SpaceX's Starship is like a ray of light, and with its ultra-high cost performance, it has attracted the attention of countries and companies around the world. Despite the failure of the previous two in-orbit tests, SpaceX is not resting there, and their third Starship is ready for launch and ready for the next attempt.
Starship's first test flight around the Earth is scheduled for April 20, 2023, and its purpose is to fly to an altitude of 10 kilometers, followed by a controlled landing and landing. Unfortunately, the ship was detonated before it could hit the ground, turning it into a pile of wreckage. On November 18, seven months later, the spacecraft made another orbit around the Earth, this time more daringly, passing through the atmosphere, reaching an altitude of 100 kilometers and returning to Earth. But this time it also failed, and on the way back, the spacecraft failed to ignite all the engines due to insufficient fuel, and then fell at a very fast speed, and it happened again.
Two consecutive defeats did not discourage SpaceX, but instead of discouraged them, they aroused the fighting spirit in their hearts. After a second flight, the third Starship was assembled and transported to the launch site in the port of Boca Kiskam. This batch of starships is divided into two classes: S24 and B10, one is level 2 and the other is level 1. In keeping with the starship's humor, SpaceX has also added some Christmas ornaments to the spaceship, such as a snowman. It's just that everyone is a little worried, this time, is it really just a fireworks show?
Now, the third spacecraft has completed various tests and is fully prepared for liftoff in early 2024. As with the previous two versions, the S24 and B10 will be recombined and a static ignition test will be performed to test their capabilities. They are then dispersed again for further testing until it is determined that there are no problems. The whole process may take one to two months, but SpaceX has been preparing for it, and according to information released on November 20, they have built four Starships, and four are currently under construction.
The "Raptor" takes the "Raptor" as the main body and uses a full-flow proportional engine fueled by methane and liquid oxygen, which has the advantages of high efficiency and recycling. The company is said to have built 200 Raptor II engines and intends to increase the production of one per day between 2023 and 2027 to 300 per year. At the same time, SpaceX is experimenting with a more advanced Raptor engine that will bring greater propulsion and maneuverability to Starship.
Starship "is designed to allow people to live on multiple planets, with the ability to launch 100 tons of cargo to Earth, or 20 tons to the Moon or Mars." SpaceX has an agreement with NASA to use Starship as a manned spacecraft to the moon, or HLS. However, there are still many challenges to be solved in this contract, including the orbital connection of the spacecraft, the space refueling, and the design of the spacesuit for the moon landing. What's more, the spacecraft is not yet in orbit, which is undoubtedly a problem for NASA's Artemis program.
The American "Artemis" program is divided into three parts, the first part is a manned orbit around the moon, the second part is a manned landing on the moon, the third part is the second part, the third part is the third part, the fourth part is the fourth part, the fifth part is the fifth part, the sixth part is the seventh part, the sixth part, the seventh part, the fourth, the fourth part, the seventh part: the fourth part, the fifth part of the United States, the seventh, the fifth part, the fifth part, the sixth part, the seventh chapter, the fifth part: the manned, the sixth, the fifth, the fifth, Seventh, Seventh, Fourth, Fifth, Artemis, Fifth, Human, Fifth, Manned, Moon, Human, Human, Artemis 1 was successfully launched on November 16 next year using Boeing's SLS space rocket and sent to the Moon. However, SLS had a lot of problems, with $23 billion spent on development, $2 billion for a single launch, and the Artemis project was delayed several times due to its very small number of launches. According to the American GAO report, there is a high probability that Artemis III, the first human landing on the moon, will not be completed in 2025.
Many people say that the starship is also very expensive, at least three billion dollars, but this is a misconception, and this is a misunderstanding, and we are talking about the development of a spaceship, not one. In fact, a starship's rocket hull costs less than $100 million, not to mention the use of biogas and liquid oxygen fuel. SLS, on the other hand, is an expensive and inefficient "gold-swallowing behemoth", which has kept the Artemis project at a standstill.
Some people wonder why the U.S. is comparing SpaceX to Boeing, Starship, and SLS, when U.S. manufacturing is in decline. In fact, this also depends on the object, compared with China, the United States is indeed at a disadvantage, but compared with other countries, the United States is still very powerful. What's more, the difference between SpaceX and Boeing is more reflected in the way things are done, SpaceX itself is a creative and enthusiastic enterprise, especially Musk, who often takes his subordinates and stays up late, which is extremely rare for any company in the United States. It can be said that SpaceX is a clear spring in the American industry, bringing huge potential value and prospects to the American industry.
However, SpaceX has also encountered a lot of opposition, especially from politically defensible environmental groups, accusing SpaceX of harming the planet's environment and desecrating flora and fauna, as well as a bird and a fish. The thinking of those forces is extremely extreme and narrow, and they can't understand why people on Earth choose to go on extraterrestrial expeditions, in addition to satisfying their own curiosity, they will have more resources and more living space.
It's an innate instinct and it's a calling. SpaceX's Starship will lead mankind into a new century of space. It is the most advanced in the world, both technologically and economically. Despite the failure of the previous two in-orbit tests, SpaceX is not resting there, and their third Starship is ready for launch and ready for the next attempt. We are very hopeful that this spacecraft can be successfully put into orbit and usher in a new era of spaceflight. At the same time, we also hope that SpaceX can overcome all obstacles and achieve its ideals. It's good to have money, do whatever you want!