The Starship, SpaceX’s under-development rocket set to take humans to the moon and Mars, has given a prototype shape a new look.
On Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk shared a picture via his Twitter page of two prototype models. The company is currently developing the Starship at the Boca Chica facility in Texas. The image shows the “SN5” prototype launched earlier this month alongside a new “SN6” model.
The image shows the impressive size of these early models, even though they lack the features expected in the final design. The final ship is expected to measure 50 feet by 160 feet, with a diameter of nine feet by 30 feet. The Super Heavy booster that will help it leave Earth is expected to add a further 70 meters (230 feet), which with its legs of two meters (six feet) means that the entire ship 122 meters (400 feet) foot) will stand high.
That bare size was seen Wednesday, with a picture showing small figures and cars at the base of the ship. It is expected that the entire ship will take up to 100 people in space at a time with a busy cabin space of approximately 1,000 cubic meters.
The “SN5” ship has had a busy month. It was the first ship to fly successfully, launching on August 4 150 meters as 500 feet in the air with a single Raptor engine. The final ship is expected to use six engines.
In response to a question from a Twitter user named “flcnhvy,” Musk explained that the ships in the photo have very similar heat shields:
“Same hex tiles, a little different mounting method. Larger parts of tiles needed to see how they cope with cryocrinking, pressure expansion and body bending.”
SpaceX previously demonstrated the strength of its hex tiles in January 2019, where it raised the temperature to 1,100 degrees Celsius or 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The shields will be much needed as the Starship’s atmosphere is expected at speeds of around 16,777 mph.
Musk also stated that the following prototypes will make some previously expected tweaks:
“SN7 will take a new test tank of alloy to become burst pressure. SN8 will have body flaps and nosecone.”
The prototype “SN5” would expect to have the nosecone, but the ship that flew this month lacks the function. The “Mk.1” first full-size prototype that Musk unveiled in September 2019 sported these features, but the ship eventually blew up during a test.
As for the alloys, SpaceX has experimented with changes in the material. In June, it switched from a 301 alloy to 304L for one of its test tanks. The following month, Musk announced that the company was “rapidly changing alloying components and methods,” changes that would also surface on the Starship.
SpaceX is now expected to host a series of further “hop tests” with its prototypes, paving the way for the rocket’s first mission. In July 2019, SpaceX Vice President of Commercial Sales Jonathan Hofeller claimed the mission could take place in 2021.
De Inverse analysis – Image of Musk is cool, but it’s interesting to hear that SpaceX now intends to introduce cosmetic features with “SN8.” This is what fans had already assumed, as eagle-eye observers tracked down “SN8” components around the Boca Chica facility. Musk’s post confirms that this is indeed the plan.
The confirmation comes after NASASpaceflight reported in July that “SN8” will use three Raptor engines to complete a higher altitude test flight. While “SN5” looked like an elevation of a silo, it could be “SN8” that makes the striking image of this spacecraft’s development rise higher in the air.
THE STARSHIP JOURNEY, SUMMARIZED
