Starship S39 just Did Something never Done Before, But Flight 12 NOT Until...REPLAY#73

Описание: Starship S39 just Did Something never Done Before, But Flight 12 NOT Until...REPLAY#73
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#greatspacex #spacex #spacexlive #starship
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00:00: Intro
00:44: S39’s full cryogenic test
06:38: Firefly Alpha Flight 7’s delays
09:08: China’s new-level crewed missions
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Starship S39 just Did Something never Done Before, But Flight 12 NOT Until...REPLAY#73
SpaceX has completed cryogenic testing on Ship 39 — the first Version 3 Starship — marking a key validation milestone after last year’s setbacks and moving closer to Flight 12.
As SpaceX advances through hardware verification, Firefly Aerospace is still working toward its return-to-flight mission, with its next launch pending.
Meanwhile, China is preparing for a crewed space mission that could last up to a year, underscoring the accelerating pace of global space operations.
Three programs. Three trajectories.
Let’s break it down on today’s episode of Great SpaceX.
Starship S39 just Did Something never Done Before, But Flight 12 NOT Until...REPLAY#73
In late February, Ship 39 was finally rolled out to the Massey Test Site after weeks of anticipation. The goal was clear: cryogenic testing.
Caution surrounded the move. The last time a Ship was tested at Massey, the outcome was catastrophic. This time, every step appeared deliberate.
As soon as S39 arrived, teams secured it to the newly constructed steel support structure at the test stand. Notably, the platform now includes simulated catch hardware — components positioned where the launch tower’s chopsticks would eventually interface with the vehicle. These fixtures allow engineers to replicate real load conditions and mechanical connections during testing.
Once stabilized, the first round of operations began on February 27. Activity at the tank farm indicated propellant loading for structural pressure verification. The vehicle appeared to pass this initial phase without incident, clearing the way for deeper cryogenic operations.
Starship S39 just Did Something never Done Before, But Flight 12 NOT Until...REPLAY#73
By the evening of February 28, strong venting suggested the first full cryogenic loading attempt. Frost formation was partially visible, though camera angles obscured the leeward side where ice buildup would be most prominent. After the test, detanking and depressurization proceeded quickly and cleanly.
Then came March 2.
Road closures ahead of the operation signaled a large-scale test. And this time, it was unmistakable — a full cryogenic loading.
To understand why that matters, consider the difference between partial and full tank tests.
Earlier prototypes — including initial Booster and Ship vehicles — underwent full cryogenic loading at the launch site. Both methane and liquid oxygen tanks were filled simultaneously, coating the stainless-steel body in thick frost. That condition most closely replicates flight.