SpaceX Recovers S40; B-21 Static Fire Delayed

SpaceX has successfully completed the recovery of Starship S40 from the Indian Ocean. The vessel Forte played a pivotal role in this operation, lifting S40 from the water after it had spent over a month at sea. Forte, a semi-submersible heavy lift vessel, is designed for such complex marine operations.

The recovery operation for S40 took place on August 26th, local time, and involved a sophisticated process. The Forte vessel submerged its cargo deck approximately 13 meters below the water's surface to facilitate the retrieval. This submergence allowed the vehicle to be aligned precisely with retaining pins on the deck, which prevented it from rolling during the subsequent lifting process.

The Forte's innovative recovery method significantly simplifies the retrieval of large vehicles like Starship, eliminating the need for massive cranes to lift them directly from the ocean. Instead, Forte positioned itself underneath S40 and lifted it by gradually raising its submerged deck. S40 spent a total of 774 hours in the ocean, and during this prolonged exposure, it lost its forward flap.

The static fire attempt for B-21 has been scrubbed, introducing an additional complication to the already tight schedule for flight 14 preparations. B-21 was moved to the launch site on August 25th, with the static fire test initially slated for August 26th. However, the test was called off following unexpected hardware issues.

The primary indicator of the B-21 scrub's cause is the disconnected liquid oxygen BQD, suggesting a potential issue with the liquid oxygen plumbing BQD interface or related tank farm equipment. Following the scrub, the booster transport stand was returned to the launch site. SpaceX may consider removing B-21 from the Orbital Launch Mount (OOLM) for necessary repairs if the problem is significant.

China's Chang'e 7 lunar probe mission is facing an indefinite launch delay as it does not meet the necessary launch conditions. A tropical depression named Nanga threatened the Wenchang space launch site, directly impacting the mission. The launch window was initially pushed from August 23rd to 24th before being completely scrubbed, resulting in the rocket being returned to its facility.

The Chang'e 7 mission is designed to target the moon's south polar region, specifically near Shackleton Crater. Its primary objective is to identify water ice deposits, which are crucial for future life support and fuel conversion on the moon. The mission comprises multiple components, including an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a hopping robot to explore the lunar surface.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has officially announced the appointment of Mark Peller as its new president and chief executive officer. Peller, a seasoned ULA manager and executive, previously served as the chief operating officer before assuming his current role. His selection followed a comprehensive, months-long search that considered both internal and external candidates, and he succeeds interim CEO John Elban.

Mark Peller brings over 35 years of extensive experience in the aerospace industry, having worked at ULA and its predecessor companies. He began his career in 1990 at Rockwell International, steadily advancing through various key roles. His expertise spans significant programs, including the Delta launch vehicle initiatives and the development of the Vulcan rocket, demonstrating a deep understanding of ULA's operations.

Peller assumes leadership of ULA during a challenging period for the company. The Vulcan rocket is currently grounded following a performance anomaly detected in one of its solid rocket boosters. ULA is also under significant financial pressure, necessitating loan guarantees from major stakeholders like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Furthermore, concerns persist regarding the reliability of Blue Origin's BE-4 engine valves, adding another layer of operational complexity.