SpaceX Starship: NASA Confirms Risky Orbital Maneuver!

Visit ground.news/WAI for space news, and subscribe now for 40% off the same Vantage plan I use. \What are your thoughts? Could simulating the landing ahead of time really help the actual event? Should they consider building a catch only tower?:_WAISweet:

I REALLY hope that I live long enough to see this stuff get past the testing stage and actually come to fruition. I'm 2 years in to a battle of life and death against cancer. I feel like my prospects are getting less, but am 4 doses in on a Clinical Trial that may prove to be just what I needed to get me past this terrible disease. There is so much cool technology going on here and to be able to watch the various pieces coming together, is extremely rewarding and just leaves me on pins and needles! I'm rooting for your success SpaceX just as hard as I'm rooting for my success! You guys are awesome and keep up the great work. Mankind belongs in space discovering the stars!

For now they need a catch only tower. If there is an issue during landing it would not affect launches. Also a damaged catch only tower could be repaired more rapidly since the GSE would be minimaly affected

I love the essential of what you do, but your vids these days feel so clogged up with sponsorship and self-promotion. It's tiresome. I know you have to do what you have to do, but I am putting in my tiny vote for more content, less guff, if possible.

I like a catch only tower for the first few catches.

They should REALLY do a hop and catch. REALLY

A catch only tower makes more sense than ruining the OLIT with a bad catch. Ships would have to be transferred to Megabay anyway for refurbishment. With OLIT intact, launch another ship.

TJ, you’re doing great! Getting comfortable and finding your rhythm. Excellent work and we’re all happy you’re part of the team!

The ducks on the booster LMAO 13:03🤣😆So fun

Comparing the Luna Starship to the original Apollo Luna lander is crazy. It's like going from Wright Bros directly to 747 with no steps in between.

With a decent launch cadence they do not really need two towers for this demo. Launch the target into some parking orbit, then take a few days to launch the chaser. They can use a similar process on landing, in any order, if they wanted to catch both.

2:10 Engineers don't do the refurbishment. Workers do. Show respect!

That has always been my contention. SpaceX should separate launch of Super Heavy from the recovery operation. The separate landing tower could have a rail transport system to move the boosters and Starships back to the Launch tower for Mechazilla to grab them and remount them for the next launch attempt when the faster turnaround operations begin. At present, the launch cadence is still very slow, so no need to build the rail transporter, just the catching system. The catching tower should be sufficiently separated from the launch area so as to prevent a catching "mishap" and subsequent RUD from damaging the extremely valuable Stage 0 machinery. The catching tower would be cheaper and simpler since it likely does not need the fueling system, and the water protection system could be much less powerful, since only one engine would be firing during recovery. Also, the Super Heavy would come down first and be removed before Starship is recovered. (The other stupid thing about the single Stage 0 doing the recovery is that you would have a Starship being recovered while a Super Heavy is already sitting there on the launch mount.) That entire original plan is a huge recipe for disaster.) The stakes are just too great. The launch tower and infrastructure is so expensive and difficult to repair that damaging it is too costly in money and time. If Stage 0 gets damaged or destroyed, it makes an entire fleet of Super Heavies and Starships unable to launch.

I’m really liking your coverage WAI. Thanks guys.

Why do they need two towers to do a ship-to-ship prop transfer? So they could easily launch it first, then days or weeks later, they can launch the "chaser." The name also implies it is intended to be launched after the "target" ship. A future prop depot would be expected to stay in orbit long-term, so launching the "chaser" later is consistent with this concept.

I love the role reversal! You both make this channel incredible and everything it should be. Thank you!!

Great update WAI, thank you!!

I just loved how the ducks loved booster for skyscraper pond

Excellent Job TJ!! Looking forward to more of your videos!

Petition for felix to go skinhead when they catch the first booster