2023-11-30 07:00:14
SpaceX recently announced its intention to launch version 2 of the upper stage of its spacecraft, Starship, following two initial tests marked by the destruction of the launcher. These tests are milestones in SpaceX’s iterative development, which aims to realize its ambition of low-cost interplanetary travel.
View of the Raptor engines of the Super Heavy booster during the second flight.
Image SpaceX
The second test, conducted on November 18, lasted approximately eight minutes and demonstrated a significant improvement over the first. The company introduced a new technique for separating floors, called “hot staging”, and successfully flew the upper floor of Starship independently with its six engines fired.
The changes to Starship Version 2, while subtle, are crucial. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, indicated that this new version will be able to contain more propellant, will have a reduced empty mass and will offer greater reliability. . This is the upper stage of Starship, which nestles above the Super Heavy booster.
According to Payload, Starship V2 might incorporate a number of modifications, such as the use of nine Raptor engines instead of six, and an increase in volume (Volume, in physical or mathematical sciences, is a quantity that measures extension. ..) of propellant. This would involve a modification of the shape of the fuel tanks (A fuel is a fuel which powers a heat engine. This transforms…) and, potentially, an increase in the height (The height has several meanings depending on the area covered .) of Starship from 5 to 10 meters to increase fuel capacity and mission range.
SpaceX plans to continue launching its version 1 Starships before introducing the upgraded version. The final four ships in this series are identified as Ships 28, 29, 30 and 32, with Ship 28 currently being prepared for launch.
For the third flight test, Musk announced that the necessary hardware should be available in three to four weeks. Although the exact timeline is not confirmed, progress made during the second test might suggest a possible launch in early 2024.
What is hot staging in the context of spaceflight?
“Hot staging” is a technique for separating the stages of a rocket (Fusée may refer to :). Usually, when a multi-stage rocket reaches a certain point in its flight, the lower stage is “jettisoned” before the next stage ignites. This sequence creates a short interval during which none of the engines are operating, a time often referred to as “coasting.”
View of the separation with the “hot staging” technique during the second flight. We can see three booster engines still operating while the upper stage has already ignited its own engines.
Image SpaceX
On the other hand, “hot staging” involves the ignition of the second stage engines even before the first stage is completely jettisoned. This method, which is not new, ensures an almost instantaneous and continuous transition of thrust (In aerodynamics, thrust is the force exerted by the movement of air…), thus eliminating the latency time between The floors. This technique is particularly advantageous for heavy launchers or missions requiring great precision in time and trajectory management (The trajectory is the line described by any point of a moving object, and…) .
SpaceX, with its Starship, aims to perfect this technique to improve the efficiency of its launches. By combining hot staging with its engine and rocket design innovations, the company seeks to optimize the reliability and performance of its spaceflights, opening new perspectives for exploration (Exploration is the act of searching with the intention of discovering something unknown.) space and interplanetary travel.
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