Podcast Summary: This Week in Space 163: The Trials of Starship

Release Date: May 30, 2025
Hosts: Rod Pyle (Editor-in-Chief, Ad Astra Magazine), Tarek Malik (Editor-in-Chief, Space.com)
Guest: Mike Wall (Space.com Reporter)

1. Introduction and Guest Welcome

The episode, titled "The Trials of Starship," delves into recent developments in space exploration, focusing primarily on SpaceX's Starship program. Hosts Rod Pyle and Tarek Malik welcome Mike Wall, a seasoned space reporter from Space.com, to discuss the current challenges and progress of SpaceX's ambitious endeavors.

2. Discovery of a New Dwarf Planet

Timestamp: [03:31]

Rod Pyle introduces a significant discovery reported by Keith Cooper, a UK-based space reporter who is also releasing a new book on science fiction. Scientists from the Advanced Study Institute in Princeton have identified a new dwarf planet located in the distant reaches of our solar system, approximately 44.5 times the Earth's distance from the Sun—placing it within the Oort Cloud. This object, designated 2017 OF$_{201}$ (referred to as "Bob"), is notable for its substantial size and nearly spherical shape, raising questions about its classification as a dwarf planet.

Mike Wall's Insight:

Mike Wall expresses excitement about the discovery, highlighting the ongoing search for Planet Nine. Although this newly discovered dwarf planet doesn't fit the criteria to be Planet Nine due to insufficient mass to account for observed gravitational perturbations, its discovery aids astronomers in narrowing down the possible locations of the elusive ninth planet.

Notable Quote:

"The existence of this kind of all by its lonesome seems like it's not in line with the model of what Planet Nine would dictate that there would be these solo super extreme objects all on their lonesome because the perturbations of that planet would have those things get a little bit clustered."
— Rod Pyle [05:08]

3. NASA's Psyche Mission Update

Timestamp: [07:41]

The hosts discuss NASA's Psyche mission, which aims to explore a metallic asteroid believed to be the core of an ancient protoplanet. Recently, NASA confirmed a switch to a backup propellant line to restart Psyche's Hall-effect thruster after issues with low xenon fuel pressure. Despite the setback, the mission is on track to reach Psyche in 2029.

Mike Wall's Commentary:

Wall emphasizes the mission's significance, noting that Psyche offers a unique opportunity to study the building blocks of planet formation up close. He underscores the resourcefulness of NASA engineers in addressing technical glitches, though he remains cautiously optimistic about the mission's ultimate success.

Notable Quote:

"This is a really crazy object that they're trying to see. It's a metallic asteroid that we haven't explored anything like it up close."
— Mike Wall [06:04]

4. Advances in Chinese Rocket Technology

Timestamp: [11:04]

The conversation shifts to international developments, focusing on China's strides in reusable rocket technology. Tarek Malik highlights the achievements of Chinese private companies, particularly Space Epoch, which has reportedly succeeded in a controlled vertical descent of a booster stage—a feat reminiscent of SpaceX's reusable rockets.

Rod Pyle's Observation:

Pyle describes Space Epoch's "Hiker 1" rocket, a reusable vehicle capable of carrying 10,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. He notes that Space Epoch's design shares similarities with SpaceX's Starship, including stainless steel construction and vertical landing capabilities.

Mike Wall's Analysis:

Wall points out the competitive edge China holds in space exploration, mentioning their recent interplanetary missions and plans for a Mars sample return by 2028. He acknowledges the challenges faced by Space Epoch but recognizes their progress as a testament to China's growing capabilities in the space sector.

Notable Quote:

"China is very overtly challenging American dominance in space. And it's the whole ecosystem. It's not just military launches, but these private companies too that are sort of tied in with the military."
— Mike Wall [16:04]

5. Japan's Resilience Lander Moon Mission

Timestamp: [17:41]

The hosts discuss Japan's upcoming lunar mission featuring the Resilience Lander. Scheduled to attempt a moon landing on June 5th Eastern Time, this mission is Japan's second attempt, aptly named to reflect their determination despite previous setbacks.

Rod Pyle's Highlight:

Pyle showcases an image captured by the Resilience Lander depicting Earth rising over the Moon. He emphasizes the mission's significance as a testament to Japan's resilience and persistence in achieving lunar exploration goals.

Notable Quote:

"The company says that they are resilient and failure will not stop them. So you know, best of luck to Japan in this next private moon landing attempt and we'll see how that goes next week, next episode."
— Rod Pyle [18:03]

6. Solar Activity and Aurora Predictions

Timestamp: [19:02]

An alert is issued regarding heightened solar activity, with expectations of spectacular auroras visible across dark, clear skies. The Space Weather Department Prediction Group has forecasted a KP index of 6 over the weekend, with potential conditions reaching KP7, which are ideal for auroral displays even in mid-latitude regions.

Tarek Malik's Note:

Malik humorously notes that metropolitan living may hinder optimal viewing conditions but encourages listeners to seek out dark, clear areas to witness the auroras.

Notable Quote:

"You could see Aurora is all the way down to like the, the northern states, maybe like the mid, mid, mid latitude ones."
— Tarek Malik [20:15]

7. SpaceX's Starship Test Flight 9

Timestamp: [21:01]

The core segment of the episode revolves around SpaceX's Test Flight 9 of the Starship spacecraft. The flight is characterized as a partial success, with several milestones achieved despite encountering significant challenges.

Flight Details:

• First Stage (Super Heavy Booster): Successfully reused from Flight 7, albeit with four engines replaced. The booster executed a successful hot staging and was intended for a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico but ultimately sank.

• Upper Stage (Ship): Reached suborbital trajectory but failed to maintain integrity during reentry, leading to its disintegration over the Indian Ocean. The deployment of dummy Starlink satellites was unsuccessful due to payload bay door malfunctions.

Mike Wall's Breakdown:

Wall assesses the test flight as a mixed outcome. While the booster demonstrated SpaceX's reusable technology advancements, the upper stage's failure to sustain controlled descent underscores ongoing technical hurdles.

Notable Quotes:

"They couldn't fully open the kind of PEZ dispenser, payload bay door, so they abandoned that try."
— Mike Wall [24:04]

"They're trying to do experiments with it too. They brought it in at a different angle of attack so that there would be more drag on it to test out a new kind of landing strategy."
— Rod Pyle [08:35]

8. SpaceX's Future Plans and Challenges

Timestamp: [26:16]

The discussion transitions to SpaceX's ambitious plans for Starship, including the development of the Raptor 3 engines and the establishment of multiple launch sites in Texas and Florida to support a high-frequency launch cadence necessary for missions to Mars.

Mike Wall's Perspective:

Wall highlights SpaceX's "fly it, fix it" philosophy, emphasizing the company's ability to rapidly iterate on technology through frequent testing. He remains optimistic about SpaceX meeting its aggressive timelines but acknowledges regulatory hurdles that may impede launch schedules.

Rod Pyle's Concerns:

Pyle questions the feasibility of SpaceX's proposed launch frequency, drawing parallels to historical space race timelines and emphasizing the need for sustained testing and regulatory approvals.

Notable Quotes:

"Their whole model is fly it. If something goes wrong, then you fix it. That's how you learn is by flying and seeing mistakes in flight with these vehicles and they're churning out lots and lots of them."
— Mike Wall [33:08]

"How quickly does that series of tanker flights have to occur? And the second half of that question is, do you see from what you guys have seen of Starbase, the newest city in Texas, how far are we from having the logistics to do that kind of cadence?"
— Tarek Malik [34:33]

9. Starship's Role in NASA's Artemis Program

Timestamp: [47:44]

The conversation shifts to the potential role of SpaceX's Starship as a lunar lander for NASA's Artemis program. While Blue Origin's lander is also a contender, Mike Wall expresses confidence in Starship's capabilities due to its extensive testing and SpaceX's resource allocation.

Rod Pyle's Input:

Pyle underscores the competitive landscape, noting that Blue Origin is potentially poised to land their "Mark 1" uncrewed lander on the Moon by the end of the year, presenting a simpler alternative to Starship's more complex system.

Mike Wall's Assertion:

Wall reiterates his preference for Starship, citing its rapid development pace and SpaceX's track record of overcoming challenges through iterative testing.

Notable Quotes:

"If I had to choose, I would probably still go with Starship just because of the resources that SpaceX is able to deploy and the kind of monomaniacal focus that Elon has on this vehicle."
— Mike Wall [48:16]

"Blue Origin just has a lot more straightforward lander system. And it's a lot easier and simpler of a mission. Let's do that because it's there and it's ready."
— Rod Pyle [52:53]

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts and Mike Wall reflecting on the future of space exploration. They express optimism about upcoming missions and the continuous advancements in rocket technology, while also acknowledging the competitive and challenging nature of the space industry.

Notable Quote:

"It's just, we all want that sci-fi dream to come true. I think for the technical people or the like folks who are a little bit more skeptical. It can be frustrating to kind of listen to these presentations and just say. It just seems kind of blithely."
— Mike Wall [44:11]

Key Takeaways:

• Starship's Development: SpaceX's Starship continues to make progress with reusable technology, though challenges remain, particularly with the upper stage's controlled descent and payload deployment.

• International Competition: China and Japan are making significant strides in their space programs, introducing competitive technologies and missions that parallel those of Western counterparts.

• Upcoming Missions: NASA's Psyche mission and Japan's Resilience Lander represent pivotal steps in understanding our solar system and extending human presence beyond Earth.

• Future Challenges: Achieving ambitious goals like Mars colonization and lunar landings will require overcoming technical, regulatory, and logistical hurdles, necessitating sustained innovation and collaboration within the space community.

Notable Quotes Compilation:

1. Rod Pyle:
   "The existence of this kind of all by its lonesome seems like it's not in line with the model of what Planet Nine would dictate..." [05:08]

2. Mike Wall:
   "This is a really crazy object that they're trying to see. It's a metallic asteroid that we haven't explored anything like it up close." [06:04]

3. Tarek Malik:
   "You could see Aurora is all the way down to like the, the northern states, maybe like the mid, mid, mid latitude ones." [20:15]

4. Mike Wall:
   "Their whole model is fly it. If something goes wrong, then you fix it. That's how you learn is by flying and seeing mistakes in flight with these vehicles..." [33:08]

5. Mike Wall:
   "If I had to choose, I would probably still go with Starship just because of the resources that SpaceX is able to deploy and the kind of monomaniacal focus that Elon has on this vehicle." [48:16]

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of current events and developments in the space sector, providing listeners with in-depth analysis and expert opinions on the trials and triumphs of modern space exploration.