Heres what you should probably know.
SpaceX is currently dominating the spaceflight industry with its freakishly reliableFalcon 9rocket.
Why is SpaceX building Starship?
The fully integrated Starship at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on January 9, 2023.Photo: SpaceX
When did SpaceX fly Starship for the first time?
The rocket lumbered off the mount,kicking up a tremendous amount of dust and debris.
Properties near the nearby town werecoveredin a sheet of dust and grime.
A view of the fully stacked Starship rocket, January 9, 2023,Photo: SpaceX
SpaceX will presumably finish this plate and fix any damage prior to the next test.
The grounded the rocket pending its investigation.
In addition, stage separation did not go as planned, potentially exposing a problem with the release system.
Engineers attending the first full stacking of the Starship upper stage with the Super Heavy booster, August 10, 2021.Photo: SpaceX
SpaceXperformed its first launch attempt of Starshipon April 17, but the rocket never left the ground.
When did Starship perform its second flight?
Firstly, SpaceX implemented a new hot-staging technique to ease stage separation.
A view of all 33 Raptor engines at the base of the Super Heavy booster.Photo: SpaceX
In this attempt, stage separation seemed to go quite well, but the booster unexpectedly exploded soon after.
Watch the three center engines on Starships upper stage gimbaling just after separation.
In addition, the new water deluge system worked as intended, protecting the launch mount from the blast.
Super Heavy during the static fire test on February 9, 2023.Photo: SpaceX
Also, all 33 Raptor engines appeared to stay alight during the course of the mission.
When will Starship perform its third flight?
SpaceX is currently targeting February for the third Starship test flight, pending FAA approval.
Starship prototype SN15 during the first and only successful vertical landing of the upper stage, May 5, 2021.Photo: SpaceX
Whats the backstory on this megarocket?
That NASA rocket, now known as SLS, finally launched last year.
How much is it costing to build Starship?
Starship prototype SN during a suborbital test flight, February 3, 2021.Photo: SpaceX
Musk previouslyestimatedthat the total development cost of Starship will land somewhere between $2 billion and $10 billion.
Importantly, SpaceX isnt footing the entire bill.
NASA is also subsidizing Starship.
Will Starship be profitable for SpaceX?
Only time will tell.
That Starship is fully reusable is another reason to argue in favor of profitability.
How powerful is Starship?
Once operational, itll be the most powerful rocket in human history.
The 10-foot-tall Raptor is the straw that stirs the drink, each of them generating 500,000 pounds of thrust.
The resulting payload volume, at 38,800 cubic feet, will be the largest across the industry.
SpaceX says the payload area can be configured for either cargo or crews.
Like the booster, the upper stage will perform vertical landings for reusability.
What is Mechazilla and how will the booster land?
Using this method, SpaceX eventually hopes to launch the same Starship three times per day.
What pre-flight tests of Starship did SpaceX perform?
SpaceX performed several suborbital tests of the Starship upper stage from December 2020 to May 2021.
These tests evenprompted an FAA investigation.
The engines were only at half thrust for the static fire test, Musktweetedafter Starships inaugural launch.
How will the first successful Starship mission unfold?
The booster will attempt to perform a controlled descent prior to landing in the water.
What kinds of regulatory hurdles does SpaceX need to address?
SpaceXs Boca Chica facility is home to threatened wildlife, includingat-risk shorebirds.
Why doesnt Starship have an abort system?
One of the more controversial aspects of Starship is the complete absence of an emergency launch abort system.
Musk himself hassaidthat atmospheric reentries are more dangerous than launches.
How does SpaceX plan to use Starship?
The megarocket will, first and foremost, serve as a satellite delivery mechanism.
How will Elon Musk use Starship to colonize Mars?
Starship is key to Musks long-stated ambition of colonizing Mars.
The CEO has articulated a plan in which 100 Starships arebuilteach year across a 10-year period.
The Prior to embarking for Mars, however, the Starships will have to refuel in low Earth orbit.
How does NASA plan to use Starship?
NASA needs Starship for for landing humans safely on the Moon during its Artemis program.
Once their mission is complete, the astronauts will use Starship to return to Orion and head back home.
The second HLS Starship will have an expanded feature set compared to the first.
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