Thread by @Cosmic_Penguin

So I've been having this question for quite some time: "Can any other global rocket players make their own (mini) Starship?"

So many people are thinking that Starship/SH will stomp every other commercial rockets out there & I don't see any discussions of how can others respond.

The thing is while the structures of Starship/SH is more shipyard building like than any other rocket out there, it uses some of the most state-of-the-art engines ever. Not every main space power out there has the ability to develop their Raptors after all (e.g. the Chinese).

But then, not everyone needs such a big vehicle like Starship right now. Replicating current rockets' capabilities w/ something like a "mini-Starship" & built in shipyards like factories might be enough to keep the balls running.

So for example, let's say I'm a Russian & wants to replace the Soyuz w/ a one-on-one replacement. Can we just take the 50+ years old Soyuz engines design (kerosene, fixed nozzles w/ verniers, started by burning wooden sticks, extremely flight proven) & slap them onto the booster?

There can be additional engines installed specifically used for landing for example. The orbital stage part can also use off-the-shelf engines (RD-0124 comes to mind). Given the Russians still have good leads in metallurgy/re-entry control, is this "Starship Soyuz" even possible?

Or take the Europeans & Japanese for example, which relied on LH2 & solids for decades. Can a "mini-SRB-SH" stage using SRB motors wrapped by recovery system powered by LH2 engines, + LH2 powered "mini-Starship" even feasible considering troubles w/ DC-X 20 years ago?

Submit your own "Starship wannabe" designs using as much current OTS components of your own region here for discussion! 😉