Re:SpaceX loses its third Starship prototype during a cryoge...
by gpm on Saturday April 04, 2020 @12:50AM
(#22776262)
> even if they manage the first orbital flight this year, there's no guarantee they'll stick the landing as well (took quite a few tests for F-9)
Sure, but they have 2 years to pull that off, and there is a way this happens even in one it's just a bit ambitious.
> Mars missions require in-orbit refuelling, thus a tanker version of the fairing and a docking adaptor need to be developed first
Tanker version is dead simple, just put more rings in both tank sections. In-orbit refuelling might be a bit trickier since it's reasonably novel (technically it's done with the ISS) - but the concept is really simple. SpaceX has done docking before and has complete design authority over both things docking together, I doubt the adapter part is a serious concern for them.
> and a reliable landing system for Mars
Who said anything about reliable?
> they'd still be missing any kind of payload to actually send to Mars
A cybertruck or something. The point is the PR and the capability demonstration not the payload. If they pull this off you can bet they can get significant NASA funding to do it with NASA funded cargo next time around.
Sure, but they have 2 years to pull that off, and there is a way this happens even in one it's just a bit ambitious.
> Mars missions require in-orbit refuelling, thus a tanker version of the fairing and a docking adaptor need to be developed first
Tanker version is dead simple, just put more rings in both tank sections. In-orbit refuelling might be a bit trickier since it's reasonably novel (technically it's done with the ISS) - but the concept is really simple. SpaceX has done docking before and has complete design authority over both things docking together, I doubt the adapter part is a serious concern for them.
> and a reliable landing system for Mars
Who said anything about reliable?
> they'd still be missing any kind of payload to actually send to Mars
A cybertruck or something. The point is the PR and the capability demonstration not the payload. If they pull this off you can bet they can get significant NASA funding to do it with NASA funded cargo next time around.