Starship, but with a third stage…
Powered by the SpaceX Raptor, this huge upper stage will help send over 340t to Low Earth Orbit, 125t to the Moon, and 20t beyond Pluto with a single launch!
Launch simulation by @Phrankensteyn below and specs in the thread.
#SpaceX #Starship
Powered by the SpaceX Raptor, this huge upper stage will help send over 340t to Low Earth Orbit, 125t to the Moon, and 20t beyond Pluto with a single launch!
Launch simulation by @Phrankensteyn below and specs in the thread.
#SpaceX #Starship
https://twitter.com/Phrankensteyn/status/1477389349360738309
Design pt.1:
- forward and common dome makes up methane tank, aft dome placed after 3 subsequent ring segments
- holds 540t of superchilled methalox propellant, with tank mass at ~16t
- a large third stage optimizes for heavier payloads, while still being very high energy capable
- forward and common dome makes up methane tank, aft dome placed after 3 subsequent ring segments
- holds 540t of superchilled methalox propellant, with tank mass at ~16t
- a large third stage optimizes for heavier payloads, while still being very high energy capable
Design pt.2:
- powered by single (6.5m diameter, 400s Isp) or dual (3.9m diameter, 390s Isp) 330 bar Raptor vacuum
- nozzles to be folded up within interstage to save vertical space
- heaviest engine combination weighs 6t, making overall mass ratio ~25.55
- powered by single (6.5m diameter, 400s Isp) or dual (3.9m diameter, 390s Isp) 330 bar Raptor vacuum
- nozzles to be folded up within interstage to save vertical space
- heaviest engine combination weighs 6t, making overall mass ratio ~25.55
https://twitter.com/Phrankensteyn/status/1477391421757874177?s=20
Design pt.3:
- second stage will be a Starship without a nosecone, with extended propellant tanks that holds 1480t of propellant
- 3 additional Raptor Vacuum engines for higher thrust, necessary to minimize gravity losses
- have heat shield, flaps, and 17.5t header tank for reuse
- second stage will be a Starship without a nosecone, with extended propellant tanks that holds 1480t of propellant
- 3 additional Raptor Vacuum engines for higher thrust, necessary to minimize gravity losses
- have heat shield, flaps, and 17.5t header tank for reuse
Design pt.4:
- re-enter atmosphere heat shield first (sideways) at up to 5.4km/s, then bellyflop and propulsively land up to 2500km downrange on a droneship for recovery
- if middle stage recovery is not feasible/worthwhile, it will be expended, which increases payload capability
- re-enter atmosphere heat shield first (sideways) at up to 5.4km/s, then bellyflop and propulsively land up to 2500km downrange on a droneship for recovery
- if middle stage recovery is not feasible/worthwhile, it will be expended, which increases payload capability
Payload capability pt.1:
Low Earth Orbit (2x Raptor): 340t
Geostationary Orbit: 90t
Moon: 125t
Mars: 110t
Jupiter: 42.5t
Saturn (Jupiter gravity assist): 42t
Uranus: 37.5t
Neptune: 35.5t
Pluto/solar escape: 21.5t
Launch simulations by @Phrankensteyn below:
Low Earth Orbit (2x Raptor): 340t
Geostationary Orbit: 90t
Moon: 125t
Mars: 110t
Jupiter: 42.5t
Saturn (Jupiter gravity assist): 42t
Uranus: 37.5t
Neptune: 35.5t
Pluto/solar escape: 21.5t
Launch simulations by @Phrankensteyn below:
https://twitter.com/Phrankensteyn/status/1477389349360738309?s=20
(source for interplanetary delta V: NASA Trajectory Browser)
Starship Upper Stage payload volume (examples):
Deep space – 9m x 17m payload fairing, 460m3
Standard – 9m x 28m payload fairing, 1150m3
Low Earth Orbit – 12m x 42m payload fairing, 3700m3 (more than 2x SLS Block 2’s!)
Starship Upper Stage payload volume (examples):
Deep space – 9m x 17m payload fairing, 460m3
Standard – 9m x 28m payload fairing, 1150m3
Low Earth Orbit – 12m x 42m payload fairing, 3700m3 (more than 2x SLS Block 2’s!)
Starship Upper Stage payloads pt.1:
It will be THE single launch rocket for large payloads to anywhere in the solar system, from heavy LEO supplies, to lunar missions with Orion (imagine lol), massive telescopes, landers for Europa and Titan, and even giant interstellar probes!
It will be THE single launch rocket for large payloads to anywhere in the solar system, from heavy LEO supplies, to lunar missions with Orion (imagine lol), massive telescopes, landers for Europa and Titan, and even giant interstellar probes!
Starship Upper Stage payloads pt.2:
This three-staged variant isn’t designed to replace the current Starship, as it cannot support rapid reusability and high cadence. Its purpose is to expand the possibilities of the current launch system. However, it can replace something else…
This three-staged variant isn’t designed to replace the current Starship, as it cannot support rapid reusability and high cadence. Its purpose is to expand the possibilities of the current launch system. However, it can replace something else…
Starship Upper Stage payloads pt.3:
This launch vehicle is designed to replace the SLS Block 1B and Block 2 cargo variants, and make deep space more accessible! The SLS Block 2 supports up to around 175m2/s2 of C3, while the Starship Upper Stage can achieve a crazy 207km2/s2!
This launch vehicle is designed to replace the SLS Block 1B and Block 2 cargo variants, and make deep space more accessible! The SLS Block 2 supports up to around 175m2/s2 of C3, while the Starship Upper Stage can achieve a crazy 207km2/s2!
Thank you all for reading this thread :D retweet if you liked this concept!
Big thanks to @Phrankensteyn for making these awesome launch simulations, and special thanks to @BellikOzan for checking over some numbers.
With that being said, Happy New Year, and have a great 2022!!!
Big thanks to @Phrankensteyn for making these awesome launch simulations, and special thanks to @BellikOzan for checking over some numbers.
With that being said, Happy New Year, and have a great 2022!!!
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