The two consecutive explosions of Starship, related to the design changes of its V2 versionThey have made SpaceX to readjust the highest rocket roadmap in the world. As usual, we have learned for a message from Elon Musk in X.
The message in question. “We are making the design of Starship v3”, Musk wrote. “Spacex is on its way to achieving a launch rhythm of a starship per week in approximately 12 months.”
“Each one will put about 100 tons of Starlink satellites in its fully reusable version. It will be a transcendental advance.”
Context. He Starship rocket It is in tests and has not begun to launch satellites. The current design does not exceed the load capacity of a Spacex heavy falcon. When Elon Musk presented the V2 and V3 versionsdescribed a radical leap. They would be higher, totally reusable and with an unprecedented power in the space industry.
Starship V2 would grow up to 124.4 meters high and could place more than 100 tons in orbit in its fully reusable configuration (that is, recovering both the super heavy propeller and the ship). Starship V3 would grow up to 150 meters high and place more than 200 tons in low orbit in reusable mode.
The changes. Musk’s message suggests that Spacex has focused its efforts on Ultimar Starship V3 after incidents of the last two tests. Although Starship V2 has not fully materialized (on flights 7 and 8, a Starship Block 2 ship threw itself on a super heavy block 1), something does not go well with the second block of rocket improvements.
The change of plans is reflected in which Starship V3 will have half of the planned load capacity. Specifically, 100 tons in its reusable configuration is what Spacex had announced for Starship V3.
What happened to Starship V2. The second version of the ship has flown twice (Starship 33 and Starship 34) with the same result: leakage and explosion in the ascent phase, before the motion off.
The new design has a defect that produces an excess of vibrations in the lower part of the ship, which causes the propellant tubes to break and have leaks. On flight 7 caused a fire and on flight 8 the explosion and loss of several engines.
Waiting for the Raptor 3. Despite these problems, there is a new Starship V2 flight scheduled for April. Starship V3 will have to wait for New Raptor 3 engines 3 are ready. The new engines have more thrust and incorporate an integrated cooling system that eliminates the need for an external thermal shield.
Image | Spacex
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