construction - The Latremie Post

SpaceX’s Gigabay Begins to Take Form – Spaceflight Weekly #193 [12:09]

**This Week at Starbase: Rapid Construction, Demolition, and Major Spaceflight Updates**

This week at Starbase, while various construction projects continue at the usual rapid pace, crews have begun scrapping Booster 17, test article B18.1 underwent another round of cryo testing, and the Pad 1 launch mount practically disappeared right before our eyes. SpaceX is known for their fast production, but just how quick is the demolition work at Pad 1? Let’s dive into this week’s update and find out.

—

### Starbase Construction & Testing Updates

**Starship Progress**
Starting off, Starship 39.1, a test tank for Block 3 engineering validation, was brought out of Mega Bay 2 and returned to the Star Factory. Mega Bay 2’s door was opened again the next day, revealing Starship 39 on the middlework stand, still waiting on its aft dome while the rest sits on wood blocks.

A newly made nose cone lifting jig was brought into Star Factory to accelerate ship production. Inside, Starship 40’s nose cone was stacked onto its payload bay section, bringing the second Block 3 ship another step closer to completion.

**Booster 17 Scrapping**
The protective weather cap was removed from Booster 17 in the rocket garden for a planned move to Mega Bay 1, but workers realized there wasn’t space inside. After some shifting back and forth, the booster was eventually set down near the garden for further disassembly. Crews began dismantling the chine covers, exposing the booster subsystems and fire suppression COPVS underneath.

**Launch Mount Demolition**
At Pad 1, after wrapping up removal of the outer armor from the orbital launch mount, demolition crews turned to the inner part of the top half of the original ring. Each section was cut apart with plasma lances and hoisted out by crane until the launch table was bisected and the internals removed. Workers then began cutting through lower ring supports and the remaining structures bridging the launch mount legs. Some cut segments were lifted out, while others were dropped onto dirt padding below.

The cable chain used to anchor and carry the chopstick’s electrical systems was also removed from Tower 1 as crews continue removing legacy systems from the pad.

—

### Pad 2 Construction Continues

Despite the demolition at Pad 1, construction at Pad 2 progressed. Both pad’s booster quick disconnect covers arrived. Before installation, the new clamp arm test structure was lifted, rotated, and lowered into position for testing. The liquid oxygen cover was the first to be installed, completing the armored housing that protects the booster’s LOX ground systems during launch. About 24 hours later, the cover for the methane quick disconnect was also installed.

—

### Mega Bay & Gigabay Updates

Inside Mega Bay 2, composite deck sheets for a new access platform were lifted into place. At the Gigabay, multiple steel beams were raised and slotted sequentially into place while ironworkers bolted each together. On Friday, old engine access platforms were removed from Mega Bay 2 workstations and replaced with new platforms.

—

### Testing Highlights

Back at the launch site, qualification work on Pad 2’s various systems was conducted. The methane side of the ground support equipment bunker was purged, clearing out debris. The pad’s deluge system was also tested with water sprayed into the air and flame trench.

A Starship cryogenic test stand, loaded with hydraulic rams to simulate engine flight loads, arrived at the build site after leaving Massiey’s outpost. On Friday, the stabilizer arms on the Pad 2 chopsticks underwent actuation testing as the clamp arm tester, dubbed “ibroofen,” was rotated to another set of clamp arms.

At Massie Outpost, the Booster 18.3 test tank underwent another round of testing as the Block 3 booster verification process continues.

—

### Issues at the Construction Site

The westernmost tower crane at the construction site had trouble, spinning around for several hours—a situation that repeated later. While cranes are designed to weather vane in the wind, they’re not meant to keep spinning like that. The cause is unclear; feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

—

### Falcon 9 Operations

This week in Cape Canaveral saw the launch of the Starlink Group 10-51 mission on Falcon 9 booster 1069 from launch complex 39A, delivering another batch of SpaceX’s telecommunication satellites before landing downrange on “A Shortfall of Gravitas.” The booster and barge were successfully brought back to port, unloaded, and sent to Robert’s Road for refurbishment.

Starlink Group 6-87 was the second Falcon 9 launch, with preparations starting two days in advance. “Just Read the Instructions,” joined by “Bob,” headed out to sea to catch the booster and fairings. Falcon 9 booster 1096 lifted off from Slick 40 for its third flight, carrying 29 satellites before landing and returning to the coast. Both booster and fairing halves were recovered after the flight.

SpaceX ended the week with a double header from Florida: first, the Starlink Group 6-89 mission lifted off from historic LC39A on booster 1092, carrying another 29 satellites; then, about 3.5 hours later, booster 1078 blasted off from Slick 40, also carrying 29 satellites.

—

### Other Space News

Blue Origin prepared its second New Glenn launch vehicle for its first daytime launch, but range issues including a yacht, a cruise ship, and solar storms delayed liftoff. After 4 days, New Glenn launched from complex 36 with the NASA Escapade mission. Following successful ascent and stage separation, the “Never Tell Me the Odds” booster performed a soft landing on the ship “Jacqueline”—the first for New Glenn. The Escapade spacecraft, a pair of Rocket Lab-built satellites, successfully separated and will investigate Mars’ magnetosphere after loitering near Earth’s L2 point until their Mars transfer window opens in November 2026.

—

### Artemis Program Update

NASA continues acceptance testing of engines for the fifth Space Launch System launch, firing the second of four RS25 engines at Stennis Space Center. Airbus shipped the fourth European service module, which will propel Orion on Artemis 4. NASA released new photos of the fully stacked Artemis 2 launch vehicle in the Vehicle Assembly Building, scheduled for early 2026—marking the first crew mission to lunar orbit since the 1970s.

—

### Rocket Lab & Relativity Space News

Rocket Lab published its Q3 2025 earnings report, highlighting growing revenue, a backlog of Electron rockets, and work to bring the partially reusable two-stage Neutron rocket to Wallops launch site by early 2026.

Relativity Space released their October highlights for the Terran R program, including progress on design reviews, component installations, expansion of machine shop for 3D printed parts, friction stir welded structures, and acceptance testing of their stage 1 flight engine. Work continues on their A2 test stand at Stennis. At Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 16, work continues on their horizontal integration facility, fuel farm infrastructure, and water tower. Relativity will launch satellites for SCES aboard Terran R rockets once they enter service.

—

### Additional Industry Updates

Vast Space announced a partnership with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies to explore human spaceflight aboard their upcoming Haven 1 space station.

Firefly updated on the Alpha Flight 7 first stage, tracing a September ground test event to engine chamber contamination with stray hydrocarbons. Corrective actions have been implemented, and another Alpha vehicle is ready for the next mission.

The Canadian Space Agency awarded Nordspace a $1 million Canadian Space Technology Development grant to develop additive manufacturing for liquid-fueled rocket engines.

Lockheed Martin shared images from a burst test of a full-scale coreless inflatable space station module, reaching a safety factor of 14.7 at 224 PSI before failure.

Sierra Space advanced pre-flight testing of their Dream Chaser spacecraft, verifying landing gear performance and completing electromagnetic compatibility testing.

Amazon announced Project Kuiper, their LEO satellite network, is now renamed Amazon LEO.

—

### Closing Starship Construction Note

Construction at launch complex 39A’s Starship site continues, with the lower section of the liquid oxygen booster quick disconnect box being lifted into place on the launch map.

—

**As always, it was another exciting week in the world of spaceflight. We at Lab Padre were here to cover it! If you don’t want to miss another update, make sure to click those fancy buttons below to subscribe and stay informed.**

*Thank you to all our supporters! Until next time, this is Kaden from Lab Padre.*
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4352953/posts

Google Announces $40 Billion For Texas AI Data Centers

**Google Commits $40 Billion to Build Three Data Centers in Texas Amid AI Infrastructure Boom**

Google is committing $40 billion toward the construction of three data centers in Texas, according to multiple outlets. This move comes as a surge of competing companies in the artificial intelligence sector build their own AI infrastructure in the Lone Star State.

—

**Why Texas Is Becoming an AI Data Center Hub**

Texas has become an attractive destination for data centers due to its abundant land availability and cheaper electricity costs for industrial use. These advantages make the state an ideal location for tech giants looking to expand their AI capabilities.

—

**Other Major AI Investments in Texas Data Centers**

– **OpenAI:** Recently establishing a for-profit arm valued at $500 billion, OpenAI is constructing a flagship AI data center in Abilene, Texas. This center is expected to open in 2026 and is part of a broader plan that includes launching additional infrastructure in Ohio and New Mexico.

– **Anthropic:** This week, Anthropic announced a $50 billion investment to build data centers across several states, including Texas and New York.

—

Stay informed on the biggest stories shaping today’s headlines by signing up for Forbes Text Alerts. Simply text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up online to never miss an update.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/google-announces-40-billion-for-texas-ai-data-centers/

The ‘Church on the Hill’ still stands in Brunswick today

Though many men have come and gone, and many buildings have been built and destroyed, one Brunswick landmark has remained a town centerpiece for 180 years. Its impressive history includes some of the most legendary names in American history.

“The First Meeting House of the First Parish Church” was originally built in 1735 and was situated about one mile south of the college, in front of the graveyard. This meeting house served the community as a place of worship and as a center of government for over 70 years.

In 1756, an additional meeting house was erected at the upper part of the New Meadows to serve the mixed community of East Brunswick. Referred to by some as the second meeting house of the First Parish, this structure was abandoned by 1834 and “carried off piece meal.”

By 1806, property was purchased from Robert Dunning and William Stanwood, and a new meeting house was built on the site of the present edifice on the hill by the college. Built by Samuel Melcher, the structure was over two stories tall, with many windows and a tall belfry tower. It was the first heated church in town, and the first bell ever rung in Brunswick was placed on this meeting house.

By February 1845, the decision was made to build a new meeting house for the First Parish Church on Maine Street. After nearly 40 years of service, the 1806 structure was torn down and the current meeting house was built in its place.

On July 10, 1845, while the new St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was being dedicated on Pleasant Street, construction began on this newest First Parish Meeting House. This impressive Gothic Revival–styled structure was designed by Richard Upjohn, a famous British-born architect from New York. Upjohn’s similarly styled design was also employed in the building of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and he designed the King’s Chapel at Bowdoin College, which was completed 10 years later.

The present First Parish meeting house was completed and dedicated on March 18, 1846, at a cost of $13,101.68. The 80-foot tower included a tall spire designed by Bowdoin College mathematics professor William Smyth. This made the church the tallest structure in town and eventually one of the most historically significant locations in Brunswick.

By the winter of 1850-51, during a sermon by the Rev. George Adams, author Harriet Beecher Stowe received an epiphany of a young slave being cruelly handled by an evil slave master. This divine inspiration led Stowe to write her first anti-slavery novel, *Uncle Tom’s Cabin*, which is often credited with igniting the passions that led to the American Civil War.

By 1855, a new bell was cast and installed in the tower, where it remains in use to this day. The bell underwent repairs, including work on its striker and carriage, in 1977.

As the First Parish Church could hold the largest number of people in Brunswick, numerous Bowdoin College commencements were held there, and many notable figures have delivered speeches within this great meeting house. Among them were Civil War General Ulysses Grant, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson, former President William Howard Taft, suffragist Jane Addams, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and legendary Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On October 30, 1866, during a terrible gale, the tall spire atop the tower of the First Parish Church was blown off and crashed to the ground below. Though repairs were likely made to the tower itself, the spire was never replaced.

The church was prominent in the life of Joshua Chamberlain. On December 10, 1882, to honor his late father-in-law who had led the First Parish congregation for 40 years, Chamberlain paid for the beautiful stained glass window that still adorns the east wall behind the pulpit. In 1914, Chamberlain’s funeral service was held in the church where he had worshipped since his days as a Bowdoin College student and where he married Frances Caroline Adams, the minister’s daughter.

By 1969, this historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, history was made again when the Reverend Mary Baard became the first woman to lead the church as pastor.

For nearly 200 years, this third meeting house has stood as the home of Brunswick’s longest continually serving spiritual community. It has been the center of many historic events that have shaped the legend and lore of Brunswick. These stories are now forever inscribed in the many chapters of our *Stories from Maine*.

Historian Lori-Suzanne Dell has authored five books on Maine history and administers the popular *Stories From Maine* page on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/11/12/the-church-on-the-hill-still-stands-in-brunswick-today/

Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft & Meta are all donors to Trump’s White House ballroom project

Renovations have recently begun on the White House in Washington, D.C., as the building’s East Wing was demolished to make way for the construction of a new ballroom. This highly anticipated project marks a significant update to the historic residence.

The new ballroom is being funded through a combination of private donations, including contributions from former President Donald Trump and a group of prominent corporate donors. Notably, some of the biggest names in the technology industry are among the financial backers supporting this initiative.

The White House recently disclosed the full list of companies and individuals financially donating to the ballroom project, as reported by CNBC. The list features a diverse range of influential corporations and foundations, reflecting broad support from various sectors.

Among the corporate donors are:

– Apple
– Google
– Amazon
– Microsoft
– Meta Platforms
– Altria Group Inc.
– Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
– Caterpillar Inc.
– Coinbase
– Comcast Corporation
– Hard Rock International
– HP Inc.
– Lockheed Martin
– Micron Technology
– NextEra Energy Inc.
– Palantir Technologies Inc.
– Ripple
– Reynolds American
– T-Mobile
– Tether America
– Union Pacific Railroad

In addition, several prominent individuals and foundations have also contributed, including:

– Adelson Family Foundation
– Stefan E. Brodie
– Betty Wold Johnson Foundation
– Charles and Marissa Cascarilla
– Edward and Shari Glazer
– Harold Hamm
– Benjamin Leon Jr.
– The Lutnick Family
– The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation
– Stephen A. Schwarzmann
– Konstantin Sokolov
– Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher
– Paolo Tiramani
– Cameron Winklevoss
– Tyler Winklevoss

This collaboration of corporate and private contributions underscores the significant interest and investment in the White House renovation project, particularly the new ballroom that promises to enhance the historic site’s functionality and appeal.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146504/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-meta-trump-donation

Stratham Memorial School breaks ground on $11.9 million renovation project

With students and staff wearing hard hats, school officials recently broke ground on a new $11.9 million project to renovate Stratham Memorial School.

The renovation aims to bring the school up to current building codes and modern educational standards, ensuring a safe and effective learning environment for all students and staff.

This significant investment reflects the community’s commitment to providing quality education and improved facilities for years to come.
https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/stratham-memorial-school-breaks-ground-on-11-9-million-renovation-project/article_ed7f5f47-21b8-4776-addb-4db063f9ee75.html

GST rate cuts take effect tomorrow: What’s getting cheaper

**GST Rate Cuts Take Effect Tomorrow: What’s Getting Cheaper**

*By Akash Pandey | Sep 21, 2025, 03:39 PM*

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision to cut rates on nearly 375 items will come into effect from tomorrow, September 22. This move is set to make a wide range of products—including kitchen staples, electronics, medicines, and automobiles—more affordable for consumers across the country.

### Sectoral Impact: Price Cuts Expected Across Consumer Goods

The GST rate cut will benefit multiple sectors. Daily-use food items such as butter, namkeen, ketchup, jam, dry fruits, coffee, and ice cream are expected to become cheaper. Electronics like TVs, air conditioners, and washing machines will also see price reductions. Several FMCG companies have already begun revising their prices in anticipation of the lower tax burden on these products.

### Healthcare: Medicines to Become More Affordable

The healthcare sector stands to gain significantly. Most medicines, formulations, and medical devices—such as glucometers and diagnostic kits—will now attract a GST rate of 5%. This reduction is expected to ease medicine costs for households. Pharmacies have been directed to either revise maximum retail prices or sell medicines at rates reflecting the new lower tax.

### Construction, Automotive Sectors to Benefit

Builders and homebuyers will also benefit from the GST rate cut, with cement’s tax rate reduced from 28% to 18%. The automobile sector is among the biggest beneficiaries: buyers of small cars will now pay 18% GST, while bigger models will attract 28%, a notable reduction from previous rates. This move is expected to boost demand in the automotive market.

### Services: Tax Cuts for Everyday Services and Household Staples

The services sector will also see benefits. Salons, beauty parlors, yoga studios, gyms, and health clubs will now be taxed at 5% without input credit, down from the earlier 18% with credit. Household staples such as hair oil, soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are also expected to become more affordable due to the lowered tax rate.

### Simplified GST Structure: Moving to a Two-Rate System

Alongside the rate cuts, the GST Council has simplified the tax structure into a largely two-rate system — 5% and 18%. Ultra-luxury goods will continue to attract a higher tax of 40%, while tobacco and related products will remain in the 28% slab with an additional cess. This marks a shift from the current four-slab system of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%, simplifying compliance and rate management.

—

Overall, the GST rate cuts coming into effect tomorrow aim to lighten the tax burden on consumers and businesses alike, promoting affordability and stimulating demand across various sectors. Stay tuned for more updates on pricing changes as companies revise their rates in line with the new GST norms.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/new-gst-rates-on-375-items-come-into-effect-tomorrow/story