{"id":37896,"date":"2019-09-21T17:48:32","date_gmt":"2019-09-21T09:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/elon-musks-upcoming-starship-presentation-to-mark-12-months-of-rapid-progress\/"},"modified":"2019-09-21T17:48:32","modified_gmt":"2019-09-21T09:48:32","slug":"elon-musks-upcoming-starship-presentation-to-mark-12-months-of-rapid-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/elon-musks-upcoming-starship-presentation-to-mark-12-months-of-rapid-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"Elon Musk\u2019s upcoming Starship presentation to mark 12 months of rapid progress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is set to provide a highly anticipated update on the company\u2019s Starship program on September 28th from Boca Chica, Texas. The presentation is expected to take place in front of the first nearly completed Starship prototype \u2013 capping off 12 months of rapid progress which has seen the program transition from fancy renders to reality.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Over the past few years, Musk has been conducting annual presentations on the status of SpaceX\u2019s next-generation vehicles designed to colonize the Moon and Mars.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>SpaceX Super Heavy\/Starship Section<\/li>\n<li>L2 SpaceX Section<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While the names of the vehicles have changed numerous times over the years, the spacecraft is currently called Starship with its first stage booster called Super Heavy.<\/p>\n<p>The system is designed to be fully reusable \u2013 with both Super Heavy and Starship capable of landing propulsively.<\/p>\n<p>During last year\u2019s presentation, Musk announced that Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa had purchased a flight to send Maezawa and several artists around the Moon. While the news caught the attention of many, the launch vehicle was still in the very early phases of development.<\/p>\n<p>A prototype carbon fiber tank barrel and a few sub-scale Raptor engines were all that SpaceX had to show for physical hardware.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 799px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=nextspaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1041953361908576256&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F09%2Felon-musks-starship-presentation-12-months-progress%2F&amp;sessionId=07a754f71d4e8fb7663ca8de23c0202b6a06796a&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1041953361908576256\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Space Technology<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>NASA mission patches<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Space tourism guides<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, at SpaceX\u2019s launch site in Boca Chica, there was not much more than a mound of dirt. And, the state of affairs were similar at a planned Starship factory at the Port of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>While the concept was exciting, the launch system was far from flight-ready.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward 12 months and the state of Starship development is radically different.<\/p>\n<p>In Boca Chica, the mound of dirt has been transformed into an operational launch site \u2013 outfitted with the ground support equipment needed to support test flights of the methane-fueled Starship vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Two untethered flights of a test vehicle called Starhopper have already occurred at the pad \u2013 the most recent to an altitude of 150 meters.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Starhopper 150 Meter Hop\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KkBp3UF3HJY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, at the nearby operations center, the first full-scale Starship vehicle is nearing completion and is expected to be the backdrop of the upcoming presentation.<\/p>\n<p>And if that was not enough, a second Starship prototype is also nearing completion near Cape Canaveral, Florida. That vehicle will be launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center which is already undergoing renovations to prepare for the upcoming Starship flights.<\/p>\n<p>As for the factory at the Port of Los Angeles, it was scrapped just weeks after Musk\u2019s 2018 presentation. The cancellation was made after a radical change of plans which saw the Starship and Super Heavy designs pivot from carbon fiber to steel.<\/p>\n<p>The switch was made to reduce the technical complexity of the project and removed the need for a factory with advanced machinery.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-60528 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/next-ad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5052\" height=\"3004\"><\/p>\n<p>Consequently, SpaceX is now assembling the vehicles near their launch site, as transporting a nine-meter diameter rocket for thousands of miles is less than ideal.<\/p>\n<p>The move away from carbon fiber quickly paid dividends. Steel is an easier material to work with, and thus within weeks the first prototype vehicle was being assembled in Boca Chica.<\/p>\n<p>The flurry of activity was a dramatic change for the local community. For years, the Boca Chica facility had sat idle as plans to launch SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets from the site never materialized.<\/p>\n<p>However, in the final weeks of 2018, a nine-meter diameter steel structure began to rise in South Texas. It was the beginnings of Starhopper, a Starship test-bed designed to perform small hops using a full-scale Raptor engine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63328\" class=\"wp-image-63328 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2448\" height=\"1836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3.jpg 2448w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3-350x263.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3-467x350.jpg 467w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LLs3-1170x878.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2448px) 100vw, 2448px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-63328\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Starhopper under construction in Boca Chica, Texas in late 2018 via Nomadd for NSF L2<\/p>\n<p>By March of 2019, the vehicle was ready for action. Over the course of the following months, it performed numerous tests including three static fires and two flight tests. The flight tests saw the vehicle hop to 18 meters in altitude on July 25th. This was followed by a flight to 150 meters on August 27th.<\/p>\n<p>The 150 meter hop was the final flight of Starhopper. It is now set to be converted into a vertical Raptor test stand \u2013 with the flight test campaign transitioning to a full-scale Starship prototype.<\/p>\n<p>Named Starship Mk1, the new prototype is expected to perform flights to much greater altitudes \u2013 with a launch to around 20 kilometers expected in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p>To do so, the vehicle will be far more advanced than the single-engine Starhopper. Not only will it be substantially taller, but Mk1 will also be outfitted with landing gear, control surfaces, and three Raptor engines.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63335\" class=\"size-full wp-image-63335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1990-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5933\" height=\"3897\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-63335\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fin is installed on the Starship Mk1 prototype via BocaChicaGal for NSF<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX teams have been racing around the clock to prepare the Mk1 vehicle for the presentation on September 28th \u2013 with the goal of having the vehicle\u2019s primary structure fully assembled in time for the event.<\/p>\n<p>During the presentation, Musk is expected to outline the current state of the program, including the methane-powered Raptor engines, launch site developments, and changes to Starship\u2019s design since the last presentation.<\/p>\n<p>Like all previous years, this year\u2019s update will once again feature a change in the aero surfaces of the vehicle \u2013 used to help the spacecraft navigate in the atmosphere before landing.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-2\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 273px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=nextspaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=true&amp;id=1134019585638785025&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F09%2Felon-musks-starship-presentation-12-months-progress%2F&amp;sessionId=07a754f71d4e8fb7663ca8de23c0202b6a06796a&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1134019585638785025\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>However, the latest evolution of the design is expected to be much more mature than previous years \u2013 with SpaceX allocating far greater resources to the program over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n<p>Slight tweaks to the Super Heavy booster \u2013 the first stage which will be used to launch Starship into orbit from Earth \u2013 are also expected to be announced at next weekend\u2019s presentation.<\/p>\n<p>The number of Raptor engines on Super Heavy will be one particular area of interest, as that has changed several times over the course of development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Renders and potentially an animation of Starship and Super Heavy launching from Boca Chica and Pad 39A are also heavily anticipated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-62386 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/L2-banner-web.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1250\" height=\"703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/L2-banner-web.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/L2-banner-web-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/L2-banner-web-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/L2-banner-web-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/L2-banner-web-1170x658.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1250px) 100vw, 1250px\"><\/p>\n<p>The plans for the launch pads have only materialized over the past few months, with many of the details found in environmental documents already outdated.<\/p>\n<p>What is known is that modifications are well underway to prepare the Boca Chica and Kennedy Space Center-based pads for their respective Starship activities.<\/p>\n<p>In Boca Chica, Texas, construction is ongoing to transition the launch pad from Starhopper to Starship flights.<\/p>\n<p>Since Starship is substantially bigger than the Starhopper, the vehicle will require additional propellant. Thus, teams have been working to increase the propellant storage capacity at the launch site.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-3\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=nextspaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-3&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1174819728566738945&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F09%2Felon-musks-starship-presentation-12-months-progress%2F&amp;sessionId=07a754f71d4e8fb7663ca8de23c0202b6a06796a&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1174819728566738945\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Most notably, a large liquid oxygen tank was moved from a nearby storage site to the launch pad on Thursday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Boca Chica launch site is also expected to see the addition of a launch mount for Starship. Unlike Starhopper which lifted off directly from the concrete pad, the Mk1 prototype will be elevated slightly by a steel structure.<\/p>\n<p>Similar activities are underway at Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as that launch site also prepares for Starship flights.<\/p>\n<p>Pad 39A will soon be used for flights of the Starship Mk2 prototype. The Florida-based Mk2 vehicle is nearly identical to the Texas-based Mk1 prototype and will also be used for high altitude test flights.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63331\" class=\"size-full wp-image-63331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-09-19-at-10.23.42-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-09-19-at-10.23.42-PM.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-09-19-at-10.23.42-PM-350x210.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-09-19-at-10.23.42-PM-583x350.jpeg 583w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-09-19-at-10.23.42-PM-768x461.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-09-19-at-10.23.42-PM-1170x703.jpeg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-63331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A render of what Starship Mk2 may look like on the pad via Jay DeShetler for NSF L2<\/p>\n<p>The Mk2 prototype will be launched from a new launch mount which is similar to the one being prepared for installation at Boca Chica.<\/p>\n<p>It is understood that the mount for Pad 39A has been undergoing construction in the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) at the launch site. The HIF is normally used to store Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX officially broke ground on the foundational work for the launch mount on Thursday evening. The following morning, bulldozers and other heavy machinery were spotted at the pad.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-4\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=nextspaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-4&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1175442887611494405&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F09%2Felon-musks-starship-presentation-12-months-progress%2F&amp;sessionId=07a754f71d4e8fb7663ca8de23c0202b6a06796a&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1175442887611494405\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This work is expected to only take a couple of weeks \u2013 with the launch mount installation occurring shortly after.<\/p>\n<p>However, it will take slightly longer for the required ground support equipment to be in place and ready to support a launch.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy which use kerosene as the fuel, Starship uses methane. Thus, SpaceX will have to install additional fuel tanks in order to make Pad 39A Starship compatible.<\/p>\n<p>If all goes well, the Boca Chica and 39A Starship pads will then eventually be converted to support a full Starship stack including the Super Heavy first stage booster. The addition of the first stage will allow for flights into orbit.<\/p>\n<p>How and when this will occur will be a subject of interest at next weekend\u2019s presentation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is set to provide a highly anticipated update on the company\u2019s Starship program on September 28th from Boca Chica, Texas. The presentation is expected to take place in front of the first nearly completed Starship prototype \u2013 capping off 12 months of rapid progress which has seen the program transition from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7841,1648,316,317,596],"class_list":["post-37896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-39a","tag-boca-chica","tag-spacex","tag-starship","tag-super-heavy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37896"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37896\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}