Weekly Space Report: Broken Arm in Orbit!

Highlights:

  • Ship 41 (flight after next) test campaign starts at Massey’s. Flap testing, cryo proof testing. Returns to megabay.

  • Ship 40 returns to Massey’s for continued hot fires. Full 60-sec on all six engines. New startup sequence.

  • Ship 41 returns to Massey’s.

  • Ship 42 spotted nearing completion.

  • Booster 21 stack complete. Booster 22 stacking started.

  • Lay-down equipment and cradles for barge transport of ships/boosters shaping up.

  • Pad 2 testing. Different deluge test behavior, presumably for booster catch.

  • Pad 2 trenched plumbing changes, speculated purpose.

  • Pad 1 tower rebuild progress report. Parallel tasks scattered.

  • SpaceX Florida Gigabay nearing fully clad.

  • Parts for SLC-37 rolling out. 2nd Tower 4th section stacked.

  • SLC-37 Tower 1 testing spotted.

  • Falcon 9: Starlink 17-40, Sirius SXM-11, Starlink 17-46

  • ULA Atlas V for Amazon Leo LA-08. All remaining Atlas V allocated to Starliner.

  • Blue Origin announces complete redesign of SLC-36A to speed rebuild. Similar to future SLC-36B.

  • SLC-36A demolition progress, massive crane assembled.

  • NASA Moon Base announcement discussion. Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, Firefly, and Promise rover notable mentions.

  • Promise capabilities discussion (radioisotope thermal generator–lunar night).

  • ISS Canadarm breakage and repair spacewalk.

  • Katalyst Link mission to save the Swift Observatory.

  • Rocket Lab acquires Iridium.

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