SpaceX Updates  (Thread 9)

Not directly related to SpaceX but it could have a effect on them:

Oh, my... (George Takei voice) 

Aviation Week...

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/space/kazakhstan-seizes-russian-assets-baikonur-spaceport

Quote

Kazakhstan Seizes Russian Assets At Baikonur Spaceport

Kazakhstan has taken control of Russian assets on Baikonur spaceport, local KZ24 media reported on March 7, citing the country’s court bailiff service. The property belongs to TsENKI Center for Operation of Space Ground-based Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Russia’s Roscosmos State Corp.

> (paywall)

 

SpaceX gets SLC-6

Wow....the Vandenberg SFB  Shuttle complex for Falcon 9 & Falcon Heavy. BIG win.

SpaceX is on a revenue tear. At their latest private stock event there their valuation was estimated at $150 billion.

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/spacex-forecasts-doubling-of-revenue-to-8-billion

RIP B1058 after 19 missions

From the recent SpaceX All Hands company meeting.

In 2023 SpaceX launched more satellites and tonnage, than the rest of the world combined (this includes other US launchers).

Falcon boosters have now flown up to 19 times. SpaceX is attempting to qualify them to fly up to 40 times.

It is now cheaper to insure  reused booster with 3 flights than a new booster.

They are also increasing the number of Dragon reuses, and building both a new Crew and Cargo Dragon. Growing the fleet.

SpaceX has demonstrated a 3-day pad turnaround between launches. By the end of this year they expected demonstrate a 24-hour turnaround. They can already roll a vehicle out from the hanger and launch it in 6h 33m.

SpaceX is planning on 144 to 150 missions for 2024. 

Starlink is currently launching their V2 -mini satellites on Falcon 9.

Recently StarlinK tested connecting Starlink satellites to unmodified LTE 4G devices on the ground. The first text message was sent last week, and they will soon start testing voice, data, and Internet of Things (IoT). 

This year they will start launching the much larger/powerful Starlink V3 using Starship. V3 will massively increase the speed of the network.