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SpaceX’s record-breaking Falcon 9 booster returns to port
SpaceX’s latest record-breaking Falcon 9 booster has returned to port after completing its 13th launch and landing.
Falcon 9 B1060 lifted off for the first time in June 2020 with the US military’s third next-generation GPS III satellite safely cocooned inside a payload fairing. Unlike B1054, which the US Air Force required SpaceX to expend after their first GPS III satellite launch, the military allowed the company to attempt to recover booster B1060. That first successful recovery would unknowingly pave the way for a future of firsts and for an exceptionally productive career.
After GPS III SV03, B1060 occasionally supported commercial launches like Turkey’s Turksat 5A geostationary communications satellite and one of SpaceX’s own Transporter rideshare missions, but the booster has primarily been assigned to Starlink launches. In early 2021, the booster smashed SpaceX’s internal turnaround record and spent just 27 days on the ground between its fourth and fifth launches – halving the 54-day record set by NASA’s Space Shuttle, the only other orbital-class rocket that has ever been repeatedly reused.
B1060 has singlehandedly supported the launch of 550 Starlink satellites weighing more than 150 metric tons (>330,000 lb). Altogether, it’s helped launch more than 640 satellites with a collective weight around 165 tons. After its June 17th launch of Starlink 4-19, it’s also supported more orbital-class launches and landings – 13 – than any other Falcon booster, although Falcon 9 B1051 and B1058 are close behind with 12 launches apiece.
According to senior SpaceX engineers and executives that recently provided exclusive interviews to Aviation Week, the company no longer believes it will need to fly Falcon 9 boosters more than 15 times each, with the implication being that Starship – a next-generation, fully-reusable rocket – will soon begin to take over. Once a Falcon 9 booster (now likely to be B1060) completes its 15th launch, SpaceX intends to take it out of service and perform extensive inspections. If the data gathered is encouraging, it will certify all current and future Falcon boosters for 15 launches each.
It’s unclear if that 15-flight target is a firm cap or if exceptionally productive boosters like B1060, B1051, and B1058 will be allowed to continue pushing the envelope of reuse on future Starlink missions. At their current rate of launch, there’s a good chance that all three could complete 15 launches before the end of 2022. Slightly older and more tempermental, booster B1049 will reportedly be expended after its eleventh launch sometime later this year. If SpaceX’s plan is to full remove boosters from service after Flight 15, the company’s fleet of regularly flying boosters could plummet from 12 to 8 around around the end of 2022 or early 2023.
Following B1060’s June 21st port return, Falcon 9 booster B1061 sailed into port on SpaceX’s other East Coast drone ship on June 22nd after SpaceX launched Starlink 4-19 and Globalstar FM15 (B1061’s latest mission) 36 hours apart the weekend prior. That kind of rapid-fire cadence will likely become a regular occurrence in the second half of 2022 if SpaceX continues to launch an average of once per week, and the company is showing no signs of slowing.
Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
