Thread: SpaceX - On to Mars

This video is 18 minutes, maybe a bit much for most to watch.

SpaceX is repairing damage after the first launch and installs new systems to avoid similar damage on next launches.

The ground under the launch mount was just some heat resistant type of concrete. They hoped that would survive at least the first launch. It did not, the rocket exhaust dug out a deep hole, concrete flying all around. They drilled many piles into the ground, put rebar in and filled them with concrete. Then they installed a lot of rebar with very massive steel and poured a concrete pad. Over 300 concrete trucks were counted for pouring that new pad. Of course, this would still not stand up to a launch by itself. They installed a double steel plate, that has many holes on its upper plate. That's called the showerhead, except it throws the water up, towards the rocket, not down. Fan calculation shows, that the water pressure needs to be in the range of 20 bar to counter the rocket exhaust.

An 18 minute video on installing the showerhead. It shows how massive the new system is. This installation was planned and prepared before the first launch. But SpaceX did not want to complete it. They wanted and needed the data from that first launch, data they now have.

A few terms used in the video

Dancefloor. That's a work platform they can drive under the launch mount to work on the launch mount, deinstall, check, install booster engines with booster on the launch mount. See 12:38 into the video.

Ship QD arm. The quick connedt and disconnect arm that is used to fuel and, if needed, detank Starship on top of the Booster. On other rockets these systems are manually connected and can not be reconnected, once disconnected for launch. Starship QD is designed to automatically connect, deconnect, and if needed reconnect, so tanking and detanking can be done whenever needed, without crew on the pad to do this work with the risk of the rocket blowing up. See 8:06 into the video.

The rocket garden. A place where they store uncompleted Boosters and Starships. Some will never fly, get dismantled. Some may be completed and made ready for launch. 17:58 into the video.

SPMT, the multi wheel transport systems they use to transport heavy equipment, inluding Boosters and Starships, around. Each wheel assembly can be steered separately, making them very flexible in turning.