TAG: GS-3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: SpaceX’s recent achievements with its Starship rocket represent significant advancements in space technology that could have far-reaching implications, including on India’s space sector and policymaking.
EXPLANATION:
What is Starship?
-
- Starship is a two-stage heavy lift vehicle consisting of a booster (called Super Heavy) and an upper part (the Starship spacecraft).
- The rocket system is about 120 meters long, making it the largest rocket ever built – even taller than the Saturn V (111 meters), which carried Neil Armstrong to the moon.
- Raptor engine fuel uses a mix of liquid oxygen and liquid methane, enabling efficient propulsion for the rocket.
- Starship is designed to carry crew and/or cargo to Earth orbit, the moon, Mars and beyond, and once fully operational, it could revolutionize space travel.
- Reusable transport system: The system is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable.
What are the components of Starship:
| Super Heavy Booster | Starship Spacecraft: |
|
|
Scientific Benefits of Starship:
(Reducing the Cost of Space Travel)
- Heavy Lift Capabilities: Can carry up to 150 tonnes to low Earth orbit and at least 100 tonnes to the Moon and Mars.
- This payload capacity exceeds the total mass humans have soft-landed on the lunar surface to date.
- In-Orbit Refueling:
- The Starship’s upper stage can be refueled in Earth orbit by other Starships, akin to how airplanes refuel mid-flight.
- This feature increases payload capacity and allows for more advanced scientific instruments.
- Complete Reusability:
- Unlike other launch systems where hardware is discarded, Starship’s components are designed to be recovered and reused.
- This approach significantly reduces mission costs. For example, Starship could deliver 100 tonnes to Mars for about $50 million, compared to the Space Shuttle’s $1.5 billion cost for a much smaller payload to low Earth orbit.
- Enhanced Capabilities:
- Starship’s ability to carry heavy payloads at lower costs addresses major challenges in space exploration.
- Enables the launch of larger and more advanced space telescopes, and heavier equipment for Moon and Mars missions, such as full-sized drilling rigs.
- Support for NASA’s Artemis Program:
- Central to NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon by 2030 and send them to Mars by the end of the next decade.
What are the challenges:
-
- Proving Viability: SpaceX needs to ensure Starship’s safety and reliability while keeping costs low. This has historically been a challenge for reusable spaceflight programs, such as NASA’s Space Shuttle.
- Despite quick advancements, Starship’s progress has been slower than anticipated and has incurred significant costs.
- A Reuters investigation in 2023 highlighted workplace injuries and safety concerns due to the aggressive development timeline.
SOURCE:
Spread the Word