SpaceX reusable launch system development program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:49, 28 March 2024

Revision as of 06:59, 31 March 2024

Line 318:

{{Main|SpaceX Starship design history}}

The goal of the Starship launch system is to be a fully reusable orbital launch and reentry vehicle.<ref name=":242">{{Cite journal|last1=Inman|first1=Jennifer Ann|last2=Horvath|first2=Thomas J.|last3=Scott|first3=Carey Fulton|date=24 August 2021|title=SCIFLI Starship Reentry Observation (SSRO) ACO (SpaceX Starship)|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210020835|url-status=live|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011134426/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210020835|archive-date=11 October 2021|access-date=12 October 2021|website=[[NASA]]}}</ref> The Starship launch system consists of two stages: a Super Heavy booster and a Starship spacecraft;<ref name="20190928techcrunch-elon">{{cite news|last=Etherington|first=Darrell|date=29 September 2019|title=Elon Musk says Starship should reach orbit within six months – and could even fly with a crew next year|publisher=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/28/elon-musk-says-starship-should-reach-orbit-within-six-months-and-it-could-even-fly-with-a-crew-next-year/|url-status=live|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924073050/https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/28/elon-musk-says-starship-should-reach-orbit-within-six-months-and-it-could-even-fly-with-a-crew-next-year/|archive-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> both have a body made from [[SAE 304 stainless steel|SAE 304L stainless steel]]<ref name=":72">{{Cite news|last=Howell|first=Elizabeth|date=21 August 2021|title=Every SpaceX Starship explosion and what Elon Musk and team learned from them (video)|language=en|website=[[Space.com]]|url=https://www.space.com/every-spacex-starship-explosion-lessons-learned|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903073445/https://www.space.com/every-spacex-starship-explosion-lessons-learned|archive-date=3 September 2021}}</ref> and are designed to hold [[liquid oxygen]] and [[liquid methane]]. Super Heavy and then Starship will boost the payload up to orbital speed, after which both of them will land and can be used again. Starship can send more than {{cvt|100150|metric ton|lb}} to [[low Earth orbit]];<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2020|title=STARSHIP USERS GUIDE|url=https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> higher Earth and other orbits are accessible after being refueled by tanker Starships. Future planned Starship variants will be able to land on the [[Moon]] and [[Mars]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Chaben|first=Jack B.|year=2020|title=Extending Humanity's Reach: A Public-Private Framework for Space Exploration|journal=Journal of Strategic Security|publisher=University of South Florida Board of Trustees|volume=13|issue=3|page=90|doi=10.5038/1944-0472.13.3.1811|jstor=26936546|doi-access=free}}</ref> Starship's design has influenced other launch vehicles, such as the [[Terran R]]'s fullpartial reusability capability.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Berger|first=Eric|date=2021-06-08|title=Relativity has a bold plan to take on SpaceX, and investors are buying it|language=en-us|website=Ars Technica|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/relativity-has-a-bold-plan-to-take-on-spacex-and-investors-are-buying-it/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608175325/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/06/relativity-has-a-bold-plan-to-take-on-spacex-and-investors-are-buying-it/|archive-date=8 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Design history ===