Can SpaceX Send a Modified Super Heavy Booster to Orbit, Then a Full Stack Starship?
SpaceX is developing a new generation of launch vehicles called Starship. Starship is designed to be a fully reusable system that can carry both crew and cargo to the Moon and Mars.
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One of the challenges of sending Starship to orbit is the cost. The full stack Starship, including the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft, is estimated to cost around $200 million per launch.
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To reduce the cost of sending Starship to orbit, SpaceX has proposed a two-stage approach. In the first stage, a modified Super Heavy booster would be launched to orbit. This booster would be stripped down to the essentials and would not have any payload capacity. Its only purpose would be to reach orbit and wait for the second stage.
The second stage would be a full stack Starship, with all of the necessary propellant and payload. This Starship would be launched on a standard configuration, and it would rendezvous with the first stage in orbit.
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Once the two stages are docked, they would be able to refuel each other. This would allow the Starship to reach its full potential, and it would be able to travel to the Moon or Mars.
This approach has several advantages. First, it would reduce the cost of launching Starship to orbit. Second, it would allow SpaceX to test the Starship in orbit before sending it on a long-duration mission. Third, it would allow SpaceX to develop the refueling technology that is essential for sending Starship to the Moon and Mars.
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However, there are also some challenges associated with this approach. First, it would be difficult to dock two large spacecraft in orbit. Second, there is a risk of collision between the two spacecraft. Third, the refueling process would be complex and time-consuming.
Overall, the idea of sending a modified Super Heavy booster to orbit, then sending a full stack Starship to orbit to mate with the first one is a viable option for reducing the cost of sending Starship to orbit. However, there are some challenges that need to be addressed before this approach can be implemented.
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How would this work in practice?
The first step would be to launch the modified Super Heavy booster to orbit. This would be a standard launch, with the booster carrying no payload.
Once the booster is in orbit, it would wait for the second stage to launch. The second stage would be a full stack Starship, with all of the necessary propellant and payload. This Starship would also be launched on a standard configuration.
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The second stage would rendezvous with the first stage in orbit. This would be a complex maneuver, but it is something that SpaceX has already demonstrated with its Dragon spacecraft.
Once the two stages are docked, they would be able to refuel each other. This would allow the Starship to reach its full potential, and it would be able to travel to the Moon or Mars.
What are the challenges of this approach?
The main challenge of this approach is docking two large spacecraft in orbit. This is a complex maneuver that has never been done before. There is a risk of collision between the two spacecraft, and there is also a risk of damage to the spacecraft.
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Another challenge is the refueling process. This is a complex and time-consuming process that has never been done before in orbit. There is a risk of leaks or other problems during the refueling process.
Is this approach feasible?
The feasibility of this approach depends on SpaceX's ability to overcome the challenges involved. If SpaceX can successfully dock two large spacecraft in orbit and refuel them, then this approach could be a viable way to reduce the cost of sending Starship to orbit.
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However, it is important to note that this approach is still in the early stages of development. SpaceX has not yet demonstrated the ability to dock two large spacecraft in orbit, and it has not yet demonstrated the ability to refuel a spacecraft in orbit.
It is possible that SpaceX will be able to overcome these challenges, but it is also possible that this approach will not be feasible. Only time will tell if this approach will be used to send Starship to orbit.