Starship, the rocket under construction of SpaceX, intended for the moon and Mars, is ready to take on even bigger launches than ever before. A new render of fan video puts the next jump of 20 kilometers in perspective.
On Monday, a Twitter user shouted “C_Bass3d“shared her own video on what the Starship will look like if it takes this 20-mile jump. The one-minute, 42-second video shows the ship launching from the dusty Texas landscape, staring into the air and correcting itself before he enters land.Different images show the three Raptor engines supporting the ship and smoothing the landing, as well as the spider-like landing legs deployed on return.
The video deserves great praise from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who regularly interacts with fans via his Twitter account. Musk wrote:
“Very impressive render. Remember, the legs will be bigger; there will be a lot more stuff in the engine compartment. Main engines actually do most of the work of tilting ship before they land.”
The video captures one of the most impressive aspects of the upcoming Starship tests. SpaceX is currently developing the fully reusable stainless steel rocket at the Boca Chica facility in Texas. The ultimate goal is to develop a ship that can send 150 tons or 100 people into space at a time, with a liquid oxygen and methane fuel, which means that humans can visit Mars, use fuel using the planet’s resources, and can return home or further out can the solar system.
These flights are the key to getting Starship flight ready. The company will host in August 2019 a “Starhopper” flight up to 150 meters high, with a shortened version of the ship powered by one Raptor engine. This month, SpaceX completed another 150-meter jump with a full-size “SN5” prototype that also included one Raptor engine and did not miss features like the nosecone expected for the final ship. Musk explained that the company plans to host several jumps with these prototypes in full size as part of the ship’s development.
The 20-kilometer jump has long been a goal for the Starship project. In an October 2017 Reddit session, back when the project was still known as “BFR,” Musk stated that the company planned to “keep short jumps of a few hundred kilometers altitude and lateral distance.” The reason for these tests would be that unlike orbital launches, they do not need extras like heat shields and they are relatively easy on the car.
Musk claimed in August 2019 that the company intended to complete a 20-kilometer flight with the first “Mk.1” prototype. The company would then intend to host a flight to orbit shortly thereafter.
The fan video, which shows this long-standing goal in action, deserves praise from Tim Dodd, host of YouTube channel “Everyday Astronaut.” Dodd wrote:
“Another great render! I think people might forget how high 20km is! That’s about twice as high as a commercial airline flying, so watching Starship bellyflop from the air at that altitude will be crazy !!!”
In response, Musk agreed that the upcoming flight will offer impressive views:
“Yes, Starship will be a small point at 20km. Hard to see with the naked eye. We will do a lot of flights.”
De Inverse analysis – The Starship has gradually held more ambitious tests with larger ships, and the 20-kilometer test is likely to take this to the next level. The ship, in full size, is expected to be compatible with the Super Heavy Booster, measuring about 400 meters long, and the company’s existing 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket will be highly durable.
While at the moment the Starship tests consist of shiny cylinders and thin ships flying at short distances, the 20-kilometer hop could bring new public attention to what is perhaps SpaceX’s most ambitious project.
