safe, productive
17:01
and engaging user experience. With Elon Musk and Linda
17:04
Yocurino at the helm of the Trust and Safety Team in the
17:07
future, the company appears prepared to face the challenges
17:11
ahead, reinforcing its place in the highly competitive world of
17:16
social media. Or, as the saga unfolds, we will
17:19
bring you all of the latest information about Twitter,
17:23
Threads, Blue Sky, Macedon, all of the competitorsofx.com.
17:28
Now, in a major escalation of a feud between X Corp, the parent
17:33
company of the former social media giant Twitter, and the
17:36
Center for Countering Digital Hate, CDHX Corp lodged a lawsuit
17:42
in San Francisco's federal court on Monday.
17:45
The defendant, A nonprofit organization known for
17:48
monitoring hate speech and disinformation, stands accused
17:52
of implementing a quote scare campaign explicitly designed to
17:57
deter advertisers from associating with X Corps
18:00
platform. The significant lawsuit was
18:02
officially filed within the confines of the US District
18:05
Court for the Northern District of California.
18:08
Central to the charges is the benefit that CDH has knowingly
18:12
orchestrated a calculated campaign to discredit X Corps
18:16
platform, thereby scaring away potential advertisers.
18:20
Now, the defendant allegedly conducted this operation by
18:22
publishing research reports claiming that the social media
18:26
service had glaringly failed to address and eradicate hateful
18:30
post circulating on his platform, and the service is
18:33
under the ownership of the prominent technology
18:35
entrepreneur. As we all know, Elon Musk in the
18:38
official court filing Ex Corp, enlisted its legal team to put
18:43
forth the claim that the CDH had deliberately and systematically
18:47
engaged in a series of unlawful acts.
18:50
These acts were supposedly committed with the intention of
18:52
gaining unauthorized access to X Corpse protected data,
18:56
information that CDH would allegedly need to cherry pick
18:59
specific posts from hundreds of 1,000,000 made each day on X
19:03
Corpse platform. The intention behind this,
19:06
according to X Corp, was to fabricate a deceptive narrative
19:10
suggesting that the platform is overwhelmed with harmful content
19:13
and narrative that, if believed, could severely damage the
19:17
company's reputation and its market.
19:19
Standing at the lawsuit levels a series of specific accusations
19:24
against the nonprofit organization.
19:26
These charges include breach of contract, violation of federal
19:29
computer fraud laws, intentional interference with contractual
19:33
relations, and inducing breach of contract.
19:37
Acting on behalf of Excorp, the company's attorney heads issued
19:40
a formal demand for a jury trial, signaling the firm's
19:44
determination to pursue the matter to its legal conclusion.
19:48
The legal filing came mere hours after the CDH made a public
19:53
letter sent to the organization by Musk's attorney, Alex Bureau,
19:57
dated July 20th. The communication indicated that
20:00
Xcorp was conducting an internal investigation to determine
20:04
whether the CDH is false and misleading claims about Twitter
20:08
were actionable under federal law.
20:11
The CDH founder and chief executive issued a statement to
20:15
NBC News in which they leveled sharp criticism at Musk.
20:19
According to them, the tech mogul, also known for his
20:21
leadership roles at SpaceX and Tesla, is resorting to
20:25
authoritarian tactics to silent dissent.
20:28
He asked. Musk is now showing he will stop
20:31
at nothing to silence anyone who criticizes him for his own
20:34
decisions and actions. The chief executive, Ahmed, was
20:38
categorically in asserting that the CCD H's research
20:42
demonstrated A disturbing trend of hate and disinformation
20:45
spreading rapidly on the platform under Musk's ownership.
20:49
In his view, the lawsuit filed by Xcorp represented a direct
20:53
attempt to thwart these efforts. They said Musk is trying to
20:56
shoot the messenger who highlights the toxic content on
20:59
his platform rather than deal with the toxic environment he's
21:02
created. The CEO further vowed that the
21:05
CCDH is independent. Research would continue unbated,
21:09
promising Musk will not bully us into silence.
21:13
The research report that seemed to particularly IRK X Corp and
21:17
trigger the legal reaction claimed that the platform had
21:20
failed to take action against 99% of 100 posts flagged by CDH
21:25
staff members. Now, these posts allegedly
21:28
contain racism, homophobic and antisemitic content,
21:32
representing a clear violation of the platform's rules and
21:34
policies. And since acquiring Twitter last
21:37
year, Musk has been the force of intense scrutiny and widespread
21:41
criticism. Top hate speech watchdog groups
21:44
and activists have vocally condemned him for loosening
21:47
restrictions on what can be posted on the platform.
21:50
This move has raised many eyebrows among business
21:53
analysts, too, who view his decision as erratic and
21:56
impulsive, potentially undermining the platform's
21:59
credibility in its future growth.
22:02
The Center for Countering Digital Hates Research has
22:04
received wide coverage, with mentions and outlets like NBC
22:08
News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CN, and many
22:11
others. This widespread dissemination of
22:13
the research findings has undoubtedly contributed to the
22:17
heightening tensions between Xcorp and CDH.
22:20
Critics have also taken aim at Musk for the content he puts on
22:24
his own account. The billionaire has been known
22:26
to share controversial or conspiratorial content,
22:30
prompting many to question his commitment to moderating harmful
22:33
content on the platform he owns. Defending his approach.
22:36
Musk his claim that he is acting in the interest of free speech
22:39
and ideal he hopes to embody by transforming Twitter into a
22:43
digital town square Now countering the narrative put
22:47
forth by the CDH and other critics.
22:49
Musk his claim that the prevalence of hate speech on the
22:52
platform is decreasing. He substantiated his claim with
22:55
a tweet dating at November 23rd, in which he stated that hate
23:00
speech impressions were down by 1/3.
23:03
Accompanying the tweet with a graph seemingly derived from
23:05
internal data, which depicted the downward trend in hate
23:09
speech on the platform of the escalating conflict between
23:12
Xcorp and CDH signals A turbulent era for social media
23:17
platforms as they navigate the delicate balance between
23:20
ensuring user safety and maintaining A commitment to free
23:24
speech with legal proceedings. We're going to watch this
23:27
closely to see how this case might set a precedent for future
23:30
interactions between social media companies and watchdog
23:33
groups including Meta, Google, etcetera.
23:37
And meanwhile, X Corps. Aggressive legal stance against
23:39
the CDH underscores the enormous challenges and the high stakes
23:43
involved in the fight against online hate speech and
23:47
disinformation in our digital society on social media and
23:52
online in general. If you like the show or if you
23:55
want to support us, please take a second and it's free.
23:58
You hit the subscribe or the follow button on whatever
24:01
podcast platform that you're listening on right now.
24:04
That would greatly help us, and we're growing tremendously.
24:06
Because of your support, NASA and Axiom Space and SpaceX have
24:10
signed an agreement for the 4th Private Astronaut Mission to the
24:13
International Space Station, scheduled to launch no earlier
24:16
than August of 2024 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
24:20
This represents a significant stride in making space more
24:22
accessible, transforming low Earth orbit into a domain that
24:26
transcends government led expeditions.
24:29
Now this mission, called AX 4, is a part of an increasingly
24:32
concerted effort to make space A more commercial domain, with
24:36
NASA becoming one among many customers in the market.
24:39
Axiom Space, SpaceX and other private entities are now boldly
24:43
venturing where only governments have gone before, heralding a
24:47
new era of space exploration. And this ambitious mission
24:50
brings us one step closer to normalizing life in microgravity
24:54
and making the final frontier place not just for exploration,
24:58
but also for the business minded.
25:00
But before we dive into all the intriguing details about this
25:04
upcoming mission, we need to take a quick break for a word
25:07
from our sponsors. Their invaluable support helps
25:10
us keep this podcast free for all our listeners, so please
25:13
stay tuned. We'll be right back with more
25:16
insights about this really cool mission.
25:18
Welcome back, everybody, NASA and Axiom Space and SpaceX and
25:22
their continual March toward making the cosmos more
25:24
accessible to the masses. It was set a new milestone.
25:27
The two entities have recently signed an order to the 4th
25:30
private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
25:33
Now this expedition, referred to as Axiom Mission 4 or AX4, is
25:37
provisionally scheduled to lift off no earlier than August of
25:41
2024 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center located in Florida.
25:45
Now the anticipated milestone encapsulates the latest of
25:47
NASA's endeavors to broaden low Earth orbit utilization beyond
25:51
government backed missions. Phil McAllister, the Director of
25:54
Commercial Space at NASA Headquarters in Washington,
25:56
hailed the development. He highlighted that these orders
25:59
mark critical stepping stones to creating a commercial space
26:02
marketplace with NASA is one of the many customers in axioms.
26:07
Mission Four will aim to stay attached to the space station
26:10
for up to two weeks. This specific launch date will
26:13
be contingent upon the overall spacecraft traffic to the
26:16
orbital outpost and other planning constraints.
26:19
Now to ensure a seamless operation, though, NASA and
26:21
Axiom Space mission planners will synchronize inorbit
26:24
activities for the private astronauts.
26:26
This coordination will facilitate the team's
26:28
interaction with station crew members and flight controllers
26:31
on the ground. Michael Safradini, CEO and
26:34
President of Axiom Space, expressed his company's
26:36
enthusiasm for the mission. He stated each mission allows us
26:40
to build on the foundation we were set for the world's first
26:42
commercial space station, Axiom Station.
26:45
Now, he affirmed that these ventures will play an
26:47
instrumental role in the normalization of living and
26:50
working in microgravity, and they would also promote
26:52
commercial space activities, expand space access, and foster
26:56
knowledge and experience related to working and living in space.
27:00
To prepare for the AX4 mission, Axiom Space will propose 4 crew
27:04
members to NASA and its international partners to
27:06
review, and once approved, these individuals will become the
27:10
prime crew members for the mission.
27:11
These astronauts will undergo training with NASA international
27:14
partners in SpaceX, and the training will familiarize them
27:17
with the spacecraft systems, protocols and emergency
27:20
readiness for the Dragon spacecraft.
27:22
Now, Axiom Spaces partnership with SpaceX extends beyond
27:25
training. The private aerospace
27:27
manufacturer has been contracted to provide transportation to and
27:31
from the International Space Station.
27:33
This collaboration facilitates the integration of private and
27:36
commercial stakeholders and space exploration advancing
27:39
towards a more accessible space economy.
27:41
This landmark partnership between Axiom Space and NASA
27:44
consists of two main agreements, a mission specific Order in a
27:47
reimbursable Space Act Agreement.
27:49
The former encompasses crew supplies, cargo delivery,
27:53
storage and inorbit resources for daily use.
27:56
It also includes provisions for seven contingency days aboard
28:00
the Space Station. Now, as part of the order, Axiom
28:02
Space may offer NASA specific capabilities.
28:05
These could range from a return of scientific samples requiring
28:09
cold storage, to leveraging the mission commander's time for
28:12
completing NASA science and performing tasks for the agency.
28:16
The Reimbursable Space Act Agreement, on the other hand,
28:18
outlines the services that Axiom Space will pay NASA to enable
28:22
the mission. These services include crew
28:24
training and use of facilities at NASA's Johnson Space Center
28:28
in Houston and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
28:31
Furthermore, SpaceX has similar reimbursable agreements with
28:34
NASA Kennedy for launch services.
28:36
Now, NASA's private astronaut missions are not new endeavors,
28:39
though. Ex IM Space was chosen for the
28:41
third private astronaut mission back in March, and the proposed
28:44
crew members for this expedition are currently under review by
28:47
NASA and its international partners, with a formal
28:49
announcements expected later this year.
28:51
Now this mission is set to launch no earlier than January
28:54
of 2024. The selection of these private
28:56
astronaut missions was made following proposals received in
28:59
response to NASA's September 2022 research announcement.
29:02
The missions were evaluated based on the providers ability
29:05
to successfully execute a mission, NASA's capacity to
29:08
support the proposed mission, and the missions contribution to
29:11
NASA's goal of commercialization of low Earth Orbit.
29:15
For over 22 years, NASA has facilitated a constant US human
29:19
presence in low Earth orbit. The ultimate goal is to foster a
29:23
marketplace in low Earth orbit, where NASA is among many
29:26
customers in the private sector leads the charge forward.
29:30
Now the strategy not only reduces the cost for government
29:32
back space activities, but also allows NASA to concentrate on
29:36
bigger things such as the Artemis missions, which is aimed
29:39
at the Moon and eventually the Red Planet of Mars now.
29:42
Meanwhile, low Earth orbit continues to be an essential
29:45
training and proving ground for these deep space missions,
29:48
contributing to the broader vision of space exploration.
29:51
We're turning our attention to the recent strides made of
29:54
SpaceX, a star base in Boca Chica, Texas.
29:57
This is a particular focus on the ongoing testing phase of the
30:01
Starship program down there. Now from the static fire
30:03
testings of the Raptor engines to the implementation of the new
30:07
water deluge system, we'll be discussing how these key
30:10
operations contribute to the program's ambitious objectives
30:14
of an orbital test flight, hopefully sometime in 2023 or
30:18
maybe early 2024. We're also going to explore the
30:21
journey of Booster Nine, it's recent trials on the orbital
30:24
launch mount, the OLM, and what these developments signify for
30:27
the future of the Starship. Now before we get into the
30:30
details, we're taking a quick commercial break, but don't go
30:32
anywhere because there's plenty more Starship news coming up.
30:35
And remember, your continued support is what helps us keep
30:38
this show free and helps us continue doing this.
30:41
So we'll be right back, so stay tuned.
30:43
Just last week, Spacex's ambitious Starship program
30:46
shifted gears and ventured into a critical phase of testing with
30:49
a focus on Booster 9, the water deluge system, and other core
30:53
aspects of the program's operations of Spacex's Starbase,
30:56
Texas. Now the significant recent
30:59
activities have cleared the path for an intensive period of
31:01
evaluations commencing with static test firings of the
31:04
Raptor engines facilitated by the water Deluge system and an
31:08
array of large test windows were publicized beginning on Friday.
31:12
Indicative of an ambitious testing schedule, the agenda
31:15
comprises 2 separate events, a spin prime test, a necessary
31:19
precursor to a static fire test involving and as yet unspecified
31:24
number of engines, and on Thursday, July 20th, SpaceX
31:28
hoisted booster and ion under the orbital launch mount
31:30
following its transition from the production vicinity of
31:33
Starbase to the orbital launchpad.
31:36
This monumental move was made feasible by the significant
31:39
amount of work undertaken at the OLM and Launchpad area ahead of
31:43
the proof test on the booster earmarked for the forthcoming
31:46
Starship launch. Now Sunday, July 23rd marked
31:50
another significant milestone as Booster Nine was filled with
31:53
liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen in the methane tank.
31:56
Both tanks reach full capacity during the testing of the
31:59
booster on the OLM, the first instance since Starship's
32:02
eventful made in flight on April 20th.
32:06
Now the test adopted an extended holding period where cryogenic
32:10
fluids were allowed to remain in the tanks where the booster
32:12
underwent AD tanking process that spans several hours.
32:16
Once the test had concluded, workers opened an access door at
32:19
the base of the liquid oxygen tank for inspection.
32:23
Simultaneously, while the team inspected the liquid oxygen tank
32:26
on Booster 9, the groundwork for the subsequent key phase of the
32:30
boosters testing regime was being laid.
32:32
The water deluge system, which had been successfully tested at
32:36
partial pressure earlier in the month, was ready for a full
32:39
pressure examination. The full pressure test on July
32:42
28th met the mark as an outpour of water jetted from steel
32:46
plates underneath the OLM. The system was designed to
32:48
release water in an angle to avoid the Raptor analysis.
32:52
Now this water release endured for a span of about 8 to 10
32:55
seconds, as was followed by an audibly potent release of
32:58
pressure from the water tank farm located behind the launch
33:01
tower. So inside the system the holes
33:04
are geometrically arranged to form a hexagon matching the
33:07
positions of the outer 20 Raptor engines on the booster.
33:11
Now ship 28 was relocated to the former Massey's gun range,
33:14
though now on SpaceX testing ground on Friday, July 21st for
33:19
proof testing using cryogenic fluids.
33:21
Concurrently, Booster 10 made its exit from Massey's and
33:24
arrived at the Rocket Garden adjacent to the production site.
33:27
In the early hours of Saturday, July 22nd, a visible frost line
33:31
on Ship 20 eights, liquid oxygen and methane tanks suggested the
33:35
successful loading of cryogenic fluids.
33:38
On July 28th. The ship, furnished with fins,
33:41
tiles and a payload Bay, is anticipated to be transported
33:44
back to the production site for the installation of its Raptor
33:47
engines. Future plans for Ship 28 include
33:49
coupling with Booster 10 for the third Starship test launch now.
33:53
The extensive production and testing out or taken at Starbase
33:57
has not been limited to ships and boosters though.
33:59
Smaller test components have been employed to scrutinize
34:02
various features and tolerances of these vehicles.
34:05
Ship 24.2 is one of those. Test rigs is designed to
34:08
evaluate the payload based system ahead of its utilization
34:11
to deploy size Starlink version 2 satellites and another recent
34:16
test article features a hot staging ring nestled between an
34:19
after ring for the ship and top section of a booster.
34:22
This was transported to Massey's on Sunday, July 30th for
34:26
structural testing and a hot staging ring will be
34:28
incorporated into Booster 9 and subsequent vehicles to
34:31
streamline the stage separation procedure during flight.
34:35
Because it didn't work very well on the original integrated
34:38
flight Test #1. Now the separation, that is,
34:41
there was no hot staging ring in the first Test.
34:45
Now while preparations for Ship 20 gates flight continue, Ship
34:48
25 has had missing tiles installed and has been affixed
34:51
to a crane for a future lift. It's going to fly a top Booster
34:54
9 for the upcoming second Starship test flight now, as
34:58
ships 25 and 20 under go at preparations for future flights.
35:02
Other vehicles such as Ship 30 have commenced construction.
35:05
And to make room for these new endeavors, older ships like Ship
35:08
27 and Ship 15 have gone the way of the Dodo.
35:11
They're gone. They've been dismantled in the
35:13
latter a landmark vehicle and starships journey, being the
35:16
first full vehicle with fins to successfully complete a landing
35:20
was disassembled on Wednesday, July 26th, and despite the ships
35:24
boosters and the orbital launch site drawing the most attention,
35:27
the production facilities at Starbase are undergoing
35:29
significant upgrades as well. The final sections of a new
35:33
processing high Bay are being installed on the existing
35:36
structure. It's anticipated that this new
35:38
facility will soon commence vehicle processing.
35:41
The expansion of the Star Factory, the planned replacement
35:43
for the current factory tents, is underway too.
35:46
Another building on site appears to house stacks of fullsize
35:49
Starlink V2 satellites, preparing them for future
35:52
launches. It's yet to be determined
35:54
whether Ship 28 will have the honor of deploying the
35:56
spacecraft first, or if it'll be a ship later on.
36:00
Now, when the days to come static fire test a Booster 9 is
36:04
scheduled. This critical test, potentially
36:06
involving possibly all 33 engines, will stress test the
36:10
deluge system and steel plates, as well as the redesigned OLM
36:15
and a spin prime test preceding the static fire is also on the
36:19
cards. And in an attempt to shield the
36:21
launchpad and Starship from a potential rock tornado, SpaceX
36:25
is heavily reliant on an upside down shower head, so to speak.
36:29
As Elon Musk has said, this system is integral to the goal
36:32
of achieving rapid reusability of the launchpad, which is vital
36:36
for Starlink version 2, Artemis lunar missions, Mars missions
36:40
and other applications of the Starship system in the future.
36:45
Hey, thank you so much for listening to the show today.
36:46
If you could take a second and hit the follow or subscribe
36:49
button on whatever podcast platform you're listening on
36:51
right now, it's free and it's easy and it helps us out
36:54
tremendously. And we can continue bringing you
36:56
these Starship updates. So thank you so much for that.
36:59
Also, please take care of yourselves and each other and I
37:02
will see you in the next one.