In recent days we have written about the work in progress for the launch of NASA SLS for the Artemis I mission. There is, however, another important element for future missions to the Moon and in particular to land on the surface of our natural satellite: SpaceX Starship. The large spacecraft together with the booster (first stage) are a first test to have a completely reusable heavy carrier that would allow to carry out missions in low earth orbit but also in the Deep space.

Own Starship (in modified version) will be used for the moon landing of the astronauts of the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for 2025, although it could slip to 2026. The human being will then return to touch the lunar ground after the Apollo missions, but this time to stay there much longer and with important scientific and technological purposes (also in view of the even more ambitious attempt to reach Mars). Private companies, such as SpaceX from Elon Musk (but also Axiom Space, which will make the spacesuits), are now a fundamental piece for technological advancement in space. In particular Starshipif it is carried out as promised, it will be a real revolution in the sector (after the Falcon 9).

SpaceX: Starship’s Ship turns on all engines

In recent days, a test had taken place with more than one Raptor 2 (atmospheric) engine for the 7’s booster Super Heavyi.e. the first stage of the vector Starship. Shortly thereafter, the US company performed a new test which included the ignition of all six engines Ship 24, the upper stage of the heavy carrier (had already happened, but on Ship 20 which used first generation engines). This employs three atmospheric Raptor 2 engines and three Raptor 2 engines dedicated to space propulsion. A new important step forward, waiting for the orbital test.

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spacex starship

Unlike the booster 7 tests, this time the confirmation of the success of the static fire from Ship 24 it happened not only thanks to “spotter” which are located in Boca Chica and resume operations. Also SpaceX announced with a tweet that evidence have been successful. Not a small detail considering that it is in effect an official communication.


In particular, the test took place on 8 September (in the afternoon, local time). THE six Raptor 2 engines they were lit for only a few seconds and shook the upper stage so much that it lost some thermal protection tiles (even if the damage still seems very limited). Due to the ignition of the engines some brushwood in the vicinity of the test area caught fire which required the arrival of the fire brigade (the situation was still under control).

spacex starship

SpaceX provides that Ship will have a ‘height from 50 meters while Super Heavy will touch i 70 meters thus reaching an overall height of about 120 meters. Once finished it will be the most powerful space rocket ever built with a carrying capacity that could remain unmatched for a long time.

To understand the importance of a project like Starship and the work of SpaceX you can refer to a document which will be presented this month at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) by the heads of the Human Landing System Program. Here you can see a diagram of the various versions of Starship that will be provided for the missions Artemis.

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spacex starship

In particular there will be three versions of Starship (only considering the missions to the Moon). SpaceX has foreseen a version “tanker” which will serve to supply the lunar lander and based on the system that will be used to launch satellites and other types of missions. There will then be a version designed to be a real one “orbiting cistern” where the landing system will not be provided and which will be positioned in LEO orbit. Finally there will be the lunar lander version which will have hatches capable of docking to the Orion capsule, landing system for the Moon and support for the crew while the Earth recovery system will be removed (useless in this case).

Even now it is difficult to estimate when there will actually be an orbital flight of Starship. SpaceX he probably would like to conduct the test by the end of 2022 but will have to be able to run one first static fire complete with all 33 of Super Heavy’s engines (while the orbital pad is still undergoing structural upgrades these days). Then there will be the preparation of the internal areas for the crew and the certification for human flight in deep space which will end with a test that should take place (unmanned) in 2024.

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