We recently wrote about construction in Boca Chica (Texas) to complete the launch tower and system recovery Spatialship. In particular, the workers and engineers work on the part of the big arms which allow on the one hand to help in the assembly of the Ship And very heavy while on the other they allow you to “catch” fly the big rocket.
The goal, as repeatedly written, is to have a completely reusable system (both first and second stage). It will also be possible to have a very high launch rate. If the project succeeds under the conditions described by Elon Musk, could be a revolutionary system for space exploration and cargo handling. Obviously, we are currently faced with prototype solutions that have never been tested. This means no one knows if they will actually deliver on their promises.
The Starship launch and recovery tower in a video by Elon Musk
It was the same a few days ago Elon Musk to download a video where a simulation of what we will see is shown “inhabit” by 2022. It’s the return of the big rocket very heavy 70 meters high after the launch of Spatialship. You can see how the rocket is positioned almost laterally to the launch tower with the central engines (atmospheric Raptors) that can move (gimbal) and then accurately land the first stage.
The first part of the procedure has some similarities to what is currently happening with the Falcon 9 where the central engine helps slow the descent to the landing area and the upper flaps help manage aerodynamics and steering. The difference is that very heavy it will certainly be bigger and heavier. In addition, there will also be many more engines to manage (in the final version there should be 33 while the Falcon 9 has 9).
The launch tower and system recovery Spatialship then there will be two “chopsticks” (wand) that can move laterally and vertically. In the video you can see how they are positioned slightly laterally for landing, allowing the jet from the engines not to be aimed directly at the launch structures. very heavy it will then be blocked “on the fly” through the large upper fins which will not only be aerodynamic but also structural surfaces.
Finally, for those wondering why Elon Musk not offer Starlink service to Tongans affected by the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano, the answer it came from Musk himself. The current fleet of satellites does not cover these areas while there are still few i Starlink Satellites with inter-satellite connectivity using lasers. This would provide for the presence of land bases in the area capable of picking up the signals, which is currently not planned. To this, Musk added that there are still services that use geostationary satellites that can cover this area.
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