Booster 12 undergoes spin prime test at Orbital Launch Site
Fourth static fire test of Super Heavy booster's Raptor engines generates 17 million pounds of thrust
SpaceX contracted by NASA as lunar lander for Artemis 3 mission, fifth Starship flight expected to be most ambitious yet
SpaceX's Starship program advances with 17 million pound thrust and goal of 25 flights per year
Tower stacking ongoing at Pad B for increased flight cadence
SpaceX is making significant strides in its Starship program with the latest developments at the Orbital Launch Site and Pad B. Booster 12, a Super Heavy booster, was rolled out to the launch site for testing on July 9 and underwent a spin prime test on July 12. Meanwhile, tower stacking is ongoing at Pad B as SpaceX aims to increase the Starship flight cadence from Starbase to an impressive 25 flights and landings per year.
The fourth static fire test of the Super Heavy booster's Raptor engines took place on July 15, generating nearly 17 million pounds of thrust. This is twice the power output of NASA's iconic Saturn V Moon rocket. The successful test marks a significant step forward in SpaceX's goal to reuse boosters for rapid turnaround times.
SpaceX has been contracted by NASA as the lunar lander for its Artemis 3 mission, and the upcoming fifth Starship flight is expected to be the most ambitious yet. The fully-stacked vehicle will be launched from Starbase in Texas, with plans to build on previous successes and reach even further.
Despite these advancements, SpaceX faces challenges including ongoing legal issues regarding beach closures and federal review processes that could potentially slow down the flight schedule.
Starship has been contracted by NASA as the lunar lander for its Artemis 3 mission
The upcoming IFT-5 will be the fifth launch of Starship's fully-stacked vehicle and its most ambitious to date.
SpaceX plans to build on that success by reaching even further on Starship's fifth flight.
Starship is designed as a completely reusable system, similar to the first-stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster, with Super Heavy featuring grid fins for atmospheric control and planned to return straight to the launch pad where it launched.
Accuracy
SpaceX ignited the engines on its Super Heavy booster yesterday (July 15)
A static fire was conducted for Booster 12 on July 15
The upcoming IFT-5 will be the fifth launch of Starship’s fully-stacked vehicle and its most ambitious to date
SpaceX plans to build on that success by reaching even further on Starship’s fifth flight
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains an appeal to authority when it mentions that SpaceX's Super Heavy booster has been contracted by NASA as the lunar lander for its Artemis 3 mission and that it has been touted by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as eventually being capable of flying humans to Mars. This implies that these reputable organizations endorse the capabilities of the booster, but it does not provide any evidence or reasoning from the author as to why this is a valid assumption.
SpaceX's Super Heavy booster has been contracted by NASA as the lunar lander for its Artemis 3 mission,
has also been touted by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as eventually being capable of flying humans to Mars.
SpaceX has yet to successfully land the Starship booster on solid ground.
SpaceX is involved in multiple lawsuits regarding beach closures and federal review processes that allowed frequent launches of the world’s most powerful rocket from a wildlife preserve.
Accuracy
The FAA may require SpaceX to apply for a license modification if the company changes its mission profile for the upcoming Starship flight.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that the launch could happen as soon as the first week of August.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions the damage to bird nests caused by SpaceX's fourth flight and does not mention any potential positive environmental impacts or mitigation efforts. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying that SpaceX is committing a 'heinous crime' for damaging the bird nests.
The nonprofit Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program published a report in June that found Starship’s fourth flight damaged or destroyed at least nine shorebird nests that were from 820 to 1,400 feet from the launch platform.
The Fish and Wildlife Service’s office of law enforcement is investigating the nest damage, an agency spokeswoman said in an email. It’s looking into whether the commercial space company violated environmental laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
To make up for this heinous crime, I will refrain from having omelette for a week.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several informal fallacies and an appeal to authority. The author uses the phrase 'renewed concerns and legal issues' without providing any evidence or context for these concerns or legal issues, implying that they exist solely to create doubt about SpaceX's plans. This is an example of fear-mongering and appeals to emotion. Additionally, the author quotes an FAA spokesperson stating that 'If SpaceX decides to change the mission profile or make other changes that affect the safety analyses, it will need to request a license modification.' This statement is presented as fact without any context or explanation about why this would be necessary or what specific changes SpaceX is considering. This is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy, as the author relies on the FAA's statement without questioning its validity or providing any evidence to support it.
]renewed concerns and legal issues[
Bias
(80%)
The article mentions the potential environmental impact of SpaceX's launches and the destruction of bird nests during a previous launch. This could be seen as an implicit criticism or bias against SpaceX and their operations.
The Fish and Wildlife Service’s office of law enforcement is investigating the nest damage, an agency spokeswoman said in an email. It’s looking into whether the commercial space company violated environmental laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. [
] The nonprofit Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program published a report in June that found Starship’s fourth flight damaged or destroyed at least nine shorebird nests that were from 820 to 1,400 feet from the launch platform. [
SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket will remain grounded as engineers investigate a rare launch failure last week.
SpaceX test-fired the 33 Raptor engines on the Starship rocket’s Super Heavy booster at the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas.
At full power, the 33 engines generated nearly 17 million pounds of thrust, twice the power output of NASA’s iconic Saturn V Moon rocket.
During the fourth flight of Starship on June 6, SpaceX successfully guided the Super Heavy booster back to a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico east of Starbase.
Within a couple of years, SpaceX aims to have two active launch pads in Texas and two Starship launch sites in Florida to support a growing Starship flight rate.
These Starship missions will launch Starlink Internet satellites, conduct in-orbit refueling tests, and support NASA’s Artemis lunar program.
Accuracy
The next test flight of the company’s next-generation Starship vehicle appears to be on track for liftoff next month.
During the fourth flight of Starship on June 6, SpaceX successfully guided the Super Heavy booster back to a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico east of Starbase. The ship continued into space and completed a half-lap around the planet before reentering the atmosphere for a guided propulsive splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX is still considering whether to attempt a catch of the booster on the next flight.
Technicians are replacing thousands of ceramic tiles on Ship 30’s outer skin in a hangar near the launch pad.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No formal fallacies found. However, there is an example of inflammatory rhetoric and a potential appeal to authority. The inflammatory rhetoric comes from the description of the Raptor engines' thrust as 'twice the power output of NASA's iconic Saturn V Moon rocket.' This is meant to emphasize SpaceX's technological prowess but does not accurately reflect the complexities of comparing these two different systems. The potential appeal to authority comes from referencing SpaceX officials and their confidence in a booster recovery, but without providing specific evidence or reasoning for this claim.
Enlarge / A drone shot looking down on SpaceX's Super Heavy booster during a test-firing of its 33 Raptor engines Monday. It's unclear yet how long SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket will remain grounded as engineers investigate a rare launch failure last week, but the next test flight of the company's next-generation Starship vehicle appears to be on track for liftoff next month.
