Block 5 and Version 5:

The speaker clarifies that the cores being used in the mission are neither Block 5 nor Version 5. This implies that they are not designed for reuse.

Upper Stage Performance:

The upper stage of the rocket has performed as expected. Two critical burns were executed correctly, signifying the mission is going according to plan so far.

Van Allen Belts Challenge:

The mission’s upper stage faces a unique test as it spends several hours in the Van Allen belts, which are layers of charged particles around Earth. Normally, spacecraft pass through these belts quickly to minimize exposure to radiation that could damage avionics.

Propellant Levels:

Propellant levels in the upper stage are in good condition, deviating only 0.3 sigma from predictions, which is a minor deviation. This suggests there is enough fuel for the trans-Mars injection phase.

Risks Ahead:

However, there are some risks to consider: fuel freezing, oxygen boiling off, and avionics getting damaged due to the extended time in the Van Allen belts.

Upcoming Milestone:

The speaker highlights that the success of the next burn, scheduled in a few hours, will be a significant milestone to determine the mission’s overall success.

The discussion primarily focuses on the upper stage’s performance, associated challenges, and the importance of upcoming events in the mission’s timeline.

Booster Conditions and Reusability:

Elon Musk inspected the side boosters post-landing and found them in good condition. Though these boosters are a mix of version 3 and 4, SpaceX plans to focus on re-flying only version 5 boosters for future missions.

Falcon Architecture Commitment:

Version 5 of the Falcon architecture will be SpaceX’s mainstay, and there are no current plans to develop a version 6. This suggests a focus on refining existing technologies rather than constant iteration of rocket versions.

Lessons from Falcon Heavy:

Falcon Heavy’s success taught Musk about the viability of ambitious projects. He admitted he had been skeptical, seeing “a thousand things that could not work.” The successful, synchronized landing of the boosters made him optimistic about the scalability of this approach.

Confidence in Next Architecture:

The Falcon Heavy mission’s success has provided Musk with confidence in SpaceX’s next architecture, code-named BFR (Big Falcon Rocket), for interplanetary travel. He believes that full and rapid reusability is attainable, which would have a profound effect on space travel’s future.

Cost-Efficiency of Falcon Heavy vs. Falcon 9:

Musk pointed out that Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9 have the same level of expendability: only the upper stage is not reused. Therefore, the cost difference between the two is minor, despite Falcon Heavy having three times the payload capability. This supports the company’s emphasis on cost-effective, reusable rocket technology.

Team and Future Outlook:

Musk expresses strong confidence in the SpaceX team’s ability to continue advancing technology for reusability, thereby impacting the future of space travel.

The discussion sheds light on SpaceX’s commitment to reusability, the technical and financial viability of their current and future rocket architectures, and Musk’s views on the importance of ambitious projects in advancing space technology.

Authenticity and Absurdity:

Elon Musk discussed the sheer absurdity and realness of launching a Tesla Roadster into space with a mannequin named Starman. He emphasized that the imagery looks “so fake” precisely because it’s real; there’s no CGI involved. The absence of atmospheric occlusion makes everything look too crisp in space. He enjoyed the absurdity of a normal car being in space, accentuated by a tiny Hot Wheels Roadster on the dashboard, emphasizing that “silly fun things are important.”

Falcon Heavy’s Capabilities:

Elon Musk elaborated on the groundbreaking capabilities of the Falcon Heavy rocket, which can launch twice as much payload as any other rocket. It can launch things directly to Pluto without any need for gravity assists and could potentially facilitate manned missions back to the moon. Despite these capabilities, Musk advised future endeavors to focus on the newer BFR architecture.

Impact on the Launch Industry:

Elon pointed out that the Falcon Heavy could serve various needs, from national security to interplanetary missions. He sees the rocket as encouraging other countries and companies to aim higher in their space ambitions. Falcon Heavy was financed through internal funds, proving that commercial companies can make a big impact in the space race.

Technical Challenges and Anxiety:

Elon confessed to knowing all the ways a launch can fail, describing a mental checklist of possible issues. Once a rocket lifts off, everything must go right; there are no opportunities for recalls or software fixes. Musk acknowledged the constant fear and relief associated with the entire process, comparing it to other significant moments in aerospace history.

National Security and Certification:

In terms of using Falcon Heavy for national security missions, Musk seemed confident that there would be no impediments to its acceptance. He highlighted that several Falcon Heavy missions are planned per year, assuring that there would be sufficient flight history to build confidence for such missions.

Design Challenges of Falcon Heavy:

Musk admitted that developing Falcon Heavy was a lot more challenging than initially anticipated, leading SpaceX to consider canceling the project multiple times. The design had to be significantly altered, including a complete redesign of the center core and control systems, to manage over a million pounds of load coming from the side boosters.

Falcon Heavy’s Significance:

Elon Musk highlighted the transformative potential of the Falcon Heavy, which can carry over twice the payload of any other existing rocket. He mentioned that it can launch missions directly to Pluto and beyond, without needing gravity assists, and could even contribute to a return to the moon. This capability could revolutionize what missions are possible.

The Role of Commercial Space Ventures:

Musk underlined the significance of Falcon Heavy being funded through internal means, without government funding. He felt this would inspire other countries and companies to invest in ambitious space projects, effectively encouraging a new ‘space race,’ which he sees as exciting and beneficial for humanity.

Technical Challenges:

Musk discussed the complexity and cost involved in the Falcon Heavy project. He admitted that SpaceX tried to cancel the program multiple times because the engineering challenges were far greater than initially anticipated. The total investment was stated to be over half a billion dollars. Key redesigns included the center core, grid fins, control systems, and thrust structures to handle higher loads.

Roadster in Space:

Musk touched on the visual impact and public interest generated by sending a Tesla Roadster into space instead of a concrete block. He considered it a significant public relations move that would capture global interest, as the car looked both “ridiculous and impossible,” thereby capturing people’s imaginations.

National Security Missions:

When asked about Falcon Heavy’s potential for national security missions, Musk was confident that the numerous commercial missions planned would help in certifying the rocket for such roles. He did not anticipate any significant roadblocks in this regard.

Simultaneous Landing of Boosters:

Musk clarified that the synchronized landing of the two side cores of Falcon Heavy was deliberate but primarily driven by physics. The boosters were programmed to land at points in absolute space, and slight offsets were introduced to prevent radar interference.

Emotional Reactions and Risks:

Musk shared his emotional experience during the launch, indicating how well aware he was of the numerous ways the mission could fail. For him, the successful launch was a major relief given the many variables and potential issues at stake.

Sense of Fun:

Musk also emphasized the role of “silly fun things” like putting a Hot Wheels Roadster in the car launched into space. He believes such moves contribute to the broader engagement and excitement about space exploration.

Unconventional Payload:

Elon Musk acknowledges the buzz generated by the unconventional payload, a Tesla car, that SpaceX launched into space. He says that both citizen scientists and newcomers to space tracking have shown interest in tracking the car’s journey. The payload aims not just for scientific value but also to engage a wider audience and create public interest.

No Specific Tracking Plans:

When asked about SpaceX’s plans to engage with the community interested in tracking the Tesla, Musk revealed that there is no concrete plan. The battery for any tracking or communication from the car is expected to last only about 12 hours post-launch, after which the car will essentially be drifting in deep space.

Speculations on Future Discoveries:

Musk humorously speculated that the car might be discovered by some future alien race, who may be confused by the payload. The presence of a smaller model car inside the Tesla might add to this confusion. He emphasizes that the aim is to create a “fun thing,” adding a lighter, more engaging aspect to the serious technical feat that SpaceX has achieved.

Uncertainties Remain:

Musk notes that the success of the next burn is crucial and that they will know the outcome in a few hours. This underscores the high level of uncertainty and risk involved in such groundbreaking projects, even after the initial success of the launch.

BFR Development and Mars/Moon Missions:

Elon Musk shared that the development of the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) will be the primary focus of SpaceX going forward. He indicated that “hopper tests,” which are short-range, high-altitude tests, could possibly start as early as next year. These tests would be the first steps towards more ambitious missions to Mars and the Moon.

Technical Complexities:

Musk discussed the engineering hurdles involved in the BFR project, particularly the ship part that will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere from interplanetary speeds. He mentioned that some elements of reentry heating scale to the eighth power, making it significantly harder than any other challenges they’ve faced. SpaceX aims to begin with the hardest parts first to ensure the entire system’s feasibility.

Transition from Falcon and Dragon:

With the development of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy reaching a level-off point, SpaceX plans to shift the majority of its engineering resources to BFR. While minor updates might still be made to Falcon and Dragon, Musk stated that there won’t be any more major versions of these vehicles.

Spacesuit Design:

Musk spoke about the spacesuit used in the Starman mission, indicating that the suit was a production design and not just a prototype. He emphasized the difficulty in designing a spacesuit that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, noting it took three years to finalize the design.

Fairing Recovery and Competition:

Fairing recovery, an aspect of reusability, was described as “surprisingly difficult,” but Musk is optimistic that SpaceX will succeed in this within six months. When asked about a space race with Blue Origin, Musk didn’t directly address the competition but did note the challenges in fairing recovery.

Future Payloads for BFR:

Musk admitted he is open to suggestions for future payloads on BFR, describing the spacecraft as a “beast” capable of carrying significant cargo. The focus, however, remained on solving the immediate technical challenges before considering the utility of future missions.

Fairing Recovery:

Elon Musk discusses the importance of fairing recovery for SpaceX missions. A fairing is a protective shell that covers the payload during a rocket launch. Musk mentions that they are working on a special boat designed to catch the fairing as it falls back to Earth. He describes this boat as a “giant catcher’s mitt” and anticipates that fairing recovery will be figured out in the next six months.

Potential for Dragon Recovery:

Musk suggests the boat could also be used to catch the Dragon spacecraft, another one of SpaceX’s ventures that focuses on carrying cargo and eventually humans to space. He indicates that the boat’s current design, while intended for the fairing, would be compatible with the Dragon spacecraft if NASA is interested.

Crew Dragon Prioritization:

Addressing questions about the Crew Dragon program, Musk says that the company has shifted its priorities to focus more on this initiative. Mission assurance remains the top priority, but after completing work on the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, the Crew Dragon project has moved up in importance. The goal is to send a crew to orbit by the end of the current year, and Musk believes the hardware will be ready by then.

Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9:

Musk also mentions that work on the Falcon Heavy rocket is nearly complete, with only minor tweaks remaining. He briefly looks back at the Falcon 9 rocket and describes it as “kind of small,” perhaps indicating a perspective shift as SpaceX advances its more ambitious projects.

Launch Pad Flexibility:

Elon Musk addresses questions about SpaceX’s Pad A, which is used for both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. Musk confirms that the pad can be quickly reconfigured between the two rocket types, stating it’s “no problem going back and forth” and that it is designed for such versatility.

Falcon Heavy Core Design:

Musk discusses the core components of the Falcon Heavy rocket. While the side boosters can be adapted from existing Falcon 9s, the center core must be specially built for Falcon Heavy use. The unique build requirements for the center core make it a dedicated piece for the Falcon Heavy setup.

Role of Titanium Grid Fins:

Musk talks about the upgraded titanium grid fins used in the rockets, describing them as “sweet” and stating they’ve “worked out real well.” He emphasizes the importance of recovering these fins, as they are both expensive and slow to produce. He expresses relief that the side boosters, equipped with these fins, were successfully recovered.

Spacesuit Functionality:

Responding to queries about spacesuit testing, Musk assures that the suits are functional and can operate in a vacuum chamber. Although no specific tests were mentioned, he is confident in the spacesuit’s capabilities.

These points collectively highlight SpaceX’s approach to both flexibility and specialization in their rocket designs and components.