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Questions tagged [spacex-starship]

Questions regarding SpaceX's Starship, formerly the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) upper stage or BFS

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Did IFT 3's Starship attempt re-entry with its payload bay door open?

Yesterday, contact was lost with SpaceX's Starship as it attempted to re-enter the atmosphere. One of things it tested was the payload bay door. In this video, at nine minutes and eleven seconds (T+ 30:18), the door seems to jolt backwards into…
Dave Gremlin
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Starship lift power to moon

Starship is one of the candidates in the Artemis program. I have heard it would require additional refueling before it gets to the Moon. It is a bit surprising since Beresheet got to the Moon with Falcon 9, which is capable of carrying 10 times less…
user2679290
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Why so many thermal insulation tiles on Starship are marked broken?

From the photos it seems that about 40% of the tiles were marked with orange strips at some moment, while another 30% with green strips as misaligned. Why the percentage is so high? Why they could not attach the most of them correctly from the first…
Anixx
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Why was Starship on IFT3 spinning?

During SpaceX testflight on IFT3, Starship aka S28 was spinning around its axis. It was very visible in the live stream and also concerning. During reentry its heatshield was facing the wrong way because of the spin, possibly causing it to burn up.…
hotdog
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How can Starship take off from moon's surface without a launch pad

No launch clamps and no launch pad on the moon or Mars, then how the starship is going to take off, forget the perils of landing, at the first place? If it is a one way trip, why fuel tanks for the return trip ?
seccpur
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How does a Starship nose cone/fairing maintain its structural integrity?

I am wondering how the whole non-tank upper portion of Starship maintains its integrity during high-stress situations (ascent, reentry, belly-flop). The tanks are pressurized, but I assume that the nose cone is not and therefore it seems that it…
PunchyRascal
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Why did Starship start tilting to one side as soon as it lifted off during IFT-2?

I've noticed that no one has talked about this, making me think that maybe it's normal or expected as a way to veer off the launch pad to protect stage 0 equipment. However, no matter how many times I see it, it still doesn't look right to me. Why…
Cris
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What are these composite overwrapped pressure vessels on Super Heavy?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Super_Heavy The oxygen tank has four chines attached. These protect the various COPVs on board, as well as providing lift during flight. First I've heard of these things. No explanation as to what they are or…
Abdullah is not an Amalekite
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Maintaining constant fuel pressure to rocket engine during flight and flip maneuvers

During lift-off and landing, the methane liquid fuel inside the Starship is being consumed. How constant fuel pressure to the Raptor engines is maintained when the fuel is being depleted and during flip maneuvers?
seccpur
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Mars in 30 Days

My first question so show mercy! Earth to Mars 150,000,000 miles. Earth escape velocity ~20,000 MPH (at maximum fuel consumption). The journey takes 8 Months at that speed. The Question: If launching from Moon or LEO using same amount of fuel, Would…
Ruskes
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What is the purpose of the inverted cone at the center of a Starship thrust puck?

In the center of the Starhip's thrust puck, where the lowest portion of the LOX tank should be, there is a heavily reinforced inverted cone. Why is it there? Why not just complete the tank in a regular shape? Image:…
PunchyRascal
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(How) would the water deluge system impact Starship superheavy captures?

(How) would the water deluge system impact Starship superheavy captures, when they eventually manage to return to starbase? Could it be turned on during landing attempts? Would that reduce lift (reduced ground effect perhaps) at the last second?…
Daniël van den Berg
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What is the LOX mass of a Starship and a Superheavy?

Starship's mass of propellant is 1.2 million kg, and Superheavy's is 3.4 million kg. How much of that is the liquid oxygen?
Joe Jobs
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SpaceX starship landing legs deployment

After watching the flight of sn8 the landing legs didn't deploy. What makes them deploy? Velocity?
Glenn A
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What was leaking in Starship SN5 before takeoff?

Just before Starship SN5's 5 August 2020 flight, there appears to be a leak: Was this planned or accidental?
Joe Jobs
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