SpaceX Starship

SpaceX Starship Latest News 

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded on Thursday minutes after lifting off from Texas, dooming an attempt to deploy mock satellites in the second consecutive failure this year for Elon Musk’s Mars rocket program.

About SpaceX Starship

• Starship is a two-stage fully reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by American aerospace company SpaceX.
• Starship is the collective name for a two-component system consisting of the Starship spacecraft (which carries the crew and cargo) and the Super Heavy rocket.
  • Super Heavy: It is the first stage, or booster, of the Starship launch system. Powered by 33 Raptor engines using sub-cooled liquid methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX).
• It is the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, capable of carrying up to 150 metric tonnes fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes expendable.
• The vehicle comes in several different configurations, offers an integrated payload section and is capable of carrying crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. 
• It is also capable of point-to-point transport on Earth, enabling travel to anywhere in the world in one hour or less.
• Starship is powered by six engines, three Raptor engines, and three Raptor Vacuum (RVac) engines, which are designed for use in the vacuum of space.
  • Raptor engine:  It is a reusable methane-oxygen staged-combustion engine that powers the Starship system and has twice the thrust of the Falcon 9 Merlin engine.

What is Mechazilla?

• It is the nickname for the large 400-ft rocket-catching structure at SpaceX’s Starbase. 
• It features two enormous mechanical arms, often referred to as “chopsticks.” These arms are designed to catch the Super Heavy booster in mid-air as it returns to Earth.

SpaceX Starship FAQs

Q1. Why did the SpaceX Starship explode?

Ans. The Starship exploded due to engine shutdowns, causing loss of control and structural failure.

Q2. What is special about SpaceX Starship?

Ans. Starship is special for its reusability, methane fuel, and ability to carry large payloads.

Q3. How long will it take Starship to get to Mars?

Ans. The journey to Mars with Starship is expected to take about six to nine months, depending on launch windows.

Q4. Why did Starship fail?

Ans. Starship failed due to premature engine shutdowns, likely caused by fuel flow issues or overheating.

Source: TG