This is a weekly update on spaceflight, focusing heavily on SpaceX's Starship program. At Starbase, the demolition of the first launch pad is progressing in parallel with the outfitting of the second. Significant, though not fully understood, upgrades to the launch tower hydraulic systems are underway. The disassembly of Booster 18 has provided new insights into its internal design, while the production of Booster 19 continues at a high pace.
The most significant development is the regulatory approval for 76 Starship launches per year from Cape Canaveral, which, combined with the Texas site, allows for a theoretical flight rate of nearly three launches per week. This approval includes plans for on-site propellant generation. The video also covers the successful orbital debut of the Chinese Zhuque-3 rocket by Landspace; its booster recovery attempt failed just before touchdown, but the attempt itself is a major milestone. Finally, the International Space Station reached maximum vehicle capacity for the first time in its 25-year history of continuous human occupation.
This Week in Spaceflight: Starship Progress and a New Competitor
0:35 Starbase Pad 1 Demolition: The original Starship launch mount is being systematically dismantled. Crews have removed the support legs and are preparing to remove the concrete foundation and steel deluge plate.
1:38 Mysterious Tower Upgrades: The hydraulic accumulator banks and main actuators for the launch tower arms on both Pad 1 and Pad 2 have been removed. This suggests a significant, system-wide upgrade is in progress, but the final configuration is not yet clear. The original catch rails are being scrapped, not modified for reuse.
3:00 Pad 2 Nears Completion: The second launch pad is progressing quickly. The ship quick disconnect (SQD) arm is now fully anchored to the tower, with work beginning on connecting the propellant and data lines.
6:19 Insights from a Scrapped Booster: The ongoing scrapping of Booster 18 is providing an unprecedented look at its internal plumbing, including the new side-mounted liquid oxygen landing tank and its support structures. The booster's forward and aft dome sections were salvaged and moved back to the build site.
7:43 A More Flexible Workflow: SpaceX is building a second static fire stand and has prepared footings for one at the launch site. As far as I can tell, this points to a new operational flow designed for higher throughput: static fire at one location, integrate payload at another, and stage the vehicle at the launch pad before stacking.
8:59 Major Launch Approval for Florida: The US Space Force has approved SpaceX for 76 Starship launches per year from Space Launch Complex 37 in Florida. Combined with the 25 launches allocated for Texas, this brings the total potential flight rate to 145 per year.
12:14 On-Site Propellant Generation: The Florida site plans include a methane liquifier and an air separation unit. This strongly indicates that SpaceX aims to generate its own propellants on-site to support a rapid launch cadence.
16:01 China's Reusable Rocket Progress: The Chinese company Landspace achieved orbit on the first flight of its Zhuque-3 methalox rocket. The mission also included the first attempt to land the orbital-class booster. While the booster reached the landing pad, it exploded during the final landing burn. This is still a significant achievement, making Landspace the first company after SpaceX to get this close to recovering an orbital booster.
18:36 ISS at Maximum Capacity: For the first time in its history, all eight of the International Space Station's docking and berthing ports are occupied by various spacecraft.
20:42 ISS Celebrates 25 Years: The ISS marked 25 years of continuous human presence, a milestone that began with the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew in November 2000.