Spacex worms hard to create a StarShip spacecraft that can deliver people to Mars and other distant planets. Also, this device can be used for subborital flights - flight from one point in the world will take only about an hour. We have already follow the tests of the ship prototypes and they pass very effectively. Some of them explode without even breaking away from the ground, while others take off for tens of meters and the method of trial and errors are trying to make a soft landing. In March 2021, StarShip SN10 successfully landed from a 10-kilometer height, but a few minutes later, after that, exploded and flew off several meters. But do not forget that the spacecraft will also consist of a heavy SUPER HEAVY missile, which we have not yet seen in the assembled state. Ilon Mask finally published a photo, so let's talk about it in more detail. Soon we are waiting for something interesting.
First photo of the Super Heavy rocket
Super Heavy is a starship super heavy ship accelerator. And if you say easily, it is just a very powerful and large rocket. Its height is about 70 meters. So, if you combine the Super Heavy rocket and the STARSHIP spacecraft, it turns out a huge 120-meter construction. And sooner or later, Spacex will combine them, but up to this point you need to carry out a huge number of tests. In the final version of the Super Heavy rocket will withdraw the STARSHIP ship in orbit, and then return to the ground for reuse. This approach will reduce the cost of flights.
First Super Heavy Booster pic.twitter.com/0k5Qpsebbt.
- Elon Musk (@ELONMUSK) March 18, 2021
Ilon Mask published a photograph of the Super Heavy prototype in his tweet. This is the first snapshot of this kind - before we have never seen a real photo of the rocket. The prototype is referred to as Booster 1 (BN1) and is located on the SPACEX private spacecraft in Texas, close to the village of Boca Chik. Apparently, the prototype is already fully assembled, so in the near future the company can start testing. Most likely, at first she will experience the first step, namely her fuel tanks. It is necessary to find out what pressure and temperature they can withstand - perhaps, the tests will not cost without explosions.
When will SUPER HEAVY begin?
The first Super Heavy rocket prototypes will have only 2-3 Raptor engines. The version shown in the photo is intended only for land tests, it will not rise into the sky. The first launch will be implemented only after assembling the BOOOSTER prototype 2. How many tests will be carried out, while it is unknown. But it can already be said that the final version of Super Heavy will be equipped with 28 engines - it will be really a very powerful rocket.
The first tests of Super Heavy rocket is scheduled to be held before the beginning of the summer of 2021. So, very soon we will observe the prototype within the framework of direct ether. When the company is convicted in the strength of fuel tanks and the possibilities of rocket to rise into the sky, the tests in the orbit of the Earth will begin. According to the NASA SPACEFLIGHT edition, the rocket will fly to orbit in July 2021. And the prototype of the Super Heavy BN3 missile and the prototype of the STARSHIP SN20 will take part in the test.
READ ALSO: StarShip SN10 ship successfully landed from a 10-kilometer height. And exploded
What is the Spaceship of StarShip?
Ultimately, Spacex wants to create a huge complex that can deliver people and cargo to the near-earth orbit, the moon, Mars and other distant objects. It is also planned to use the ship to quickly transport people from one point in the world to another. On average, flight from London to Hong Kong by plane takes 11 hours 50 minutes. According to some calculations, the StarShip ship will be able to deliver people between these cities in just 34 minutes. Moreover, the cost of the ticket to StarShip will be almost the same as the plane. More about prices for subborital flights can be read on this link.
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And we still have an interesting article about how the Super Heavy rocket will return to Earth. At the beginning of the year, Ilon Mask said that the company was going to catch the rocket with the help of a launcher. If you say short, a special design will wrap the rocket from all sides and take the entire load on yourself. We even have a video where you can see how it all happens. You can see in this article.